Speakers

Kriste Peoples is a Denver-based outdoor enthusiast & guide, runner, writer, & mindfulness meditation teacher. Kriste is the Executive Director of Women's Wilderness, a Boulder-based nonprofit offering transformational experiences that cultivate a greater sense of agency, community, & engagement in nature among women, girls, & nonbinary people. As a certified mindfulness & meditation teacher, she brings her sense of adventure & curiosity to the inward journey of self-discovery. In her downtime, she's committed to finding an easy alternative to popcorn ceilings.

As a member of the UltraSignup team, I actively look for unique ways to contribute to the success of the largest trail running community in the US. In this capacity, I've had the opportunity to work on dynamic challenges of the outdoor recreation industry head-on.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to lead and to serve innovative, high-growth companies that can ...

Shalini Bhajjan is the founder & owner of Terrain Trail Runners based in St. Louis, MO. She currently race directs ten competitive trail running events ranging from 5K to 100Mi and everything in between. She also organizes the STL Women’s Trail Summit, which is a free event open to all women in the community with the goal to empower more females to take to the trails and help bridge the gender gap in the outdoors.

Jason Green introduces himself as an “ultra enthusiast.” And it’s the passion for the sport that he brings — as an ultra runner and ultra race director and — that endears him to the ultra running community. Green started Yeti Trail Runners a decade ago out of his garage. Since he lived next to a state park, he invited friends over for an ongoing free event for the last 12 years called the Yeti Spaghetti. The park ranger, who was inspired to start running because of the group, requested Green to create an event inside the park.

Aimee Kohler is the founder of a zero carbon running events company, The Running Kind, based out of Pennsylvania and hosting events in the Tri-State area. She prides herself of prioritizing sustainability at each of her events & as of recent has officially received Carbon Neutral Certification through The Change Climate Project. In addition to hosting events, she is a mountain fanatic and plant based athlete! Gnarly, technical, punchy mountain running is her choice of terrain, currently she runs for Ciele Athletics and is training for a variety of races in 2024 including Golden Trail National Series & USATF Vertical Mountain Running Championships. Though hosting events is a passio...

Amy Ben-Horin, one of the 4 Friend Co-Founders of Milestone Events, leverages her nonprofit expertise to embed intentional processes for this start-up event company. As the Director of Community, she continues to ensure the company's values permeate every level while spearheading the coaching and volunteer programs that empower athletes to redefine their limits (ideally, far beyond the finish line).

Dale Garland has been the director of the Hardrock Hundred since it’s beginning in 1992. As director, his commitment to celebrating the legacy of the hardrock miners in whose memory the run is dedicated, celebrating the accomplishments of each runner and creating a sense of community has helped make Hardrock what it is today.

Tom Hooper, race director - Sports and Event Management: Race Director for 7 New Hampshire based trail races. Race director for Multiple USATF National Championships. USATF Staff Member.

Matias Saari is the president of Alaska Mountain Runners & directs the Mount Marathon Race, Crow Pass Crossing & Kesugi Ridge Traverse — each comes with unique logistical challenges. He lives in Anchorage, Alaska with his partner Christie & two Alaskan huskies.

Mandy Mullen, founder of the run.Windsor Race Series and co-owner of run.Colorado Relays, organizes twelve annual events from 5k to ultramarathon and overnight relay races. A local nonprofit founder, military wife, mom, and three-time 100-mile finisher, she thrives on bringing communities together through running.

Lara is a Trail Team Elite Team Athlete & is originally from Sydney, Australia. She now resides in Colorado, training for track, road, trail, & skimo races, with the 2026 Winter Olympic Trails on the horizon. She hopes to help grow trail running and mountain sports participation worldwide, & inspire those who face significant challenges not to give up in the face of adversity.

Kim Levinsky has been at the helm of Sassquad Trail Running since their first "Trail Party" in 2018. Sassquad hosts 10 Trail Parties throughout NJ / NY & their mission is to welcome all peoples, paces, & ages. Since that inaugural race, Kim has directed 70 events ranging in distances from 5K up to 150 miles. Kim recently completed a thru-run on the New York Long Path in nine & a half days, becoming the first woman to complete all 358 miles in a single-push.

Kirk created Trailblazer Running in 2021 wanting to share the soul-filling feeling he got out on the trails with others. Residing in Valparaiso, IN, he balances trail race directing with a full-time job, a loving family, a race timing business, and his own ultra training. Kirk hopes to expand Trailblazer’s race offerings and host more community-driven events that connect great people with natural spaces.

Nancy Hobbs is the Executive Director & Founder of the American Trail running Association (ATRA). She set up the Team USA Women's Running Team, and is an avid trail runner herself, often found on the podium at Masters Running Championships

Tim Tollefson is Founder and Head Crafter at Mammoth Trail Fest, a professional ultra-runner for Craft, and physical therapist at the Mammoth SPORT Center.

