Biographies of American Trails Board Members

We'd like to introduce the Board of Directors of American Trails and tell you more about these committed trails activists.

Roger Bell, Vice-Chair: A former college administrator with a PhD from the University of Washington, Roger has served with the Western Trailbuilders Association, Whole Access, and the Redlands Trail Committee. As a contractor, he has completed 300 projects in 14 states over the last 30 years. He currently sells and installs ETT fiberglass bridges, SSPCO soil stabilization products, Zac Trail Tools, Rock Art Signs, and Takeuchi Excavators through Naturtec: Trail and Bridge Technologies. Roger also consults on trail issues: see www.Naturtec.com.

Dr. John Collins, Jr., is an Associate Professor at the University of North Texas in Denton where he teaches and does research in the field of Recreation, Park, and Leisure Services. John was also the Chair of the Program Committee for the recent National Trails Symposium in Austin. John is active with National Recreation and Park Association and is the President of the Texas Trails Network.

Terry Durby writes "I first became involved in American Trails when I volunteered to help with the exhibit hall setup at the National Trails Symposium in the Quad Cities. I am on the Iowa Motorized Recreational Advisory Committee and the Winnebago County Community Foundation that distributes grants locally. I currently am the President of the Iowa State Snowmobile Association, delegate to the American Council of Snowmobile Associations, and delegate to the International Snowmobile Council. I also am on the Lake Mills Recreational Trail Committee for biking and hiking. Through these two passions, I hope to revamp the way groups in Iowa look at trails and development to include bikes, hikers and snowmobilers. I have five consecutive years experience in going to WashingtonDC to lobby for more funding for recreational trails.

Mylon Filkins, DVM, is an equine practitioner, as well as a long-time user of saddle and pack stock on federal lands, wilderness areas, forests, parks and backcountry trail systems. He is also past chair of Backcountry Horsemen of California and Back Country Horsemen of America. Dr. Filkins was named chair of the recently-formed Recreation Trails Committee of the American Horse Council. The goal is to advise the Council on federal issues affecting this important and growing segment of the horse industry. Dr. Filkins has long been a supporter of American Trails, serving on the American Trails Advisory Board since 1998. .

Marianne Fowler, Senior Vice President of Programs for the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, was previously southern regional coordinator and director of governmental affairs for RTC. She is the Vice Chair of the Coalition for Recreational Trails, chairs the Green Ribbon Panel in the Millennium Trails Program, and co-authored Trails and Trailways into the 21st Century.

Pam Gluck is the Executive Director of American Trails. With over seventeen years of trails experience, she has owned a hiking/ cross-country ski guide service; served as Parks and Recreation Director for the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona; and served as the Arizona State Trails Coordinator for five years. Pam's strengths lie in building and nurturing sustainable partnerships. Her primary duties include overall management of American Trails, coordinating the National Trails Symposium, and overseeing projects. Pam's goal is to continue to grow American Trails to meet the needs of the trails community and to serve the general trail user. Her favorite means for mental, spiritual, and physical renewal is daily walks with her husband and her dog.

Terry Hanson was Co-Chair of the 2000 National Trails Symposium. Employed by the City of Redding, California, Planning Department, he is project manager for the Turtle Bay Pedestrian Bridge that will cross the Sacramento River. He has also worked on the Sacramento River Trail that links Redding's railroad and mining history with its riverfront parks and the Turtle Bay Exploration Park, via a ten-mile greenway along the beautiful river.

Hulet Hornbeck: Trails have been a consistent thread through Hulet's life. In his teens he hiked Vermont's Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail, and during the 1950s he explored the hills, valleys, and shores of Central California. His life-long interest turned into a career acquiring and funding open space and trails for the East Bay Regional Park District. Hulet is winner of the 2000 National Trails Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Scott Linnenburger is the Director of Field Programs for the International Mountain Bicycling Association, overseeing IMBA's Trail Care Crew, Trail Solutions, and National Mountain Bike Patrol programs, and developing the IMBA Representative and International networks. From 2004 through 2006, Scott acted as the Coordinator of the Trail Solutions program, IMBA's consulting program for assessment, design, and construction of trail systems. His background in environmental management assisted IMBA in framing sustainable trails as a resource management tool that minimizes natural resource impacts while providing a better trail experience. Scott holds a Masters of Environmental Management Degree from the Nicholas School at Duke University as well as Bachelors Degrees in Biology and Secondary Education from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL.

Mike Passo is the project director for Wilderness Inquiry's trails and facilities assessment and Universal Design training projects. He conducted a study of outdoor developed areas nationwide to determine the cost implications of the proposed Americans with Disabilities Act standards, as well as a Congressional study on improving access to outdoor recreational activities on federal land. He has a B.S. in Recreation Resource Management from the University of Wisconsin with three years coursework in Landscape Architecture and Civil Engineering. His love of the outdoors and his own paraplegia have given him a great interest in improving access to the outdoors while preserving the characteristics and value of that environment.

Gil Penalosa is a multicultural executive having earned an M.B.A. from UCLA and 20 years of senior managerial experience. In the late 1990's Gil was Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for Bogotaá, Colombia, where he led a major re-development of its parks system, including Greenways and trails. They designed over 600 parks and built more than 200. He also led the closure to cars of 50+ miles of roads every Sunday where now over 1.5 million people walk, run, skate and bike. Gil believes, "Trails are great equalizers, where every person has a sense of belonging, of being "equal" as a human being. Every one goes to the trails regardless of gender, age, and economic, social or ethnic background. All! Trails are beautiful and fun— but also they are about improving our E.A.R.T.H.: Environment, Activity/Economic, Recreation, Transportation and Health." Gil moved to Canada in 2000 as Trade Commissioner, and currently works for the City of Mississauga and also presides over the non-profit Walk & Bike for Life. He uses his leisure time to explore outdoor activities with his wife and their three children. Gil was the keynote speaker at the Closing Luncheon of the 18th National Trails Symposium.

