TAHOE XC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Member of the Contract Compliance Committee
Ben learned to ski in the potato fields of Idaho, Nordic raced throughout college, pursued a post-college ski racing career, and in 2005 began coaching full time. He has coached nationally and internationally from youth World Cup all the way to Master skiers. As Executive Director, he oversees operations, grooming, programs, events and even teaches weekly clinics.
Biby was born in Romania and competed as a Professional Biathlete for 18 years on the World Cup. In 2004, she retired from competition and first visited Tahoe where it was love at first sight. She now owns a local cleaning business and brings a long tenured and vast winter sports experience to Tahoe XC.
In 1979, Doug moved to Tahoe and groomed for Squaw Valley Nordic, then for Skip Reedy at Tahoe Nordic Center (now Tahoe XC). He is employed by Tahoe XC to maintain all trails, machinery and a high quality of grooming and is a founding member of TCCSEA.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Contract Compliance Committee
A Tahoe resident and Nordic skier since 1977, Gerald joined the board in 2016. He has spent 11 years on the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team Board and 16 years as Field Office Chief for the US Geological Survey, where he worked for 38 years.
After moving to Tahoe in 1975, Jim made his first Nordic turns touring Blackwood Canyon and then at Tahoe Nordic, which was the Highland's Nordic Center at the time. He has served on the board since 1999 as a founding member and is currently Board President.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Contract Compliance Committee
Over the years, Mike Wells has served as Treasurer for various nonprofits, including Creekside PTO, Girls on the Run-Sierras, and Far West Nordic Ski Education Association. He has prepared the exempt organization returns for TCCSEA and the tax returns for Tahoe XC for approximately 12 years. Mike enjoys cross-country skiing and wants to help encourage kids who grow up in this area to take up the sport.
Rick Ganong moved to Tahoe on February 12, 1979 with his wife and 15 month daughter. As a UCLA trained internist he was excited to join Truckee Tahoe Medical Group. That February day there was no snow on the ground. The next day there was four feet! Three more kids and a few dogs later, he's never looked back. His passion for Tahoe remains strong and he joined the board in 2018 to help Tahoe XC to the best of his capacity.
Roger moved with his family to Squaw Valley in 1976 and has lived in Reno since 1998. When he was 11 years old, his mom rented equipment from the Blue Star Hotel in Truckee and took him skiing at Lake Van Norden in the Donner Summit Valley. He has been skiing ever since. Roger joined the board in 2016.
Ryan was born and raised in Tahoe and grew up as a downhill ski racer. In 2011, he was introduced to skate skiing and it has been a love affair ever since. Ryan has worked as a registered investment advisor for over 20 years and brings a strong business background and deep-rooted passion for the Tahoe area and the outdoors to Tahoe XC.
Sue Rae started backcountry skiing in college in Bozeman, Montana, was confirmed a tele skier when she moved to Tahoe in 1986, and took up skate skiing when her children joined Strider Gliders and their middle school Nordic team. She joined the board in 2018 as a way to celebrate the strong community she finds at Tahoe XC.
Thomas' family has been coming up to Tahoe since 1996. Thomas developed a passion for the mountains growing up in Switzerland, and enthusiastically awaits winter. After 20+ years in high tech, Thomas is excited to have relocated full time to Tahoe. Thomas is lucky to have become good friends with founder, Doug Read, who introduced him to Tahoe XC. Thomas has been a regular skier and volunteer since moving to Tahoe and joined the board to give his time to an organization he's so passionate about.