Full Time Staff

**Brett Donelson**
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
970.306.7572 **x 7000**

Brett and his wife, Tam, have lived in the Vail Valley since 2005. He has spent over 20 years coaching young athletes and working as a fitness professional.
As a certified personal trainer, USA Cycling Coach, and USA Triathlon Coach, Brett realized his passion for helping young people see the benefits that athletics and mentoring can have in their life. His experience as the Cycling Director at the Athletic Club at the Westin and as the Head Women’s Coach at Ski Club Vail has given him the skills needed to turn the dream of The Cycle Effect into a reality.
Brett grew up in Central New York and graduated from Hobart College with a degree in Architectural Design and Primary Education. He loves to recreationally race mountain bikes and be outside with his wife, Tam.

**Tamara Donelson**
Co-Founder and TCE+ Team Coach

Tam grew up in Sydney, Australia and ended up in Edwards, CO after chasing the endless winter for 10+ years while teaching skiing. As she settled in the Vail Valley, Tam quickly took to triathlon and mountain biking.
In only her 3rd year racing Xterra Offroad Triathlon, Tam became the Overall Amateur Xterra Regional, National, and World Champion. Tam also started mountain bike racing against the local pro women in Vail.
Tam took the leap to race Xterra Triathlon professionally in 2012. She has her own coaching business, Donelson Coaching, and is a USA Triathlon and USA Cycling coach. Tam is a leading personal trainer, triathlon coach, and cycling coach at the Athletic Club at the Westin, in Beaver Creek, CO. To learn more about Tam, you can visit her website: donelsoncoaching.com

**Molly Gamble**
Director of Programming
970.306.7572 **x 7001**

Molly grew up in Maryland and made the move to Colorado in 2009. She began building roots in Eagle County in 2016 as a classroom teacher and started volunteering with The Cycle Effect the following summer.
Molly immediately connected with the supportive environment she found on the team and the amazing grit, perseverance, and confidence that the athletes and coaches practiced. As a Cycle Effect coach, Molly strove to create a positive culture on the team that empowered all athletes to courageously navigate the ups and downs of life through biking on our beautiful trails and through the support of the entire team. She also used her teaching and coaching experience to help design and create a positive and supportive culture for the pilot program in Routt County in 2021.
Molly is a level 2 certified BICP certified mountain biking coach and is a BICP Instructor Trainer. She is looking forward to prioritizing meaningful connections in each community and supporting the dynamic staff at The Cycle Effect.

**Rebecca Gould**
Director of Development
970-306.7572 **x 7010**

Rebecca is a nonprofit leader with 15 years of experience in fundraising, marketing, communications, and strategic planning. She’s is invigorated by creativity, big ideas, an entrepreneurial spirit, and is passionate about expanding opportunity and inclusivity in the outdoors. She’s thrilled to have found a perfect match with The Cycle Effect.
With an education background in finance combined with her strengths of strategic thinking and communication, Rebecca has found success in scaling program impact and outcomes for diverse youth across the country. Leading dynamic and agile teams, Rebecca is inspired by Margaret Mead's words: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
You’re likely to find Rebecca on the slopes or on the trails with her 4 year-old daughter, Sibyl and husband, Evan. She finds bliss from connecting and sharing her passion for outdoor adventures with others whether it's skiing, biking, trail running or backpacking.

**Helen Beall**
Routt County Manager
970.306.7572 **x 7008**

Helen is a Colorado native, born in Delta County, and has spent the past 12 years at her home in Steamboat Springs. As soon as she landed in Steamboat, she met her husband, Ben. Together, they raise two young children, Bennie and Ethel, and one dog, Jack.
She brings over a decade of nonprofit experience in programs and as a funder. She worked most recently as the Community Impact Manager at the Yampa Valley Community Foundation.
Before this work, she assisted residents by connecting them with resiliency programs, coached, and ran significant nonprofit events & fundraisings. She is driven by serving her community. Her love of mountain biking matches her passion for creating young leaders and building community. The mission of The Cycle Effect aligns closely with her heart. Helen enjoys planning adventures for her family (and dog) in her free time. Her family loves to spend time on river trips, backpacking, camping, skiing, and riding bikes.

