Aaryn Kay has worked with more than one hundred non-profits in almost every U.S. state and Canadian province, and she brings this non-profit management skill set and two decades of experience in the trail industry to her role as Executive Director of PTBA. 

Aaryn is also co-owner of Kay-Linn Enterprises, a PTBA member company. Prior to founding Kay-Linn in 2009, Aaryn coordinated trailbuilding and advocacy events nationwide, co-taught 150 weekend long trailbuilding seminars for volunteers and land managers in 32 states, instructed a graduate-level environmental education course at Duke University, and directed Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment’s Community Outreach. Aaryn has a Masters of Environmental Management and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Duke University with a focus on conservation biology and environmental education. 

 Willie Bittner started working on trails 20 years ago with the Wisconsin DNR and over the years he has worked from coast to coast building trails and teaching the different methods and styles to volunteer groups, conservation corps and state and federal agencies. He founded Great Lakes Trailbuilders, LLC  in 2008 to bring a low impact and environmentally friendly approach to trailbuilding and design to the Midwest. 

As owner and lead designer, Willie is dedicated to sharing his experiences, engaging users and developing leading edge trails.  His projects have taken him from designing new National Parks trails in Patagonia to co-founding WisCorps, Inc. a Wisconsin based Conservation Corps to leading trainings on everything from sustainable trail construction to trail psychology and rigging.

Jon Altschuld is a registered Landscape Architect (Colorado, California) with over 10 years of experience. As the founder and principal of Chinook Landscape Architecture, he is experienced in the design of natural areas, trails and open spaces, nature play, ecological restoration, parks, streetscapes, and transportation planning, and has an expertise in presentation graphics, 3D visualizations, master planning, drone data collection, and GIS mapping applications. 

Erin Amadon’s passion for trail work began over two decades ago when she first served as a member of a youth conservation corps, and she has been doing trail work ever since.  During Erin's 12 years as a dedicated partner of Peter S. Jensen and Associates LLC, a professional trail contracting business and member of the Professional Trail Builders Association, she contributed to the completion of many substantial trail projects.  Including a 3,200-foot helical anchor boardwalk for The Nature Conservancy, a natural surface accessible trail just under 3 miles for the Crotched Mountain Foundation and worked with a team of professional trail builders to complete 338 stone steps in the Niagara River Gorge.

As a former Training Coordinator for the Maine Conservation Corps, Erin developed and implemented an eleven-week environmental training curriculum for the Trail Training Academy.  Erin is committed to youth conservation work and supporting the next generation of trail builders through her work as a Conservation Work Skills Instructor for the Student Conservation Association and in her role on the Maine Conservation Corps Advisory Board.

Erin holds a United States Forest Service Sawyer certification, Wilderness First Responder, CPR, OSHA 10 Hour Construction Safety & Health, Leave No Trace Trainer, and American Canoe Association quick start certifications.  In 2017 Erin completed the 270-mile-Long Trail in Vermont which runs up the spine of the Green Mountains.   

Whether Erin is immersed in a technical stonework project, is building a machine-built trail that meets Federal Trail Standards for accessibility, or in the backcountry, she is committed to building high-quality, trails.  Erin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to volunteer groups, clients, students, and fellow trail lovers and continues to do this through her business Town 4 Trail Services, LLC.    

At 10 years old, I walked down a trail with my mom, and it changed the way I felt and saw the world around me. Soon after I found cycling and was able to keep that sense of breaking free and exploration as I moved along the curvature of the land. Trails have invited me into landscapes and taken me to places that had seemed impenetrable without the gentle guide of the path before me. Though not always easy to navigate, they always rewarded me.

My deep love of the natural world and desire to understand the forces shaping and acting upon it combined with my passion for mountain biking and exploration, lead me down the path to begin my own trail building company, Rogue Trails, in 2016. I would say there were many paths that I followed that have helped me arrive here; I enjoyed mountain bike racing for 14 years; served as President of the Ozark Off-Road Cyclists for 8 years helping it to expand from a social club to a respected 501c3 that gave voice to the cycling community; my initial career as an environmental scientist/engineer gave me insight into regulations and working with many different land managers, stake holders, and governmental entities; and now the spearhead of a team of passionate, sustainable trail builders carving our own paths.

