BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Taylor
Treasurer
John Taylor (everyone calls him JT) discovered BRNW as a participant a few years ago. It was the first time he or his wife Barb had ridden 50 miles in a single day, much less 7 days in a row. But after that they were hooked. Now they mix cycling in with hiking and rafting in the summer, while enjoying theater/music, adventure travel and skiing during other seasons. For them, a good year is defined as lots of time out under the sky, doing something in the fresh air.
After working 35 years in finance, JT retired to spend more time traveling, working on right-brain projects and saying yes to spontaneous invitations. He’s been involved with boards including Portland Center Stage and LEAP Adventures, as well as school foundations. Drawing from his experience as a river rafting guide, he loves to help others enjoy the great outdoors. His reasons for joining the board? “I love the commitment BRNW has to making their trips as fun, comfortable, delicious, convenient and enjoyable as possible. I signed up to help carry that on!”
Matt McTee
Board President
Matt discovered BRNW in 2023 on the recommendation of friends, joining a Santa Barbara small tour and then the 2023 Oregon ride as his first tours with the organization. He’s been back every year since, drawn to the challenging routes, the exceptional crew support, and the friendships that form so quickly among like-minded riders. For Matt, cycling blends everything he loves most: freedom, exploration, adventure, and the satisfying push of a long day on the bike. His passion for riding has taken him around the world, including multi-day tours in India, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. While living in Hyderabad on an expat assignment with Microsoft, Matt co-founded the Hyderabad Biking Club, helping grow the group from seven active riders to more than 700 — a community that continues to thrive today.
Professionally, Matt spent nearly two decades in HR leadership roles at Microsoft and within the biopharma industry, before launching his own executive coaching and consulting practice. He now partners with leaders, teams and organizations to elevate performance and unlock potential — work that parallels the motivation and camaraderie he finds on long rides. Matt joined the BRNW board to contribute that same energy and mindset: a belief in great experiences, continuous improvement and the power of bringing people together outdoors.
Jennifer Urich
Board Secretary
Jen Urich first discovered BRNW in 2014, thanks to a longtime fan who talked her into doing that year’s California ride. One trip was enough—she’s been back ever since. She calls BRNW “adult summer camp” and still isn’t sure what she likes more: the miles on the bike, or the time with friends she’s made along the way (looking at you, Charlie and Dale).
Outside of cycling, Jen hikes, paints and travels, choosing active adventures over tour buses. Recent trips include Zimbabwe, China, Morocco, Albania and Montenegro. Next up: biking across the USA and the UK with BRNW friends.
Jen started her career as an economist with an MBA, spent two years in management consulting, then joined the Peace Corps in the Philippines—an experience that sparked her interest in culture and community development. After seven years in Mexico and 10 in Miami, she moved to Oregon to work at Wieden+Kennedy, and later launched her own strategic communications consultancy.
Born in Montreal, Jen is a dual citizen and likes to say her soul is Canadian, her brain American, and her spirit Latina. She joined the BRNW board to support its work with rural communities and to contribute her business perspective—and her ability to type as fast as Jim and Matt can talk.
Kim Conklin
Director
Kim is our caterer for BRNW, and has been providing food for our rides since 1994. Kim has specialized in catering off-site, large-group events since 1992, and has catered for many famous country singers such as Diamond Rio, Chris LeDoux and Reba McEntire. In recent years she has been solely dedicated to the food service needs of bicycle tours and events. Her passion is week-long events in remote areas, with great customers and co-workers. She is fortunate to have her son, Kyle Conklin, as her logistics coordinator and her daughter-in-law, Michelle, as her production assistant.
Kim says, “It has been amazing to work with Bicycle Rides Northwest for over 20 years, and I’m looking forward to serving the needs of BRNW for many more years to come!”
Charlie Jones
Director
Charlie, a fourth-generation eastern Oregonian, started road cycling tours in 2005. He considers tours his best activity of the last 15 years, because of the multitude of enduring friendships they’ve provided — including meeting the woman of his dreams, his wife Emelie, on Cycle Zydeco in 2010.
Because he considers Bicycle Rides Northwest the very best of the nearly 50 tours he’s done in North America and overseas, Charlie is eager and proud to be a new member of our board. He smiles when he states that his family has been promoting cycling for a century — as the mayor of Ontario in 1920, his grandfather was the first to pave city streets.
Charlie’s retirements are from 32 years as a high school physics/chem/math teacher in La Grande, and as a Commander, U. S. Naval Reserve (active duty: USS Semmes, DDG-18).
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Route History
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