GBCTA Officers and Board of Directors 

Officers:

    

Jon Slock, President and Facebook Manager

I love the Gateway Trail because it's an amazing mix of rural, suburban, and urban.  Especially because of the urban/suburban side of the trail, it's the most accessible DNR trail in the state. While I do run the Facebook page, I'm one of the few Ramsey County residents on the board, so I also take extra effort to advocate for that stretch of trail.  

The closest trailhead for me is at Arlington Ave in St. Paul.  You're most likely to see my walking or running between Arlington and the Vento Trail, but it's also common for me to bike out past 694 on the weekend in the summer.  If you ever see me on the trail, definitely say hello!

Colin Partridge, Vice President

Why I love the trail.  As a 25-year resident of Stillwater, I have always treasured the scenic natural resources of this area; and there are no better places to enjoy those resources than on the Gateway and Brown’s Creek trails. The closest trailhead to me is Neal Avenue at Brown’s Creek Park. Whether taking my dog for her daily walk by the nature preserve, cycling or skiing to Pine Point Park, or just enjoying nature, there is something to be appreciated across all seasons.  Why are you part of the board. There aren’t many community resources that exist for the enjoyment of all of the population, every day of the year. That fact alone is why it’s worth supporting such an important asset, and I look forward to being able to share that message through my role on the board at GBCTA.

Laurie Mainquist, Treasurer

Why I love the trail? Its connections to nature. Closest trailhead to where you live? Lansing Avenue North in Grant. Why are you part of the board? I keep track of our income and spending so that the GBCTA has a clear picture of our financial situation. What we would be likely to to see you doing on the trail? Biking to Stillwater or the library in Mahtomedi, enjoying the plants and animals along the way.

Kerri Kolstad, Secretary/Membership Director

You can typically find Kerri at the Highway 96 parking lot for a Sunday morning run. Kerri came to love the beauty, wildlife, and people along the trail while training for four Twin Cities Marathons on the trail many years ago, so she was very honored to join the GBCTA board as Secretary in 2019. She wants to make sure that members know how important they are to the trail’s future!

Officer at large:                   

John Kimberly

I love the trail because it is close to my home, is free of vehicular traffic and a beautiful resource. The trail is a minute from my home at the near the 13 mile mark. I am serving on the board in order to contribute to  improving the trail, participating in trail activities and working with a great and dedicated board. I run, ski, walk my dog, bike and snow shoe on the trail and am on it nearly every day.

Directors:

Lorrie Bohl, Equestrian Liaison

Beth Hayden, Interim Webmaster

While I love the paths and bike lanes of my daily commute in the core metro, they pale in comparison to the natural escape the Gateway and Brown’s Creek trails offer. To have such a beautiful trail amenity right here, connecting communities with each other and with nature, is something I treasure. Being on the board gives me an opportunity to advocate for the trails, to work with a very dedicated and gifted board of directors and the dedicated staff at DNR, and to have productive fun.

Patrick Junker, Volunteer Liaison

Taking advantage of the Gateway/Brown’s Creek Trail System as a frequent walker led me to the decision that it was time to “give back” by volunteering to serve the association to help continue the fantastic work done for decades and to help to expand the system for the future. The easy access to the system, via the Brown’s Creek Trail addition, makes for wonderful views during all of Minnesota’s seasons - watching the change in the trees, arrival of the birds from their winter travels and listening to Brown’s Creek as it heads toward the St Croix River.

I am looking forward to helping celebrate 30 years of hard work by the volunteer members of the association that is enjoyed by thousands and thousands of bikers, blader’s and walkers every year! The Gateway Browns Creek Trail Association has led the way by helping to support the DNR and its’ team to maintain the current routes and expand for the future generations to come.

Steve Kahn, Newsletter Editor
I live biking distance to the Gateway and feel lucky to have such a beautiful trail so close. If we saw each other on the trail I would probably be biking, whether it was spring, summer, fall or winter.  On the Board because it is an important resource that is not to be taken for granted. 

Dennis Lindeke, Trail Extension & Legislative Advocate and Bluebird Keeper

I’ve been a Board Member for about 10 years. Serving as President for three years, preceding Beth Hayden.  The Association is in much better hands now. We live closest to the trailhead at Hwy 96, but also not too far from Pine Point Park.I love these trails in all seasons, and love giving back to the community in support of them.  My wife and I bike the trails at least twice/week.  And you can often find us taking a break at one of the lovely spots in Stillwater, the Gasthaus, or Gateway Trailside. 

During the past year of COVID, and my first year of not being President for a while, I enjoyed some mundane tasks like tending to the 16 bluebird houses on the Gateway Trail, taking wildlife and wildflower photos, repairing and replacing map boxes, and shoveling horse poo off the Manning Ave bridge.  This year I added 10 more bluebird houses to the Browns Creek Trail, with the help of good folks from Sustainable Stillwater. 

Jim Mellor

Pam Meyer, Graffiti Removal Captain

I’ve loved the GBCT since I first moved to the Twin Cities in 1993. I began biking the trail with a club and now I live just a few miles from the trail head in Mahtomedi. I’ve trained for bike tours and I’ve walked with friends. Most important to me, I feel a real sense of peace as I commune with nature each time I’m on the trail. I was asked to serve on the Board of Directors by Al Porter and Barb Wahman. After my husband, Kirk Meyer, passed away, I planted trees at the Hadley Parking lot boulevard to provide shade n his honor. Barb and Al were helpful in arranging that with the DNR. 

Biking is a passion of mine, I’ve biked the US, Canada and Europe. Yet, many of my favorite rides begin and end on the GBCT. 

Steve O’Hern