Jon joined SMT in 2021 as the organization’s first-ever staff, bringing 15+ years of experience in communications, public policy, and nonprofit development. Prior to SMT, Jon was the Communications and Development Director for the Boston Cyclists Union (BCU), a nonprofit that promotes sustainable transportation and the joy of biking. Jon believes trails are a conservation tool, and he’s grateful for the opportunity to enhance outdoor recreation while preserving natural resources for future generations.
Kyle is a passionate trails professional who began his career at Steamboat Bike Park, where he worked on downhill trails and features. He went on to spend five years with Jefferson County Open Space as a Senior Trails Specialist, where he managed the agency’s youth corps and performed its annual trail assessment. With a strong foundation in both technical trail work and team leadership, Kyle brings experience, dedication, and a deep respect for sustainable trail systems to every project.
When he’s not working on trails, you can find him mountain biking, paragliding, or exploring the mountains.
Kiersten got her start in trail work in 2018 as a conservation corps member with the American Conservation Experience in Flagstaff, AZ. She quickly fell in love with the day-to-day rhythms, the people, and the landscapes of the trail world. A strong desire to continue this work in her home state of Colorado led her to Southwest Conservation Corps in Salida, where she gained additional experience leading high school youth, backcountry crosscut, and roving trail crews as well as building programming as SCC’s Youth Program Coordinator. She is excited to get to work on the local trails she knows and loves this year as SMT’s Seasonal Trail Technician.
Hill Abell is a new member of the Salida trails community, but has been a passionate advocate for trails and trail users for over 30 years. Hill owned and operated a family of bike shops in Austin, TX, for 37 years before the mountain life and Salida’s abundant trail system compelled him and Laura, his wife, to make the move. Hill served 19 years on the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) board, was a member of the Texas Trails Advisory Committee for Texas Parks and Wildlife, and supported trail development and open space preservation as a member of the Austin Parks and Recreation Board.
John is a dedicated volunteer with a passion for making a positive impact. When he’s not behind the lens capturing the beauty of the outdoors as a photographer, you’ll find him exploring new cycling routes and soaking in the natural world. John’s commitment to volunteering and his love for outdoor adventures make him a great addition to the SMT team.
Rich joined SMT as Treasurer in 2022. He brings 15 years of professional experience in corporate and non-profit finance, passion for outdoor recreation, and love of the Salida community. He hopes to lend his skills to continue building a great organization and great, sustainable trails to be enjoyed by all.
Ruthie is a practicing attorney with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. Her legal practice focuses on state regulatory and administrative law. Since moving to Salida in 2020 with her husband and son, she has enjoyed exploring the outstanding local trail system both on bike and foot.
Andrew Bascue is a Salida-based builder, project manager, and lifelong trail enthusiast who has called the Arkansas River Valley home for the past eight years. A dedicated user of the local trail system, he’s volunteered as a trail steward, and proudly guided visiting friends on his favorite loops. Andrew also coaches with the Salida Youth Cycling Program, where he’s watched his daughter grow from a strider bike to confidently tackling the skills park. With more than 15 years of leadership and project management experience in construction and business operations, he brings a collaborative, hands-on approach to supporting SMT’s mission of building, maintaining, and elevating Salida’s world-class trails for the entire community.
Brian Bergeler grew up riding rigid 26″ mountain bikes with toe clips on the rocky + rooty nightmare trails of Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville, Alabama…and has the scars to prove it. His love of mountain bikes and trails (+ his wife) uprooted him from the East Coast and planted him in Colorado 15 years ago. He and his wife have called Salida home for the last six years. Brian’s background includes active transportation + trail planning, project management, nonprofit trail stewardship and a long history in the bicycle industry. Please don’t ask him about Toyota Land Cruisers, unless you have an hour or two to spare!
Austin is a thru-hiker turned business owner with a background in accounting and finance. He’s logged thousands of miles on trails around the world, including the AZT, Greater Patagonia Trail, Te Araroa and a yo-yo of the PCT. Now rooted in Salida with his wife Keely and their dog Murphy, Austin balances his time between trail running, mountain biking, and splitboarding while running Salida Mountain Sports and Steamboat Consulting, the financial services firm he founded.
Rachel Finkowski has been living and riding bikes in Salida for the last 5 years. Rachel is a social worker who is passionate about making our community better for everyone. She has worked in nonprofits for over a decade including as the director of a Chaffee County Nonprofit, The Alliance. Rachel’s day job is working in mental health, and she wholeheartedly believes that access to outdoors, movement and sunshine can help so many people in so many ways. It is an honor to steward this amazing trail system we have here in Salida. See you on the trail!
Maureen hails from Northern California and Carbondale and a career as a long distance trail planner. She currently provides consulting services to IMBA, Rails to Trails Conservancy and other bike/pedestrian/trail related organizations. For beer money she sometimes writes for Singletracks.com, Outside, Velo, Adventure Cyclist and The Cycling Independent. A long time ago she was a horse trainer but now she rides most things with two wheels. She’s still pretty sure gravel biking is dumb, but she’s giving it a go.
Michael has mountains and trails in her DNA. Born and raised in Telluride, CO, she thrives on outdoor adventures. An avid mountain biker and trail runner, the trails of Salida were a major draw for her and her husband, leading them to relocate here in 2022.
Together, they own a custom home building company, and Michael also practices real estate. Prior to her career in real estate, she spent years in executive leadership within behavioral health, concentrating on development, strategic planning, relationship building, and optimizing internal systems.
Brace yourself… meeting Michael is like a burst of sunshine—just try not to squint! Her infectious energy might just have you signing up for the next trail adventure on the spot!
Zach is the Parks, Trails and Open Space supervisor for the City of Salida. He likes running really long distances, sleeping in the dirt and eating ice cream. Zach has worked in the professional trails world for almost 15 years, and is passionate about public land and conservation management. See ya on the trails!
Jon is a fervent user of the Salida trail systems as a runner and mountain biker. Prior to moving to Salida, he had been a trail volunteer for over a decade with his local trail organization in Iowa. He has a love for trail maintenance which provides a real sense of connection to the trails. Additionally, Jon is enthusiastic about local development patterns, ecosystems, beavers, books and folding bikes. A recovering accountant, he now works as a substitute teacher in the Salida school district.
Tom was raised in the Denver suburbs of the Front Range, but could not be happier that he now lives in Salida with his family. He has ridden bikes for fun and transportation for nearly 40 years, including 25 years as a mountain, gravel, and road bike racer. He previously served on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee for the City of Denver and has served on the SMT Board of Directors for more than two years. When he is not riding bikes, Tom is skiing Monarch or chasing his toddler around F Street.
