---
title: "The Birkie Team"
date: 2026-02-26
featured_image: "https://www.birkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/birkie-staff.webp"
---

# The Birkie Team

**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.

## Birkie Staff

![Ben Popp](/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ben-popp-2-jpg.webp)Ben Popp  
*Executive Director*

![Shelby Barnard](/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/shelby-barnard.jpg)Shelby Barnard  
*Registration Data Coordinator*

![Erik Blow](/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/erik-blow.jpg)Erik Blow  
*Trail Manager*

![Erin Blow](https://www.birkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/erin-blow.webp)Erin Blow  
*Facilities & Programs*

![Michael Brown](/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/michael-brown.jpg)Michael Brown  
*Chief Financial Officer*

![Lynn Brueggeman](https://www.birkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/lynn-brueggeman.webp)Lynn Brueggeman  
*Retail Associate*

![Alex Burgan](https://www.birkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/alex-burgan.webp)Alex Burgan  
*Retail Associate*

![Chris Campbell](/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/chris-campbell-jpg.webp)Chris Campbell  
*Trails and Facilities Staff*

![Shawn Connelly](/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/shawn-connelly-jpg.webp)Shawn Connelly  
*Marketing Director*

![Jen DeYoung](https://www.birkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/jen-deyoung.webp)Jen DeYoung  
*Partnership Director*

![Louise Droessler](/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/louise-droessler-jpg.webp)Louise Droessler  
*Development Director*

![Jane Flygstad](/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/jane-flygstad.webp)Jane Flygstad  
*Volunteer Coordinator*

![Rachel Frydenlund](/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rachel-frydenlund-jpg.webp)Rachel Frydenlund  
*Event Logistics Manager*

![Rebecca Hailey](/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/rebecca-hailey.webp)Rebecca Hailey  
*Accountant*

![Bob Hardaker](https://www.birkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/bob-hardaker.webp)Bob Hardaker  
*Facilities Manager*

![Grace Hoins](/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/grace-hoins-jpg.webp)Grace Hoins  
*Event Manager*

![Kelly Jennings](https://www.birkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/kelly-jennings.webp)Kelly Jennings  
*Marketing Coordinator*

![Ally King](/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ally-king.webp)Ally King  
*Retail Buyer and Manager*

![Samantha LaSalle](/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/sam-lasalle.jpg)Samantha LaSalle  
*LWC Event Manager*

![Kristy Maki](/images/staff/v2/kristy-maki.jpg)Kristy Maki  
*Event Director*

![Rich Metcalf](/images/staff/v2/rich-metcalf.jpg)Rich Metcalf  
*Trail Crew*

![Kelly Nechuta](/images/staff/v2/kelly-nechuta.jpg)Kelly Nechuta  
*Registration Manager*

![Deb Nelson](https://www.birkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/deb-nelson.webp)Deb Nelson  
*Retail Associate*

![Victoria Ross](/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/victoria-ross-jpg.webp)Victoria Ross  
*Sr. Retail & Customer Service Coordinator*

![Ken Schmock](/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ken-schmock-jpg.webp)Ken Schmock  
*Equipment Mechanic*

![Keira Siskowic](/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/staff-placeholder.webp)Keira Siskowic  
*Trails & Facilities Staff*

![Jeff Tumbleson](/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/jeff-tumbleson.jpg)Jeff Tumbleson  
*Senior Race Manager*

[![Your Name Here!](/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/now-hiring-staff.jpg)Your Name Here!](https://www.birkie.com/about/jobs/)  
*ABSF Event Manager*

## Board of Directors

[![Paul Eckerline](https://www.birkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/paul-eckerline.webp)Paul Eckerline](/about/paul-eckerline/)  
President  
2027

![Chris Morley](/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/chris-morley.jpg)Chris Morley  
Vice President  
2028

[![Kathie Pautsch](/images/board-of-directors/kathie-pautsch.jpg?v=2)Kathie Pautsch](/about/kathie-pautsch/)  
Secretary  
2026

![Kris Bjerkness](/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/kris-bjerkness.jpg)Kris Bjerkness  
Treasurer  
2027

[![](/images/board-of-directors/bill-brown.jpg)Bill Brown](/about/bill-brown/)  
2026

[![Mike Cleary](https://www.birkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/mike-cleary.webp)Mike Cleary](https://www.birkie.com/about/team/mike-cleary/)  
2028

[![Jan Guenther](/images/board-of-directors/jan-guenther.jpg)Jan Guenther](/about/jan-guenther/)  
2027

[![Michael Mandli](/images/board-of-directors/michael-mandli.jpg)Michael Mandli](/about/michael-mandli/)  
2026

[![Karen Manske](/images/board-of-directors/karen-manske.jpg)Karen Manske](/about/karen-manske/)  
2026

![Marit Ross-Sonnesyn](/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/marit-ross-sonnesyn-jpg.avif)Marit Ross-Sonnesyn  
2027

![Andy Ubel](https://www.birkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/andy-ubel.jpg)Andy Ubel  
2028

![Yuriy Gusev](/images/board-of-directors/yuriy-gusev.jpg)Yuriy Gusev  
Board Member – Emeritus

![Sue Scheer](/images/board-of-directors/sue-scheer.jpg
)Sue Scheer  
Board Member – Emeritus

[![Tom Duffy](/images/board-of-directors/tom-duffy.jpg)Tom Duffy](/about/tom-duffy/)  
Representative, Sawyer County Board of Directors (Appointed)

![Jeff Olsen](/images/staff/staff-placeholder.jpg)Jeff Olsen  
Representative, Bayfield County Board of Directors (Appointed)

## Committees

### Foundation Committees

#### Capital Campaign / ABSF Development Committee

- Chair: Bill Brown
- Members:
- Staff: Louise Droessler

#### Finance Committee

- Chair: Kris Bjerkness
- Members: Paul Eckerline, Andy Ubel, Jan Guenther, Chris Morley, Tom Duffy, Mike Mandli
- Staff: Mike Brown, Ben Popp

#### Birkie One

- Chair: Chris Morley
- Members: Sue Scheer, Mike Cleary, Karen Manske, Ernie St. Germaine
- Staff: Erin Blow, Louise Droessler, Ben Popp

#### Documentation

- Chair: Andy Ubel
- Members: Kathie Pautsch, Karen Manske, Mike Cleary