Board of Directors
The Challenge Mountain Board of Directors is made up of a group of dedicated and actively engaged leaders from our local communities with diverse backgrounds and skill sets that contribute to the overall success of Challenge Mountain. Board members volunteer their time and support recognizing that planning for the future of Challenge Mountain is an ongoing commitment to ensure continued success in fulfilling our mission. The Board of Directors is instrumental in evaluating the organization’s effectiveness and working with staff to implement strategies that contribute to long-term sustainability.
Karen Mann | President
Bio to come
Olivia Francis | Vice President Occupational Therapist, Villa at the Bay & 2017 Challenge Mountain Doctorate Resident
Olivia Francis started her relationship with Challenge Mountain during the winter of 2017 where, through a 16-week residency, “I fell in love with the organization,” she explains enthusiastically. “I love everything Challenge Mountain stands for, and I think it is such a great contribution to the community.” After graduating in May with a doctorate degree in occupational therapy, Olivia works Villa at the Bay in Petoskey, Michigan. Though her new full-time career doesn’t allow for as much volunteering as she would have liked, Olivia looks forward to serving on the Board of Directors “to contribute and continue helping such an amazing organization.”
Bill Aten | Secretary Retired Boyne Falls School Principal
Bill has always been an active participant in various outdoor recreational activities, and understands the value that that participation has contributed to his life. He became interested in volunteering at Challenge Mountain because he believes everyone should have the opportunity to feel the joy and rewards that participation in recreational activities can provide. His participation at Challenge Mountain has also provided him with a great deal of personal gratification and sense of fulfillment. As an educator, he has always loved the joy that comes from seeing others feel success when they achieve new goals.
Ralph Dubey | Treasurer Home School Parent/Retired Managing Partner, Wolverine Homes
Ralph Dubey is a lifelong skier and has been volunteering in winter programs at Challenge Mountain since 2014. Ralph’s wife, Amy, and their two sons, Joel and Caleb, also volunteer. Ralph brings an impressive and varied background to the Challenge Mountain Board of Directors including sales, logistics and a 12-year partnership with his brother managing Wolverine Homes, Inc. “We focused on custom construction primarily for lakefront second homes, while offering retail construction materials and land development.” Now partially retired, Ralph manages some real estate, home-schools his two sons, and advises Amy on her therapy clinic. As a member of the Board, Ralph is looking forward to sharing his connections and construction management skills on future Challenge Mountain projects.
George Armstrong | Director Special Education Teacher Petoskey High School
George has been involved with Challenge Mountain and its mission since it was brought to his attention by the Coalition of Advocates for the Impaired in 1983. He was introduced to the founder of Challenge Mountain, Darla Evans, and was encouraged to start SPIRIT Day Camp, a summer program that brings individuals with and without disabilities together in a summertime extravaganza of leisure activities. Since then, he has been involved with Challenge Mountain in a variety of ways spanning over three decades and is honored to be on the board.
George believes that Challenge Mountain is all about the people; a majority of the significant relationships in his life have been forged from his involvement in causes that help make the world barrier free for all. George has chosen to volunteer his time with Challenge Mountain because he believes in and is inspired by the many participants.
Caren Peltier | Director
Challenge Mountain welcomed Caren Peltier to the Board of Directors in January 2020. After 32 years in the corporate world, Peltier retired and moved to Boyne City with her husband, Tom, in 2018. She brings years of professional business experience to the board where she hopes to share her experience to benefit the organization.
Peltier worked for Detroit Diesel which was purchased by Penske Corporation and then by Daimler Chrysler. Her last position at Detroit Diesel was the Administrator of the Black Belt, a program that uses methodologies to resolve quality issues within the plant. Her certifications as a Green Belt in Transactional Six Sigma and a Rolling Top 5 Manager certification in Shainin show her strong focus on quality. Following retirement from Detroit Diesel, Peltier served as administrator for an entrepreneur with multiple companies until she moved to Boyne City.
