|
The RRCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
that promotes long distance running in America. The organization
is represented at the national, regional, and state level. The
RRCA maintains a full-time office staff at its headquarters in
Columbia, Maryland, to administer this grassroots running organization.
For any questions, please contact the Road Runners Club of America's
headquarters:
Road Runners Club of America
1501 Lee Hwy
Suite 140
Arlington, Va., 22209
Phone: 703-525-3890
Fax: 703-525-3891
Profiles of RRCA Officers,
Directors and Staff
 Executive
Director:
Columbia, MD
Jean Knaack is the Executive Director of the Road Runners Club of America. She brings over twelve years of nonprofit management experience to the position. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay with a Bachelor.s of Science in Human Nutrition. In 2000, she earned a Master's of Public Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management from George Mason University. Since that time, Jean has actively participated on the GMU Nonprofit Studies Advisory Committee. More recently, Jean has completed the Certificate in Human Resources Management from George Mason University. Since, locating to the Washington, DC area in 1997, Jean has developed broad skills in the nonprofit management arena by working in senior- level positions for 501(c)3 organizations that include a world renowned arts organization, an international conservation organization, and a grass-roots activist organization. She has experience managing the financial operations of organizations ranging in size from $100,000 to $10 million. Jean has extensive skills in organizational and financial development, board and member relations, and program planning and implementation. Jean is an avid runner, masters swimmer, and competitive triathlete and occasionally places in her age group. She completed the inaugural Ford Ironman Kentucky race in 2007. She has been married for twelve wonderful years and is the proud mother of two young children, Jena and James. Everyone in the Knaack household runs including the family dog, Isabelle.
e-mail:
Phone: 410-290-3890
Fax: 410-290-3893
 President:
Norfolk, VA
Previously serving the RRCA as an At-Large
Director, Bee's educational and professional backgrounds
give her the strong business and operational skills necessary
to be successful in the role of RRCA President. With both an
undergraduate and MBA from the college of William and Mary, Bee
has had over 20 years of work experience in the telecommunications
industry with two national organizations.
Bee is a 20+ year member of the Tidewater
Striders, one of the nations' largest running clubs, serving
on their Board of Directors for 10 years, including 4 years as
President. During her tenure, the club hosted the RRCA annual
meeting in Norfolk, Va. She also serves on the Board of the American
Association of Running Clubs as its Secretary. Additionally,
Bee serves on the Board of the South Hampton Roads' YMCA
rounding out her strong non-profit Board experience.
With her tenure in the sport -- both
as an athlete and administrator-her strong and applicable business
background, Bee has the necessary qualifications to move the
RRCA forward in this critical transition phase. Her unique role
on the AARC and the RRCA rather then a hindrance, provides an
opportunity for her to lead the RRCA while maintaining the trust
and confidence of the AARC and its constituents.
e-mail:
phone: 757-423-0256
 Vice
President:
Anniston, AL
Tom has been a member of the Anniston Road
Runners since 1991. He has served as the Treasurer, Vice President
and President. He has been on the ARC Board for eight years.
Tom has a BS in Marketing from Jacksonville State University
and an MBA from the University of Alabama. He is a partner in
a manufacturer's representative firm, Southern Marketing, which
covers part or all of three states. Tom has the business education
and Background as well as the local club experience.
e-mail:
phone:
fax:
 Treasurer:
New Berlin, WI
Dennis has been a certified public accountant
for over thirty-five years and retired from practice in 2004.
As a member of the Badgerland Striders since 1978, he has served
in several leadership roles including the treasurer and president
position. He is currently the chair of their finance committee.
Dennis has been a long time supporter of the RRCA National Convention
by attending nine out of the past eleven years. In addition,
Dennis is currently serving as the State Rep for Wisconsin and
has been active in the RRCA for many years.
e-mail:
Regional Directors
 Eastern
Director:
Frederick, MD
Brent previously served on the RRCA Board
of Directors from 1987 to 1990 and because of that, he has a
deep understanding of the RRCA. Brent has been a competitive
runner for 35 years and a founding member of the Frederick Steeplechasers
Running Club where he has served as president and treasurer respectively.
He also serves as Head Cross Country Coach at Hood College in
Frederick. He holds an MBA and serves as Finance Administrator
to four different members of the United States House of Representatives
where he has worked for nearly 25 years. He is also an adjunct
professor of business and government at Mount St. Mary's
College in Emmitsburg, Md and Frederick Community College in
Frederick, Md. Brent has proven himself to be an extremely valuable
asset to the RRCA over the years and is well know among the icons
of the RRCA and the national running community. His willingness
to return to duty on the RRCA Board is just another testament
to his integrity and devotion to running.
email:
 Central
Director:
Lake Zurich, IL
Beth is co-founder and charter treasurer
of the Alpine Runners, the largest club in the Chicago Area Runners
Association, and has served as their president since 2001. Beth
is employed as Program Director for CARA and her skills and enthusiasm
has earned her many CARA awards. An avid ultra-marathoner, Beth
has completed over 69 marathons and over 24 ultra marathons.
