Core Staff Accordian page

He was an early member of the NJICL Core Team. He saw NJICL as a natural extension of his involvement in mountain biking advocacy and took up the role of Chief of Registration in our inaugural season before accepting the responsibility as League Director in June of 2017.

Ken began mountain biking in the late 80’s, and found mountain bike advocacy in 2005, when he volunteered as Development Director for JORBA. He is humbled by the passion of New Jersey’s volunteers and the rich history of stewardship mountain bikers have created.  He works with land managers across the state to strengthen partnerships and spread trail love. He serves on the NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s New Jersey Trails Council as the Statewide Mountain Bike Representative.

Ken enjoys all aspects of cycling, from racing to commuting to adventure, and feels that the world is a better place when experienced from a bicycle. He is a husband and father of four, and recently retired honorably from the United States Coast Guard, where he served as a Chief Boatswain’s Mate.

As Board President of the New Jersey Interscholastic Cycling League, Tom is stoked to introduce the world’s best life-style sport to the next generation. He has been riding bikes for most of his life, and with the purchase of his 1984 Stumpjumper was hooked on mountain biking, and the lifestyle and community that goes with it. Tom started racing in 1992, and his recent accomplishments include a New Jersey State Championship, and first place in the regional mountain bike race series, both in the Cat 1 Open Single Speed category. In 2015 Tom competed in the NUE Series’ 50+ Masters field, earning himself a bunch of podium finishes.

Tom joined NJ-based Team Bulldog (www.teambulldog.com) in 2009, and started the team’s U19 racing team in 2010, leading the program as head coach and director ever since.

Tom earned a B.Sc. from Cornell University many, many moons ago, and after a career in ERP system consulting and project management is enjoying semi-retirement and staying active with his wife, son and daughter. He believes that cycling has the ability to change lives, and is passionate about sharing that gospel with today’s juniors through his ongoing involvement with Team Bulldog U19, and on a broader basis through NICA.

Tom served as League Director for our inaugural season and has now stepped up to become the Advisory Board President. He is also keeping a “hands on” role as a coach on his local NICA team as well as taking Chief Course Marshal responsibilities for the 2018 season.

Chris Facas is the New Jersey NICA League Bid Founding Chair. He pulled together a very impressive team of dedicated cyclists to create the bid and his team will continue to rely on his 30 years of competitive cycling experience to fulfill their vision of a very successful chapter.

Chris also brings more than 15 years of bike business experience, which will enable the group to rely on his extensive knowledge of New Jersey trails, the racing community, the people of influence in the area, and the numerous resources that will be required to achieve a thriving and popular mountain bike racing community among the high school youth of this state.

Chris has two children with whom he has shared his passion for physical activities and the outdoors. They have followed in his footsteps of downhill and cross country skiing and mountain bike racing and he wants to instill that fervor for outdoor activity and mountain biking in many more New Jersey young people. He talks extensively about his desire to bring the sport to those who may not enjoy participating in mainstream high school team sports, but would like to be part of a team.

Chris currently is the Territory Sales manager, Northeast at Haibike USA. In the past he has been Store Manager at Marty’s Reliable Cycle in Morristown, National Accounts Manager at Pacific Health Labs, Account Manager for New York and New Jersey for Jamis Bicycles, and Account Manager for NYC metro/Northern NJ for Specialized Bicycles. Chris spent 11 years living and working in Breckenridge, Co., and has been racing mountain bikes since his first purchase in 1988. He has also competed in Road, Cyclocross, Time Trailing, ski racing, and adventure racing. He has a Bachelor of Science in Environment and Business Economics from Rutgers University.

Jeff is a veteran rider who travels the country performing demos, leading consumer rides and competing in various disciplines of mountain biking. His resume on and off the bike is unmatched in the industry. He is a 3 time National Champion, World Record Holder on the bike and possesses broad experience in public relations, marketing, event coordination and production. Highly motivated and skillful at creating unique marketing opportunities for brands and athletes in a fast paced environment. A native of New Jersey, Jeff is a pioneer of MTB street and urban riding and set the world record for the highest bunny hop on a mountain bike (45.5 inches).

Today Jeff spends his time showing off his skills at group events and also competing in Trials, Dual Stunt, Enduro and XC events. In a typical year, he performs more than 50 shows all around the country showcasing his skills. In addition to competing and riding Jeff helps create, design and construct competitions, courses and products so he can help people enjoy the sport he loves.Jeff’s career as a professional cyclist spans more than 20 years and includes several different disciplines of the sport.   He is a 3 time National Champion, World Record Holder on the bike and possesses broad experience in public relations, marketing, event coordination and production. Highly motivated and skillful at creating unique marketing opportunities for brands and athletes in a fast paced environment.