“After retiring and moving to Boyne City, I then jumped into volunteering,” Peltier explains. She and her husband, Tom, volunteer at the Charlevoix Area Humane Society, Boyne City Food Pantry and Challenge Mountain. After volunteering for over a year in the resale store, Peltier felt that she also could contribute to the organization by joining the board of directors.
Caren and Tom I have two children, Heather and Mathew, both raised Troy, Michigan. Their daughter is a kindergarten teacher in Phoenix, AZ, and their son works in Southfield, MI, in finance. “With our move to this beautiful area, we are hopeful that they will visit often, so we can expose them this amazing community,” Peltier adds.
Carole Melvin | Director
Bio to Come
Skip Simms | Director
Bio to Come
Anne Marie Tracey | Director
Bio to Come
Dave Gracy | Director
Bio to Come
Jenna McTevia | Director
Bio to Come
Staff
Elizabeth Gertz Looze | Executive Director
Elizabeth brings 20+ years of non-profit service experience and a lifelong passion for skiing and the outdoors to her position as Executive Director of Challenge Mountain. She graduated in 1991 from Michigan State University with a BA degree in Political Science and recently earned a Certificate in Fund Raising Management from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Elizabeth is committed to the organization’s long-term sustainability, ensuring Challenge Mountain will continue to connect people with opportunities that change lives.
Linda Winn-Armstrong | Program Director
Being the Program Director for Challenge Mountain is a dream come true for Linda. She started working with individuals living with disabilities in 1982 while attending Central Michigan University, where she received a BA degree in Therapeutic Recreation. Linda finds it very rewarding working with all types of individuals in helping them achieve their goals.
Dickie Katz | Facilities Manager
Dick has been working and volunteering at Challenge Mountain for over 15 years. He started as a volunteer at the Lodge on Saturdays in the winter driving snowmobiles and fixing equipment. During his time at Challenge Mountain he has met some outstanding human beings and on his off time he volunteers at The Nightmare, Boyne Thunder and other Challenge Mountain events.
Staci Payton | Resale Store Manager
As a lifelong member of the Boyne City Community, Staci has shopped and donated goods to Challenge Mountain knowing of the positive impact that her donations would have on individuals in surrounding communities. In 2015, she was overjoyed to be given the opportunity to join the Challenge Mountain team and a short time later became the manager of the Challenge Mountain Store. In her role, she strives to ensure that every customer is met with a smile when they walk through the doors of the Resale Store and are given an exceptional shopping experience.
Alaina Farrington | Boyne City Resale Store Assistant Manager
As Assistant Store Manager of the Challenge Mountain Resale Store, Alaina loves the circle of community involvement that Challenge Mountain Resale Store offers. From servicing as a donation center for the community, to supplying merchandise at an affordable price to customers, Alaina believes in the role that the Resale Store plays in making a difference in our communities and in the lives of individuals living with disabilities. She loves working with all of the volunteers in the store and appreciates the hard work and time they give so generously.
Pat Morrison | Sales Associate
After serving as a Challenge Mountain volunteer in the resale store through 2019, Pat Morrison accepted a Sales Associate position in January of 2020. As Pat increasingly dedicated more and more volunteer hours to the store, her role was a natural fit for this permanent staff role, where she continues to provide excellent customer service and dedication.
Terry Baker | Assistant to the Program Director
Terry was appointed as the new assistant to the Program Director at the lodge in January 2020. Terry started as a ski instructor in 1987. After attending a Challenge Mountain Family Day, Terry explains “I was amazed at what our daughter could do. Both my husband and I were hooked!”
Terry’s experience includes several years as a Special Olympics alpine ski coach, taking many participants to State Games. “My favorite part about adaptive skiing is watching participants and their families realize that they can ski. The confidence and self-esteem gained by learning they can do something as amazing as skiing is life changing. Knowing that you are a part of that is life changing for the volunteers and staff as well.”
Terry’s dedication to Challenge Mountain reaches beyond skiing. Terry was owner, producer and director of The Nightmare at Challenge Mountain, an annual event that was a great source of Halloween entertainment and funding for 16 years.
