2026 CAMBA Board Candidates

John Garrett

  • In my capacity as a business manager, I have had the privilege of setting and managing annual budgets, along with a solid understanding of financial spreadsheets. Additionally, I have the honor of serving, or have served, on three community boards, contributing to our collective goals and initiatives.

  • I embrace an active and vibrant lifestyle while calling the beautiful CAMBA/Birkie trail at the Mosquito Brook trailhead my home. Contributing to local boards has been a rewarding way for me to give back to our wonderful community and make a meaningful impact.

  • Served on FEAB (endowment) board during its infancy.

  • I’m deeply immersed in our vibrant community and have built an extensive network through my passion for mountain biking, road biking, and cross-country skiing. Whether I'm tearing up the trails or hitting the greens at the golf course, I'm always connecting with fellow enthusiasts. Plus, my ties with local hospitals have given me even more opportunities to engage and contribute to our amazing community. I’m thrilled to be a part of it all!

  • I've had a blast participating in 29 Birkie events and about 20 Fat Tire 40 races! I've also tackled hundreds of events, from running, biking, skiing, and inline skating. Over the past six years, I've enjoyed being a part of the ABSF board, including serving as President for a year and Vice President for another, plus three years as Chair of the trail committee. I've been involved with the Birkie Endowment (FEAB) for 6 years, and for the last 8 years, I've been with Tamarack Health, currently serving as Chair of the finance committee for 4 years and Treasurer for 3 years. It's been a rewarding journey!

Steve Sletner

  • I am a Professional Engineer and Business Leader with 42 years of experience in project development, management, and execution. My interest in the business side of companies began immediately after I earned my undergraduate degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, which motivated me to pursue and obtain an MBA early in my career. This combination of degrees has enabled me to adopt a more analytical approach to all aspects of a project and its organizational return on investment.

    I have become skilled at collaborating with multiple stakeholders, including owners, investors, and regulators, to implement complex projects. In 1997, I founded and operated my own engineering and surveying company. Through twelve years as a business owner, I gained firsthand experience with the challenges faced by entrepreneurs. I possess a unique ability to quickly analyze scenarios and determine possible outcomes.

  • To truly understand my passion, it's important to share a bit of history about my time in the area. My affection for the communities served by CAMBA began decades ago. I grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and our family often spent summers near Rice Lake. We regularly hunted and fished together in the Drummond, Cable, and Hayward areas.

    I started skiing the Birkie in 1985 and completed 24 Birkies and Kortes over the years. In 1997, I was fortunate enough to purchase a second home in the area, allowing me to continue these traditions with my own family. As I dealt with knee injuries and the effects of aging, I transitioned from running to biking, which helped me maintain my love for the area. I completed five Chequamegon 40 races.

    I've witnessed the growth, pride, and positive impact on the communities that has resulted from the efforts of organizations like CAMBA, which have worked to create world-class recreation facilities and events. After retiring in 2023, I now have the time, desire, and ability to give back to organizations that make a difference for a wide range of groups and users.

  • I have previously served various organizations and non-profits, including the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce, Chippewa Valley Home Builders, Eau Claire Ski Sprites, Flying Eagles Ski Club, and CORBA (Chippewa Off-Road Bike Association). My involvement includes serving on boards, sponsoring events, and donating both my time and financial resources.

    I possess engineering and project management skills, which encompass construction management, public meeting presentations, drainage and stormwater management, master planning, project management, and agency coordination.

    In terms of business acumen, I am the founder and president of an engineering and surveying firm. My experience includes strategic planning, human resources management, resource allocation and scheduling, budget establishment, marketing and business development, as well as conflict resolution.

  • I am actively expanding my connections in the Stone Lake area. I have collaborated with several local businesses on projects related to our home. Personally, I have also worked on land development projects in the area that involved interactions with towns, counties, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), and the Tribal Nation. I understand what is important to these regulators and how to facilitate consensus among them.

  • My wife, Margie, and I moved here full-time in December 2024, transforming our lake home on Little Lac Courte Oreilles, which we purchased in 2015, into our permanent residence. We do escape the winter for a few months by traveling in our RV. We have thoroughly enjoyed this change in lifestyle and continue to build connections, relationships, and friendships.

    I truly appreciate the hard work I have contributed during the “Work 2 Ride” days I participated in. It is wonderful to see the fruits of our labor and to meet many dedicated volunteers and staff members.

Joel Woodward

  • About 15 years ago, I started coaching mountain biking and cross country skiing. Assistant coaching became head coaching for the Washburn High School, then being the coaching director for the Minnesota Cycling Association. My work for the MCA is certainly the most relevant to Camba. In 2014, I became the Coaching Director for the MCA. I was responsible for the coach education and licensing of about 900 coaches statewide. The 900 coaches are the labor force that the league needs to provide its services to the end customers, the kids.

    My responsibilities were primarily focused on child safety. The training and system-wide cultural standard we developed and implemented to meet our goal provided the kids with the most competent coaches in the country. The National Interscholastic Cycling Association then looked to our development team to innovate and develop programming to be implemented nationwide. Me and my team were sent to other states by NICA to provide the first-year coach training summit for new leagues just getting off the ground.

    During my 7 year tenure as coaching director, I oversaw the development and implementation of the coach education program, coach licensing administration, created curriculum for the MCA and NICA, developed and ran the summer camps, created a skills course and competition program, and was part of the event production team that put on the races.

