For over four decades, the RRCA State Representatives (State Reps) have served as ambassadors for the organization by providing a physical presence in each state for the RRCA. State Reps promote our programs and services to members, non-members, and individual runners in their home state. State Reps monitor trends and issues at the state and local level and report them to the National Office.
Alabama: Alex Morrow
Alaska: Melanie Clark
Arizona: Tim Bentley
Arkansas: Jayme Butts-Hall
California – East: Simone Adair
California – Coastal: Stephanie Davies
California – South: Jackie Britton
Colorado: Sheri Lubniewski
Connecticut: Vacant
Delaware: Vacant
Florida – North: Gabriela Garza
Florida – South: Don Nelson
Georgia: F.M. Barron
Hawaii: Ron Alford
Idaho: Karie Underwood
Illinois – North: Doug Pitchford
Illinois – South: Erica Hunt
Indiana: Kim Harding
Iowa: Kristin Adkins
Kansas: Vacant
Kentucky: Anna Heeman
Louisiana: Rawn Davis
Maine: Chandra Leister
Maryland & DC: Ndegwa Kamau
Massachusetts: Stephen Viegas
Michigan: Scott Fiske
Minnesota: Paulette Odenthal
Mississippi: Vacant
Missouri: Vacant
Montana: Ronda Vukasin
Nebraska: Vacant
New Hampshire: Chandra Leister
New Jersey: Alethia Mongerie
New Mexico: Vacant
New York: Mickie Sanders-Jauquet
New York City: Tony Majewski
Nevada: Simone Adair
North Carolina: Owen Thomas
North Dakota: Valerie Bauer
Ohio: Peter Qumsiyeh
Oklahoma: Vacant
Oregon: Jesus Cortez
Pennsylvania: Aileen Kroon
Rhode Island: Vacant
South Carolina: Lionel Adams
South Dakota: Benson Lagat
Tennessee: Sherilyn Johnson
Texas – North: Marcus Grunewald
Texas – South: Lee Greb
Texas – Central: Sharron Fisherman
Utah: Karie Underwood
Vermont: Vacant
Virginia: Grattan Garbee
Washington: Stephen Wright (Interim)
West Virginia: Vacant
Wisconsin: John Brust
Wyoming: Marlene Short
Sheri became an RRCA certified running coach in 2016 aspiring to coach others as running (specifically the marathon) changed her life. After getting certified, she started her business and has been coaching athletes ever since. She then became a board member and coach with the Illinois-based Fox River Trail Runners running group and had the opportunity to go to two RRCA Conventions, an experience that convinced her she wanted to get more involved with the amazing RRCA community. Following a move to Colorado, she was able to join the amazing State Rep team. Sher is looking forward to representing the RRCA, staying true to their mission and helping the running community grow and thrive.
Ron took up running as an adult and have always enjoyed it. He became an RRCA Certified Coach in the 1980s and coached for the Huntington Track Club (Huntington, WV) and the Atlanta Track Club. Ron specialized in beginners as he really loves to introduce new people into the sport. He retired to Honolulu in 2010 where he is a member of the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club and its current President. Ron was selected as the 2015 RRCA State Representative of the Year. Representing RRCA to the community is a task he relishes and race expos are one of his favorite places to talk about RRCA and meet lots of runners! He believes it is wonderful to run with Aloha!
Doug was a late comer to the sport of running, beginning in his 40s and running his first marathon at age 50. HE joined the Alpine Runners of Lake Zurich to get him through his first 26.2 miles and has for more than 20 years as of 2022. Currently, Doug serves on the board as club treasurer. He has been the Illinois State Rep since 2013 and has traveled the state from Rockford in the north to Vienna in the south and many great places in between, representing the RRCA at local clubs and races. He has met many wonderful club leaders, volunteers, and runners and is proud of the Illinois Running Community. Personally, Doug has run many races throughout the US and Canada, including more than 30 marathons. Currently he focuses on shorter distances up to half marathon. Doug is also an RRCA Certified Coach.
Kim was raised in Highland, IN. She moved to Fort Wayne in 2008 and is a clinical psychologist currently working at the VA hospital. In 2011, she lost over 100 pounds through diet and exercise and was regularly walking several times per week. She slowly started to pick her feet up a bit and discovered she could run….and she loved it! She completed her first official 5K in 2012. After several health setbacks for a few years in 2017 she was healthy enough to run again. She found a local Couch to 5K program, and the rest is history. She went from the couch to a half marathon in 6 months, to a full marathon in a year, to a 50 miler in 2 years and she just completed her first 100 miler in 2021. She has served her local running community as a member of the board of directors for two different running clubs and assists in race directing several races. She has become an RRCA coach and absolutely loves helping runners and walkers of all abilities train and achieve their own running goals. She particularly loves running ultramarathons.
Kristin found running in her late 30s and has been hooked since. Running many local 5k races in the early years, she later fell in love with the half and full marathon distance, having completed eight marathons, including running Boston in 2018. She is the coordinator for the Iowa No Meat Athlete running group and am the Iowa Representative for the RRCA (Road Runners Club of America) and has an RRCA Level 1 Coaching Certificate. She loves supporting and encouraging her local running community and thrives in her time with them. She is also a passionate about being a plant-based athlete.
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Originally from Vermont, Scott has lived in Michigan for 22 years. He teaches elementary school PE and is an avid runner, triathlete and coach. As of summer 2022, Scott has completed 18 marathons including 6 Bostons as well as an age group win in Chicago. He came on board as the Michigan State Representative in 2016, and is passionate about inspiring others to live their best lives through the wonderful sport of running!
John’s introduction to running began at local fun runs with his family when he was a child where the activity, lightheartedness, and community sense of it all helped shape his daily joy and love for the sport.
One of John’s great loves is helping to build and strengthen communities. And he is looking forward to facilitating or assisting in opportunities for this across the great state of Wisconsin and beyond, so EVERY RUNNER knows—no matter their pace—they have a “running” home and community to call their own. And if it’s an RRCA Wisconsin State Championship race, John will see you there. As he tells us, “I’ll be cheering for you!” (that is certain)
John moved back to his home town of Milwaukee during COVID. Prior to that he was in northern California helping steer the San Francisco Road Runners Club on good paths as their president and track coach. In 2020, John was the recipient of RRCA’s Outstanding Club President of the Year