Time for elections at Austin Runners Club! We’ve taken the election process online this year in order to reach more members. Below you can read candidate bios, then head over to our election survey to cast your vote. Winners will be announced at our annual spring party, as well as on our website and social media after the party is held.
President
Iram J. Leon
I’ve been lucky enough to have trained with ARC since my first marathon in 2010. Before that I had helped put together events for both sporting and non-athletic events. Since then, I’ve volunteered for ARC and other organizations that help put on various running events from track meets to 5Ks to serving on Austin race director’s committee. I’ve been fortunate to make connections within the running community and believe I would be helpful in helping connect people and organizations to continue to make ARC the great organization that it is.
Vice-President
Elaine Chung
Hey it’s me, Elaine, your favorite improvising, engineering runner. I’ve been a member of the Austin Runners Club and the Ship since 2013, when I moved to Austin. I’ve volunteered at Decker and other ARC events over the past year and I’ve been really impressed by the work that our current board members do. I want to be ARC vice president because I want to lead the ARC in continuing to produce some of the best races and events in Austin.
Secretary
Heather Pagano
I ran my first half-marathon in 2011, and since it left me with a fractured left shin, I of course had to do it again. Since then, I’ve run 3 full marathons, including the 2015 Austin Marathon–my first year running with ARC’s training group Al’s Ship of Fools! Running with ARC breathed new life into my workout regimen, helped smash my PRs to pieces, and my only injury was a sprained wrist and a couple of scraped knees. In real life, I’m a Project Manager for a publishing company. Taking notes, keeping track of details, and helping things run smoothly is what I do for a living, and I’m excited for the opportunity to donate those skills to ARC as secretary.
Treasurer
Kate Gurfein
I have been running with ARC for three years. Over this time, I’ve become more involved, made some great friends, and gotten much faster! Serving on the board feels like a natural step in my growth with this group. I would be grateful for the chance to volunteer and give back to ARC as its treasurer. I’m a data scientist and math nerd, so numbers are really my thing. Please vote for me!
Member Services
Josh Matthys
I love running and haven’t let a childhood battle with guillain-barré syndrome or a ruptured Achilles as an adult stop me! ARC is the best running club in Austin and I will do all I can in my power to make that known to the greater Austin area, as well as work to provide even more benefits to members. I love spreadsheets, breakfast tacos, and the Texas Longhorns. Hook ’em!
Volunteer Coordinator
Shirley Allaway
I was a late bloomer when it comes to running, but I’ve been a member of the Austin Runners Club and Al’s Ship of Fools for the last several years. When not running around in circles, I work for the good state of Texas as a web developer. I’ve done my share of wrangling volunteers – from my community arts festival to the information desks at SXSW.
Information Services
Ryan Becerra
If elected to the position of Information Services for Austin Runners club, I intend to use technology to our advantage. I work as a Software Developer for The University of Texas at Austin and I feel that my experience from my day to day job will give us a unique opportunity to increase the engagement of our members via the ARC website. Whether it be year round leaderboards or more flexibility with the website, I feel that we can try some new approaches and make running even more social. I have completed 3 marathons and am scheduled for the Los Angeles Marathon and New York City Marathon in 2015. I currently run with the ARC group Ship of Fools.
Evan Powell
Four years of running with ARC and Al’s Ship of Fools has taught me just how much we all depend on great volunteers for everything from hydration to coordination – and some of the hardest-working volunteers we have sit on the ARC board and coordinate two races and a series each year. It would be an honor and a privilege to be one of these people you depend on! As a software developer, I have the skills to make technology a transparent tool to accomplish our goals, and automate as much as possible so you can get back to what’s important – running!