Beth is well known for her warmth, wisdom and enthusiasm. These
traits along with her well-documented leadership skills make
her an excellent choice for the RRCA.
email:
 Southern
Director:
Orange Park, FL
Ken is a retired U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer and works part time as an Aviation Logistics Manager for a government contractor. He has been running since 1981 and is a member of the Florida Striders and "JTC Running" Clubs. Ken was appointed as North Florida RRCA State Rep in 1996, was honored as the RRCA Outstanding State Rep in 1999 and has attended 12 RRCA conventions. He has received the "JTC Running" and Florida Striders' Outstanding Volunteer Awards and earned the RRCA National Volunteer Award in 1995. He served as chair of the State Rep committee from 2000 through 2005. During that period he was instrumental in developing the State Rep Handbook and most recently as a board member contributed significantly to the publication of the Regional Director's Handbook. He has been instrumental in updating and improving the awards and championship event programs. As Southern Region Director, Ken oversees 11 southern states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
email:
 Western Director
:
Juneau, AK
A native of York, Pennsylvania, David Epstein began running in 1992, and has completed nine marathons. He has served as Secretary, Webmaster, and President of the Anchorage Running Club. In 1996, he helped to establish the 5-Miler for Men.s Cancer Research, a benefit run for prostate and testicular cancer research, education, and awareness in Alaska. David served as the 5-Miler.s Race Director and President of the Board of Directors for ten years. David served as the Alaska State Representative before starting his RRCA Board service. He was the appointed Secretary for the RRCA in addition to being an At-Large Director. He holds a bachelor.s degree in engineering from Duke University, a master.s degree in engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a registered professional engineer in Alaska and Colorado. David works for the Federal Aviation Administration, where he serves as Business Services Group Manager for the Western Service Area of the Air Traffic Organization.
email:
 Director
at Large:
Atlanta, GA
Bob received his Ph.D. in Political Science
from Columbia University at age 25. He retired in June 2005 as
Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Director of
the Southern Center for Studies in Public Policy and the W.E.B.
DuBois Institute at Clark Atlanta University. Bob is in his 16th
term in the Georgia House of Representatives. He is an avid runner
with over 150 races from 5k to marathons. Bob has been a long
time member of the Atlanta Track Club, and he has held numerous
leadership positions in the South Fulton (Atlanta) Running Partners,
the oldest African American running club in the nation. He has
served as the race director of the 7K Race for Sickle Cell (an
RRCA Southern Region Championship Race) and more than 30 other
road races for nonprofit organizations and public schools. Bob
is a recipient of the Browning Ross Spirit of RRCA Award (2003)
for his more than 25 years of contributions to road running.
He has served on the Board of numerous national, state and local
nonprofit and civic organizations.
email:
 Director at Large:
Littleton, CO
Lisa earned an undergraduate degree from University of Arizona in Psychology and an MBA from Northern Arizona University with a concentration in Information Technology and special studies in Computer Science Engineering. She has worked as a software analyst, project manager, and systems analyst for over twenty-five years. She recently completed a nutrition studies program at the University of Northern Colorado. She is currently developing a private wellness consulting practice. Lisa was the Colorado State Rep from 1996-2006. She was the Western Region Outstanding State Rep in 1998 and was selected again in 2002. She received the 2002 National State Rep of the Year award. Lisa is also an accomplished race director, an RRCA Certified Coach, and is renowned for her communication and organizational skills. She has two beautiful teenage daughters and a wonderful husband that has supported her work with the RRCA over the years.
email:
Serving on the Board of Directors
If you are interested in serving on the RRCA Board of Directors, please take a moment to read the RRCA Board Nominating Procedure. This document outlines the nomination process as well as the responsibilities and expectations of an RRCA Board Member. For more information about serving on the RRCA Board, schedule time to talk with the President or the Executive Director to learn more.
National Staff
RRCA Office and Responsibilities
Columbia, MD
Road Runners Club of America
1501 Lee Hwy
Suite 140
Arlington, Va., 22209
Phone: 703-525-3890
Fax: 703-525-3891
Dorothy Commock:
Office Manager
 Jessica
Sleight: Membership Director
Jessica Sleight is originally from Spokane,
WA, but moved to Delaware in 2002 and Maryland in 2004. She received
a BA in Human Services from Western Washington University and
a Certificate of Non Profit Management from the University of
Washington. She has worked with a variety of nonprofit organizations
since 1998 managing staff, working with volunteers, and fundraising.
Jessica truly enjoys working with volunteers to help meet community
needs. Jessica is an avid runner and enjoys her daily runs with
her dog, Sophie. She began running in 1988 and became competitive
in 1991 and was part of her high school's State Championship
Team in 1992. She runs locally with the Howard County Striders
and enjoys a few road races here and there to reinvigorate her
competitive nature. She ran her first marathon in 2004, the Rock
n' Roll Marathon in San Diego in a time of 3:38, but is
hoping to improve her time in 2005 in the Baltimore Marathon.
Besides running Jessica and her husband enjoy backpacking, sailing
and traveling.
 Webmaster:
Kailua-Kona, HI / Portland, OR
Warren is responsible for management of
the RRCA web site and online advertising.
email:
|
