Board Members & Leaders
Jerry Rampelt
Board President
jerry.rampelt@outdoor-pursuits.org
Jerry has served as the COP Board President since 2018 and was the board vice-president and treasurer before that. He has ridden or volunteered on 20 GOBAs and 13 TOSRVs. Jerry and his wife Toby honeymooned on GOBA in 1992 with their blended family. He enjoys hiking and summited Mount Whitney with Toby in 2015, and he summited Mt Kilimanjaro in 2012 and 2015. For ten years (2004-2014) he was the Executive Director of The Ohio to Erie Trail Foundation. Jerry was inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizen Hall of Fame in 2022 as recognition for his charitable work.
Maryellen O’Shaughnessy, currently a Franklin County elected official, began learning backpacking skills with Outdoor Pursuits. Because of the outstanding trips she has taken, and the essential skills she has learned through Outdoor Pursuits, Maryellen had no hesitation when asked to serve on the Board, as a way to return the favor. She is dedicated to assuring that we offer a variety of outdoor opportunities to our members.
Maryellen O’Shaughnessy
Vice President
meryellen.oshaughnessy@outdoor-pursuits.org
Lindsey Updike
Treasurer
treasurer@outdoor-pursuits.org
Lindsey Updike has been cycling ever since she can remember thanks to her father, Dennis Updike. When she was seven years old, she completed her first Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure on a single bike and has continued riding the week long tour ever since. In addition to Lindsey’s passion for cycling, she is an avid skier, hiker and backpacker. Some of her adventures include riding the Ohio to Erie Trail, summiting Mount Whitney and section hiking the John Muir Trail. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration, with a major in Finance, from Ohio University in 2009. Lindsey works for BakerHostetler in Columbus, OH as the Office Administrator.
Tricia Kovacs
Secretary
Secretary@outdoor-pursuits.org
Tricia Kovacs is a life-long Ohio cyclist who teaches bicycle education to adults and children in the Columbus area. She is retired from a software engineering career with AT&T/Lucent…
Tricia Kovacs
Secretary
Secretary@outdoor-pursuits.org
Michael Kahrl
Board Director
Michael Kahrl is a life-long cyclist and TOSRV and GOBA enthusiast for the last 20 years. A retired naval officer, Michael works as a project management consultant at Ernst and Young.
Eric Brandon
Board Director
Eric has been with the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department team for over 10 years. His 24+ years of public service includes the State Auditor’s Office, Equal Business Opportunity Commission…
Eric Brandon
Board Director
Tyler Steele
Board Director
Tyler Steele
Jon Davis
Board Director
jon.davis@outdoor-pursuits.org
Jon is an avid bicyclist, hiker and backpacker. Forging his love for God’s great outdoors while attending high school in Colorado, he has continued to pursue outdoor activities throughout his life. Recently he has backpacked in the Canadian Rockies and conquered the Colorado River rafting through the Grand Canyon with his family.
Jon has participated in Pelotonia, the grassroots fundraising event for the Ohio State University’s James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Center, every year since its inception in 2009. This provides the combined benefit of riding his bike and supporting a cause he’s passionate about: cancer prevention and cures.
When he’s not on his bike, Jon is an Associate General Counsel at Verizon providing legal support to the Verizon Business Group’s managed network services global product development and marketing activities. Jon is a deacon in Dwell Community Church and leads a home based Bible study. Jon is also a community board member of Riverside Hospital’s Institutional Review Board. Jon has been married to his wife Anne for over 30 years and has 3 children.
Jon Davis
Board Director
jon.davis@outdoor-pursuits.org
Julie Virgalitte
Board Director
Julie Virgalitte began her love of the outdoors in youth, adventuring with her family in the woods near their home. An avid trail runner and hiker, she spends most evenings gardening, hitting the trails or playing volleyball somewhere in Columbus. Julie received a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Youngstown State University in 1997 and 2001 respectively, where she was a student athlete on the Soccer and Diving teams.
Penny Marchal
Board Director
Penny is a dedicated advocate for all outdoor activities. She is a lover of hiking, backpacking, and cycling. Besides being a Board Director, she volunteers and sits on the Bicycling Committee for OP, volunteers for many cycling events. In recent years she has headed up Outdoor Pursuits’ bikepacking events. She teaches Bikepacking 101, creates and leads bikepacking overnight trips and tours. She currently works for the Supreme Court of Ohio as a Continuing Legal Education Specialist.
Penny Marchal
Board Director
Jeff Stephens
Staff Director
GOBA & TOSRV Director
jeff.stephens@outdoor-pursuits.org
Jeff is a career nonprofit industry veteran, with success in organizational leadership, government relations, external affairs, fundraising and marketing. More importantly, he has been an avid cyclist for over 40 years and a respected leader in several sectors of the cycling industry in Ohio and nationally. He has amassed many accolades and accomplishments in the realm of ultra-endurance cycling events; however, it’s the excitement of exploring a new road on a bicycle that gives him the greatest joy.
Gary Hill
Event Coordinator
gary.hill@outdoor-pursuits.org
Gary, with his experience in 7 Adventure Cycling tours and as the recent Tour Leader for the Southern Tier, brings a blend of outdoor enthusiasm, cycling passion, and technological expertise. Recent Outdoor Pursuits tours include GAP, OTEA, and GOBA. His attention to detail and dedication to improving member experiences make him a valuable addition to the Event Coordinator role.
Gary Hill
Event Coordinator
gary.hill@outdoor-pursuits.org
Maureen Capehart
XOBA Director
maureen.capehart@outdoor-pursuits.org
Maureen Capehart has served Outdoor Pursuits in several different capacities, including volunteer, XOBA director, and board director.
Mike MIcahel
OETA Director
Mike is a longtime cyclist and has participated in Outdoor Pursuits events for decades. He has been a volunteer leader with the Friends of Madison County Trails organization for over twenty years. Mike leads the Ohio to Erie Trail Adventure tour and provides firsthand knowledge of the trail’s development and history.
Mike MIcahel
OETA Director
Corissa Niday
Marketing Support & GOBA Food Director
Corissa Niday rode her first GOBA, on her own bike, when she was just nine years old. On her 10th GOBA, she met her now husband in a rest stop lunch line. From biking, to backpacking, to camping, to kayaking, Corissa loves getting outdoors any way she can. With a passion for earth friendly fun, and the need to pay OP back for meeting her adventure parter on one of our rides, Corissa is helping Outdoor Pursuits in multiple capacities.