  • The reason I have dedicated the past 15 years to sharing mountain biking and cross country skiing coaching is because I believe these outdoor activities are among a group that promotes mental and physical well-being. I have seen firsthand the benefits these sports have on individuals lives and families. I continue to care about and invest in promoting connections to mountain biking and cross country skiing. I am hopeful that as a board member I can have a greater impact and the greater the impact I can contribute to, the greater is my interest. I have been and would like to continue to promote these activities and make it as easy as possible for anyone interested to connect to them and have a positive experience. I believe it is in a small way a path for me to do a durable good in this life.

  • Program Development. Event Production. Graphic Design / Communications Development. Content Development. Web Design / UX Design. Augmented Reality Development. Environmental Graphic Systems. 3d Modeling and Rendering. I can create and read blueprints. Shop skills (I have a shop in Minneapolis including CNC router). I have a chainsaw and know how to use it. I have a tractor with a front end bucket. I have a Jeep truck with a winch. I have two trailers, one big, one small. I’m comfortable when I’m covered in dirt.

  • I have a ton of connections with the mountain bike and cross country skiing community. I believe this can have a couple of possible benefits. Having been steeped in the mountain bike culture and believe I have a good feel for trends in the community and consumer expectations, particularly in relation to trail design trends. It also means I know who to call if I need someone who knows about (fill in the blank).

    I am currently working on a curriculum development project for the Loppet Foundation. I am currently helping the Birkie folks with the fundraising and mountain bike activities related to the new base camp building. I have some applicable connections through our family’s foundation work. I’ll list some references below for you to call if you’d like.

  • Boy, I think that’s mostly it... other than how thankful and honored I feel to be considered. Thank You.

Dave Tworek

  • My Business Experiences:

    I have extensive experience in various aspects of the land clearing and construction industries. For fifteen years, I worked in my family's land clearing business in California, where I became very familiar with the removal of trees, vegetation, and debris, as well as the grading of ground surfaces. I am also proficient in operating both light and heavy equipment used in these activities, making trail building and maintenance second nature to me.

    After my father's retirement and the subsequent sale of his business, I transitioned to a career as a general building contractor. I held a building contractor's license for thirty-five years; initially in California for four years, then in Hayward, Wisconsin, for thirty-one years. During this time, I focused primarily on vacation homes, managing projects that ranged from simple cabins to complex, engineered structures. This required extensive planning and logistics to coordinate various trade specialties and achieve the high level of detail and quality for which we were known.

    Not directly related to my business experience, I also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the University of California at Davis.

    Leadership Experience:

    I was a founding member of the Town of Hayward, Wisconsin, Planning Commission, where I served for thirteen years, including eleven years as chairman. Under my leadership, we became the first municipality in the state to complete its Comprehensive Plan in accordance with the state's Smart Growth Initiative.

    In the late 1990s, I was a member of the Sawyer County Economic Development Corporation for three years. I left this role to focus on the Town of Hayward Planning Commission.

    Currently, I am a member of the Town of Cable Planning Commission and also participate in a private community group called Cable Forward. Together, with support from the Town Board, we are working to improve pedestrian safety in Cable through highway improvements on County Highway M within the town.

  • My greatest passion is my love for the Cable/Hayward area. I feel fortunate to live in such a special place where the community embraces silent sports, from fly fishing to cross-country skiing and cycling. I want to play a larger role in maintaining and enhancing our outdoor legacy.

    Cycling is my favorite activity, making CAMBA (Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association) the ideal organization for me to take on a leadership role. Mountain biking significantly impacts outdoor activities and supports local businesses. I appreciate CAMBA's collaboration with community stakeholders and hope to see this continue.

    My good fortune is linked to mountain biking and the incredible trail system CAMBA has developed over the years. As a home builder in the area for thirty-one years, I've seen many clients choose to build here because of our trail opportunities. I want to give back through this organization.

    With fifty years in construction, I value the planning and dedication behind CAMBA’s trails. I aim to ensure they continue to expand our community, boost the local economy, and provide enjoyment for everyone.

  • One of my key skills is event volunteering. For nearly thirty years, I have volunteered at numerous events in the Hayward/Cable area. Perhaps most notably, I have been an enthusiastic ABSF volunteer for about 15 years. One of my proudest accomplishments there, working alongside a great team, was transforming one of the most dreaded volunteer roles into one of the most enjoyable and challenging tasks. Since 2015, I have served as the baggage chief for the Kortelopet and Prince Haakon events, and I've taken on the same role for the Birkie since 2017. I am proud to say that about 70 out of the 100 volunteers needed for the three race days return each year.

    I hope to leverage the experiences and skills I have mentioned to enhance CAMBA’s volunteer base and improve communication systems. This could help us increase participation in events and potentially create one or two additional unique and exciting events.

  • Being a planning commission member in Hayward and Cable has allowed me to connect with community-focused individuals, including town board members and county supervisors.

    My wife, Ronda, a former CAMBA board member, worked for the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) for fifteen years. Through her efforts and my involvement in volunteer activities, I have developed strong relationships with ABSF executives and staff. These connections facilitate open discussions about their projects and community impact.

    As owners of Home Base at Mount Telemark Village, Ronda and I partner with ABSF. I also have friendly, collaborative relationships with the current owners of the local ski and bike shops, which have been part of our community for decades.

  • I’m a big fan of sci-fi and the band Genesis (mostly pre-1981).