Trailnet CEO Ann Mack to leave Trailnet after 14 years of leadership

Trailnet's CEO Ann Mack has led the organization through an amazing transition from a group that was very effective in promoting and creating regional trails, including the Riverfront Trail, Grant's Trail, to a powerful, broad-based community organization that works for healthy, active living and improving the quality of life of everyone in the St. Louis region. 

Trailnet CEO Ann Mack

Trailnet recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and pursues a broad-based program including numerous bicycle rides and events, Safe Routes to School, a key program to help cities, counties, and other agencies with transportation and trail planning, and the support of policy initiatives in support of bicycling, walking, trails, and healthy lifestyles--such as the recent passage of the Complete Streets Policy in St. Louis County.

Yesterday Trailnet announced that long-time CEO Ann Mack will be stepping down as CEO later this year.  Ann has been a visionary leader at Trailnet, has helped build Trailnet into one of the most active, effective, and powerful advocacy organizations in the nation, is a key leader in the movement for better bicycling and walking in Missouri and across the nation, and is currently a Board Member of the League of American Bicyclists.

Trailnet press release has more information:

CEO Ann Mack to Leave Trailnet Later this Year 

Trailnet announced today that Ann Rivers Mack will be stepping down as CEO later this year after more than eight years of leadership. She has been at Trailnet since 2000 and is only the second executive leader in Trailnet's 26-year history. Mack will take her 35 years of experience in the nonprofit sector to Teambuilders, a leadership development consulting group. She is joining as a partner in the company.

Under Mack's leadership, Trailnet has grown to become one of the largest bicycle/pedestrian organizations in the country. A long-time nonprofit leader and well-known cyclist, Mack has been recognized for her contributions to advancing more efficient and sustainable practices, including having received the "Sustainable Visionary" award by the St. Louis Business Journal. Prior to Trailnet, Mack founded an organization focused on the fields of energy and resource use that later merged into the Missouri Botanical Garden's sustainability division.
 
Mack strategically transitioned Trailnet's focus from trail building and capital projects to policy, advocacy, transportation planning, and programming. As Trailnet's CEO, Mack led a remarkable transformation, successfully securing federal, state, and regional dollars for non-motorized transportation planning and programming for our region.

Mack will continue to develop and teach graduate courses in global sustainability and leadership as an adjunct faculty member at Webster University. She will also continue to serve on the national board of the League of American Bicyclists.

"We are grateful for Ann's visionary leadership and management of our staff of 21 professionals who provide high quality programming, bike/walk planning, and policy work," said David Schepers, President of the Trailnet Board of Directors. The Trailnet Board will engage an executive search firm to assist in a national search for Mack's replacement.

"Trailnet will continue its leadership role in promoting a more healthy, active and vibrant St. Louis region," Schepers added. "The Board is confident that the organization is stable and in strong fiscal health. We will miss Ann but expect that Trailnet's new leader will have a smooth transition by sometime this fall."

"I am proud of Trailnet's accomplishments over the past 14 years," stated Mack. "It's been a pleasure to work with the Board, our Leadership Council, Trailnet's loyal members, and our exemplary staff. It has been a privilege to advocate for cyclists, pedestrians, and communities choosing to elevate non-motorized transportation. I will remain a fan and supporter of Trailnet and look forward to celebrating their future successes with the entire bi-state community."

About Trailnet

The mission of Trailnet is to lead in fostering healthy, active and vibrant communities where walking, bicycling and the use of public transit are a way of life. 2014 marks Trailnet's 26th year of supporting and promoting active living through transportation planning, programming, and policy advocacy.