Volunteer Opportunities for BDR Ambassadors

1. Local Route Representatives

Goals/Opportunities:

  • Become a specialist in at least one BDR route.
  • Help with route scouting and reroutes.
  • Answer route questions.
  • Help create and curate a list of route lodging and food options.
  • Work with local businesses to promote BDR and award the “BDR Business Supporter” sticker to businesses that serve BDR riders.
  • Recommend local businesses for Resources Listings (training, touring, rental companies, dealers, etc).

2. Movie Premieres & Dealer Relations

Goals/Opportunities:

  • Help organize movie premieres.
  • Talk to at least 3 local dealers about movie events.
  • Organize at least 1 movie theatre event.
  • Recruit volunteers to help staff the event.
  • Work with local dealers and encourage them to stock BDR merchandise (dvds, maps, stickers, etc).

3. Community Outreach & Education

Goals/Opportunities:

  • Organize or attend at least 2 events a year (trade shows, classes, presentations, etc).
  • Volunteer at BDR events.
  • Teach BDR classes and clinics.
  • Organize and lead BDR presentations.
  • Lead Women’s specific outreach.

4. Administrative/Office/Marketing Support

Goals/Opportunities:

  • Help with Supporter fulfillment.
  • Assist with contact management.
  • Contribute content for web, newsletter, social media.
  • Contribute design services.

Benefits to Ambassadors

  • Have the satisfaction of being a part of the BDR organization and participating in planning its future.
  • Receive a special Ambassador t-shirt, sticker, patch.
  • Ambassador’s Name/Headshot /Bio listed on the the website.
  • Networking – gain new friends and contacts in the industry, and share your passion for BDR and the adv lifestyle.

Who Can Become an Ambassador

Individuals shall meet the following criteria to be considered for the BDR Ambassadorship:

  • Be a Seasoned ADV’er.
  • Be a current BDR Supporter (at any level).
  • Have ridden at least one of the BDRs.
  • Have passion for the BDR mission.
  • Can commit to at least 20 hours a year as a volunteer for BDR.
  • Be a Team Player and Collaborative Spirit.
  • Bring about diversity to the Ambassadors group.

How to Become an Ambassador

  • Interested individuals can join the BDR Ambassadors Program throughout the year by filling out the Ambassador Application Form.
  • Individuals will be notified of their inclusion in the Program within 2 weeks of submitting the application.
  • Ambassadors can opt in/out of the Program on an annual basis.

BDR Ambassadors

Nathan Fant

Location: Gresham, OR

BDRs Completed: WABDR, CABDR, UTBDR, ORBDR

Bikes:KTM 500 EXC & KTM 790 Adventure R

About:  Nathan is one of the longest standing and beloved BDR Ambassadors.  In the past, he helped out as BDR’s Routes Manager, and is currently serving on the BDR Routes Development Committee.  Nathan is the co-architect of the ORBDR, is contributing to the development of the CABDR-North, and occasionally lends his talent as videographer and photographer for BDR projects.

Tracy Jeffries

Location: Kirkland, WA

BDRs Completed: WABDR, NVBDR, IDBDR

Bikes: BMW 1200 GS Rallyee, BMW G650 XChallenge and KTM 350

About: Tracy is the true champion of the local ADV scene.   Tracy has volunteered for BDR since the founding of the organization in 2010. An ADV instructor and an industry insider, Tracy has inspired men and women to be better dirt riders, and has helped foster many relationships in the local ADV community.  Tracy is an advocate for women joining the ADV community.

Juddy Arnold

Location: Carlsbad, CA

BDRs Completed: UTBDR, Parts of COBDR and AZBDR

Bikes: DR650, CSC Zongshen Rx3, Triumph Scrambler, Yamaha YZ250F, 2 Yamaha R1s, Harley Davidson Nightster, 1977 Yamaha XT500, ’82 Suzuki GS1100E, ’75 Honda CB400

About: Juddy started riding at the age of four, dreaming of grand adventures in the woods and mountains behind his home.

Kane D. Wagner

Location: Youngstown, OH

BDRs Completed: MABDR; sections of AZBDR, UTBDR, & COBDR

Bikes: 2021 Yamaha Tenere 700, 2012 Husqvarna TE310, 1974 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead

About: Kane has always had a passion for adventure and the outdoors and when he purchased his first motorbike in 2012, he was hooked.

Cody Mccallister

Location: Sandy, UT

BDRs Completed: Parts of IDBDR, UTBDR and AZBDR

Bikes: 2018 Husqvarna 701 enduro, 2018 KTM 300 xcw

About: Cody started riding dirt bikes at age 42 and soon found himself entering in desert and enduro races as well as following friends in some “hard enduro” trail riding.  

