GTSC Board of Directors
Peter Lane, President
Peter grew up in Georgia, and learned to ski as a kid in Boy Scouts, going once a year. He loved the speed, the freedom, the outdoors and the camaraderie. He and his wife, Christy, relocated to her hometown of Traverse City in 2020, and they quickly introduced their young son, Lachlan, to skiing and he too soon learned to love the same things they did! The Lane family loves the GTSC community for opening their arms to them as a new ski family, and a funny-sounding Southerner! Peter still get asked “where did you learn to ski” almost out of disbelief that he even know how! Peter currently leads the Legacy Aviation Learning Center and FAA Certified Aviation Maintenance Technician School and is a dedicated non-profit leader with a track record of visionary growth. Peter and his family are thrilled to be part of the GTSC community and I’m excited to be part of the evolution of this great organization.
"GET ACTION." - Theodore Roosevelt is one of my greatest hero's. He was a man of action, and this simple quote embodies all that I strive to be.
Elaine Tait, Vice President
Elaine Tait is one of our new 2024 GTSC board members. She and her family (husband, Josh, and two kids – 9 and 6) moved north from Ann Arbor in 2020 to relish in the amazing outdoor lifestyle of Northern MI. Elaine and Josh are eager to contribute as much time as they can to cultivating youth sports in the area. Elaine is also the founder of ALL ETHOS, a growth strategy advisory and consulting firm, a business she aims to grow locally. She brings strategic planning, visioning, brand positioning, market research, and growth strategy expertise to the GTSC board.
Josh Traeger, Secretary
Josh Traeger is an entrepreneur, community leader, outdoor enthusiast, avid skier, military veteran, husband, father, and champion of all things Northern Michigan. Josh, his wife, and his two children are active in GTSC developmental and ski racing programs, and their family can even be found hiking or biking Hickory Hills in the spring and summer. As the Founding Attorney of True North Legal Group, a community-centered law practice based in Traverse City, Josh and his team focus on providing world-class legal counsel to startups, growing small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Josh brings a mountain of legal experience, and a mentality of community support, to the Board of Directors.
Molly Stanifer, Treasurer
Molly Stanifer and her family moved to Traverse City in 2019, drawn by the area’s natural beauty and easy access to outdoor spaces like Hickory Hills — an ideal place to raise their children and for parents to have fun. Both of her kids joined GTSC in their first eligible season and have been actively involved ever since. With decades of experience as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Molly brings a strong background in long-term planning and a passion for supporting her community.
Jake Burden, Board Member
Jake Burden was born and raised in Traverse City and ripped his mittens at Hickory Hills circa 1985. All 3 of Jake'skids learned to ski there and race on Sundays thanks to the Grand Traverse Ski Club. His family loves to keep moving, play, compete, and just be outside and enjoy this beautiful place they live in - GTSC inspires and embodies these things for the Burdens. The future is bright for the club and Jake is excited to be a part of it.
Nate Elkins, Board Member
Nate Elkins founded IDF in 2011. He wanted to raise the bar for architectural design, planning and research in Northern Michigan by building a collaborative of independent professionals with a focus on interjecting pop culture, technology, and futurism into small towns. Nate has a collection of knowledge working on a range of projects at many different spatial scales – from small intimate public spaces to rural landscapes and everything in between. When not at work you will find him with his wife Karley and their boys spending time outdoors - in the woods, on the water, or hitting the slopes
Bryan Travis, Board Member
Bryan arrived in Northern MI in 2000 and has been involved with multiple sports as both a coach and state state-registered official. Unlike many people on the board and in the club, skiing was not a childhood sport as he grew up in the middle of the state. He learned to ski through coaches in the club when his daughter began lessons in 2015. Volunteering with the club began at Sunday races the same year and eventually grew into his current role with the board. Based on his beginnings in the sport, he works to focus on grounding GTSC in the fundamental purpose of connecting our youth and families with high-quality, accessible instruction within the Traverse City region.
Tonya Lewandowski, Executive Director (non voting)
Tonya Lewandowski has been a GTSC Board member since 2014, enthusiastically helping to lead our Middle School programming. As a mom to 6 ski GTSC racers, her family loves all things GTSC and Hickory Hills! In her years on the Board, she has also helped implement some of the biggest organizational changes GTSC has seen - from transforming our Board structure, USSS improvements, navigating covid and Preserve Hickory updates! Tonya's energy and motivation for the Club is driven by her desire to see continuous improvements at GTSC, ensuring a sustainable structure long after her kids outgrow GTSC.
Rick Gruber, Board Member
After working in Downtown Detroit as a Real Estate Developer, Rick moved to Traverse City in 2000 where he spent over 20 years assisting with the Historic Restoration and Adaptive Reuse of the Traverse City State Hospital, now known as The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Rick brings a background of community building, problem solving, and business development. All three of Ricks children have progressed from the GTSC Learn to Ski to USSS & FIS Programs, and is passionate about making sure those same opportunities are afforded to all.
Kim Marian, Board Member
Kim joined the board of the Grand Traverse Ski Club in winter 2025. She has a background in marketing and advertising and has been involved with a variety of non-profit organizations since moving to Traverse City in 2000. Her experience leading and supporting these varied groups will help guide the GTSC toward another 70+ years of teaching kids to ski.
Skiing - not racing - since her early teens has created life-long memories and opportunities and Kim hopes to keep the sport thriving for her young ski racer and many more youthful skiers to come. Serving the club allows her to give back to the group that fuels her young skier's passion for the sport.
Marc DeCubber, Board Member
Marc is a new member of the board, bringing with him a broad and diverse background in competitive sports, including motorcycles, bicycles, and skiing. He offers a unique perspective as both a parent and active participant, with his family racing with GTSC from downstate.
For the past four years, Marc has served as a coach for his daughter Finley’s high school ski team and regularly volunteers on the hill at most USSS and FIS races for GTSC. He is an alumnus of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit and has worked in the creative industry for over 25 years.
Marc and his family became part of the GTSC community approximately three years ago. He is enthusiastic about contributing to the continued growth and success of the team and club, and is committed to helping elevate GTSC to new heights and new experiences.
Nate Elkins, Board Member
Nate Elkins founded Influence Design Forum (IDF) in 2011 to elevate architectural design, planning, and research in Northern Michigan by forming a collaborative of independent professionals. His work blends pop culture, technology, and forward-thinking ideas into the fabric of small towns and landscapes, with a portfolio that spans from intimate public spaces to large rural environments.
Nate learned to ski at Hickory Hills over 40 years ago and grew up skiing for GTSC, eventually going on to compete across the Upper Midwest and the country. Now serving his final term on the GTSC Board after nearly a decade, he’s proud to have spent those years supporting kids on skis and helping shape the future of the club.
When he’s not working or volunteering, you’ll find him outdoors—on the water, in the woods, or chasing powder. #skiordie