About Norte Youth Cycling

Norte Youth Cycling Mountain Bike Team at Palmer Woods

We champion bikes and community in Northern Michigan.

Mission

Vision

Happy. Healthy. Strong.

What We Do

At Norte Youth Cycling, we're on a mission to build happy, healthy, and ready-to-learn communities in northern Michigan. From youth bike programs and bike services, we're committed to empowering individuals of all ages and abilities to move more, sit less, and build lifelong habits.

Youth Bike Programs

Our youth bike programs are at the heart of what we do. By providing hands-on education and training, we empower children to develop lifelong habits that promote health, independence, and confidence.

Bikes!

Norte keeps everyone rolling with our Kids' Bike Library, Community Bike Shop, used bike sales and services, and mechanics classes. We're here to ensure that everyone in our community can access affordable, reliable, and safe bikes.

Advocacy & Community

Norte provides tools, training, expertise, and partnerships to improve and encourage walking and rolling in northern Michigan. We believe creating safe and accessible active transportation options is essential for building healthy, sustainable communities.

We have achieved this with the help of a committed staff and over 300 volunteers who contribute over 5,000 volunteer hours annually. Together, we’re building a happy, healthy, and strong community through cycling and youth development.

We're proud of what we've accomplished and committed to building a better, more active, and more connected community through our programs and initiatives. Join us!

Team Orange — Norte Staff

  • Jill K. Sill

    Jill@norteyouthcycling.org
    Executive Director
    Jill is passionate about connecting people of all ages and abilities with the outdoors. She is an advocate for active living and social cohesion and is happiest when outdoors.

  • Wes Sovis

    Wes@norteyouthcycling.org
    Development Director
    Traverse City is Wes's favorite place in the world. He's an avid cyclist and runner and makes the most out of the VASA Trails and TART system. He also enjoys time reading and walking with his wife, Renee, and dog, Ziggy.

  • School Coordinator Abbey Kaufman

    Abbey Kaufman

    kaufman@norteyouthcycling.org
    School Coordinator

    Abbey was one of our all-time superstar coaches and made the jump to full-time Norte hero in 2023. Abbey works with area schools to bring our Balance Bike Club programming to more than two dozen schools across the region!

  • Tyler Wituszynski

    Tyler@norteyouthcycling.org
    Chief Bike Mechanic
    Tyler is a lifelong bike mechanic. He even met his wife, Tara, while working in a bike shop. Tyler and his family, including two daughters, love the outdoors, bike rides, runs, and kayaking.

  • Caroline Golbeck

    Caroline@norteyouthcycling.org

    Outreach Coordinator

    Caroline is motivated to ensure Norte’s outreach initiatives reach a diverse collection of people and communities. In addition to biking, she loves being around animals and making things for the people she loves.

  • Amy MacKay

    Amy@norteyouthcycling.org
    Accounting Clerk
    In Amy's career, the common denominator is a passion for building healthy communities that enable people to thrive in their place. You'll find Amy hiking, skiing with her husband and dogs, or off traveling to visit her five children.

  • Hunter Steinkamp

    Programs@norteyouthcycling.org

    Program Support

    Hunter is passionate about coaching, year-round outdoor recreation, and being involved in the community. When not on a bike or working for Norte, Hunter can usually be found coaching skiing or hitting the slopes. He also leads operations for Crystal Community Ski Club, and is thrilled to work with youth in the nonprofit world the entire year round.

Norte’s Founders

Ty and Johanna Schmidt founded Norte Youth Cycling in 2014 because they knew that bicycles are much more than toys — they are potent tools of independence, freedom, and confidence. Norte continues the vision set by its founders by modeling the reality and belief that bicycles are just as much a solution to our trip to the library as they are to global warming. Happy, healthy, strong communities are built through our dedication to staying active and connected. When we walk and roll, we achieve both by design. And we have lots of fun in the process. We thank our founders for sharing that vision and energy with northern Michigan.

Team Orange — Board of Directors

  • Jim Witte

    President of the Board
    Norte combines two of Jim's passions: community service and the pursuit of active, outdoor lifestyles. After a career in marketing, he's now trying to spend fewer hours in the office and more hours volunteering or playing outside.

  • Sue Paul

    Vice President
    Sue and her husband, John, enjoy outdoor adventures with their four children and now extend that joy to include their five grandchildren. Sue is excited to join Norte at this time as we look to expand accessibility, equity, and inclusion in programming.

  • Anthony Rupard

    Secretary
    Norte is very dear to Anthony. He finds joy in seeing the energy and happiness repeatedly in the eyes and through the smiles of young people taking off from the Civic Center to explore their community.

  • Marshall Collins

    Director
    Marshall Collins is the Regional School Health and DEIB Coordinator for Northwest Education Services. He is also the rec director for Traverse Bay Area Youth Soccer.

  • Michelle Young, MD, Norte Board of Directors

    Michelle Young, MD

    Director
    Norte has been an integral part of Michelle’s family since their move to Traverse City in 2019. Norte has motivated her family to explore and enjoy this amazing place they call home. With the Norte Board, Michelle looks forward to continuing Norte’s inspirational role for all in our community.

  • Mike Tarnow, Norte Board of Directors

    Mike Tarnow

    Director

    Certified “Old Guy” bike rider - Nordic ski racer. Semi-retired. Love the concept of getting people on bikes. Enjoys being outdoors during all seasons.

  • Warren Wahl, Norte Board of Directors

    Warren Wahl

    Director
    Warren is born and raised in Northern Michigan. He is an avid tri, road, and mountain biker. Warren is excited to grow youth biking and education in the local community.

  • Susan Hibbard

    Susan Hibbard

    Director

    Susan and her family have connected with Norte summer programs as participants and coaches since 2019. A former Biotech Executive and local enthusiast, Susan is excited to contribute to sustaining and expanding the impact of Norte’s mission for kids and communities in our region.

  • John Germain

    Director

    John has had the pleasure of volunteering as a Norte bike mechanic since March 2021. A former Automotive Executive and current Consultant, John looks forward to serving on the board and enjoying the cycling and outdoor activities that make Northern Michigan a wonderful place to live.

Thank You to Past Board Members

  • Kristen Talaga (2014–2017)
    Scott Howard (2014–2016)
    Bill Clark (2014–2015)
    Laura Otwell (2014–2016)
    Johanna Schmidt (2014–2016)
    Bob Otwell (2014–2016)

  • Ashlea Walter (2015–2018)

  • Polly Carlton (2016-2018)
    Jason Plum (2016–2019)
    Nick Perez (2016–2019)
    Biz Ruskowski (2016–2019)
    Shelly Charron (2016–2020)
    Chris Hinze (2016–2022)

  • Rachael Franks Taylor (2017–2020)
    Brian Beckwith (2017–2020)

  • Greg Luyt (2018–2022)

  • Chelsea Bay–Dennis (2019–2021)
    Ryan Schrock (2019-2022)
    Evan Gray (2019–2023)

  • Shawn Stowe

  • Eric Mannix (2021-2024)

To review minutes from monthly meetings of Norte’s Board of Directors, visit our archive on Issuu.