Board & Staff
Board of Directors
Board Chair
Jeremiah Schimp
Jeremiah grew up in the Midwest and cross-country skied since he was a child. He loves spending time outdoors, especially in the winter! He stumbled upon the MyXC Bunker Hills SkiSparks club in 2014 and the rest is history. Jeremiah has coached, served as club leader, and board member in the years since. His own children have also enjoyed being in SkiSparks. Jeremiah is passionate about mental health, physical health, and overall wellness, so MyXC is a great fit. He enjoys seeing people’s reaction when he tells them his favorite season is winter. Then he tells them about MyXC!
Board Member
Kyle Schwarting
As a transplant to MN Kyle has grown to love Nordic skiing. The MyXC community allows him to share this joy with his kids, plus the families in the 196 Equity Club and all the skiers in the Lebanon Hills club.
Board Member
Jill Sonnesyn
Jill wants others to experience the same joy and exhilaration she does every time she clips into a pair of skis! In addition to the value she places on MyXC being a volunteer-based organization, MyXC also aligns perfectly with her desire to encourage kids and families to be active outdoors and to appreciate the climate we are privileged to live in.
Board Member
Tom Shaw
Tom has a passion for bringing new people into the sport and educating coaches. He is a professional ski instructor: PSIA Cross Country L3, Alpine L2, Telemark L1, Children’s Specialist L2, Cross Country Education Staff. US Ski and Snowboard Level 100 coach and Technical Delegate. High school coach. Former SkiSparks club leader and coach.
Secretary
Ramdev Wudali
Ramdev is Data Architect at ThomsonReuters during the day, a former co-leader of the MYSL Wirth Club - Sunday and a Board member for the last 2+ years. He has two daughters who have gone through the Ski sparks program (2011-2019). Ramdev enjoys learning how to ski (read that how to fall) every season.
Treasurer
Sandy Zinn
When Sandy moved to Minnesota in 1996, she knew she needed to embrace winter outdoor activities, one of those activities being cross country. Many years later when her son was 5, she discovered MYSL and eventually became the leader of one the larger clubs at that time, eventually becoming a member of the Board and now Treasurer. Her entire family enjoys skiing, biking and the BWCA and hopes for a snowy winter each year.
Board Member
Jessica Johnson
Jessica Johnson (she/her/hers) fell in love with nordic skiing during her team practices surrounded by tall pine trees and breathing in the crisp winter air in northern Minnesota. She brings a passion for exposing young people to the outdoors and snow sports to MyXC. Having worked as both an attorney and in software product development her professional background lends itself to strategic thinking and planning, diversity and equity initiatives and collaboration across a wide variety of stakeholders.
Board Member
Noah Swiler
Noah was fortunate to grow up in Hayward, Wisconsin and was introduced to cross country skiing on the Telemark trails as a youngster. After moving to the Twin Cities with his young family a couple of decades ago he helped lead the Hyland MyXC club with Paul Gage. A software developer by day, Noah has assisted with modernizing and enhancing MYSL's IT systems. He has also served as Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary on the MyXC Board.
Broad Member
Kate Smith
Kate wants everyone to love winter as much as she does -- that's why she's on mission to get as many families on cross-country skis as possible! A lifelong skier, Kate has served as an MYSL club leader and coach since 2019 and is currently pursuing her PSIA Cross-Country Level 100 certification. When she isn't on the snow with her dad, husband, and two children, she's still outside running or roller skiing. Next up for Kate: kick-starting a new middle school cross-country ski program in St. Paul.
Board Member
Jeff Reed
Jeff is a fisheries research scientist living in Alexandria, MN. Jeff led the Runestone MYSL Club 20 years ago and was an assistant coach for the high school team. He also served on the Board for CXC. More recently, he's helped restart the Alexandria MyXC club. Jeff believes that everyone living in the upper Midwest needs to be outside and active in the winter and nordic skiing is by far the best activity to do that. He enjoys sharing his passion for winter!
Board Member
Mickey Scott
Mickey loves winter and is passionate about growing the sport of cross-country skiing! Mickey has been on skis for the past 62 years! She was the head coach of the SPA Nordic Ski Team for 24 years where she coached her 3 sons who grew up XC skiing and participated in the Bill Koch Youth Ski League. Mickey (better known as "Coach Mimi") has coached MYSL Level 1 at Hyland and at Wirth.
Staff
Executive Director
Amy Cichanowski
US Ski and Snowboard Level 200 Coach and Technical Delegate
PSIA Level 2 Instructor
Email: amy@myxc.org
Phone: 612-227-7155
Creative Director & Head Skiwerx Coach
Simon Stouffer
Simon is our Creative Director and Skiwerx Head Coach an Ely MYSL product and retired D1 Collegiate Racer. He enjoys bringing his creative eye and studio art background to MyXC and Skiwerx.
Email: simon@myxc.org
Outreach Coordinator
Sarah Stendahl
Sarah is our Outreach Coordinator who began her love of the organization through Skisparks with her children. She enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing and all things outdoors with her family.
Email: sarah@myxc.org