ATA Board of Directors & Staff

Board

 

Jim Congdon - Director, President

"Like Aaron, I too had a Schwinn Stingray as a kid, although mine was a 1967 model with slick tires. I first skied on Mt Ascutney circa 1982 and now I am back, as if drawn by the magnetic pull in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I see the mountain and I must climb to the top and ski down it, or ride or run around it. This place is magical and the people here all have the commonality of loving it. One feels humbled by the herculean efforts of the ATA to maintain and enhance the magnificent trail network here. One is thus compelled to participate in the effort."

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Terry Livingston - Director, Treasurer

"I grew up in Michigan with a passion for the outdoors and moved to the East Coast after graduating from the University of Michigan.  I was introduced to the Ascutney region by my wife Angela, whose family has multigenerational roots here. I have been an avid mountain bike rider, skier and trail day volunteer since the start of the Ascutney biking trail system, almost 20 years ago.  Due to my gratitude for the 40 plus miles of trails that ATA has built and continues to maintain for our community, I volunteered to take on a more formal role at ATA by joining the Board of Directors as its Treasurer in the Fall of 2025.  ATA is funded almost exclusively through generous donations, fundraising events, ATA memberships, and trail grants.  My goal as Treasurer is to focus my time on these endeavors to help ATA offset the costs of maintaining this truly amazing trail network. "

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Alex Cormier - Director

​"A recent transplant to Weathersfield VT, I'm excited to be a part of the Ascutney Trails Association. I've been snowboarding since I was a kid and am looking forward to exploring the exciting backcountry Ascutney has to offer. Since moving to the area I've also taken up mountain biking, which is amazing on Ascutney. It's great to have found and be a part of such an amazing and dedicated outdoors community."

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Gaudencja Opach - Director

"I lived in Queens, NY throughout my childhood, but the best memories growing up were skiing with my family, driving I-91N to Vermont which was always our #1 destination for the winter months for the past 30 years. My favorite quote is from John Muir 'Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.' I fell in love with the Mt. Ascutney volunteer programs from snow tubing operations in the winter to the bike festivals in the summer/fall. I can proudly say I am part of an excellent community that has become a permanent home in my life. "

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Robert J. Knight - Director

"Mt. Ascutney has always been a big part of my life. Born and raised in Windsor. Monthly summer picnics on the mountain were a staple of my childhood, along with hiking, skiing and snowshoeing. I've been an active member of the Ascutney Trails Association (ATA) for twenty plus years helping with trail cleaning, maintenance, helping lead hikes, and putting on the annual Memorial Day picnic at the stone hut site. I look forward to helping guide the expanded organization into the future!"

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Matthew Pronovost - Director

"Most of my friends call me Matty. After a long hiatus, I'm back in VT and live in Weathersfield, with two dogs, and a cat. I am a career welder with most of my work over the past 15 years being spent in the bicycle industry. It has been a pleasure to connect with others in the community about trail building and advocacy. As a board member, I look forward to taking a more active role in further shaping an already incredible network of trails."​

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Thomas Frost - Director

"I have been riding bikes since high school, about 18 years total and I don't want to do anything else with my time except build trails to ride my bike. Since moving to vermont a few years ago Ascutney has become my new home for bikes. They welcomed me in and provided me a place to hone my craft of riding bikes, and building trails. You can find me out on hump day jump day at the skills park / AO center. ​Do your part and help create the trails of your dreams."

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Maurice Day - Director

​"You could say that I am skilled with both hardware and software, as I can fix bikes and write code. I am an enthusiastic biker and skier, who grew up on Mount Ascutney and represents a second generation of board membership."

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Matt Dow - Director

"I bring heavy equipment to the building and maintenance of trails that I then go out and enjoy on my bike."​

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Staff

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Tim Brown - Trail Manager

"​I have been in love with bikes since I was a kid.  My 1st mountain bike race was in 7th grade (1990), and I raced heavily during high school.  I moved to the area from Northern Vermont after college in 2000.  I helped build some of the earliest downhill trails across the river at Arrowhead in Claremont. My other job is working for a custom framebuilder, so my whole life revolves around bikes."

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Jim Lyall - Trail Builder (Former Board Member)

“I’m involved with ATA because they won’t let me stop building trails.  I was an original founder of STAB in 2005, along with Erik, and have been serving as Trail Manager.  A Brownsvillain for over 40 years, I’ve been backcountry skiing Ascutney and biking these hills for much of that time.”

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