Mission: Redwood Trails Alliance is an advocate for our diverse
community of trail users. We teach responsible trail stewardship and offer
volunteer trail work opportunities along with planning and construction
services for trails for all to enjoy.
Vision
Redwood Trails Alliance is a highly respected organization known as a leader in the creation and stewardship of trails and community. Redwood Trails Alliance builds unity among all outdoor enthusiasts through conservation, education, and increased access to trails, and this community in turn supports a vast trail network throughout the region with sustainable and enjoyable trails through world-class landscapes.
Purpose
To increase the quality and quantity of trails in order to enhance the experience of all trail users.
History
Redwood Trails Alliance was created through the union of the Sonoma County Trails Council and the Redwood Empire Mountain Bike Alliance.
On November 19, 2020 the Board of Directors of both corporations agreed to join forces and to pursue a common Mission dba as the Redwood Trails Alliance with an initial Board of Directors combined from both nonprofits.
The SCTC has worked with volunteers and others to plan, build, and maintain trails that offer enduring public and environmental benefit, and to educate and advocate on their behalf since 1967.
REMBA was formed in 2015 to build community among mountain bikers of the Redwood Empire through communication, education, trail work, and stewardship of our parks and open spaces.
The Board of Directors of the two organizations recognized that their missions were similar and that by working together as one organization the benefits would be greater than either could realize on their own.
Redwood Trails Alliance is now an advocate for our diverse community of trail users. We teach responsible trail stewardship, and provide planning and construction services to create trails that offer enduring public and environmental benefit in Sonoma, Napa and Lake counties.
Our Team |
Debbie St Cyr | Deb stepped into the trail building and mountain bike advocacy world through a crazy story in 2015 involving a bike accident, a devastating wildfire, a scholarship to a trails conference and motivated kids on mountain bikes! Through this crazy series of events Deb found herself at the table of a Redwood Empire Mountain Bike Alliance board meeting to request help to rebuild her lost trail network but ended up falling in love with a community that fueled her outdoor passion, so she never left. She soon found herself in the role of chair to the board of directors of REMBA. Through teamwork and a supportive board, she proudly became the first Executive Director of REMBA. After 15 years providing bookkeeping and consulting work to nonprofit and for-profit clients, she shifted careers and now proudly serves as the Executive Director for Redwood Trails Alliance. |
Trails Director | Ken grew up in Calaveras County in the Sierra foothills where he used trails to go backpacking, fishing, and ride bikes. After getting his first mountain bike in 1982 he became concerned at the loss of access for this healthy activity, becoming a trails and bicycle advocate, serving as the President of Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers in Santa Clara County, CA, the first mountain bike advocacy organization in the US. Representing ROMP, he was one of the original groups that started the International Mountain Bicycling Association in 1988. His professional career led to Washington State where he spent two years on the Board of the Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club, now the Evergreen MTB Alliance, and in 1992 he moved to Sonoma County and onto the Board of the Sonoma County Trails Council. He served as SCTC’s President for many years, taking on the role of Executive Director in 2010. His long-term advocacy is matched on the ground with over 35 years of trail work experience with training from California State Parks, Tahoe Rim Trail Association, Pacific Crest Trail Association and the International Mountain Bicycling Association, supported with a civil engineering background. As the Trails Director for Redwood Trails Alliance, he provides trail construction training to park staff, volunteers, and trail builders, earning multiple awards including California State Parks and the California Trails and Greenways Conference’ Lifetime Achievement Award. |
Ken Wells
| Tony Cale is an IMBA trained builder and a graduate of Capilano University’s Mountain Bike Operations Program in Sechelt, British Columbia. Born in Coloma California, Tony spent his childhood riding and walking the old mining trails and dirt roads of the American River Canyons. It wasn’t until he took up racing BMX and helping out at the local track that he developed an appreciation beyond old, technical backcountry single track and towards the art of shaping dirt into jumps, rollers and berms. As the RTA Field Director, Tony can be found operating an excavator on mechanized builds, swinging tools on hand builds, clearing corridor with chainsaws, bushwhacking through Sonoma, Napa and Lake Counties. |
Tony Cale
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From taking me through the woods as a youngin to an escape from present day life, trails have been a crucial part of my life. To maintain the old and create the new; trail building was a natural progression and has been a consistent part of my life since I was a preteen. I build to spread the love of our planet, to have a positive impact on all trail users and as a creative outlet. Best job ever!
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JR Thompson | Being an avid bike enthusiast, I enjoy building trails that allow the community to get outside and get active. Working outdoors and enabling trail use for various user groups is a highlight of trail building, as well as working with a great crew. |
 Brice Evans |
I got involved with Sonoma County Trails Council as a once or twice a month volunteer five years back when working a full-time job in San Fransisco. My career in the city was fun for a long time but became more and more corporate. Nonetheless, I agreed to step up as a board member to replace our friend Tim Mayer where I served two years until the board became bloated due to our merger. Meanwhile, thanks to the pandemic and due to the nature of my career, my employer eliminated my position. I jumped on an opportunity to work with Ken at Helen Putnam Regional Park, and I have been on trail team ever since. I love the new office, the fact that I’m getting stronger and more fit and the sense of community that one gets building trails that others enjoy.