Wiel Penders

Location: Leavenworth, WA

BDRs Completed: WABDR, IDBDR, AZBDR, UTBDR, COBDR, parts of CABDR

Bikes: BMW 1200 GSA w/Sidecar, BMW R1200 Urban GS, Yamaha T700, BMW G310GS

About: Wiel got hooked on riding at age 4 doing laps on a little 2-stroke in Spa, Belgium. 

Bryan Pullen

Location: Harrison, ME

BDRs Completed:COBDR, UTBDR, AZBDR, NMBDR, MABDR, NVBDR, WYBDR, IDBDR, NEBDR (development team member)

Bikes: KTM 350 XC-F, KTM 950 SE, KTM 950 SM, KTM 1290R, BMW R1200GS, Aprilia RSV4 1100

About: Bryan has 57 years experience riding motorcycles, progressing from motocross racing as a teenager, through sport bikes to the adventure bikes he now rides.

Eric Hougen

Location: Longmont, CO

BDRs Completed: COBDR, NVBDR (film expedition member), UTBDR

Bikes: WR250R, KTM350EXC, DRZ400S, Honda 250Rally

About: Eric is an avid ADV small bike rider and an ultralite packer.

Trevor Morton

Location:  Sacramento, CA

BDRs Completed:  UTBDR, COBDR

Bikes: KTM 1190 ADV R

About:  Trevor is a prolific traveler, amateur photographer and passionate adventurer. 

Neil Taylor

Location:  Durango, CO

BDRs Completed:  All

Bikes: BMW R1250GS HP, BMW R1200GS Rallye, KTM 450 EXC

About: Neil is the CEO & Founder of Backcountry Expeditions, one of BDRs Preferred Tour Partners & Sponsors. He is a retired British Special Forces Veteran with over 23 year’s experience in expeditionary planning and ADV motorcycle instruction.

Douglas French

Location:  Sedona, AZ

BDRs Completed:  AZBDR, IDBDR, NMBDR & COBDR

Bikes:  BMW 1200GSA, R NineT Scrambler

About:  Douglas grew up racing motorcycles. 

Kristina Fant

Location: Gresham, OR

BDRs Completed: CABDR, WABDR, and parts of UTBDR

Bikes: KTM 690, Beta trainer

About: Kris Fant enjoys all things motorcycling and volunteering. An opportunity to do both at the same time for the BDR organization is a dream come true!

When she is not working her day job as

Andrew Phillips

Location: Nottingham, NH

BDRs Completed:MABDR, NEBDR, and COBDR

Bikes: BMW R1200GSA, BMW F650GS Dakar

About:  Andrew Phillips has been riding motorcycles for more than 35 years—including nimble dirt bikes on wooded paths, vintage racing, hill climbs, and long excursions on GSAs.

Eric Milano

Eric Milano

Location: Burlington, VT

BDRs Completed: AZBDR, NMBDR, UTBDR

Bikes:  Beta 500, Honda XR400, BMW GS

About:  Born in NYC, Eric now resides in Burlington, VT and is the owner of MotoVermont.

Victoria Zandonella

Victoria Zandonella

Location: Bridgewater, CT

BDRs Completed: MABDR, Scout on NEBDR

Bikes: Yamaha XT250, BMW F650gs

About:  Victoria has been riding off-road since age 10 with an undying passion for the road less traveled.

Todd Polonsky

Location: Neversink, NY

BDRs Completed: MABDR, UTBDR, parts of WABDR, COBDR, NMBDR

Bikes: BMW 1200 GSA, KTM 690

About:  Todd started riding dirt bikes at the age of 8. He is a lifetime member of the AMA and has ridden Enduros on a competitive level.

Jill Oliver

Location:  Snohomish, WA

BDRs Completed: WABDR, IDBDR, UTBDR, NMBDR

Bikes:  KTM 1190, KTM 350 EXC

About:  Jill loves the spirit of the BDR organization, and credits it with giving her the tools and network to make adventure motorcycling a reality.

Tim Gettier

Location:  Wirtz, VA

BDRs Completed:COBDR

Bikes: R1200GSA

About: Tim was first introduced to Dual sport / Single track travel in 2008.

Robert Reger

Location:  Boulder, CO

BDRs Completed: COBDR, UTBDR, NVBDR, IDBDR, AZBDR

Bikes:  Yamaha WR25OR, Yamaha Tenere 700, Yamaha WR450F

About:  Roger strongly believes in the BDR organization and its mission. 

Jack O’Connor

Location:  Pt. Pleasant, NJ

BDRs Completed: COBDR

Bikes:  Husky TR 650

About:  Jack runs the Pine Barrens Adventure Camp Riding School, an adventure motorcycle touring and training company on the east coast. 

Shalmarie Wilson

Location:  WA

BDRs Completed:  AZBDR, COBDR, WABDR, IDBDR, NMBDR

Bikes:  BMW F650 GS, Honda 250X

About:  Shalmarie holds the record for most BDR’s ridden in a single year. 

