Board
Executive Board
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Brian Fisher
Brian joined the board of directors in May 2007 and became president in 2012. A TART Trails supporter for many years, Brian is out biking on the trails frequently. Brian explains, “My interest in TART was really formed by my trail usage- I ride a lot. I think it’s great you can get from here to there by using the trails.” One of his most enjoyable trail activities is riding up to Suttons Bay after work, jumping in the water, and then riding home. Brian also values riding as a form of transportation, and wants to continue to promote that aspect of trail usage. Brian is a dentist and resides in Traverse City with his wife Vera
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Susan Vigland
Susan has been a member of the TART Trails Board of Directors since 2009, and currently serves as Vice President. Susan became interested in TART’s Smart Commute Week when she was commuting 35 miles to work every day. She wanted to participate – be one of those lucky ones who rides their bike to work. She eventually bought a house in downtown Traverse City, landed a job downtown and made a promise to herself to never drive to work. She’s kept her promise and rides her bike to work in every day, year round, in all weather conditions. Since living in TC, Susan has become a competitive cross-country skier and cyclist, as a member of the Hagerty Cycling Team. A native of Cadillac, she attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and is currently employed by Hagerty Insurance as a training and wellness manager. She and her husband Todd, enjoy our trails year around. She is delighted to be involved with TART. E-mail Susan at svigland@gmail.com
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Chris DeGood
Chris joined the TART Trails board in 2009 and works as a senior civil site engineer for URS Corporation. In February of 2012 Chris was appointed as secretary of the board.
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John Paul
John Paul joined the TART Trails board in May 2007. A longtime outdoor and trail enthusiast, he was eager to get involved in the local trails organization. John explains, “So many of the outdoor activities my family and I enjoy involve trails. Hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing are activities we’ve pursued for years.” His career took him to Kalamazoo for several years, but he returned to Traverse City in 2006 to serve at the President and CEO of the Traverse City office of the Bank of Northern Michigan. John enjoys his time on the board and looks forward to adventures on new trails throughout northern Michigan. He and his wife Sue have four children, all of whom live in Traverse City.
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Scott Howard
Scott Howard was elected to the TART Trails board in May 2005. He is an avid trail user, and enjoys competitive road cycling and mountain biking. A native of Traverse City, Scott resides on 11th Street with his wife, Michele, and their three young children. Professionally, Scott is an attorney and works in Traverse City at Olson, Bzdok & Howard, PC.
Board Members
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Tom Auer
Tom has a lifelong interest in bicycling. He was especially interested in joining TART in order to help Ted Okerstrom with his vision of a trail around the Boardman Lake. He also has an interest in fitness as a way of life. He has been an internal medicine physician at Thirlby Clinic since 1975.
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Brian Beauchamp
Brian Beauchamp, who began his first term on the board in November 2009, works at the Michigan Land Use Institute (MLUI), a partner organization to TART on many projects, including Smart Commute Week, and the Grand Vision. Brian directs MLUI’s policy and program work on energy efficiency and renewable energy investments in northwest Michigan. Brian has more than a decade of experience in Michigan energy policy and currently manages the TC Saves, a residential retrofit program designed to help homeowners in Traverse City make energy upgrades to their homes. As former campaign director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, he offers hands-on experience in state policy, marketing and public outreach. He currently serves as the chair for TART Trails’ Outreach Committee. When he’s not busy volunteering his time with TART Trails or working towards clean energy solutions, you can find him riding his bike with friends or out learning how to skate ski on the VASA trail.
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Jim Dombrowski
Jim became involved with TART Trails as a volunteer during the trail survey in 2002. Since then he became a groomer on the Vasa Pathway and enjoys working on all of the trails. Jim joined the TART Trails board in 2006 and currently serves on the Outreach Committee and the Safety, Operations & Maintenance Committee. He is an avid cross-country skier and also enjoys bicycling and walking the trails. Jim explains, “Returning to Traverse City after spending time in an area without an established trail system, I truly appreciate our trail system and everyone who has worked so hard to establish it. My desire is that it continues to grow and that existing trails continue to improve”. Jim received the Jim Mudgett Trail Pioneer Award in 2010.
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Meagan McLain
Meagan joined the TART Trails board in February 2011. She grew up helping out with her family’s business, McLain Cycle and Fitness. Meagan is responsible for creating Tour de TART to showcase the Leelanau Trail. Tour de TART has subsequently become TART’s signature event. She is involved with registration logistics for most cycling events in the region. Meagan is an avid cyclist both on and off road.
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Wayne Olsen
Dr. Wayne Olsen, DDS joined the TART Trails board in February 2012. Wayne enjoys bicycling, running, boating, kayaking, gardening, and woodworking. He looks forward to helping TART Trails with trail development, maintenance and community events.
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Kelley Peterson
Kelley Peterson was elected to the board in June of 2010. An avid cross-country skier, if there is snow you will find her on the VASA trail. When not skiing she enjoys trail running on our community’s great network of trails. As a longtime TART Trails supporter, Kelley welcomed the opportunity to serve on the board of an organization that has helped shape her outdoor and recreational passions. She is a native of Traverse City and graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Environmental Management. Kelley worked for several local companies doing underground storage tank removal and site assessments before starting a family. She lives with her husband David and sons Cole and Davis on the peninsula. Kelley enjoys coaching Cross Country and Track at Old Mission Peninsula School and hopes that her love of running and skiing will rub off on her boys.
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Mike Tarnow
Mike joined the board in 2008 and is a real estate appraiser for Northern Michigan Real Estate Consultants of which he is both founder and co-owner.
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Matt Vermetten
Matt joined the TART board in February 2011. He enjoys using the TART Trail system on a daily basis. Matt’s favorite recreational pursuits are cycling and cross- country skiing. He is a partner at the law firm of Brandt, Fisher, Alward and Pezzetti.
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Howard Yamaguchi
Howard joined the Board in 2009 to help TART Trails close the gap in Acme and join up with trails in Antrim County and Charlevoix. He is a casual trail user who enjoys cycling from Bunker Hill Road to the TADL for a book fix every other week. His idea of fun is making maps for TART Trails. Howard is a semi-retired engineer and GIS hobbyist living in Williamsburg. He spent much of his career overseas, usually somewhere in Southeast Asia on water resources projects. In the US, he has worked as a civil engineer in both the west and east coasts, as a planner in Antrim County, and as a storm water specialist for the California Dept. of Transportation. Howard’s wife, Patricia, is an Elk Rapids native and a specialist in traditional Southeast Asian music. Their son, Justin, is a freelance animator in northern California. Howard and Patricia now split their time between Williamsburg and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
