Board of Directors & Staff
Join our Board of Directors or a Committee
Interested in joining our Board of Directors or a Committee? Please review our commitment requirements and complete this interest form.
We review interested individuals on an annual rolling basis and when openings occur.
Jamie Malin, President
After juggling a fast paced career that left minimal time to play outdoors, Jamie decided to make a lifestyle change and move to the Colorado mountains full-time. He traded a suburban fenced lot for a million acres of national forest as their backyard. Jamie’s favorite rides are when he leaves his car at home and rides out his back door. He likes to go for long rides followed by a cold beverage. When he is not looking for the next VVMTA project Jamie is outside biking or skiing. Powder days and flowing singletrack are his happy place. If you want more great places to ride don’t standby and wait for someone else to make it happen, get involved.
Kat Sedillo, Vice President & Secretary
Kathleen “ Kat” Sedillo has been calling the Vail Valley home for more than two decades. When she is not out searching for the perfect singletrack on her mountain bike or the best snow on her skis, she is busy researching her next outdoor adventure to take with her husband Guy and their puppy dog, Ajei. As an OSI certified trail crew leader, USFS trail steward, and IMBA Trail Care Crew-trained, Kat is always eager to give back to her playground. She happily blisters her hands to help build and maintain world-class trails throughout Eagle County, CO with the VVMBA. Recently, Kat was appointed to the Town of Avon, CO Trails Committee. She knows that trails don’t just happen – Trail Fairies wear boots and are real!
Casey Wyse, Treasurer
After graduating high school in Wyoming and college in South Dakota, Casey Wyse was lucky to land in Colorado with his twin brother Cody in 1996. Already an avid skier, mountain biker, hiker, and overall outdoor enthusiast upon arrival, twenty plus years in Colorado added a few more blessings. Casey got to add husband, father, trail builder and crew leader to the words that can describe him. With two budding trail builders/mountain bikers in the works(Jane & Thomas) you can be assured to see Casey with family and friends improving, building and enjoying trails in the future. Earn your dirt.
Mark Luzar, Board Member, Director of Dirt
Mark came to the Vail Valley as “the” director of leisure time activities for his wife Pegasus and dogs, Winston and Grayson. After serving as a microelectronics mercenary for 28 years in the silicon mines of a few US cities, Muenchen, Shanghai, Beijing, Taipei, Taizhong and Kokubungi the Chips fell his way. Why Vail? Pegasus has had family living in Minturn since the early 1950’s and it’s not such a bad place to practice Mark’s new career. He is one of the initial VVMBA members and is a trail crew leader for weekly grubbing and special events. He is stoked to see the growth of the local trail systems and thanks all of those who have participated with time and/or scratch. Mark will be out there every season sustaining current, building new, and reclaiming old unsustainable trails: so go have some fun with Winston and him on the trails (Grayson is a bit too senior to participate any more)!
Pete Seibert, Board Member
Pete Seibert Jr moved to Vail in 1962 for the first season of the fledgling ski area his father started. Three years of ski patrol in Vail lead to supervisory and management positions at Snowbasin, UT, Sun Valley, ID and Arrowhead Mountain now part of Beaver Creek. When the family grew from one child to three with a set of twins, Pete opted to stay in the valley and pursue a career in real estate. Now the fourth child is 26 and Pete has been in real estate 30 years. Pete and his partner, Kate Allan, live in the Chamonix neighborhood in West Vail, spending their time in the mountains on skis and bikes. They love to travel to Kate’s first home in Cape Town, South Africa. Pete volunteers with the Vail Veterans Program, sits on the Board of Directors of Access Unbound, is a member of the Minturn Economic Development Council, and member of the Town of Vail Planning & Environmental Commission.
Brian Rodine, Board Member
Brian loves nothing more than skiing and biking with his wife and daughter. Based in Minturn, he loves alpine late season rides and rocky descents. He also runs and backpacks wilderness trails that the VVMTA maintains, because life outdoors in the mountains is great. His biggest ask is that if you support trails, write a email to your local government telling them that!
Fritz Bratschie, Board Member
Fritz moved to the valley in the late 2000’s from Michigan. He’s been involved in the local trail and racing scene ever since when not at his day job as a Sustainability Manager or with his wife and dogs ripping turns behind his ski boat.
Anne Walters, Board Member
Anne Walters is a Senior Director of Development with the Vail Health Foundation and has spent 20 years focusing her career on nonprofit philanthropy and leadership. Prior to moving to the valley in 2019, Anne was the Chief Development Officer of Girls Scouts River Valleys in Minnesota where she helped start a mountain bike program for girls. Anne is the coordinator for Vail Health’s Adopt a Trail team outings and also is an active participant and supporter of VVMTA’s Soul Dirt Program. Anne and her partner, Mark, live in Eagle and spend their free time outdoors biking, hiking, camping, and skiing.