Trail building has been and continues to be a driving force in my life. I work vigorously to bring sustainable and memorable trails into communities around the region to encourage others to have that awakening I found on a trail. I have been fortunate to join the Professional Trail Builders Association and serve on the board as well as now find myself leading the next generation of trail builders and stewards as I start a turn as a professor. I am humbled to be a part of this impressive community of trail builders and part of something so much greater than my own journey.

In three decades, Tony has passionately led crews in sculpting almost 1000 kilometers of shared-use and purpose-built trails for mountain bicyclists of all ages and abilities around the world. His experience includes professional trail building companies, governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations.

His passion is creating sustainable, kinesthetically and aesthetically diverse trails that mountain bikers love to ride. He is highly skilled on the utilization and training of state-of-the-art trail technology like the Sutter 300 Mini Dozer/500 Trail Dozer, SWECO 480 Trail Dozer, miniature/micro excavators, loaders, tracked carriers, ATV rakes & harrows, hydraulic & gas powered drilling, and blasting with Magnum Blaster.

Tony is a pioneer in the evolution and art of creating sustainable, machine-built trails for mountain bikers. His accomplishments include: establishing the first mountain bike patrol in Colorado in 1989, training eight IMBA/Subaru Trail Care Crews (1997-2011), inspiring the IMBA Trail Solutions Program (2001), and assisting with both IMBA books (Trail Solutions: IMBA’s Guide to Building Sweet Singletrack and Managing Mountain Bikes: IMBA’s Guide to Providing Great Riding).

He has been an active member of the Professional Trail Builders Association and American Trails since 1995.

Owner, Tri-State Company

PTBA Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, 2022. 

"Charlie" began building trail, as a volunteer in 1958, while a Boy Scout. His company, Tri-State Company, has been building trail, professionally, since 1987. Tri-State's market niche is remote site construction, often employing helicopter support. In the course of 24 years, they have built, designed, reconstructed or maintained over 500 miles of trail. They are, perhaps, better known as the "bridge people", having built numerous bridges to include: cable suspension, glu-lam, steel, heavy timber, and their specialty, unique curvilinear screw laminated bridges/elevated walkways. Charlie views his company as more than a trail building company, he sees it as engaged in the art of "recreational infrastructure".

 Mariah began her 26 years of involvement in trail construction and reconstruction in the Green Mountains of Vermont in 1996.  She has extensive knowledge of multi-use trail design and management and diverse experience in natural resources, specializing in the New England landscape.  Before returning to Vermont in 2010, Mariah worked throughout the U.S. learning about multi-use trails (hike, bike, motorized, pack and saddle, ski, and water) from the Everglades in Florida to the Chugach in Alaska. 

She returned to New England as the Trails Supervisor for the Appalachian Mountain Club, where she managed the White Mountain trails and developed a contract crew, designing and building trails throughout New England.  She has a M.S. in Environmental Studies from Antioch New England and currently serves as a Regional Representative on the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council, is a member of the Green Mountain Club’s Trail Management Committee, and is an adjunct instructor of “Tools and Their Applications” at Sterling College.

Prior to joining the PTBA board in 2024, Mariah has been a leader in PTBA's efforts with the Trail Competency Framework and related skill breakouts, as well as work drafting the NOCTI Trail Technician test. 

Glen Jacobs is a globally recognized trailbuilder, designer, and advocate whose work has helped shape modern trail systems and the broader trail industry. Through his company, World Trail, he has led the design and construction of hundreds of kilometers of trails, bike parks, and race courses across more than 20 countries—including Olympic venues and international competition sites. Known for his early emphasis on sustainable design and long, flowing trails that respond to landscape and climate, his work has influenced best practices worldwide and helped position trails as essential recreational and community infrastructure.

His roots trace back to building and riding remote wilderness trails in Far North Queensland, Australia, where a deep connection to landscape and exploration shaped his approach from an early age. Over decades, he has contributed to trail culture as a builder, organizer, filmmaker, and advocate—helping grow trail access, support communities, and advance the professionalism of the industry. His work continues to reflect a core belief in trails as a means to connect people to place while protecting the landscapes they move through.

HuiMin “HM” LIM is a seasoned trail professional with over two decades of experience in trail planning, design, construction, training, and assessment across Asia. Since 2003, he has led and contributed to a diverse portfolio of projects spanning mountain biking trails, as well as experiential hiking and trail running routes, each thoughtfully adapted to suit varying landscapes and user groups.
 