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 Troy Taylor | Playing an active role in the construction of trails that have the potential to last for several generations has to be the most satisfying part of the job. Also, the demand for access to open space is there, so making that a reality through construction is pretty cool too. |
| I love working to promote a positive outdoor environmental impact, as it gives me a sense of self-purpose! Having prior experience as a landscape and forestry crew leader had exposed me to many different trails, fuel reduction and reforestation projects, as well as frontline assistance in emergency events throughout the whole inner Bay Area & Nor-Cal regions. Our work is both motivating and humbling as I take pride in the work we do to help make a positive influence on our communities. |
Jake Wichmann.jpeg) Brandon Forgie | I was born and raised in the Napa Valley and more specificity Angwin. For as long as I can remember, I have been riding bikes and enjoying nature. Several years ago, I found a passion for constructing and fixing trails. I learned so much about building these trails from just riding them as well as leading many trail workdays. Working with Redwood Trails Alliance is something I look forward to every week and I enjoy being able to build something that countless people can enjoy! Valley and more specificity Angwin. For as long as I can remember I have been ridden bikes and enjoying nature. Several years ago, I found a passion for constructing and fixing trails. I learned so much about building these trails from just riding them as well as going and later leading many trail workdays. Working with RTA is something I look forward to every week being able to build something that countless people can enjoy |
| Craig Dawson is a native San Franciscan raised in Forest Knolls, on the south side of Mount Sutro. This offered opportunities to explore wild open spaces like the Interior Greenbelt, Twin Peaks, Mount Davidson, and Glen Canyon on foot and by bicycle. He received his AS in Landscape Design & Construction from CCSF Horticulture and worked construction jobs in SF and Tahoe, developing a love for hiking, Mtn biking and trail running. Craig's training began in 2004 with Leadership and Trail Design and Construction from the Trail Center and continuing with the Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA) receiving a certificate for Advanced Trail Construction. In 2005 Craig worked with a small group of trail enthusiasts to uncover an undocumented, century old trail hidden for decades in the 78-acre Mt. Sutro Open Space (MSOS). In 2006 he co-founded the Sutro Stewards program and received permission to restore the century-old trail, now part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail route through San Francisco. As Executive Director of the Sutro Stewards he used his training and knowledge overseeing development of a 5.5-mile-long network of multi-use trails in the MSOS. Craig has contributed his knowledge and sweat to other organizations including VOCAL as a crew leader in San Francisco, Sonoma, Marin, and the East Bay. He worked with the SF Rec and Park Dept. to open the 17-acre Interior Greenbelt (part of the MSOS) and rebuild the Lower Historic Trail, and on development of the Philosophers Walk in McLaren Park as well as numerous other Bay Area trail crews. As the Senior Program Advisor to the Sutro Stewards, Craig developed, and continues to run the annual Crew Leader Training Program, remains an avid runner, cyclist, hiker, and community activist committed to advancing environmental education and building trails that link communities to nature. |
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Craig Dawson
Peter Brown | Peter was born In Honolulu and grew up hiking and biking in the islands. He moved to New York to pursue a culinary career in 1997, then moved to Sonoma County in 2001. His love of the outdoors led to a passion for exploring, bikepacking, endurance mountain bike racing, and trail building. Since leaving the daily grind of restaurant work behind he has worked on many public and private jobs in Napa, Sonoma, Marin, and the Midwest. He currently resides in near Graton, in West Sonoma County. |
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 Rachael Bean Administrative Manager | Following my passion for the outdoors, I received a degree in Society, Environment, and Development from Sonoma State University. I worked in the field as a Trail Technician through college and transitioned to working "behind the scenes" for Redwood Trails Alliance closely following graduation. Working for Redwood Trails Alliance allows me to give back to the outdoor spaces that have shaped some of my most fond and earliest memories. I love being part of an organization that encourages our diverse community to get active and get outdoors! I can usually be found on my mountain bike or walking my dogs. |
Executive Team |
Jason Riehl | Jason moved to Santa Rosa in 2004 when he was hired by the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office, where he still works as a Deputy District Attorney. Jason spends a lot of time riding the trails of Annadel and is excited to see new trail building opportunities in Sonoma, Napa, and Lake Counties coming to fruition. Jason spent the summer of 2020 teaching his daughter to ride. He is an advocate of getting more kids on bikes and building trail systems that will allow young riders to safely build their confidence and develop their skills. When not riding bikes, he enjoys snowboarding, rafting, paddle boarding, and throwing a ball for his dog. He continues to plan adventures for his wife, daughter, and dog as if it is his full time job, preferably while listening to live music and drinking a local beer. |
Ryan Gregory | Ryan lives in Napa and is a Napa County Supervisor representing the 2nd District. He was elected to the Board of Supervisors on November 8, 2016, his first run for public office. Ryan is also a registered Civil Engineer and continues to work part-time in this field. In addition to elected office, Ryan demonstrates his commitment to community and his love for trails and recreation by serving as Board President of Redwood Trails Alliance and as an Assistant Coach of Napa’s Composite High School Mt. Bike Team. Other current involvement includes being President of the Napa Downtown Property and Business Improvement District (PBID) and the “Brother Can You Spare a Dime” Community Baseball Outings organization, taking deserving kids to Giants games. |
