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​Musher Bios

Nominees for CDMA ​Board of Directors
Voting will be conducted online:
  • A link to the 2022-23 ballot will be emailed to CDMA members by April 14
  • Votes must be submitted by 6 pm April 28 to be counted at our general meeting
Chugiak Dog Mushers Association
Nominees for Board of Directors, 2022-23
 ​
Returning Board members (Terms ending in 2023):
Deanna Partow
Pam Schamber
Adeline Schlabaugh
Robert Bundtzen
​
​Nominees for 7 remaining positions:
 
Alexandra Icet (Anchorage): 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 (Willow): 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 (Palmer): 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 (Eagle River): 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 (Chugiak): 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 (Anchorage): 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 (Chugiak): 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 has been a member of CDMA for 20 years and served three years on the CDMA Board of Directors (2009-2011).
Tom continues to run an all Siberian Husky team in Distance, to include the Iditarod in 2018, and dabbles in some of the local sprint races.  For the future of our sport to continue, CDMA needs experienced board members from all facets of dog mushing. This way all mushers from recreational to Iditarod consider CDMA a great organization that has all of their best interests in mind when it comes to enjoying all of the wonderful network of trails maintained by CDMA!

Annie Grenier (Anchorage): I have been mushing in Alaska for 12 years and have been a member of CDMA for 8 years. I have a small sprint kennel in Anchorage and the CDMA trail system is my primary training location for the fall and most of winter. I would like to help the club find new ways to grow event participation and hold events for new mushers and those interested in learning more about the sport of mushing.  ​

Chad Smyre (Anchorage): 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 Wasilla): 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.
​​
Chugiak Dog Mushers Association
Nominees for Board of Directors, 2021-22
 ​
Returning Board members (Terms ending in 2022):
Scott Maruskie
Kourosh Partow
Marti Rhyne
Debora Summers

​Nominees for 7 remaining positions:
Robert Forto: I have been involved in mushing since 1994 in everything from carts and scooters to multi-day expeditions. I run and operate our kennel with my family in Willow, AK. We have 38 dogs, mostly Alaskans and a few Siberians. I am an adjunct at UAA and teach classes in outdoor leadership. I am also the host of the popular Mushing Radio show, the only weekly mushing show in the world. It is heard locally on KVRF in Palmer.  I think I would be a good fit for CDMA because of my experience as a business owner and my vast knowledge of web design, social marketing and event planning. I have experience in dry-land/cart racing and mid-distance racing. I would like to work with a club that promotes racing and community involvement in all levels in South Central. I think that CDMA is doing everything right and in a positive direction and I would be honored to assist in whatever way I can.

Michelle Hill: Currently on Board. I would like to continue to serve on the Board and learn how I can help CDMA continue to be a great place for all mushers.
​
Stacie Tarpey: I have been mushing/racing dogs since I was five years old. I figured I would try my knack at the sport since I was big enough to hold on to a shovel and scoop dog poop!! I have been hooked since. As a junior musher I was very active in the Chugiak Dog Mushers club participating as a racer.  Over the past few years, I have volunteered either during dryland or adult races, such as the Eagle River Classic or the dryland championships. I am very passionate and dedicated to the sport of mushing and want to grow the sport.
 
As a CDMA board member I would try to bring more races to the organization-sprint or dry land, help with trail maintenance, and offer a class for potential volunteers on what is expected during races. I would also assist in gaining sponsorships for races and try to bring the junior races back. I hope with my hard work, passion, and dedication that I would be a great asset to the board.
 
Sean Williams:
Sean has been mushing for fifteen years and originally got his mushing start working for Iditarod champions Martin Buser and Dean Osmar, also having worked with other well-known mushers including DeeDee Jonrowe, Matt Failor, Matt Hayashida, and others. Sean is presently the founder and president of Alaska Mushing School, three-time winner of the Anchorage Daily News award for "Best Winter Adventure Tour Company" and two-time winner for "Best Summer Adventure Tour Company," and has actively promoted dog mushing year-round for several years now. Sean is a rookie in the 2021 Iditarod and has completed several other mid-distance races over the years. Sean holds a B.A. in Economics from Vanderbilt University, has a small but growing family that moved to the area just in the past year and lives about a mile from the Beach Lake trail system, and has also operated other non-mushing entrepreneurial startups in the past as well as spent some time as a commercial salmon fisherman in the Cook Inlet. The opportunity to contribute to the growth of CDMA by helping out locally would be welcome and familiar and hopefully bring another active mushing perspective to help keep mushing culture alive and well in the greater Anchorage area.
​
Kevin O’Shea: I am relatively new to mushing, I started running dogs in 2014. I have a small but growing kennel with 5 dogs most of which are rescues. I enjoy helping CDMA with events and am currently serving on the Board. I would like to continue to help the club grow its membership in all areas of mushing, sprint, distance, recreational and juniors. I work full-time as a Safety & Environmental Manager for a marine shipping company and serve as a Director for an industry non-profit.
 
