Organization hires three Directors and promotes long-time employees; promotes Kent McNeill to CEO and Tiffanie Beal to Finance Director
(BOULDER, Colo., April 16, 2019) — Over the last year International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) has been steadily building out its leadership team; promoting long-time employees to leadership roles while also adding three new directors with unique skill sets in their respective specialty areas. IMBA’s nine leaders live in seven states across the country.
"IMBA has spent the last year building capacity and sharpening our focus to significantly impact the quantity, quality, and close-to-home access of mountain bike trails. IMBA is uniquely positioned to help with this growing demand, and the talent we have added to our team to support this work is phenomenal,” said Dave Wiens, IMBA Executive Director. “Each team member brings unique skills and experience to the organization, and is completely committed to advancing fresh ideas to bring our mission to life.”
Over the last nine years, Tiffanie Beal has taken her passion for protecting trails through several key roles to serve IMBA and its membership. Beal started with IMBA’s Chapter & Member Services then transitioned to the role of Finance Manager, before being promoted to Director of Finance in 2019. “Having worked tirelessly to serve IMBA from a financial standpoint over the last six years, it was without question Tiffanie was the best person to fill the new role of Director of Finance for the organization.” said Wiens. Beal is based in Boulder, Colorado.
Former IMBA Board Member Kent McNeill joined IMBA’s staff in early 2018 to bring operational expertise to the team, and now serves as the organization’s first CEO. McNeill’s background includes a career in bicycle retail as the founder of Midwest Cycling—a top 15 nationally ranked Trek retailer—as well as extensive involvement in the Nebraska mountain bike scene and as a founding member of IMBA Local group Trails Have Our Respect. McNeill will continue to work closely with Wiens to shepherd IMBA’s focus and vision. McNeill is based in Omaha, Nebraska.
In addition, IMBA welcomes three new Director-level staff. Jessica Rockson, Kristine McCormick and Todd Keller will lead Programs, Marketing and Government Affairs, respectively.
Rockson joined IMBA in Fall 2018 with over 20 years of service to the United States Coast Guard. Rockson worked in a team environment to execute search and rescue, law enforcement, and marine environmental response. Rockson believes trails positively transform lives and communities, and that effectuating access to great mountain bike trails is the ultimate reward. Rockson brings extensive experience managing a multitude of projects and groups to the expansive role of IMBA’s Director of Programs. Rockson is based in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Working closely with Rockson is Todd Keller, IMBA’s Director of Government Affairs, who joined the team in March 2019. Keller has 20 years experience in public policy, legislative affairs and issue campaigns. Keller’s experience ranges from conservation non-profits including National Wildlife Federation, to the renewable energy industry, to outdoor recreation organizations including the Outdoor Industry Association. Throughout his career Keller has worked to promote a healthy lifestyle by ensuring access to public lands, funding for outdoor recreation, and promoting cycling in all forms. Keller is based in Washington, D.C.
Kristine McCormick also joined IMBA in March 2019 as Director of Marketing. McCormick brings over 20 years of sales and marketing experience to her role, ranging from serving as an advertising account executive at Gannett-owned newspapers and magazines, to managing marketing efforts at a regional craft brewery, to leading marketing for “The Salvage Dawgs,” on the DIY Network. McCormick has served IMBA at the local level since 2012 as the founding communications board member for Roanoke, Virginia’s IMBA Local group. McCormick was part of a team that dedicated six years of volunteer work to achieving IMBA's Sliver Level Ride Center designation for Virginia's Blue Ridge. McCormick is based in Roanoke, Virginia.
Rounding out IMBA’s leadership team is James Clark, Executive Vice President, who has been with IMBA since 2016 and is based in Boulder Creek, California; Richard Edwards, Director of Construction and Operations for Trail Solutions, with IMBA since 2000 and based in Harrisonburg, Virginia; and Mike Repyak, Director of Planning and Design for Trail Solutions, who joined IMBA in 2016 and is based in Madison, Wisconsin. Meet IMBA’s team at imba.com.
“I am confident about the direction IMBA is headed,” said Wiens. “The individuals who make up IMBA’s leadership team bring an unparalleled sense of enthusiasm and dedication to our IMBA mission of creating, enhancing and protecting great places to ride mountain bikes.”
About IMBA:
The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) creates, enhances and protects great places to ride mountain bikes. It is focused on creating more trails close to home to grow the quantity and quality of mountain bike trail communities across the U.S., so everyone has access to close-to-home rides and iconic backcountry experiences. Since 1988, IMBA has been the worldwide leader in mountain bike advocacy and the only organization focused entirely on trails and access for all types of mountain bikers in all parts of the U.S. IMBA teaches and encourages low-impact riding, grassroots advocacy, sustainable trail design, innovative land management practices and cooperation among trail user groups. IMBA U.S. is a national network of local groups, individual riders and passionate volunteers working together for the benefit of the entire community.
