Executive Director

Jim took over as BRNW’s Executive Director in 2017.

A longtime marketing writer and editor who owns Word Jones, Inc., Jim is also an avid cyclist and the author of “75 Classic Rides: Oregon.” He started doing marketing for Cycle Oregon in 2006 and quickly figured out that the bike-tour world is a pretty great place to work. He eventually developed and directed two brand-new events – Cycle Greater Yellowstone and Cycle Adirondacks – for nonprofit conservation groups. When he found out about the upcoming opening at BRNW, he jumped at the chance to get back to the Northwest (really, the best part of the country for cycling, right?). He came on a 2016 BRNW ride and saw how the organization runs tours: very well. He vows to maintain the feel and traditions of the BRNW rides, and maybe add a little pizzazz here and there.

Assistant Director,
Equipment Manager,
Social Media Manager

Emil has pitched tents all over the USA – from the wilds of Alaska, east to Maine and as far south as Missouri. This includes some out of anger, and one into a dumpster. After his wife, Sara – a veteran of three BRNW seasons in Rest Stops and Tent & Porter, including this year – promised him it was great fun, he signed up and is looking forward to being a part of the traveling circus. In reality, it was that or else stay home and feed/clean up after their cats while Sara had all the fun.

With a background in logistics, manufacturing, retail, cabinetry, bike mechanic-ing and kitchen design, he feels more than ready to do what Sara tells him. When not pretending to work on their house remodel project, Emil enjoys photography, woodworking, web design and eating Sara’s chocolate chip cookies.

Construction Director

Tosch has been working with BRNW since he was a wee lad of 14. For his first few rides he manned the Sunnyside Sports boutique operation, selling copious amounts of chamois butter and writing repair tags for bikes that had random, unidentifiable creaks. While working and riding with the mechanics was a lovely summer job (but mostly a vacation), the lure of the Construction crew was calling to him. So he lay down his pen and credit card machine and started hauling bags and setting up canopies. BRNW keeps him coming back for the great community, the beautiful roads and mountains, and of course the awesome food. When he’s not chatting with riders on the tailgate of a baggage U-Haul, you’ll find him in Bend, sewing skiing and climbing packs for Free Range Equipment or out enjoying the open space of the Oregon Cascades.

SAG Director

Stefan came to the USA from Switzerland in the mid’ 90s for work in the software implementation industry. These days he’s an independent consultant working on transaction tax solutions. Cycling has always been an escape from the long and stressful work hours – Stefan has participated in more than 20 week-long organized rides. He arranged, planned and directed a small tour for his riding friends in 2021 during COVID, where his exceptional organizing skills, empathy as a rider and mechanical skills came in very handy. Stefan looks forward to the role of SAG Director so he can help riders and crew have the best possible experience on our tours.

Stefan lives in Portland, where you’ll find him walking with his wife and dog around the neighborhood, or out on the roads riding his bike.

Tent & Porter Director

Maelynn is a prime example of what happens when you start doing BRNW rides: You have so much fun that we just suck you in. In the case of Maelynn and her husband Bob, we managed to convert them from riders to crew leaders (it’s not exactly going over to the dark side, but…). She was just planning to work one year, but now she’s our Tent & Porter Director, to our immeasurable benefit.

Maelynn is a regular bike-commuter to her job in Vancouver, WA, helping high school students learn and grow in an alternate educational environment. She’s been teaching for 33 years, and she loves seeing her students find their purpose. She, Bob and some friends started riding BRNW tours in 2016, and she relishes the positivity, support and camaraderie of the tour and the cyclists. In 2023 she decided it was time to give back to the BRNW community, and she hasn’t looked back. She’s overseeing the rapid expansion of our Tent & Porter program, which she leads with a solid plan, an encouraging smile, and more hard work than most people could take.

Event Operations Director

Bob is a living, breathing example of what happens when you prove yourself exceedingly handy: people start giving you more to do. After a year of reshaping the Tent & Porter program with his wife Maelynn, we asked him to take over the role of the event troubleshooter (although we gave him a more formal title). He’s a born problem-solver who can range between professional-grade and MacGyver, as needed. He’s worked in the construction/electrical industry for nearly 25 years, putting his skills to good use. He sums it up best: “Troubleshooting and fixing things is very satisfying.”

For Bob, cycling continues to generate that feeling of freedom he first experienced as a teenager on a bike. He still enjoys cycling for exercise, commuting, friendship, community and that exhilarating freedom. He did his first week-long ride in 2005, where he met several lifelong friends and cyclists he continues to ride with today. His first BRNW ride was in 2016, and after enjoying a bunch of our tours, he converted from rider to crew in 2023 to give back to a group/community that has provided so many great experiences to him. Off the bike, he enjoys swimming, remodeling, woodworking, hiking, camping, outdoors, sightseeing and adventure.

Incoming Route Director

photo/bio to come