Over 100 Career Professional Podium Finishes

Links Sport Management, Sparta, NJ January 1995 – Present

East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA

BA Movement and Sport Studies/Sports Management 1989-1993

David and his wife Heather, along with their boys Taylor and Trevor, have been cycling together for the past 15-20+ years. They have enjoyed mountain bike trips to Moab and Park City, Utah, and more than 20 seasonal trips to the Kingdom Trails in Vermont.

Together, David and Heather own and operate a local security alarm company, AC Daughtry who are a major sponsor of our League. Their company also sponsors two race/club teams in the area, the regional H2H Mountain Bike Race series and they have been interested in NICA since first meeting with the organization at Interbike many years ago.

David was a competitive ski racer and attended Burke Mountain Ski Academy in high school. Following high school and prior to graduation from Seton Hall University, he began ski coaching at a New Jersey high school for two years. Together, he and Heather coached USSA programs for the next 15 years. David was the President of the New Jersey Ski Racing Association for seven years.

David and Heather are active club and board members of a local cycling group and have each raced to multiple state and regional cycling championships. They look forward to being able to continue to “Complete the Circle” as they introduce their winter friends, to their spring, summer and fall cycling friends!

Jon is territory manager for Trek Bicycle Corporation in New Jersey and Northeast Pa. His job requires working with bicycle dealers on retail, marketing, and other areas of business. He has worked in various capacities in the industry for more than 35 years.

He earned a degree in journalism from Keene State (NH) College. After six years as a reporter, editor and photographer for a variety of newspapers in New Jersey and New England, the bike bug convinced him to give up journalism for a career in the bicycle industry. He bought his first mountain bike in 1990. For several years, he wrote a weekly newspaper column on the outdoors, frequently focusing on mountain biking.

Jon owned a bicycle shop in North Jersey for seven years, and has worked as a regional manager for an 18-store chain, as well as other bicycle manufacturers and bike shops. His passion for cycling goes back to elementary school. He has toured extensively by bicycle, including a five-week tour in France and a month-long tour from New Jersey to Mississippi. He has ridden the seven-day San Juan Huts MTB tour. He has organized many shorter cycle tours with friends.

Jon has worked extensively with children, as a church youth leader and teacher, in teaching bicycle safety with grade-school children and, over the years, in running nearly 50 bicycle safety “roadeos”.

He has a large network of bicycle-industry contacts. He is a former Board member of the New Jersey Bike-Walk Coalition, the state’s largest bike-ped advocacy group; and a founding Board member of Highlands Economic Development and Tourism Corp., a non-profit devoted to eco-tourism.

Larry has been actively involved in cycling since the mid-70’s. He started racing on the road and track as a junior at the age 15. As is the case for many NICA student participants, Larry was not suited or attracted to conventional team ball sports. Cycling gave Larry a chance to excel at a sport and provided him with the confidence to meet the challenges of adult life. We think it is safe to say that cycling became a cornerstone of his life, and the cycling community and NICA NJ is fortunate to have him on board.

Larry has competed in nearly all disciplines of cycling — road, track, MTB and cyclocross. He has won approximately 20 state titles over his career, and continues to compete as a master’s cyclist. Larry holds a Category 2 license on the road and a Category 1 in MTB.

Larry owns and operates a full-time cycling coaching service and is a USAC certified coach. His athlete base consists of 30 cyclists. In addition, Larry coaches the Team Somerset Junior Team. Larry is a past board member of the New Jersey Bicycling Association and current chairman of the NJBA Cyclocross Committee.

His other cycling-based activities include the operation and sponsorship of a USAC cycling club with more than 20 members, and the co-promotion of one of the most popular cyclocross races in New Jersey.

Jason currently carries the titles of Chief Course Marshal and Chief Course Setter for NJICL.  While not a racer himself, he appreciates the sport and the opportunity to share his love of the trails and active outdoor lifestyle.  Jason has been co-leading the Dickerson Mine Preserve chapter or JORBA for the last eight years and is a member of the Mine Hill Open Space Committee.  When not working on the trails, he is often running beginner and intermediate group rides throughout North Jersey.  Jason was the former owner of mtbnj.com and currently runs a mountain biking specific meetup.com group.

