Board Members

Jessica Alpers

President

Jessica joined the TART board in March 2019. She became an avid user of the TART Trails network after moving to Traverse City in late 2012 for a job assisting growers to voluntarily implement environmentally friendly best management practices. Upon starting a family, Jessica joined her husband, Chris, at his family’s cherry and apple business in Leelanau County. On most days, she can be found pushing a jogging stroller somewhere along the TART Trails network training for upcoming running races and triathlons.

Nan Ray

Vice President

Nan is a fourth-generation Traverse City native, finds delight in everything Northern Michigan has to offer, and has a garage full of recreational equipment to prove it.  She joined Century 21 Northland as a full-time Realtor in 2016, carrying with her a degree and prior career in construction management.  She loves being able to combine her professional disciplines, create relationships, and think creatively to align clients with their housing goals, as well as “multi-event” play dates with her husband Pat and two amazing kiddos.  

Meg A. Thomas Ackerman

Past President

Meg is retired, having been the Director of Michigan’s Safe Routes to School program. In that role, she also collaborated with other trail groups on various projects designed to improve active transportation. Prior to that, she was the head of a Montessori school after having taught upper elementary. In those positions, Meg held a firm belief in the need to encourage and enable students to use active transportation whenever and wherever possible. Prior to her move to Traverse city, Meg served on the Board of Directors of Girls on the Run Mid-Michigan and Friends of the Lansing Regional Trails. Along with husband Glen, she loves taking advantage of everything Michigan’s trails have to offer, and values living steps from the TART trail. Meg enjoys rowing, biking, hiking, yoga, gardening, and spending as much time as possible with her little granddaughter.

Kate Thornhill

Treasurer

Kate Thornhill has been involved in local trail building since 1995, when dreams for the Leelanau Trail as a recreational pathway began to materialize. She lived in Sutton’s Bay and thought a bike path to Traverse City would be just amazing. In the early years, she rode her horse on the trail (a lot) between Bingham and Richter Roads. Since that time, TART has done an amazing amount of trail building. She traded horseback riding the trail for biking, skiing, walking, and a variety of roles as a volunteer, including a previous stint on the board (many years ago).
She also had a day job as a CPA, which led to her current role as Board Treasurer.

Heather Jordan

Secretary

Heather is excited to join the TART Board as its newest member.  She and her husband, Chad, live on a farm adjacent to the Leelanau Trail just south of Suttons Bay.  They are year-round frequent users of the trail.  A graduate of TCHS, she attended University of Michigan and Northwestern University.  Heather works in international supply chain assurance as the Director of Strategic Accounts for LGC ASSURE.  As part of her job, she has had the opportunity to travel internationally and always finds walking and biking on local trails the best way to get to know a new place.  She is eager to bring that perspective, along with her career focus on customer satisfaction, to the TART Board.  Heather and Chad enjoy all sorts of biking, hiking, and winter and water sports, as well as visiting their son Max, who is a student in Marquette at NMU.

Paul Bussey

Paul Bussey joined the TART Board in 2021 and also serves on the Trail Development Committee. He brings more than a decade of experience investing in and growing businesses across Northern and West Michigan. His prior work in regional planning and economic development included developing and advancing regional trail initiatives such as the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. Paul’s expertise supports the continued expansion of the region’s trail network as a driver of community connectivity, outdoor recreation, and place-based economic growth.

Ross Hammersley

Ross joined the TART board in March 2016. He has been a frequent user of the VASA Pathway and TART Trail network ever since moving to Traverse City in 2009. He has helped organize the Smart Commute Week team at his law firm (Olson, Bzdok & Howard PC) since 2010 where he is an environmental and land-use attorney. Along with his wife, Kate Madigan, and their two boys, Ross can frequently be found biking around town or on our local trails, exploring forests, rivers and sand dunes, playing and coaching soccer, and trying to get faster as a triathlete. Ross also volunteers with the local legal aid clinic, as Board Member with Conflict Resolution Services and as a Council Member of the Environmental Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.