Laura Turitz, Board Member
(Hardscrabble Trails Coalition President)
As of October 2024, Laura is the new Hardscrabble Trails Coalition President (HTC). Laura was an inductee into our Trail Steward Hall of Fame in 2023. Laura has been at HTC since the very early days. She’s been trying to heard the group and keep track of what’s going on for a long time. She’s an avid biker and co-author of the Mountain Bike Eagle guide book and has spent countless hours working with land managers, the town, and other interested parties to make sure biking continues to evolve down valley.
Board Emeritus
Lee Rimel, Board Emeritus
A native of Pennsylvania, Lee moved to Denver in 1969 where he was the founder and co-owner of an integrated real estate company. After selling his business in 1984, he moved to Vail with his two children, Wendy & Brent, so they could enjoy the benefits of growing up in a unique mountain-town environment. Lee retired from the Real Estate business December 31, 2016 to pursue his dream of building cabins that would become a part of the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association. Two cabins are now constructed, the Continental Divide Cabin and the Point Breeze Cabin. They occupy a unique 20 acres on the Continental Divide, 10 miles North of Leadville Colorado, the acreage completely surrounded by National Forest.
Lee has been long active in community activities. He was a founder of the Colorado Manufactured Housing Association, served as Treasurer for the Vail Board of Realtors, worked with Jimmie Heuga during the formative years of Can DO MS (formerly the Heuga Center), organized the Gore Valley Soccer Club, was on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Mountain Club, served on the Colorado State Parks Trails Committee, is co-founder of Unity of the Mountains Church and co-founded Eagle County Adopt A Trails, AAT, which coordinates with the Forest Service volunteer trail improvements & maintenance on 50 trails. The AAT Team was awarded the “Chief’s Award”, one of only 12 awarded nationally, in 2018, The award was presented in Washington, DC by the United States Forest Service. Lee currently resides in Edwards, CO with his life partner, Gracie Campbell. When not adventuring with Gracie or playing with his Grandchildren, Keegan, Chase and Kaiya, or serving his community, Lee is found hiking, back-packing, canoeing, backcountry skiing, camping and biking in Colorado’s mountains and Utah’s Red Rock Country. Among his recreational accomplishments are climbing all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks, mountain biking extensively in Moab, Utah, sailing in the Caribbean and rafting the Colorado River from Grand Junction, CO to Lake Mead.
Executive Director
Ernest Saeger, Executive Director
Ernest came to the Vail Valley in 2014 to work on events such as the GoPro Mountain Games and the 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships. Prior to that he ran so many events all over the country that he can’t even remember them all. Luckily one of those events landed him in West Virginia and North Carolina where he began to mountain bike and backpack and quickly fell in love with trails, mountains, and outdoor recreation. He currently resides in Eagle with his adventure partner Hailee. Ernest believes that like the reward of a downhill after a long climb or setting a skin track, trail work provides that same “earn your turns” satisfaction. When you can’t find him on a trail or skis, you’ll most likely still find him on the river, and if not there then he’s in an ice rink. Ernest is also a member on Vail Mountain Rescue. He is truly excited to help bring new and improved trails to our community for all to enjoy for many years to come.
Trail Operations Manager
Sam Chipkin, Trail Operations Manager
Sammy grew up riding BMX bikes in New York City. Transitioned to racing downhill throughout college and has spent most of his time in Colorado on a trail bike. While living in Minturn, right near the new bike park, there was a pull back to his roots and the dirt jumper came out of the shed. Sam moved to the Vail Valley in 2012 and has been involved with the VVMTA as a volunteer for a lot of that time. It isn’t hard to take a great volunteer and hire them. Sam is thrilled to have an opportunity to work with our local community to maintain and improve a cherished resource in our valley, our trails.
Program Manager
Shawna Wood, Program Manager
Originally from Chicago, Shawna moved to Colorado in 2005 after being accepted to Colorado State University to study natural resources. Now an Eagle resident, dog mom and experienced nature lover, you can find her biking, rafting or on one of her boards — snow, split or paddle. An avid outdoor recreationist, Shawna is eager to get outside and share her love for the trails with the community.
Development & Engagement Manager
Nicky Asselin, Development & Engagement Manager
Back in 1998 Nicky moved to Vail to start her career in marketing with her husband Greg. They only spent two years in the valley but the love of all things Vail never left their heart. In 2014, after a brief detour to Denver, they decided they had to move back up to share this life with their two boys. The first organization she joined was the Hardscrabble Trails Coalition in Eagle and quickly fell in love with all things trails and the amazing community. She is truly excited to be a part of the VVMTA in a position that combines all of her passions, giving back to everything that she loves the most. When she’s not out biking, skiing, golfing, or hiking you can find her in Fruita, Moab, Lake Powell or surfing in California.
Trail Stewardship Coordinator
Molly DeLallo, Trail Stewardship Coordinator
Although Molly grew up in the Green and White Mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire, the peaks of Colorado were calling. She has been working in education for the past few years but uses any chance she can to spend time on the trails. Molly can usually be found running up Berry Picker in Vail or springing over to Moab to get some desert riding in (and eating post-ride potato chips). She is stoked to be part of the VVMTA team and out on our trails.