He is the founder of Dirtraction Trails, a pioneering trail development practice in Asia that has delivered projects across Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, China, India, Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. Under his leadership, the company has built a reputation for expertise across the full lifecycle of trail development, from strategic planning and design to construction and long-term maintenance.

HM is known for his inclusive and progression-focused design approach, creating trails that allow beginners and advanced users to share the same space through carefully considered flow and scalability. Beyond mountain biking, he has been instrumental in advancing sustainable, flow-based trail concepts for hiking and trail running, introducing new dynamics and user experiences to these disciplines.
 

An early advocate of sustainable trail networks and outdoor tourism in the region, HM has contributed to the growth of mountain biking and trail-based recreation across East Asia since the early 2000s. He continues to support the industry through trail education, delivering sustainable trail schools and training programs that nurture the next generation of trail professionals and land managers.

Info coming soon

Matt’s career in the construction industry spans over 20 years working both domestically and internationally. His career started with single family construction and remodeling, but grew to cover commercial and industrial project management, ICC plan examination and code inspection, earthwork, recreation and sustainability consulting for the Top 10 multifamily developers nationwide.

As a lifetime outdoor enthusiast and trail user, Matt spent years volunteering his time towards trail advocacy, maintenance, and fundraising. He served several years as President and Vice President of Operations for the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association overseeing the construction and maintenance of over 200 miles of single track. 

Eventually, Matt’s in depth construction experience and passion for outdoor recreation inspired him to found Nature Trails. Today Matt oversees operations of Nature Trails’ design, construction, fabrication, and maintenance teams while helping to create amazing outdoor experiences for users of all ages.

PDG -- Sentiers Boréals

Founder of the provincial trail association and author of the "Guide d'Aménagement de Sentiers de Vélo de Montagne", Jérôme have over 20 years of trailbuilding experience. In 2009, he started Sentiers Boréals, Québec' leading mountain biking trail and bike park contractor.  

Jason Stouder is well-versed in the bike and skate park industry through his work with both American Ramp Company and the development of Progressive Bike Ramps (PBR). His dynamic personality makes him a standout in the crowd. He is comfortable with small and large projects alike, making him a great asset for both PTD and our clients.

Owner, Northwest Trails

At the age of two, Gerry’s parents started taking him on mountain hikes and fishing trips. In 1972, as a way to put himself through college, Gerry began his professional trail career by bidding on trail maintenance contracts in the rugged North Cascades Mountains. Trail work has been his profession and passion ever since. In his first ten years in business, he had the good fortune of being able to work under several very dedicated seasoned career veterans in trails, learning the rich variety of skills necessary to be successful in this highly competitive industry.

Gerry has an extensive background in planning, designing, estimating and developing trails, bridges and greenways for local, state and federal governments, as well as private developers. He has received national & regional awards for his work and has a widespread reputation for innovative solutions in creating low-impact trails through wilderness and natural areas. In over forty years in the business he has served as project manager for several hundred projects while designing and drafting contracts for more than one hundred of them. He has managed or participated in numerous multidisciplinary project teams. Many of his projects have involved large budgets, challenging schedules, complex and remote structures, or other tricky design and construction issues.

Since 1990, he has taught many training classes and workshop sessions on designing, contract drafting, managing, maintaining and building quality, sustainable trails and systems. From 2004 to 2007, he served as President of the Professional Trailbuilders Association, and he currently sits on the board. When not working, Gerry enjoys spending time with his family outside. He has participated in all forms of trail based recreation and is particularly nuts about skiing, sailing and scuba diving - - or wherever his next outdoor adventure will take him.

Aaron Steele is a trailbuilder whose career is rooted in a lifelong connection to the outdoors. He began designing and building trails early, earning his Eagle Scout badge by creating a nature trail for an elementary school and receiving a conservation medal at just 17. With nearly three decades of experience managing construction projects through his family’s business, Aaron brings a strong foundation in project delivery alongside a deep commitment to environmental stewardship.

He co-founded Tailored Trails with his wife Ashley, building a company grounded in thoughtful trail development that connects people to the landscape. In addition to his project work, Aaron has contributed to the broader industry through leadership with the Professional TrailBuilders Association, serving on the board and chairing the conference committee for the 2024 Sustainable Trails Conference in Lake Lanier, Georgia.