Meet the Board

Meet the Board

Nate Smith

Nate Smith, President

I grew up in the wonderful state of Iowa and acquired my love for the outdoors on frequent family road trips. Traveling to different state and national parks instilled in me a passion for the outdoors and a lifelong love of trails. I have raced on trails either by foot or bike across the country a lot during my adult life and I find Columbia to be a hidden gem. If I'm not on a bike or a hike with my family I'm probably out on a trail sawing up a downed tree or coordinating a work event with a bunch of volunteers. USFS Certified Sawyer.  

Josh Johnson, Vice President

I am a lifelong cyclist who enjoys all forms of two-wheeled sports, from commuting to training to a leisurely ride on local trails. (I have not yet mastered unicycle riding.)  I enjoy building the cycling community through grassroots programs and organizations. I've recently gotten into hiking and even tried horseback riding. Among other endeavors, I am the co-founder of Como Cyclocross and the Hairy Hundred.   A graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, I serve as Chief Information Officer with Fibersmith. I spent more than 20 years designing and managing systems for internet service providers to grow and manage their businesses.

Andy Schuette, Treasurer

I got started mountain biking after saving up for a bike with a paper route in middle school. I have been trying to help out our trails ever since reading about the Rhett's Run project. In addition to working on our local trails I spend many weekends timing mountain bike races across our state and getting to know how trail systems work for their communities. I love spending time out in the woods and working to help get more people to experience the great trail opportunities we have all around us! COMOTA is a great organization to be a part of and the many perspectives our board and members bring to the table have helped make our outdoor experiences better for everyone.

Beth Kelly, Secretary

My introduction to trail stewardship began with conservation corps in Tennessee and Arizona. I later worked in that capacity with the US Forest Service, Park Service, and numerous state parks throughout the mountain west. I moved to Columbia for graduate school in 2011 (my thesis was, unsurprisingly, about trails) and have since made this place my home. While I now work a desk job, I would almost always rather be outside. If you need to reach me, I'm probably out running, biking, climbing, kayaking, or at the playground with my daughter. Can I pet your dog?

Mark standing in front of an icy rock

Mark Alvarez

Growing up in the Ozarks, it was hard not to be enchanted by the clear streams and pine forests. There I cut my teeth backpacking and kayaking the rugged wilderness. When I moved to Columbia in 2013 to attend MU, the necessity to get around campus rekindled my relationship with the bicycle, which has been my preferred method of transportation ever since. Since then, I received my Master of Accounting from MU, got a grownup job as a controller, got married, had a son, and spent a lot of time exploring our trails along the way. These days, you're likely to find my dirty Subaru parked at the end of a gravel road in MTNF somewhere.

Sam Botts

I have been a bicycle rider since childhood but mountain biking specifically for a little over ten years. It is my absolute favorite pastime! I ride for fun as well as doing some racing, mainly endurance events. I joined COMOTA due to an interest in getting more single track built in and around Columbia. Having participated in many trail work events, I really enjoy the sense of accomplishment when I ride sections that we have built, repaired or maintained.

Yvonne Buchheit

I relocated to Columbia to attend college from a small town along the Missouri River and have remained here since. I only began running and cycling after college when I discovered triathlons. Coming from a rural area, it was a natural progression for me to transition to trail running and mountain biking on natural surface trails. Presently, I am often found hiking with friends, family, and dogs on the numerous trails available in Columbia and Boone County. My travel plans frequently revolve around exploring trails in National Parks & Forests, State Parks, and Conservation areas. I joined the board to support our local trails and collaborate with others who share this passion..

Andrea Earlywine

I’m a Columbia transplant since graduate school in 2003, raised on a Northeast Missouri farm where I grew to really love the outdoors. The intersection of mental health- the field of my work-and the healing wildness of the outdoors has been so much of my life. I love to hike and trail run, camp, backpack and backcountry adventure. I’m a mountain bike dabbler and native wildflower enthusiast. Also a huge fan of trail snacks and COMOTA’s mission and work.

Anita Ellis

I am from Hannibal, MO and have been trail riding (horseback) all over Missouri and other states my whole life. For many years, I was a member of Missouri Backcountry Horsemen and participated in leave no trace training and assisted with trail clean up and maintenance. Previously, in my career in Extension, I served as a board member on several counties' Soil and Water Conservation Districts. In this capacity, I was involved with the programs for agriculture producers and landowners that implement conservation practices to decrease soil erosion, water conservation, and protecting natural resources. Now, as a Columbia resident for many years, I enjoy horse riding and hiking/trail running the many beautiful trails in this area. Off trail, kayaking and rock climbing are other hobbies that I enjoy with my husband, Michael..

Anatolie Juncu

I moved to US in '97 from Republic of Moldova. Graduated in '95 from Politechnical University of Bucharest with Masters in Electrical Engineering. Currently working as a Warehouse Automation Manager at MBS TEXTBOOK. Married. Have two kids. Enjoying nature and outdoors in general. Did a few endurance events involving cycling, running and swimming. Now, I try to participate as much as I can on trail building and maintenance. Daily trips to the gym for workouts, hot yoga and general chill. Love taking motorcycle trips and hiking.

Brian Kukla

I am happiest when I'm riding a bicycle. Whether I'm cornering in a crit or hopping barriers in a cross race, I'm just happy to have two wheels under me. When I'm not putting in the miles, I can be found wrenching on bikes at my bike shop CycleX or organizing my race team’s next trip. I am passionate about getting more people on bikes and growing the community that I love.

Lelande Rehard

In 2006 my brother convinced me to join MU Cycling and try mountain biking. I got hooked not just on biking but also on trail building. Biking, running, and working on trails have created so many friends and memories for me. Now I get to share those experiences with a new generation of trail users including my own children. COMOTA brings a unified voice to all the great work so many folks were doing on their own. I am proud of how much more we can advocate, maintain, and build together. The opportunities that have developed under the work of COMOTA are beyond anything I thought was possible back in 2006. The future for trails in Columbia is as bright as we want to make it. So join us, because great trails don’t just happen!  

Huston Spellman

MU Cycling Representative

Joshua Stockwell

I moved from Imperial, Missouri to Columbia in 2005. I’ve always loved spending time outdoors. Columbia and the surrounding area have really added fuel to that fire. Although I am a huge fan of live music or a rowdy board game, the majority of my free time is spent in the woods. Some of my favorite things to do include mountain biking, hiking, camping, birdwatching, paddling and petting dogs.

Michelle Teti

I moved to Columbia from Philadelphia over 10 years ago. I love the trails, they keep me sane and happy as a Missourian. I'm a lifelong runner, a semi-experienced trail runner, and a beginner mountain biker. I joined the board to support our trails and work with like-minded others to get Columbians excited about the trails. I'm also a professor of public health at the University of Missouri. Although most of my research falls into the areas of HIV and sexual health, my background is in community health and prevention and I am generally committed to helping everyone access their health potential, which usually includes nature and/or exercise. I also joined the board to lend my expertise in grant writing and health program development. I have 3 pitties of varying ages and sizes, a super rad partner, and a very cool 8-year old, and they all love the trails too :).

Elliott Usher

I grew up in St. Louis, building bike ramps in the woods, making secret trails in the brush, and creating my own places to play. As an adult, I'm an environmental lawyer who is motivated to see our community grow, and to figure out ways to cram fun into our daily lives. Whether I'm mountain biking, trail running, or cursing honeysuckle, I'm usually daydreaming about where COMOTA can build a few more miles of trail. I love these opportunities for everyday adventure that make Columbia so special, and I look forward to getting more people excited about what's just outside their home.