Tara Hochstetler

Tara, a native of Oklahoma, moved to Traverse City with her family in 2011. Before deciding where to settle after her husband Brad’s medical residency and military service, the couple did extensive research on many vibrant communities throughout the USA, seeking a perfect place to raise their young children. When they learned about the TART Trails system, Traverse City rose to the top of the list. It was a wonderful choice! Just about any day of the week, Tara, Brad, or one of their now-teenage children can be found somewhere on the TART or VASA trails biking or running. As a former teacher and reading specialist, Tara is also passionate about literacy and all things book-related. When you see her jogging on the Leelanau Trail with headphones on, be sure to say hi and ask what book she’s listening to!

Matt McDonough

Matt joined the TART Trails board in 2017. Matt is the CEO of the Discovery Center ~ Great Lakes. A resident of Traverse City, Matt is an avid user of the Vasa and Leelanau trails and loves to say hello to fellow trail users. Matt lives for mountain biking, cycling, hiking, reading, and being outside in northern Michigan with his wife, Ann, and their two great kids.

Rick Simonton

Rick joined the TART Trails board in 2016. He and his family had been vacationing in Northern Michigan for decades and finally decided to move to Suttons Bay from Dublin, Ohio in November 2013. Since Rick retired from his Merrill Lynch wealth management team in December 2025, you can usually find him and his wife, Donna, biking, hiking or cross-country skiing on the TART Trails network. His passion and support for the TART Trails organization was enhanced during the 2015 Vasa Cross-Country Ski Race. During the race, he experienced frostbite to both corneas and was the recipient of incredible volunteer support. Fortunately, his eyesight returned to normal and he is on a mission to remind everyone he meets that life is too short and to enjoy every moment.

Russ Soyring

Russ Soyring, and his wife Tina, live in Traverse City’s Central Neighborhood where nearly everything is within easy walking or biking distance. They have two adult children living in the Ann Arbor area as well as two grandchildren with another on its way this summer. For three and half decades Russ, a Marquette native, was the Traverse City Planning Director where he played a key role, with the support of many others, to make Traverse City one of Michigan’s most walkable and bicycle friendly communities.  Currently, he serves on a number of Boards including the Grand Traverse Commons Joint Planning Commission.  Now semi-retired, Russ is helping other communities plan to make travel by foot and bicycle both inviting and safe. His favorite mode of transportation around town is by bicycle. He also enjoys kayaking, planting trees and is happy to get on a pickleball court whenever he can. 

Bobby Peplinski

Bobby, his wife Laura, and their three children are Traverse City residents, where they actively enjoy our region’s natural beauty and outdoor opportunities.  The TART Trails have become an integral part of their family’s life, whether it’s biking, walking, or simply spending time together outdoors.  Bobby is the CFO and Vice President of Northwest Michigan for Cunningham-Limp Development Company, which is a diversified real estate firm that specializes in development, design, and construction with a commitment to projects that have a positive impact on people, communities, and organizations.  With his legal and accounting background, Bobby is able to approach complex projects with an analytical and practical perspective.  Bobby is proud to support TART Trails and its mission, and he is honored to contribute to the organization’s continued growth and success.

Melissa Guy

Melissa, a Northern Michigan local, has enjoyed TART Trails for decades. She especially loves exploring the Leelanau Trail and Boardman Lake Loop with her husband, Jeff, their two young daughters, and their Irish Doodle. Their daughters are currently developing a love of nature and learning to bike on these trails. Melissa’s professional background spans Finance and Human Resources, with experience as an organizational leader, board member, entrepreneur, and now as a business support consultant. She is active in a variety of local community initiatives and volunteer projects. Melissa can often be found walking, hiking, golfing, enjoying water activities, skiing, or simply spending as much time outdoors as possible.