When the cycling shoes come off, Jason is a Security Engineer and holds a bachelor’s degree in information assurance and security.  As a father of twins, Gabriel and Cole, he hopes his boys share his lifelong passion for cycling and become future NJICL athletes.

With a career spanning nearly 40 years within the cycling industry with sales, marketing and territorial management experience; Sandy has worked at every level from retail store management and sales, event promotion, OEM sales, technical event support to manufacturers sales representative. Sandy first began riding mountain bikes in 1980 and forged a successful racing career both on and off-road spanning the early years of mountain biking, racing as a NORBA pro through masters level state championship TT titles. He’s taught skiing as a certified Professional Ski Instructor of America.

Sandy served on the Competition Committee of the initial NORBA Board of Directors and is the founder and past president of the Eastern Bicycle Sales Representatives Association as well as a charter member of JORBA (Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association). Sandy has been active in the development of a Safe Routes to School program in his local community as well as being a member of The NJ Bike Walk Coalition, the National Bicycle Dealers Association, and has been an active fundraiser for World Bicycle Relief.

Kris is responsible for keeping our story in the media in all formats

She grew up in rural Central New York just south of the Adirondacks. The area lent itself to a life of hiking, biking, skiing & running in the woods. She participated in organized sports throughout her childhood, with field hockey being her focus during high school and college.

Kris currently race mountain bikes at the professional level, focusing on cross-country, enduro and the occasional endurance event.

Student athletics were extremely important to her growing up and gave her so much more than just fitness. It provided a means of pushing her physical, mental and locational boundaries. On a very simple, daily level she always focused on making small improvements. In a grander scheme, those daily efforts set into motion a slew of opportunities she never fathomed. From traveling through Europe to a full tuition college scholarship to attending private skills clinics with the Australian Olympic Field Hockey Coach, to playing against the Chinese Olympic Field Hockey Team in Australia. The incredible journey she was lucky enough to experience all started with the encouragement and guidance of her high school coaches.

The self-discovery and unexpected opportunities that can occur as a student athlete strives to do their best are the very things Kris hopes to ignite for our NJ NICA students. She is currently a Level 3 coach for the Essex Off Road team and a member of the NJ Girls Rock! recruiting initiative.

Katie joined the NJICL Core Crew in 2017 after volunteering at numerous races through the inaugural season. A long time cyclist, racer and industry insider, Katie is passionate about using her experience and love of the sport to get more kids (and adults!) on bikes. As an avid outdoor enthusiast and cyclist, she knows the immense positive impact that the introduction of NICA is having and will continue to have on public health, environmental stewardship, inclusive youth platforms, community building, and the longevity of the cycling industry.

Katie received her B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Military Leadership from UMass Amherst, and quickly left the political scene for a career in the outdoor industry. She is is currently the tri-state Field Sales Rep for Superfeet Insoles & Footwear and works part time at Halter’s Cycles, a strong local NICA supporter. Prior to this role she was a Sales Support Rep for Shimano/ Pearl Izumi within The Highlands Sports Group (early NJICL sponsor), and Sales Coordinator for Jamis Bicycles (another NJICL sponsor!). Her favorite cycling disciplines include XC, DH, road, and gravel.

B.J. joined the league in the 2017 inaugural season as Operations Manager.

Born and raised in North Jersey he got his start promoting cycling in 1986 as a member of the RAGE BMX freestyle team setting up local shows for the team to perform at.

Since then he has worked with various races such as the Philadelphia Pro cycling tour, Providence Cyclocross Festival, Women’s Woodstock Cycling Grand Prix, and most recently the Race Director for BubbleCross.

BJ is a dedicated father, NJCX Project director / Coach, and brand ambassador for Skratch Labs, Giant Bicycles, and Mavic.

He uses his experience from both sides of the tape to ensure the highest quality production value for the student athletes of the NJ League and is eagerly waiting to expand the league and kick off the next season to get more kids on bikes!

Kathi started racing bikes on the velodrome in 1985, and worked her way through criteriums, road, cyclocross and cross-country racing before finding her home on the Pro Downhill circuit in 1998.

After competing in her final race in 2008, and with three Masters World Downhill Championships and 25 years of racing in her pocket, Kathi started Dirt Rock n Root Training in 2011.

She holds instructor certifications through IMBA and PMBIA, and is a USA Cycling licensed coach.

Her main objective is to help bring more women and kids into mountain biking and to promote mountain biking as a lifetime sport. This ties perfectly into her role as a Coach Supporter for the NJ NICA league.

When not coaching, you can find Kathi shredding the trails at Mountain Creek Bike Park.