Carrie Baris is the race director of Hellbender 100 in Western North Carolina. She is also the president of the Run828 Foundation, a board member of North Carolina Mountain Trail Runners, & a leader in her local chapter of Trail Sisters

Susan is the Director of Client Development for UltraSignup, helping the platform's race directors connect with trail runners & grow their races through various promotional channels. An expert in race sponsorship, she served as Director of Strategic Partnerships & Sponsorship for the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation for over a decade. She also served as Director of Marketing for the Birkie, based on her experience as a branding & marketing consultant to founders & businesses in 22 industries across the U.S. & abroad. Susan is board vice-president for ATRA &, through that relationship, an advisor to the U.S. Trail...

Kimberly Aubuchon is a trail runner, trail advocate, and community connector residing in San Antonio, Texas. She currently serves as the board appointed Trail Activities Officer for the San Antonio RoadRunners (SARR), overseeing the Club’s trail run training programs and directing their Club’s two trail races—The Prickly Pear 50K and the Rocky Horror 50K. SARR has about 2000 members, and approximately 300 of those participate in the SARR Off-RoadRunners trail training program that I started in 2013. The trail training programs just celebrated our 10 year anniversary, the Prickly Pear’s 20th...

I live in the metro Washington, DC area. I'm a 12 year self-employed massage therapist. I've run off & on since my high school track/cross country team (47 years ago). I'm a member of several running groups (my primary being Black Men Run), but my schedule tends to force me to run solo. Trail running races have become the new love/hate relationship in my life. I've run them for 13 years with big increases in 2023. As a Black Men Run Trail Ambassador, I shall continue to strive for diversity in the road/trail running community as I 'run' the world.

Steve Aderholt has been organizing events for over a decade. He started the Ragnar Trail series which has introduced many people to the beauty of trail running. He is proud of what he helped build at Ragnar, especially a strong focus on environmental sustainability. Since leaving Ragnar, Steve freelances for numerous events and feels lucky that ...

Paulette Odenthal has been active as an ambassador in the running industry for three decades as an accomplished runner, race director, coach, volunteer & current committee member for many local races. She is also the MN state representative for Road Runner Club of America. She has completed more than 100 marathons and beyond distances in road & trail running & recently completed a s...

Andrea Slate is the Sales Manager with the Nicholas Hill Group, Inc. (NHG) since 2018 but in the insurance industry for over 30 years. NHG is a nationwide insurance firm specializing in risk manag...

Paul Jurasin is the founder and principal of Em:Path:Ize Innovation and Foresight, a consultancy focused on helping organizations foster internal problem solving through an innovative and future oriented culture. He was previously the Director of the Digital Transformation Hub for Cal Poly where he lead the development of new technology innovation programs, with a focus on fostering relationships with global corporate and public sector partners

Scott Millman is a distinguished entrepreneur, coach, and business owner renowned for his extensive contributions to the fields of fitness, sports, and business development. He is the founder of Total Running & Athletic Conditioning (T.R.A.C.), where he leverages his expertise as a UESCA Certified Ultra Endurance Coach & RRCA Certified Running Coach to provide comprehensive virtual coaching and physical therapy services tailored for athletes of all levels. Currently, Scott serves as a Global Ambassador for Fitness Finders, where he continues to inspire and mentor athletes, promotin...

Alex Ross has been the Director of Digital Marketing for the Denver Colfax Marathon for almost 10 years. After completing his first 50 mile race in Leadville he went on to run several more ultras including a 100 miler all while juggling his 4 teenagers and day job. Now he helps events reach new runners to continue growing the community.

Andy is a four-time trail national champion who has represented Team USA 17 times. In 2022, Andy founded The Trail Team, a non-profit aimed to support and develop talented young runners into the best professional trail runners in the world through mentorship, skill development, and media exposure

Tayte is a grounded artist in trail running, chocolate making, & farming. Did someone say the renaissance era was over? Proud American Trail Running Associate Project Associate (a.k.a Trail Trotter) for over 6 years, specialized in writing educational articles which include race recaps, athlete/coach interviews, training tips, large topic discussions, book reviews & much more. The best part of what I do is the meaningful human connection.

Shea runs with the Trail Team in Boulder, but grew up in the flatlands of the Midwest. She is an ultra-trail enthusiast, enjoys big days, big snacks, & big smiles. Passionate about advocating for younger trail athletes, Shea loves spreading stoke for the sport & sharing the joy for movement.

William has been with Achilles International Nashville for about 10 years now. He is a history professor at TSU, & a food / sustainability writer for Edible Nashville. He has crafted several features to encourage people to trail run in Nashville's Public Parks.