The Birkie Team
Staff & Board of Directors
Meet the Birkie Team! We are a dedicated and hard-working – get stuff done – kind of crew who provide world-class experiences to you . . . right here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.
Ben PoppExecutive Director
Shelby BarnardRegistration Data Coordinator
Erik BlowTrail Manager
Michael BrownChief Financial Officer
Lynn BrueggemanRetail Associate
Alex BurganRetail Associate
Chris CampbellTrails and Facilities Staff
Shawn ConnellyMarketing Director
Jen DeYoungPartnership Director
Louise DroesslerDevelopment Director
Jane FlygstadVolunteer Coordinator
Rachel FrydenlundEvent Logistics Manager
Rebecca HaileyAccountant
Bob HardakerFacilities Manager
Reese HarrisonTrails and Facilities Staff
Grace HoinsEvent Manager
Eric HolteyTrails and Facilities Staff
Kelly JenningsMarketing Coordinator
Ally KingRetail Buyer and Manager
Samantha LaSalleLWC Event Manager
Kristy MakiEvent Director
Rich MetcalfTrail Crew
Kelly NechutaRegistration Manager
Deb NelsonRetail Associate
Victoria RossSr. Retail & Customer Service Coordinator
Ken SchmockEquipment Mechanic
Keira SiskowicTrails & Facilities Staff
Jeff TumblesonSenior Race Manager
Your Name Here!Trails & Facilities Director
Chris MorleyVice President
2028
Kris BjerknessTreasurer
2027
Bill Brown2026
Mike Cleary2028
Jan Guenther2027
Michael Mandli2026
Karen Manske2026
Marit Ross-Sonnesyn2027
Andy Ubel2028
Yuriy GusevBoard Member – Emeritus
Sue ScheerBoard Member – Emeritus
Tom DuffyRepresentative, Sawyer County Board of Directors (Appointed)
Jeff OlsenRepresentative, Bayfield County Board of Directors (Appointed)
Foundation Committees
Capital Campaign / ABSF Development Committee
- Chair: Bill Brown
- Members: Kathie Schaus, Mike Cleary, Karen Manske, Paul Eckerline, John Schneider, Jan Guenther, Scott Chapin
- Staff: Ben Popp
- Consultant: John Munger
Finance Committee
- Chair: Kris Bjerkness
- Members: Jan Guenther, Tom Duffy, Sue Scheer, Andy Ubel, Paul Eckerline
- Staff: Mike Brown
- Minutes: May 2017
HR Committee
- Members: Paul Eckerline, Bill Brown
- Staff: Mike Brown
Birkie One
- Chair: Chris Morley
- Members: Andy Ubel, Sue Scheer, Madelyn Rekemeyer, Ernie St. Germaine, Thom Malnourie, Bob Kovar
- Staff: Jeff Tumbleson
Documentation
- Chair: Andy Ubel
- Members: Karen Manske, Kathie Schaus, Paul Eckerline, Bill Brown
- Minutes: February 2017, October 2018


Paul Eckerline
Kathie Pautsch