Board of Directors
JEROME BERG
Jerome is an active outdoor enthusiast and grateful resident of Ogden for the past 15 years. I really enjoy being with like minded people and support several volunteer positions for the betterment of non-motorized trails in and around Ogden. When the ground is dry, you’ll find me hiking, biking, and running throughout our vast network of trails. When the snow is flying, you’ll most likely find me at North Fork supporting our other great volunteers while also trying to improve my skating technique. I’m now working an initiative to assess North Fork trail usage through a series of counters so we can better plan and support your trails. And although I prefer skis to fat tires, I always look forward to winter so I can help groom our ever growing network of Fat Bike trails.
KACEE WEAVER
Learning to swim in the North Fork river in the late 80s and hopping on a pair of skis at the age of four, Ogden Valley’s beauty and recreational opportunities have shaped who I am as a person. I am an avid mountain biker, trail runner, downhill skier, snowboarder, and new nordic skier. As an elementary teacher, I am also passionate about providing environmental education and outdoor opportunities to the children of Ogden.
I am excited to join the Ogden Nordic community and looking forward to meeting great people with the same passion for volunteering, winter sports, and appreciation of our gorgeous valley.
ALAN WHEELWRIGHT
It all started in 2005 when Dave Jenkins asked me to help with grooming. After spending several weeks grooming, Dave suggested in his kindest voice “Alan you should take up crosscountry skiing, so that you can understand what good grooming looks like”. With that gentle nudge, I started a love for skiing and beautiful corduroy.
In 2015, I decided to try that “stupid” fatbiking thing to prove how dangerous it was to skiers and destructive it was to the trails. Fortunately, neither were true and I became hooked. Since then I have spearheaded the building of 10+ miles of multi-use trails at North Fork.
Since 2005 I have moved through most of the board positions including a 4 year stint as president. The organization has grown in the last 15+ years into a world class fatbiking and skiing destination. Fortunately you can still find the moments when you are skiing/fatbiking by yourself with perfect corduroy and all the hard work is worth it!
NICO VILGIATE
IThe mountains came calling to me back in 1988 when I was a freshman at the University of Colorado in Boulder. I found Utah and the Wasatch and was a quintessential ski bum for one season in Park City, UT while waiting tables and spending every day skiing. In that banner season for Park City, I knew I would eventually make Utah home. The past 3 decades I have been a commercial real estate broker and am currently an EVP at Colliers International focused on investment sales and leasing. I have been married to my best friend Ashley for over 16 years and we have a 12 year old daughter who loves skiing. We live in Eden in Trappers Ridge. Growing up on the Southern California coast I love to surf Dive. I love giving back to the community and planet earth and have served on other charitable boards. I enjoy snowshoeing regularly at Ogden Nordic and love to skin into the backcountry.
JOE PAUSTENBAUGH
Joe has lived in Utah for 41years and in Liberty for the past 8 years. I enjoy the beauty and recreational opportunities that we have in the Ogden Valley. We all are fortunate to have North Fork Park right in our backyard. Whether we use the park for hiking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, skiing, or biking; we all are responsible to maintain, preserve, and improve it for current and future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. As a board member my goal is to apply my experience in industry to assist in the preservation of North Fork Park and the Ogden Nordic experience.
MATT GNAGEY
After growing up insisting that skis should only go downhill, Matt was introduced to cross-country skiing by his Minnesotan wife. I quickly fell in love with the peaceful way of exploring winter landscapes. Nowadays I split my time between backcountry skiing and skate skiing, and I believe there is not a better spot than North Fork Park. While not out recreating on the trails and in the mountains, I am an environmental economist at Weber State University. I am excited to support all trail users, and I hope Ogden Nordic can continue to provide unparalleled winter experiences for all.
TRISH PAINTER
Trish grew up on skis in Michigan and started XC skiing in 1975 and has moved from the downhill areas to the backcountry and trails. She has been involved with Ogden Nordic since moving to Utah in 2011, has served on the board and is now the operations director for Ogden Nordic. She is out on the trails in North Fork Park nearly every day, all year round. She is very grateful that she can skijor on the Ogden Nordic trails.
KRISTEN BELL
Kristen grew up in Vermont, cross country skiing out the back door and into the snowy woods. She joined her high school ski team and continued racing for Bates College, and still likes challenging herself in citizen races. For the past nine years she has enjoyed being an ambassador for the sport, teaching others how to cross country ski. Currently she and her husband Steve are the Ogden Nordic Ski School directors. North Fork Park is a great place to recreate, especially in the winter. It is awesome to have options for trail users to ski, bike or snowshoe in this beautiful place. As a member of the Ogden Nordic Board, her vision is to promote and preserve North Fork Park for the enjoyment of all..
HELENE LIEBMAN
Helene has been involved with Ogden Nordic since 2011, working as a volunteer in the yurt. After moving here in 1999, I worked as the Weber Pathways Executive Director for 5 years and served on state and county level committees between 2004 and 2016 to award grant funding to build hiking, biking, and cross-country ski trails. I'm out hiking or snowshoeing in North Fork Park pretty much every day.