Roger Pattison

Location:  Taos Ski Valley, NM

BDRs Completed: NMBDR

Bikes: BMW R1200GSA, KTM 500EXC, Bultaco Sherpa-T, Honda CT110, Mecatechno Electric

About: Roger is an avid ADV rider and has an enormous passion for his state of New Mexico. 

Mark Plank

Location:  Temple, TX

BDRs Completed:  IDBDR

Bikes:  Suzuki DR 650SE, Kawasaki KLX250, KTM 300 XCW

About:  Mark is retired military and has a background in law enforcement. 

Clark Denny

Location: Morrison, CO

BDRs Completed: COBDR, UTBDR, IDBDR

Bikes: Triumph 800XC, KTM 350 EXC, Polaris RZR 1000

About: Clark started riding when he was 9 and jumped into motocross racing in his teens.

John Ciribassi

John Ciribassi

Location: Carol Stream, IL

BDRs Completed: MABDR, COBDR, AZBDR, NEBDR, CABDR

Bikes: KTM EXC350F, KTM 1090 Adventure R

John is the owner of Motoride Tours

About: John has been riding since he was in grade school, riding mostly motocross (Yamaha YZ 125 and CZ 250).

Odessa Winter

Location: Washington, DC 20003

BDRs Completed: MABDR, NEBDR

Bikes: KTM 790 Adventure

About: After an ill-fated first ride at nine years old, Odessa put riding on pause until the ripe old age of 29.

Tim Paul

Tim Paul

Location: Orangevale, CA

BDRs Completed: Looking forward to scouting a future Northern California route.

Bikes: 2017 Africa Twin, 2016 CRF250L, 2005 KTM 525 EXC, 2004 Honda ST1300

About: Tim is an avid ADV rider from Northern California who’s had a long career in manufacturing as a Machinist, Fabricator, CAD/CAM Application Engineer and Product Designer in the motorsports, aerospace, and other high-tech industries.

Jason Priest

Jason Priest

Location: Sturgeon County, Alberta, Canada

BDRs Completed: IDBDR

Bikes: KTM 1190 Aventure

About: Jason works for a North American valve manufacturer and has ridden motorcycles for the last 18 years.  

Scott Lovern

Scott Lovern

Location: Buford, GA

BDRs Completed: Parts of CABDR and COBDR

Bikes: R1200GSA

About:  Scott started riding on his grandparent’s property on a TK70, and then progressed to a 250 and rode as much as he could.

Jeff Drawe

Location: Meridian, ID

BDRs Completed:Idaho x 2

Bikes:2015 KTM 1190 ADV R, 2019 KTM 300 XC-W TPI Six Days

About: Jeff is a 20 year military veteran on the cusp of retirement. With over a decade of ADV and Enduro experience in the Idaho back country, Jeff wanted to

John DeCarlo

Location: Branford, CT

BDRs Completed: MABDR, Lots of WABDR and waiting for NEBDR

Bikes: Triumph Tiger 800, BMW R1200GS

About: John DeCarlo spent 35 years as a police officer. In 2010, he retired as a chief of police in Connecticut. Since then he has been researching, writing about and teaching criminology, criminal justice and police management,

Craig Palen

Location: Middletown, MD

BDRs Completed: MABDR

Bikes: 2014 Suzuki Vstrom 1000, 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 500

About: Craig has been riding off/on road and racing for the past 50+ years. First in the very rural area of the southern tip of Michigan 

Erica Carrell

Location: Chattanooga, TN

BDRs Completed: MABDR

Bikes: BMW F800GS, Honda CRF250L

About:  Erica firmly believes in the BDR’s mission and is excited to be a part of the team! She is eager to help and encourage all riders, especially women who may initially be intimidated by the sport. 

Matt Manuel

Location: Surrey, BC

BDRs Completed: Oregon

Bikes:2018 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R

About: Matt has been riding adventure bikes for the past 20 years and loves exploring anywhere with anyone. An advocate of riding in general, and especially adventure riding, he helps organize local rides for all skill levels and

Jeff Nash

Location: Berkeley Springs, WV

BDRs Completed: West Virginia

Bikes:2013 KTM 690 Rally Raid ADV Bike, 2013 KTM 500 XC-W Dual-Sport

About: Jeff is a Lifetime Member of the AMA.
He’s been riding and competing on motorcycles for 50+years.
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams, Lives & Loves Motorcycles!
40+ year MC Industry Veteran and a has had

Devon Pelkie

Location: Bellingham, WA

BDRs Completed: WABDR x3, IDBDR x 2, MABDR, AZBDR, NMBDR, UTBDR

Bikes: KTM 790 ADV-R, Husky 701 LR, Husky FE350

About: Devon began motorcycling 13 yrs ago, multiple trips thru PNW, BC, Vancouver Island. Last years retirement trip took him to Newfoundland, enjoying MABDR along the way.
Operator of thetooltube.com since 2009, offering adv moto accessories worldwide to like minded travelers.