Bob Searns, Chair: The founding owner of Urban Edges, Inc., a planning and development firm based in Denver, that has specialized for 25 years in greenways, trails and conservation. He was Project Director of Denver's Platte River Greenway, one of the nation's benchmark urban trail projects, and produced 10,000 Trees, an eight-mile river corridor restoration project involving 3,000 volunteers. He has authored a greenways and trails plan for the 43-square-mile area of Denver International Airport, as well as areas of Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Portland. He is a development consultant for the Grand Canyon Greenway, a precedent-setting 72-mile system of multi-use trails along the canyon rim. Bob has conducted workshops throughout North America and Europe. He co-authored Greenways: A Guide to Planning, Design and Development and Trails for the 21st Century, and contributed to Greenways, The Beginning of an International Movement.

Joe Taylor has been employed by the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau for 15 years, serving as President and Chief Executive Officer since 1998. Joe is a native of Mercer County and received his Bachelor's degree in History from Illinois State University. He worked as a Newspaper Reporter and Editor for 10 years before accepting his first tourism position at the Galesburg CVB. He later worked at the Clinton CVB in Iowa before joining the Quad Cities CVB staff in 1989. He enjoys books, reading, travel, the quiet and slow pace of hiking, and the noise and frenzy of NASCAR racing.

Karen Umphress has been an enthusiastic advocate of on- and off-highway riding for several years in her home state, Minnesota, of which her husband Tom is the current NOHVCC Alternate State Representative. Karen is currently serving as a Government Relations officer with the Amateur Riders Motorcycle Association, Minnesota's local district of the American Motorcyclist Association. In addition to OHM riding, Karen also enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing, and canoeing.

Bob Walker serves as the State Trails Programs Coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks since 1991. His primary responsibilities include administration of the Recreational Trails Program, the OHV Trails Program, and the Snowmobile Trails Program. Prior to this, Bob served as the State Trails Programs Coordinator for Iowa from1985-1991. Bob has held these leadership roles: Chair, National Association of OHV Program Managers, 2002-2005; Chair, American Trails, 1992-1996; Coordinator of 1990, 1992, 1994 & 1996 National Trails Symposia; Chair, International Association of Snowmobile Administrators, 1988-1990. Bob is also a member of the State Trail Administrators Association. American Trails gave Bob a Trails Advocate award in 2002 in recognition of his efforts to spearhead new ideas on OHV education in Montana that have resulted in significantly reduced user conflicts and improved motorized user ethics.

Terry Whaley is Executive Director of Ozark Greenways, Inc. in Springfield Missouri. The mission of Ozark Greenways is "Enhancing and Preserving the Ozark Natural Heritage for Public Use and Enjoyment." Terry's duties include promotion and education on linear parks, greenways, and trails. He is responsible for fund raising, acquisition of easements, trail design, trail development, and creating a land trust committee to work in preserving open space in Greene County. Terry has served as the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Fenton, Missouri, in St. Louis County.

Jim Wood is Assistant Director of the Office of Greenways & Trails (OGT) in Florida's Department of Environmental Protection. He oversees OGT's Planning, Public Outreach, Designation, and Land Acquisition programs and staff. He also directs OGT's efforts to implement the Statewide Plan for the Florida Greenways and Trails System, and oversees all Web-based projects, including the on line Florida Greenways and Trails Guide. Jim writes, "from our partnership with the Florida Trail Association, the state's leading hiking organization, to our current effort to establish a new off-highway vehicle park in north central Florida, OGT works to serve and support a broad constituency. Just as important, our efforts with the delineation and protection of critical linkages in Florida's ecological greenways network help to ensure that the statewide system of greenways and trails sustains and protects natural Florida."

Biographies of American Trails Advisors

Jan Hancock is a college instructor and marketing manager in the office furnishings industry from Phoenix, Arizona. Jan is the author of the book Horse Trails in Arizona, and is co-authoring a national source book on equestrian facilities. She also writes numerous equestrian and trails feature articles for regional and national publications. Jan is a member of the Phoenix Parks Board and Planning Design Review Board, and serves on the Boards of Arizona State Committee on Trails, Arizona State Horsemen's Association, and Arizona Trail Association. She is pursuing her doctorate in the College of Architecture at Arizona State University.

Erik Larsen is Vice President and Managing Director of the Arnold Palmer Companies and is based in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. A practicing landscape architect and golf course architect, he received his degree in Landscape/Horticulture from North Carolina State University. With the exploding interest in trails and open space in urban communities and developing areas, Erik will provide an important liaison with the land development community and the private sector as well as helping American Trails with its array to current trails advocacy activities. As a landscape architect, he also brings outstanding design expertise to American Trails.

Dana Bell: Project Coordinator for the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council since 1999, Dana has a degree in Biological Sciences from California State Polytechnic University. She has been Western States Representative for the American Motorcyclist Association, served seven years as recreation representative on BLM's California Desert Advisory Council, and is currently on the California Roundtable on Recreation, Parks and Tourism. Dana works with OHV recreationists and land managers to develop collaborative solutions to recreation and environmental concerns. Formerly a nationally-ranked enduro competitor Dana now enjoys exploring backcountry roads and trails.

The 19th National Trails Symposium will be held in Little Rock Nov. 15-18, 2008. Join us in Arkansas for the future of trails!