Adam Havner | Adam has been an avid trail user from the moment he could walk. His lifelong relationship with the outdoors began as a runner and was transformed when he got his first mountain bike, allowing him to explore further and see new places. He enjoys advocating for and building new trails locally, and sampling the efforts of others like him on mountain biking and bikepacking trips. |
Jonathan Coe | Jonathan is retired after a 35 year career serving as the CEO for several chambers of commerce and other non profit organizations. His interest in trails began when he worked during summers for the Appalachian Mountain Club maintaining trails in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He worked for the National Park Service and helped design the Appalachian Trail route through Connecticut. He is currently spending his time exploring trails in Sonoma, Marin, and Napa Counties. |
Todd Lindemann | Todd Lindemann has a passion for the outdoors and participating in sports which includes mountain biking, running, hockey and skiing. He and his wife, Desiree, have been residents of Sonoma County since 2012 and have two boys attending college. Todd has been on the Board of Redwood Trails Alliance since 2015. Todd is Senior Vice President of Payments for Redwood Credit Union. Since his banking industry start in 1991, he served senior leadership roles in Payments, Online and Mobile Banking, Lending and Marketing for several credit unions around the country. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Wisconsin. |
Board of Directors
Sky Matula | Born and raised in the forested hills of Kenwood in Sonoma County, with Annadel State Park in the backyard. BA in International Relations from Sonoma State University. Operated a local contracting company specializing in high end residential projects as well as landscape construction. Now runs the family’s local Sonoma County business, The Hot Tub Store, with five showrooms selling Hot Spring spas and Endless Pools, serving more than 18 counties in Northern California. Enjoys good healthy food and quality time at and around home with his wife Sheila. They aim to visit several new countries each year. True passion and addiction is extreme snowboarding. Starts each day sipping coffee while soaking in the hot tub. Enjoys being out in nature hiking, backpacking, trail running, and mountain biking; and is always looking for ways to improve trail systems for all trail enthusiasts. Likes working outside and enjoys moving dirt and rocks and creating trails designed for all user groups. Has been on the board of the trails council for more than five years and enjoys being able to contribute business and marketing perspectives to the organization. Looks forward to bringing more trail users together with the new Redwood Trails Alliance. “Life is what you make it. Make it awesome!” |
Greg Pitts | When Greg left home in 1991, he headed to the mountains where he loves to spend his time, and never looked back. Greg has lived in places such as Middlebury, VT (where he attended college), Boulder, CO, Aspen, CO and Napa Valley, CA, where he loves to bike, hike, ski, boat and backpack with his family, friends and pets. His work in the hospitality development business also brings him to outdoor destinations on a regular basis. Greg is currently developing a bike-centric hotel in the heart of Napa Valley called The Knoll, which is adjacent to the Napa Valley Vine Trail. In addition, he is a partner in another bike-centric hotel called The Wildflower, located in the heart of the Kingdom Trails in Northern Vermont. Greg has previously served on the St. Helena, CA Planning Commission and City Council, served as a Commissioner on the Local Agency Formation Commission of Napa County and is currently a board member of Nimbus Arts in Napa Valley and Saira Hospitality, which seeks to create upwardly mobile job opportunities in economically challenged communities. |
.jpg) Jessica Regala Paran | Jesse got bit by the hiking bug while living in San Bernardino County, where she spent weekends peakbagging in the San Gorgonio, San Gabriel, and San Jacinto mountains. She moved to the Bay Area in 2014 and has volunteered for trail work days with Sonoma County Trails Council for more than five years. For Jesse, trail work days are an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, meet people, and make a difference for the community. Aside from hiking and the outdoors, Jesse is passionate about promoting the health and wellbeing of North Bay residents, especially those who are socially and economically disadvantaged. Jesse is excited to connect her dual passions as a Board Member of Redwood Trails Alliance, and looks forward to pushing for equity in access and enjoyment of trails by all users. |
 Lauren Mulhern |
Lauren was born and raised in Boise, Idaho and spent much of her youth exploring the mountains of McCall, Idaho. She moved to the Bay Area in 2016 when she took a job with The Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative, a nonprofit empowering young girls in Title I schools through sport. She has since gone on to work for The Special Olympics as a Program Manager helping schools create a more inclusive environment. It is Lauren’s hope to help Redwood Trails Alliance increase access to the outdoors for all users and continue to improve and expand the amazing trails that we have in the area.
Lauren is a member of the Hella Mello Race team, with Enduro being her preferred event. You can find her in Annadel State Park most days of the week. She is also an avid trail runner and backpacker. She takes every weekend she can to explore new trails in Northern California and get as much time in nature as possible. |
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© Copyright 2021. All Rights Reserved The Redwood Trails Alliance is a 501(c)3 non-profit with ax ID #94-2882416, and California General Contractors General Engineering Class A License #1068961. |