Tom Stuessy
Executive Director, Vermont Mountain Bike Association
The Basics
Company Name: Vermont Mountain Bike Association
Location: Williston, VT
Founded: 1997
Full-Time Employees: 2
Mission: Through a family of 29 unified chapters, the Association carries out its mission, which is to ensure the sustainable future of mountain biking in Vermont and to thoughtfully promote the best riding in the Northeast by serving as the central hub for advocacy, education and event support. VMBA is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Social: Instagram // Facebook
Claim to Fame: VMBA’s Chapter Model is unlike any in the country. We are a Chapter-driven non-profit that is dedicated to connecting riders to each other and supporting the work of Chapters on both public and private land.
The Culture
The best thing about working at VMBA is:
THE STOKE. VMBA & the Chapters inspire Vermonters to create vibrate communities that are emboldened by outdoor recreation and a connection to natural environments in support of outcomes that benefit the world.
When we’re not working, we’re:
Riding our bikes, plus riding bikes and did we mention riding bikes?
What we’re reading:
Not Without Peril by Nicholas Howe, The Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr, and The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown
What we’re listening to:
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and Bob Marley
If they made a movie about our workplace, it would be called:
Hold Tight
Inclusion in the outdoors matters because:
Feeling invited and receiving a little empathy instantly translates into fuel. Openly invited and properly inspired, more people may give riding a try. Our pledge is to develop vibrant communities emboldened by outdoor recreation and natural environments connected to all Mountain Bikers not defined by a stereotype or riding ability.
Five years down the line, it’s our hope that:
We are excited to celebrate riding mountain bikes – not stereotypes, riding ability or bike choice. Our primary goal is to answer one fundamental question, “How do we invite the world to participate?” In five years, we hope to have created a community where individuals have access to riding, feel welcomed out on the trails, and feel connected and inspired by what is portrayed in outdoor recreation media.