**Jasmine “Jaz” Oeinck**
Mesa County Manager
970.306.7572 **x 7007**

Born in raised in Colorado, Jasmine has always gravitated toward outdoor adventure and sport. After retiring from racing triathlon at an elite level, Jasmine moved to the Western Slope and fell in love with the lifestyle AND the access to world class mountain biking.
Jasmine is thrilled to be a part of the Cycle Effect Team and work with young riders who share the same passion of mountain biking. She is looking forward to supporting riders as they grow as athletes and individuals through this fantastic sport. Jasmine loves music, potato chips, her husband Kris, her dog Frye and is currently trying to expand her collection of 'dad jokes.'

**Julia Walsh**
Operations + Eagle County Manager
970.306.7572 x **7002**

Julia is a life-long Coloradoan, born in Boulder and raised in the Vail Valley. After ski racing professionally for five years, she spent 10 years as a classroom teacher before transitioning into the nonprofit world. She can generally be found chasing around her two young kids, her dog, or on her bike.
From coaching ski racing to volleyball, and working with kids in various capacities, Julia realized her passion for experiential learning in an outdoor setting and took every opportunity possible to foster confidence, belonging, and strength in young people. As an athlete, she experienced the benefits of sports first hand and believes in the power of sports to transform and shape young people’s lives.
After working in other local nonprofit programming, she is excited to bring her experience and passion together in the Eagle County Manager role. Community is at the core of all she does, from volunteering and donating time, energy, and resources to knowing the people and institutions at the heart of Eagle County. The mission and work of The Cycle Effect align with her own values of authenticity and adventure. When she’s not working or wrangling her family, she can be found pedaling, reading, baking, or skiing.

**Madison Bolotin**
Development Coordinator
970.306.7572

Madison is originally from the east coast and found her passion for the outdoors when she moved to Colorado in 2014. Moving first to Denver and later to Steamboat Springs, she dove deeper into the magic and personal growth that comes from challenging yourself in the wild. Madison deeply understands the importance of gaining confidence, independence, and self-awareness through outdoor adventure, and highlights how mountain biking has been a major catalyst of that growth for her.
In recent years, she worked in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on college campuses. The Cycle Effect’s mission aligns with her desire to provide a safe environment for girls and women to flourish and feel a strong sense of safety and belonging. Madison is thrilled to be contributing to TCE’s overall mission from her home base of Steamboat.
Madison is happiest outside with her dog Banjo, whether she’s biking on Emerald, skiing, camping, or swimming in the Yampa.

**Ashley Ojala**
Marketing Manager
970.306.7572 **x 7006**

Ashley is equal parts Midwesterner, mountain lover and desert dweller. She’s happiest on a mountain bike, a raft or a pair of skis, and is always thinking about her next adventure outside.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Gender Studies and Life Sciences Communication, Ashley moved to Summit County, Colorado in 2010. She worked and played in the mountains for ten years, honing her marketing skills in the outdoor industry and obtaining a certificate of Digital Marketing and Design from Colorado Mountain College. She grew as an athlete and mountain biker, learning firsthand about the empowerment that stems from challenging ourselves on the trail. She also witnessed the unequal access to these experiences, and is passionate about making outdoor recreation more equitable and inclusive for everyone.
Ashley moved to Mesa County, Colorado in 2022. She now calls the Grand Valley home, and is thrilled to contribute to her community through her work with The Cycle Effect.

**Erin Buena**
Summit County Manager
970.306.7572 **x 7004**

Erin has followed her heart from CA to CO, Denver to Dillon and most recently to The Cycle Effect. A Summit County local since 2016, she is committed to connecting deeply with the community and her natural surroundings.
Growing up in the heat of the High Desert in Southern California, she first experienced the importance of sisterhood on her high school and junior college indoor volleyball teams. When she moved to Colorado in 2012, she began to discover who she was and what she was capable of as she explored activities outdoors. Her self-esteem, physical and mental health began to soar in ways she didn't know possible while she was playing in nature.
Erin thrives as part of a team and has become fulfilled in careers which have brought her more and more in alignment with the values she holds close to her heart. Connection through compassion is the heartbeat of her personal mission, which she is overjoyed to share with her communities while biking on trails, teaching yoga and within The Cycle Effect.