Candidate Information
Nick Gerlich
Age: 49
Canyon, TX, USA
Any significant relationship(s) with current Board members or other candidates for election? No
http://www.wtamu.edu/~ngerlich

The UMCA is in a state of rapid evolution. From once beginnings as a home-based business, it is now a viable not-for-profit organization with a growing membership base. These changes require a new look at governance as the organization matures and seeks to meet the needs of a dynamically changing marketplace. I bring a wealth of experience to the table, including my past leadership of the UMCA, as well as my subsequent involvement on the Boards of several cycling and non-cycling non-profits.

As the UMCA continues to emerge, it is imperative that we maintain our focus on the future, and not dwell on maintaining the status quo. Growth demands new ways of thinking. While it may be tempting to sing another chorus of "We've Never Done It That Way Before," we must write a new tune that is appropriate for the moment and beyond.

To this end, I will work to help foster a culture of change, of being proactive rather than reactive. I will encourage the continued leveraging of technology within the organization and on its web site.

Perhaps of greater importance, though, I will work to build harmony and camaraderie among the membership, and focus on the experience of being a UMCA member. The value of being a member must far exceed any monetary outlay for affiliation; the intangibles must be greater than the tangible elements of membership.

As a racer, tourist, bike commuter, event director, and community supporter, I am well aware of the numerous facets of the ultra cycling experience, and will draw upon my 20+ years of experience to help usher in a new era for the UMCA.

Personal Info:

• Age: 49
• Residence: Canyon TX USA
• Occupation: Professor of Marketing & The Edwards Professor of Banking, West Texas A&M University; Director of Continuous Improvement in the College of Business
• Married; Father of two

Qualifications:

• Board of Directors, Bike Texas.
• Board of Directors, Canyon Economic Development Corporation.
• Former member Board of Directors, Center City Amarillo.
• Founder and Director of Hell Week Bicycle Adventures.
• PhD in Marketing (Indiana University 1990).

Administrative Background: UMCA, RAAM, and Other Events:

• Served as MD of the UMCA and Publisher of UltraCycling magazine 1994-1997.
• Maintained membership at 1000 through this period, a time of declining interest in ultramarathon cycling.
• Expanded number of annual issues from 4 to 6.
• Founded the original UltraCycling forum at majordomo, which then later moved to Topica.
• Founded and created the original UltraCycling.com website in 1997.
• Underwrote UltraCycling website through 2004, at a total cost of $3500 from 1997-2004. Although I was completely done with UMCA duties in 1997, I continued to pay the bill for the website as a donation to the sport and the members.
• Served as RAAM co-director 1996-1999 with Michael Shermer.
• Created and founded original RAAM online presence, first as a back-porch at ultracycling.com (1997), and then at RAAMonline.com (1998-1999). Subsidized said web activities. Did all HTML, photo editing, etc.
• Provided the first daily RAAM coverage of the event, as I provided daily updates from the road in 1997-1999.
• Director of Wheels in the Wind bike tour in Canyon TX.
• Founder (1987) and Director (1987-1989) of Ride Across Indiana (RAIN).
• Founder of various ultramarathon cycling events, including HUMOR 24 Hour Ride (Bloomington IN), PUMP 24 Hour (Canyon TX), and Tour of North Texas RAAM Qualifier (Canyon TX).
• Regional Brevet Administrator with RUSA.
• UMCA member since 1987. I've been around the block more than a few times.

Selected Cycling Accomplishments:

• Third place overall, The 508, October 1995 (30h07m).
• Completed RAAM 1993 tandem division with Becky, finishing in 11d 9h 20m. Still married.
• 5-time finisher of Cochise County Cycling Classic in Arizona, from 1989 through 2006.
• Kansas South-to-North record holder (1994); 229 miles in 08h19m.
• 403 miles at HUMOR 24 Hour, 1990.
• 440 miles in Litchfield (IL) 24 Hour, 1989.
• Bicycle Across Missouri (BAM), 540-550 miles: 38h38m in 1988, and 34h34m in 1990.
• 404 miles at PUMP 24 Hour, 1991.
• Numerous other epic events, such as Double Trouble, Ultra Week, Michigan 24 Hour, RAIN, Ironbutt, Tinbutt, and Cross Florida.
• Hosted and rode in 8-day Hell Week tours in Las Vegas, Florida, and 4 Corners region, along with camps in Texas and Wisconsin. I've ridden in 33 Hell Week events since 1991 (as of Feb 2007).
• Tailwind century from Canyon to New Deal TX in 4h14m, Nov 2006. I've still got a little pep at my old age.