Flagstaff Trails Initiative Board
FTI’s board serves one main purpose: to serve the trail community of Flagstaff. From those just starting their career in the outdoor world to those who have been living it their whole life, our board has experience to back their decision making. Through their knowledge, professional skills, receptiveness for community feedback, and passion for getting outside the board makes the decisions that progress Flagstaff’s trails from Good to Extraordinary.
Jeff Goulden
Jeff Goulden moved from Washington State to Flagstaff in 2016 in order to be close to family. He quickly became involved in the local outdoor and trail community. Jeff served for 4 years on the city’s Bicycling Advisory Committee. He has volunteered as a trail crew member for Flagstaff Bicycling Organization and as a trail planner for Flagstaff Trails Initiative (FTI). He recently become a board member of FTI and also leads hikes for the JWalkers Hiking Group.
In the Pacific Northwest, Jeff served as a board member for the Mount Rainier National Park Associates as well as the Foothills Trail Coalition. He has also served on park and trail planning committees for the City of Edgewood, Washington.
Jeff received his Bachelors in Business Administration and Information Science from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. He retired as a software developer in 2010 and began a second career in writing, fine art and stock photography. He combines his passion for photography and his love of nature with the technical skills developed during his software career.
Nat White
Nat is a retired Lowell Observatory Astronomer, a 52 plus year resident, and a competitive trail runner holding numerous age group records. The natural environment has been his lifelong solace. He is honored to have some part in balancing the increasing recreational use of our forests, mountains and parks while sharing and preserving the sights, sounds and feel that only nature can provide. He was part of the group that protected, in perpetuity, Buffalo Park and another group that founded the Flagstaff Urban Trail System, FUTS. He served as Vice Mayor when the first FUTS link was constructed. Nat is currently president of the Flagstaff Library Foundation and current chair of the Coconino Community College governing board. Three children were born and raised in Flagstaff with his wife a retired school teacher Jean.
Debbie McMahon
Debbie believes it is important for everyone to get outside and enjoy nature. The solitude when hiking in the mountains is good for the soul and getting outside with friends provides the best venue for communal relationships to strengthen. The benefits of hiking are limitless for both our physical health and mental health and she looks forward to using my background in ecology and education to progress Flagstaff’s outdoor recreation culture with sustainability in mind. One thing Debbie loves about living here is the fact that a great hiking trail in great condition with great weather is never more than a 45 minute drive away. No matter the time of year, she can find a place to get outside and breath the fresh Northern Arizona air.
Tod Lewis
Tod is a retired physician and avid mountain biker, dog walker, and is learning the ropes from friends to start up equestrian riding. As a multi-model trail user, Tod understands the concerns brought to FTI from all trail use backgrounds. He knows that all users of trails deserve the respect of those they are sharing the trail with and looks forward to helping the FTI board grow Flagstaff’s trail network in an inclusive manner.
Robert Wallace
Robert Wallace, the Open Space Specialist for the City of Flagstaff, Arizona, oversees the City’s Open Space Program. In his position he manages over 3,000 acres of designated open space: McMillan Mesa, Observatory Mesa, Picture Canyon, and Schultz Trailhead. His efforts involve developing policy, planning and implementing projects, securing sustainable funding, and working with partners to ensure the preservation of open space lands.
Before joining the City of Flagstaff, Robert served a Park Ranger with the National Park Service for over 15 years. He specialized in community outreach, education, resource monitoring and management, and park operations. Robert holds a Bachelor of Science in Field Biology from the University of Northern Colorado. He is invested in the preservation of healthy ecosystems for the benefit and enjoyment of all. He enjoys contributing efforts to improving the environment, health and well-being, and overall quality of life.
Laurese McCullough
Coming soon
Kyle Colavito
Kyle is a engineer at W.L. Gore & Associates and is frequently on the trails with his family, friends, or by himself. As someone who uses the trails almost daily via various modalities (foot, bike, ski) and for different purposes he realizes that all current and future users should be considered. He hopes to contribute to continuing to improve our trail system and encouraging others to get out and enjoy the outdoors and all it has to offer.
Flagstaff Trails Initiative’s Committees
Advisory Committee
Committee Goals
The Flagstaff Trails Initiative Advisory Committee is comprised of the original Core Team that guided the development of the Trails Strategy. This committee is comprised of representative of governments and NGOs that work to develop and maintain trails in the Flagstaff area.
Committee Organizations
Coconino National Forest
Coconino County Parks and Recreation
Flagstaff Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Flagstaff
Flagstaff Biking Organization
Coconino Trail Riders
Sierra Club
R2R Hiking Club
American Conservation Experience
Financial Sustainability Committee
Committee Goals:
- Improve the financial sustainability of trail management
- Integrate trail planning and management with tourism and economic goals
Committee Chairs:
- Robert Wallace
- Matt Roberts
Education and Outreach Committee
Committee Goals:
- Create a safe and fun experience for trail users
- Educate, inform and involve the community in trail stewardship
- Use trails to build the next generation of youth stewards
Committee Chairs:
- Debbie McMahon
- Brian Grube
Conservation and Restoration Committee
Committee Goals:
- Balance trail development and management with community conservation and natural resource goals with an emphasis on restoration
- Ensure historic and prehistoric sites, including known American Indian sacred places and traditional cultural properties, are preserved and protected for their cultural importance
Committee Chairs:
- Debbie McMahon
- Nat White