President

Adam Yeoman

"I'm originally from the UK, but moved to Houghton and fell in love with the UP throughout high school. After graduation I moved back to the UK to tour extensively throughout Europe and the USA in various punk rock and metal bands. In 2007 I returned to Houghton with my wife and settled into UP life again. Through my love of the local architecture and history I tackled several historic building renovations in downtown Houghton. I renovated the Dover Building, the home of Rhythm Bike and Board which I was an owner for a number of years, and then renovated The Continental Fire Company into a bar, nightclub and now restaurant. My other passion at the time was rally cars. I developed and raced for FY Racing in the Rally America national championship. My love for mountain biking blossomed when I gave up racing cars at the end of the 2015 season. Sending it full tilt down the trails in Copper Harbor is the perfect replacement for the feeling I miss in the race car.  You'll find me most shuttle days trying to regain my KOM on Overflow, or convincing whoever is eyeing up Manpants that they've got it!"

Vice President

Casey Krueger

“Growing up in a cabin in Cable, WI, mountain biking and nordic skiing have been in my blood since the beginning.  After spending a few years in Duluth, MN I saw what can be accomplished when a great group of like-minded people (COGGS) gather behind the cause of trail advocacy.  During those years I also assisted my brothers Tim and Ryan with starting Advocate Cycles, Terrene Tires, and Esker Cycles and was immersed into the wonderful group of people that make up the Mountain Bike “Industry.”  Spending time mountain biking in Copper Harbor since 2006, I fell in love with this awesome place.  When Architect David Salmela asked me to build one of his designs here in 2015, I jumped at the chance to spend more time in the Harbor and expand my business.  In 2018, I somehow talked my wife Ronnie Mae and our dog Gnarnia into moving to Copper Harbor permanently as I saw a large need for housing and contractors here.  We continue to live here year-round, operating our business, Hyaline Builders, and exploring the magical terrain around us by ski, bike, and foot.”

Treasurer

Caleb Wendel

"I have been around bikes all my life with older brothers who were into BMX racing.  By the time I was old enough to race, the BMX scene had fizzled out and mountain biking had started to take over. My first mountain bike came along in ‘91 and my first race was in ‘94 for which I was horribly underprepared. I have worked in and around the bike industry for over 20 years. I currently own and operate Rhythm Bike & Board in Houghton. Our family camp is in Eagle River so I have been visiting the Keweenaw most of my life. I moved here in ‘99 to attend Michigan Tech where I met my wife through biking friends. Shortly after was when I started volunteering in Copper Harbor. To see the growth in the past 20 years from all of the hard work of volunteers has been amazing."

Secretary

Cory McDonald

"I’ve been mountain biking since I was 15, and I first discovered the Copper Harbor trails when I moved to Houghton in 2004. The Harbor has been my favorite place to be ever since. It is truly amazing how much the trail network and the community have grown since then, and it’s great to be able to contribute my time and energy to the Club now. I represent the Singletrack Flyers on the board - I have two kids and it is great fun watching their skills improve each ride (it’s only a matter of time before I won’t be able to keep up with them). In my professional life I am an Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering at Michigan Tech, where I teach and study water quality. There are so many great rides in the Harbor, and more every year, but the Red Trail is still my happy place."

Board Member

Kim Barna

"I was born and raised in the UP. I moved downstate to go to school at Michigan State University where I got my BS and DVM degrees. I was lucky to move back to the Keweenaw in ’95 and now co-own the Northland Veterinary Clinic in Hancock. I love traveling and have been all over the world- New Zealand was my favorite so far. I love being outdoors as much as possible, especially scuba diving, mountain biking (of course), kayaking, and skiing."

Board Member

Sarah Kuhl

"I have always loved the outdoors and mountain biking, but it wasn’t until I moved to Houghton in 2010 that it quickly became my favorite sport. I studied Earth Science Secondary Education at Northern Arizona University and got a Masters in Environmental Education from University Minnesota Duluth. I’ve been a wilderness guide and I’ve brought countless kids on adventures to some of my favorite places including the Porkies, Isle Royale, and the Boundary Waters. One of my passions is helping people connect with the natural world. Getting people outside and on an adventure whether it’s a canoe trip or a mountain bike ride, it’s an entry point to help them connect to natural places. Advocacy for conservation of land and recreational areas is a logical next step once people feel a connection to a place, which is why I wanted to join the CHTC board. I most recently worked at Michigan Tech as an academic advisor and prior to that taught Earth Science, but I am currently hanging out at home with my baby daughter. My husband Scott is a professor at MTU. We love living in the Keweenaw and are both originally from MN. A few of my other hobbies include kayaking, olympic weightlifting, gardening, skiing and cooking."

Board Member

Dan Wiersgalla

"I enjoyed all the outdoor opportunities the Keweenaw has to offer as a kid. I stumbled upon mountain biking when I moved here for a summer working for the Keweenaw Adventure Company and quickly fell in love with Copper Harbor. As I became more of a full time resident, my involvement grew and it was only natural to join CHTC by volunteering to clear trees and fix drainages along the trail. Now these trails are my backyard I'm excited to be a part of this great organization."

Board Member

Ben Ciavola

Ben spent several years on our Board as our President, guiding the organization from 2016-2022.  Since 'retiring' from the top job, he's dedicated his CHTC efforts towards developing our Bike Patrol program, one of the first in the nation under the National Ski Patrol program.  He lives and works in Houghton for Trisight Engineering alongside his business and life partner Lianna.  When he's not busy with CHTC, he assists Mont Ripley with their ski patrol and explores the backcountry by ski or bike.

Board Member

Emily Ruonavaara

Emily’s love for the U.P. started while studying Environmental Science at Northern Michigan University, where she discovered the outdoors as an endless source of inspiration and connection. Whether biking or hiking with her husband, baby (future biker in training!), and dog, she’s always outside soaking up the wild beauty. Her passion for outdoor recreation blossomed during her time with the UP Land Conservancy, where she honed her skills in fundraising and outreach. Emily is most excited about encouraging more women to ride, boosting confidence, and breaking boundaries—on bikes and beyond!

Board Member

Greg Lis

Greg lives in Copper Harbor.

Board Member

Connor Scott

"Being in love with the outdoors is a lifetime addiction. Supporting others in these activities is a way of life. I started my journey outdoors surfing in Southern California. After which, I moved to Portland, OR with my wife and picked up a serious skiing habit. Once we grew our family to critical mass, we permanently moved out of the concrete jungle to Houghton, MI. We inevitably got tangled up with the right crowd and traded in our road bikes for ones that could handle singletrack. All of these activities have a way of pulling you into all sorts of amazing opportunities to help the community, from beach cleanups, ski & bike patrol to trail maintenance. The activity is what draws you in, but volunteering and the community is what keeps you coming back for more!"