Nominee Biographies

 
Alexandra Icet: I have been recreationally joring and mushing since 2015, and am excited now to share my life with "real sled dogs" in Chugiak since 2020. I've raced at CDMA and ASDRA, and otherwise am happy to just enjoy trails with my huskies in Chugiak and Eklutna. I am invested in maintaining and improving Chugiak's beautiful mushing trails, and hope to advocate for races that continue to both support experienced mushers and encourage newcomers to dog-powered sports. 

Robert Forto: Robert has been on the CDMA board for the last few years and hopes to add his experience to help make the club the best it can be. Robert started in the sport in 1994 and over the years has run just about every style of mushing from one dog scooter to expeditions. Robert is the host of the popular mushing podcast, Dog Works Radio and hosts the Dog Driver show with fellow board member KP where we talk to mushers around the world.His passion is that to introduce people to the sport and focuses on education and presentations locally and in the Lower 48. Robert lives in Willow with his wife Michele and his team of 36 sled dogs. ​

Michelle Hill: I have been a volunteer and have been on the board for several years. I enjoy our club and I love huskies and mushing. CDMA has amazing trails and a crew that works hard to make every event possible. I was introduced to mushing through CDMA and I want to help in any way that I can to insure that these trails and events are available for all mushers. 

Scott Maruskie: I moved to Alaska in 2002 and I became active in dog mushing in 2007.  I became active through Rick Cavens when he was the pastor at St Mark Church and he invited my kids to run his dogs.  My first time on a sled was in 2009 at the Chugiak Businessman’s Race.  Unfortunately, I became hooked.  We bought our first sled dogs in 2011 and we began racing.  My kids were competitive junior racers and won many races and I raced the dogs when they were not racing.  Over the years, our kennel has grown to 19 dogs with 15 very competitive race dogs.  My 2 oldest children are now adults and run most of the races and are active volunteers with CDMA. 
After a couple of seasons, I became a board member with ASDRA and served on their board from 2011-2020 and was the vice president of their board for the past 5+ years.  We moved to Chugiak 5 years ago and became more active in CDMA and I joined the board in 2020.  I have been active in both ASDRA and CDMA for years now in racing and volunteering both.  With ASDRA, I was part of the executive board, assisting in making Rondy OWC a success, trail crews, construction crews and fund raising.  In that time, my wife became a board member as well and the kids have also been active in volunteering with both clubs and we remain active members in the mushing community.

Kourosh Partow: I have served  on the CDMA board in many capacities such as VP, Race Committee, Trail Groomer for the last 5+years. I was involved in the trail improvement project these past 5 years and help with trail grooming during the winter time. I hope to continue making improvements next year. We have been racing sled dogs the last 35 years, in Europe, the lower 48 and the last 18 years here in Alaska.  We moved to Chugiak to be close to these trails. I believe we should work to get community involvement to sponsor our races, and continue to keep the State sport promoted in the Anchorage bowl area. I am also Regional Director for ISDRA and on the committee to coordinate IFSS and ISDRA.​

Stacey Tarpey: I have been mushing since I was five years old, which is pretty much old enough to hold a pointed shovel and scoop poop. For the past couple of years I have been active in dry-land either as a participant or volunteering. My happy place is out seeing the mushers having fun with their dogs and as a board member I will continue to promote the sport and get more volunteers for the club.

Tom Schonberger: Tom is an experienced musher that CDMA would very much benefit having as a board member. He is a local Chugiak musher that is very knowledgeable and experienced with CDMA trails. Tom also continues to run all Siberians and therefore would be a great advocate for the purebred community. CDMA needs experienced board members from all facets of dog mushing. That way all mushers from recreational to Iditarod consider CDMA a great organization that has all of their best interests in mind when I comes to enjoying all of the wonderful network of trails maintained by CDMA!

Annie Grenier:

Chad Smyre: Chad has been mushing his purebred Siberian team for over three years. He has participated in races at Chugiak over the years. His passion and enjoyment for the sport of mushing is contagious to all of those around him. For these reasons, Chad would be a great addition to the CDMA Board of Directors.

Cassandra Smith: Cassandra, (Cassie) Smith began dog mushing around the age of four on the CDMA trails. At age eight her family left state, but they continued to dog mush recreationally. After moving back up to Alaska in 2020 with her two dogs, Cassie has tried to involve herself again at CDMA events. She has participated in dryland events and skijoring classes, as well as through volunteering. She hopes to eventually grow her kennel to participate in even more races offered at CDMA. She has a passion for dog mushing and the bond one forms with the dogs they race with. She has enjoyed the many events put on by CDMA and now hopes to give back by learning what is involved in maintaining CDMA and the events it holds, and helping in any way she can as a board member.
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