Cameron Smith

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

BDRs Completed: UTBDR, IDBDR, NVBDR

Bikes: Ducati Multistrada, KLR 650

About: Cameron started riding at the age of 12 and has been hooked ever since. Coming from a family of desert racers in Southern California, off pavement riding is

Jeffrey Berrong

Location: Escondido, CA

BDRs Completed:CABDR-South, IDBDR, AZBDR, UTBDR, COBDR

Bikes:KTM 1090R / 500 EXC

About: Jeff’s first motorcycle was a secondhand Honda SL 70 that he rode growing up in Idaho. An

Kirk Lakeman

Location: Dawsonville, GA

BDRs Completed: MABDR, NEBDR, WYBDR, COBDR, and sections of other routes

Bikes:KTM 790R, KTM 350 XCF, KTM Freeride E-XC

About: In over 40 years of riding (trail riding, racing off-road, adventure bike riding) I have gained considerable off-road and

Chris Cawein

Location: Moscow, TN

BDRs Completed: UT, CO, ID

Bikes: 2016 BMW R1200 GS, 2020 KTM Six Days EXC500, 2008 KLR 650

About: Chris recently retired after 35 years at FedEx. He held various positions in management and project management. A lifelong

Robert Pack

Location: Johnson City, TN

BDRs Completed: MABDR and NEBDR; just finished riding the MABDR + NEBDR back to back July 11-24 2020; previously rode the MABDR in 2018.

Bikes: KTM 790 R & Husqvarna 701 enduro

About: Rob Pack rides ADV bikes as often as possible, preferring long, multi-day adventure routes with good friends and challenging terrain.

Rebecca Ann

Location: Tonasket, Washington

BDRs Completed: WABDR

Bikes: Honda Shadow Aero 750, Yamaha TW-200

About: I have relocated to Tonasket, WA, perfectly in line with the beginning/end of the WABDR. Tonasket is also

Johnathan Langley

Location: Gilbert, AZ

BDRs Completed: NMBDR, AZBDR, IDBDR, WABDR, COBDR, CABDR, NVBDR

Bikes: BMW GS1200 Rallye, KTM790 Adventure R, Husqvarna TE300, KTM 500 EXC, KTM 1190 Adventure R

About: I’m a lifelong lover of motorcycles and traveling. After spending 25 years in the powersports industry, I’m now splitting my time between the Canadian Rockies and the Sonoran Desert, riding everywhere and everything in-between.

Tom Nagle

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

BDRs Completed:NEBDR, Many sections of COBDR & UTBDR

Bikes: KTM 1090R, KTM 500EXC, KTM 450 EX-F, Kawasaki KLR650, BMW K1200RS, Triumph Trophy Sport

About: For Tom, motorcycles have absolutely been positively life changing with 33+ years of touring, guiding, off-road racing, and training.

Marc Axelberg

Location: Carlisle, PA

BDRs Completed: MABDR

Bikes: 2020 Africa Twin Adventure Sports

About: Marc has been riding since a young person- with breaks for life events that we all experience.

Wendy Naessens

Location: Greer, SC

BDRs Completed: WYBDR

Bikes: 21 BMW R1250GS 06 KTM 200xc, 75 Honda CB200

About:WendyInMotion (aka Wendy Naessens) is a professional rider and a BMW U.S. Riders Academy instructor in training, passionate about continuing education on a motorcycle.

Kyle Cooper

Location: Worley, ID

BDRs Completed: WABDR, IDBDR, CABDR, UTBDR, AZBDR, NVBDR

Bikes: Honda Africa Twin, CRF 450X, TW200

About: Kyle got into ADV riding after returning from a deployment and moving to Oregon back in 2006. 

Greg Skarvelis

Location: Redmond, OR

BDRs Completed:CABDR, WABDR and IDBDR

Bikes: KTM 690 Enduro and Tenere 700

About: Greg has been an avid motorcyde rider since the age of 16 when he picked up his first motorcycle, a Honda CB750.

Kyrie Eppley

Location: Corbett, OR

BDRs Completed: WABDR, COBDR and IDBDR

Bikes: KTM 690r, KTM 350EXC-f, Husqvarna 300TE, Beta 200 Trials bike

About: Kyrie dabbled in riding dirt bikes in the desert of Arizona with her Dad and brother as a young girl.

Jose Real

Location: Fort Meade, MD

BDRs Completed: NEBDR, MABDR, WYBDR, & COBDR

Bikes: DCT Africa Twin, Tiger 800 XCA

About: Jose began riding in the Mojave Trail in California before joining the Army.

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