Punderson brings 25+ years of experience and leadership to the world's largest youth mountain bike organization
Kate Webber Punderson joined the NICA leadership team in June. She brings a wealth of experience in youth sports and youth development, as well as fundraising and donor relationships.
JUNE 30, 2025 – The National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) welcomes Kate Webber Punderson to lead its development and marketing departments serving the National organization and 32 nationwide youth mountain biking leagues.
Since its founding in 2009, NICA has served over 100,000 student-athletes and is considered to be the largest youth mountain bike organization in the world. Punderson's hire signals the next step for NICA's growth and a continued focus on building organizational capacity to support its network of state and regional leagues, which includes more than 15,000 volunteer coaches and 25,000 student-athletes annually.
Punderson brings over two decades of experience in education, youth sports and community development, as well as a strong background in nonprofit management and executive leadership. She has spent her life championing youth development through education, sport, and the outdoors, focusing much of her career on Maine's Carrabassett Valley Academy, a renowned college-preparatory ski and snowboard school for student-athletes. Punderson served in multiple leadership roles, including 13 years as Head of School, where she led transformational capital campaigns, built lasting partnerships, and shaped a strong, values-driven culture.
"We are thrilled to have Kate join our team at NICA," says Amanda Carey, NICA President. "Her unique skills, experience, and talents will help NICA reach more kids and families by building awareness of our brand and mission, and solidifying the organization's philanthropic base."
Kate Webber Punderson joined the NICA leadership team in June. She brings a wealth of experience in youth sports and youth development, as well as fundraising and donor relationships.
"I came to NICA because I know that these programs are about so much more than just mountain bike training," says Punderson. "I am excited to help NICA continue to reinvent youth sports, bringing kids and entire families the kinds of transformational experiences that we know the bike can provide." This deep belief in the power of sport, along with her collaborative approach to relationship-building, and track record of mission-driven fundraising success will help power NICA as it embarks on an ambitious goal to change the lives of 100,000 youth annually by 2033.
NICA continues to build momentum across the country with its 32 leagues, and now across the world, after a successful 2024 pilot program in Australia that set the stage for growth abroad. The organization is also in the early stages of developing elementary-age programming to expand its reach beyond its current 5-12th grade audience. With even more potential projects in the near future, the time for organizational capacity building is now.
"NICA offers a youth sports experience kids deserve," says Carey. "The world needs NICA: to get kids off of screens, outdoors, active, and into a supportive community...and we want to expand our reach so that every kid has the opportunity to participate."
"It's vital to continue to find ways to improve our youth's mental and physical health. Introducing them to life-long outdoor sports and recreation activities, like cycling, opens up endless opportunities for wellness, connection, leadership and joy," Punderson added.
NICA is supported by a network of partners, donors, and grant funders who recognize a shared value in the organization's mission to build strong minds, bodies, character, and communities through cycling. As the organization grows, so does the need for support. Punderson and the NICA development team welcome conversations from interested parties and can be reached at development@nationalmtb.org or at (510) 524-5464 ext. 722.
