Highlights from Knoxville and IMBA Leadership Summit
In September Michael Anzalone, Executive Director, and Steve Messer, Board President attended IMBA’s 2024 Leadership Summit in Knoxville, Tennessee. The conference is dedicated to empowering grassroots advocacy efforts, and the individuals who lead them in their communities. The content aimed to help these leaders “level up” in key areas such as fundraising, programming, stewardship, and community engagement—essentials for creating and sustaining thriving trail communities.
Highlights included…
⚡️ Jason McDougald with The G5 Trail Collective (@g5trailcollective) welcomed attendees with an inspiring keynote about the momentum in Old Fort, North Carolina.
⚡️ IMBA’s Education Manager, John Cox, led everyone through the trail development process.
⚡️ Everyone listened intently as Appalachian Mountain Bike Club’s Matthew Kellogg discussed the evolution of mountain bike advocacy in Knoxville.
⚡️ IMBA’s Director of Local Programs, Anthony Duncan, guided everyone through the principles of nonprofit leadership.
⚡️Patrick Kelly, IMBA’s Senior Partnerships Manager, tackled a popular topic: funding and donor support.
⚡️ IMBA’s Communication and Advocacy Specialist, Kate Noelke, highlighted some best practices on getting your message out to the public.
⚡️ AMBC’s locals led attendees through the wildly popular Baker Creek Preserve – the perfect place for all abilities.
⚡️ Todd Keller, IMBA and Chris Orr, IMBA delivered candid insights on Agency Engagement and Stewardship Strategies
⚡️Natalie Narburgh, Pisgah SORBA, Matthew Kellogg, Appalachian Mountain Bike Club, and Jason Brummels, THOR, dug in on making the shift from volunteer to paid staff
⚡️ Philip Darden, SORBA Executive Director, and Michael Anzalone, CAMTB Executive Director, discussed the power of coalition building and how no two, by design, are the same.
In addition to the engaging dialogue, the group took the opportunity to do some trail tasting each day with rides at Baker Creek Preserve and Bike Park. This urban wilderness interface features all-weather purpose-built single track with progression as well as a large asphalt pump track, an asphalt jump line, a crushed stone jump line, a small asphalt pump track, and multiple xc skills lines in the bike park. The park, which opened in 2020 is the culmination of a multi-year Appalachian Mountain Bike Club.
Bakers Creek Preserve Asphalt Pump Track, Jump Line, and MTB Skills Area – Knoxville, Tn.
Urgent Post-Helene Update
Hurricane Helene has taken a devastating toll on the southeast. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the storm. The Appalachian Mountain Bike Coalition, the local host organization of the IMBA Leadership Summit, has launched their “Raffle for Relief”, with 100% of proceeds support storm relief in five SORBA Regions across East Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. AMBC would like to give special thanks to its local and regional industry partners who pitched in during a difficult time to help make this possible.
Entries are only $10 each, and you can enter as many times as you like (you can save $ with multiple entries)! The drawing will happen LIVE at the 15th AMBC Fall Festival on November 2nd ~9 pm EST. AMBC will livestream the drawing on our Facebook channel for those who can’t make it; you don’t need to be present to win! The bike can be picked up locally at Harpers Bike Shop in Knoxville, Tennessee, or the winner may arrange shipping at their own expense.