Robert Bundtzen: I began running sled dogs in 1994 and have completed the Iditarod 15 times, as well as the Knik 200, Klondike 300, Tustumena 200 and Copper Basin 300. I am a current member and have been since 1994 and use the Beach Lake Trails each season to prepare for Iditarod.  I am continually amazed at what the Alaskan Husky can do and I just love spending my time with them.  I am looking forward to serving on the board and being able to give back to the sport and CDMA.

Adeline Schlabaugh: I was first introduced to CDMA and its activities in 2015 when I was recruited by Debora Summers to help with the Dryland race series. I have since announced and timed at all dryland races and many winter races. I love what this association does for the racing community, especially for kids. I personally don’t race, but I have one dog who loves to run and bikejor with me. I work full time, teaching at UAA.  (Note: Adeline has been a board member since 2019, serving as Treasurer).

Matt Paveglio: I am a 41-year-old Mushing enthusiast from Eagle River. My family moved from Michigan to Alaska in 2008 for a three month travel nursing contract.  We finally decided after 10 years we are not leaving. For the last three years I have enjoyed the sport of mushing from a dog driver's perspective.   Many people have come together to give me my opportunity in the sport.  I’d like to spend time with the Chugiak Dog Musher’s Association and help be an ambassador to the sport.  I can only offer enthusiasm and the ability to talk mushing. My goal in the sport is to continue to open the door for people new to the sport.   I love our trails and I love our dogs! Thank you for any opportunity I have to help the club.

Josh Shumen:  My name is Joshua Shumen and three years ago Matt Paveglio took me out  on a whip sled pulled by Jim Lanier’s Northern Whites. It was just a half hour, five mile loop that lasted two hours and 20 miles resulting in the worst frostnip of my life; It was the most beautiful thing I ever accidentally experienced. The pitter-patter of paws on snow beneath a full moon illuminating the icy haze over a frozen lake changed my place in the world. I was lucky enough to train with Jim the following year and even handle his dogs during the Yukon Quest. 
 
I do my best to train with a kennel every year starting in fall and I’ve been very fortunate in finding my way to Cim Smyth’s kennel this year. I never realized dogs could haul iron sleds full of lumber en route to ice-fishing. It’s truly a privilege to work with these canine athletes. I may or may not complete the Iditarod some day, but I will complete all three qualifiers and I will continue to do my best to facilitate the natural abilities of these dogs and their un-ending journey across the tundra. 
 
 I’m a neurophysiologist when I’m not mushing dogs. I was born and raised in Florida and had no intention of moving to Alaska or running sled dogs until one day… I did. Life is funny but the dogs remind us everyday to give it our all at every moment and around every bend of the trail. 

Casey Randall:  I grew up in Michigan and have lived in Alaska for 21 years. I am 43 years old, married to Matt Randall and we have two children, AddieAnn & Thale.  We own 22 dogs and we all enjoy mushing together as Rock On Racing.  We participate in both distance and sprint races.  2020/2021 included Copper Basin 300, Willow 300, Denali Doubles, Willow Jr 100, Junior World Championships, 36/20, Nome Sign 40/20 and sprint races in Willow, Chugiak & Anchorage.  We love dogs, Alaska, and adventures! I am running for the Chugiak Dog Mushers Association Board because I feel I will bring a positive energy, a voice to support both distance and sprint mushers for the winter and dry land seasons.  I am proud and humbled to have been awarded the Humanitarian Award at the Willow 300 race this year.  Thank you for your vote!  I look forward to being a board member and promoting CDMA. 
​Chugiak Dog Mushers Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
Taxpayer ID #92-0079900
​PO Box 671523
Chugiak, AK  99567
Email: cdmadogsled@gmail.com
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  • Home
  • Membership
  • Eagle River Classic
  • Events
  • Sponsors
  • Race Results
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Registration Form
    • Record Your Volunteer Hours!
  • Board and Club Info
    • Rules and Bylaws
    • Minutes
  • Donate
  • Maps
  • Classifieds