2024 Season - Trail Conservation Crew
Sam Armstrong – Champ, TCC Crew Leader
Born and raised in New England, Sam is a nature lover by default. During his early teenage years, Sam volunteered for trail work to gain community service credits in high school, not realizing it would lead to his passion for many summers to follow. Sam loves getting out on any trail, hiking, biking, or skiing and enjoys sending time in creeks trout fishing. His goal for the summer is to bag is first 14er and go line dancing.
Bay Stephens, TCC Crew Leader
Bay was born in the Vail hospital and raised on the valley’s trails. Time in the mountains with his dad as a kid taught him 1) to enjoy the uphill as much as the downhill and 2) that it’s not an adventure until something goes wrong. He attended Montana State University in Bozeman to ski, kayak, mountain bike, and (of course) learn things in school. During his summers he raft guided and safety kayaked here in the valley for Sage Outdoor Adventures. After school, Bay did a stint as a journalist in Big Sky, got married, tried to spend a year in Ireland, got booted back stateside by a pandemic, spent a year in Tennessee, then nine months living out of a short bus. Finally, his wife, Katie, landed a fellowship at Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon, bringing Bay back home. Last season was his first on VVMTA’s trail crew, followed by a winter as a ski patroller at Beaver Creek. He’s stoked for another summer on the trail. Although Bay loves the mountain sports we enjoy here, he delights as much in an afternoon spent reading in a hammock.
Jack Smith, TCC Crew
Jack is returning for his second season with VVMTA and is excited for his first season with the Trail Crew. Last summer he filled our role as Wilderness Ranger where he hiked over 600 miles and his tent became his second home. Jack originally came to Colorado to chase his love of snowboarding and instructs at Beaver Creek in the winters. While he still straps in over 100 days a season, his time in the Vail Valley has drawn him to many other outdoor activities like splitboarding, mountain biking, and trail running. If Jack’s not recreating outside, he’s probably at a concert, drinking a bloody mary, or helping improve our trails through VVMTA!
Trey Dever, TCC Crew
Originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin. Trey moved to the valley about two and a half years ago, and quickly fell in love with the mountains and nature of the area. Some of Trey’s favorite outdoor activities include; hiking, biking, camping, and swimming. During his first year on trail crew, Trey is extremely excited to be apart of this organization and see the difference our team has made at the end of season.
David Gross, TCC Crew
David grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina and fell in love with the mountains while attending Appalachian State University. His passion for snowboarding and the outdoors lead him to New Zealand after college to continue his education as a snowboard instructor. After a 6 month trip abroad he has rooted himself in the vail valley instructing for Beaver Creek during the winters. You can normally spot Dave ripping the slopes in the winter, hiking in the summers, and cruising in his stock Subaru outback whenever he gets a chance.
Josh Helmering, TCC Crew
Bio coming soon…
Jeremiah Kehoe, TCC Intern
Bio coming soon…
Eli Howard, Wilderness Ranger
Bio coming soon…
Melanie Monroe, Trail Ambassador
Hailing the from the great state of Maryland-home of Old Bay seasoning, the Naval Academy, and a 400 year-old feud between Maryland and Virginia over who controls the Potomac River-Melanie found herself drawn to the wide open spaces of Colorado after she graduated from Penn State University. Before VVMTA, she worked for Vail as a PSIA certified ski instructor, predominately teaching lessons to 3-6 year olds (i.e. she can handle ANYTHING)! With a background in education and many years of experience working in the outdoors, Melanie has been a wonderful addition to our team! In her free time, Mel enjoys a good hike-no matter the season-and will be out on the trails this summer educating trail users visiting and local to the Valley. She might be missing the snow but she is ready for good summer of adventures! If you see Melanie out there at a trailhead or identifying native flowers, please say hello! She has a wealth of knowledge that she is always happy to share with you!
Noah Ejnes, Trail Ambassador
Born and raised here in Eagle, CO Noah grew up with a love for the outdoors, hiking, biking or skiing every single day. After graduating from Eagle Valley High School he spent a year backpacking through Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan, from the Negev Desert to the Golan Heights. Afterwards Noah moved to South Lake Tahoe where he taught skiing at Heavenly Resort and further developed his passion for all types of outdoor recreation, adding climbing and rafting to his growing list of hobbies. Now back in the Vail Valley he is excited to join the VVMTA family where he can help educate trail users and protect OUR backyard for many future generations to enjoy!
Emily Carney, Volunteer Crew Leader
Emily grew up in Minnesota, developing a love for the outdoors through family camping trips. After college in Missouri, she moved to South Dakota and worked at Badlands National Park. She spent three summers as a camping tour guide across the US and Canada. Winters brought her to Eagle County, driving mountain shuttles. 2018 was spent living in New Zealand and working at a ski field on an active volcano. Returning to Minnesota, she taught youth and adults at an outdoor recreation school. October 2019, she moved back to Eagle County, worked as a snowshoe guide, and then as an event manager. She’s excited to re-engage with the outdoor industry and get involved in the community.
