Board of Directors

TART is governed by a 15-member volunteer board of directors.

Executive Board:
Tom Auer, President

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. Email Tom at btauer@charter.net

Scott Howard, Vice President

Scott Howard was elected to the board in May 2005. He is an avid trail user, a native of Traverse City and lives on 11th Street with his wife, Michele, and 3 young children. Professionally, Scott is an attorney and works in Traverse City at Olson, Bzdok & Howard, PC. Email Scott at scott@envlaw.com

Susan Vigland, Secretary

Susan has been a member of the TART Trails Board of Directors since 2009, and currently serves as secretary. Susan is a competative cross-country skier and and a member of the Hagerty cycling team. A native of Cadillac, she attended the University of Colorado - Boulder and is currently employed by Hagerty Insurance as a training and wellness manager. She and her husband Todd reside in Traverse City and are on the trails year around. She is delighted to be involved with TART. E-mail Susan at svigland@hagerty.com

John Paul, Treasurer
John Paul, head of the Bank of Northern Michigan in Traverse City, joined the board in May 2007. A longtime outdoor and trail enthusiast, John was eager to get involved in the local trails organization. "So many of the outdoor activities my family and I enjoy involve trails," John said. "Hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing have all been activities we've pursued for years." John returned to town a couple years ago to start the Traverse City office of the Bank of Northern Michigan. He's been a banker for 30 years, and for 13 years was with Old Kent Bank (now Fifth Third) in Traverse City. His career took him to Kalamazoo for several years, but now he's back and recently moved into the bank's new office on the corner of State and Union downtown." This opportunity to join the TART board represents a whole new segment for me within our community and I'm looking forward to participating," he said, adding that he can't wait to see the remaining 7 miles of the Leelanau Trail paved. John and his wife Sue have four children and live in Traverse City. Email John at jpaul@tbonm.com

Board Members:

Brian Beauchamp
Brian joined the TART board in 2009. He currently works as a policy specialist for the Michigan Land Use Institute. Contact him at brian@mlui.org

Gail Dall'Olmo

Gail is currently serving her second term on the TART board of directors. She is a retired high school math teacher and also serves on the board of Assisting Children's Education Fund (ACE) and Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation. Gail spends her free time biking, hiking, or cross-country and downhill skiing. She has a special interest in working to expand our trail network and connecting trails to places of interest such as parks, schools, libraries, neighborhoods and restaurants. Promoting and encouraging the use of non-motorized routes in every day life is of particular interest to her. Email Gail at dpdallolmo@aol.com

Chris DeGood
Chris is a senior civil site engineer for URS Corporation and joined the TART board in 2009. Contact him at chris_degood@urscorp.com

Jim Dombrowski

Jim first moved to Traverse City in 1978. He was transferred to Mt. Pleasant in 1989 but kept his house in Traverse City and moved back in 1999 when he retired from work as an Electronic Technician. Jim first became involved with TART as a volunteer during the trail survey. He has since become a groomer on the Vasa Trail and enjoys working on all of the trails. He has also built signs and brochure boxes and installed them along the trails. Jim is an avid cross-country skier and enjoys biking and walking the trails as well. Jim also does the registration for the Bayshore Marathon. Jim's desire is that the trail system continues to grow and the existing trails continue to improve. Email Jim at browski@charter.net

Brian Fisher
Brian Fisher joined the board of directors in May 2007. A TART supporter for many years, Brian is out biking on the trails frequently. "My interest in TART was really formed by my trail usage- I ride a lot," Brian said. "I think it's great you can get from here to there by using the trails." One of his more 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, not only recreation, and wants to continue to promote that aspect of trail usage. When he isn't out on the trails, Brian is a dentist and has spent most of his 24-year career here. He and his wife Vera also live in Traverse City. Email Brian at bfisher795@gmail

Barbara Piskor

Barbara Piskor was elected to the board in May 2005. She values the TART Trails system as a great community asset available to anyone regardless of age, gender or economic class. She is an avid cyclist, rollerblader and cross-country skier and lives in Elmwood Township. Email Barbara at bjpiskor@yahoo.com

Doug Spence

Doug is a relative newcomer to the Traverse City area having established his Family Practice here in 2001. He grew up in Saginaw and is a graduate of Wayne State Medical School. Upon moving here, Doug quickly became a member of the physically active medical community with weekly ventures on the Vasa and Leelanau trails. As a student in Madison, WI and Ann Arbor, Doug commuted regularly by bicycle. This 'bicycle perspective' familiarized Doug with the many benefits trails have to the overall health of a community. In his practice, he enjoys seeing the excitement of his patients who have found dramatic improvements in health as a result of regular exercise. Activities in organizations providing care for the medically underserved in Grand Traverse County, as well as frequent participation in community athletic events, also enhance his enjoyment of living in this area. Email Doug at dspence22@yahoo.com

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. He may be reached at mtarnow@nmrec.com

Howard Yamaguchi
Howard is a retired planner and civil engineer living in Williamsburg. Howard recently joined the TART board in 2009. He may be reached at hayamaguchi@members.asce.org

Grand Traverse County Appointee: Mike Stepka
Mike is a Grand Traverse County Commissioner and was appointed to the TART board in 2008. He is a local attorney and can be reached at mstepka@grandtraverse.org

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