BCBR Staff

 

Dean Payne

Dean Payne

President

“I love mountain biking, and I love our backyard trails here on the coast of BC. All I have ever wanted to do is share it with the rest of the world!”
Andreas Hestler - Dre

Andreas Hestler - Dre

Director of Marketing

Taking Canada to the Olympic debut of Mountain Biking in Atlanta (1996) ranks very high as an achievement, as does representing Canada as the National Champion (x5); but building the BC Bike Race from the ground up holds a special spot in Dre’s heart as it is sharing his passion for mountain biking with the world.

“Transitioning 20 years of marketing an athlete to marketing an event was natural, while the goal to be the ‘best bike race in the world’ was also natural. Creating this event from the ground up with our combined experience has been a privilege and a passion. Getting all the cycling world to come here and allow us to guide them around on a sweet BC singletrack adventure has been a true joy and a privilege.”

Lisa Au

Lisa Au

Business Manager & HR Director

Lisa’s diverse background in event management, tourism and recreation and non-profit fundraising makes her an ideal fit for the BC Bike Race. She was bought onboard in 2009 and has continued to be the “calm and collected” positive smiley face of race week. When she is done trying on all the hats that come with her multifaceted role on the BCBR team, she works with other events and slides into her role as mother of two beautiful girls.
Karen Stark

Karen Stark

Marketing Communications & Retail Manager

Karen was brought up in the world of biking with a brother who raced on the circuit for years. Karen started at BC Bike Race in 2011 after 5 years of running her own clothing line. She has a Marketing Communications diploma from BCIT and 15 years of experience in the Tourism, Sports & Retail Marketing Sectors. When she’s not looking after her 3 kids you can find her riding her bike or running on the North Shore trails.
Moniera Khan

Moniera Khan

Race Relations Manager

Moniera’s been involved with the BC Bike Race for the last 5 years trying out a number of roles before settling into the Racer Relations position. She loves outside better than inside and spends as much of her time on the trails in Squamish where she now lives. Her corporate experience in business development and client relations gives her a solid background for her Racer Relations role where her mission is to ensure race week is the best week of your life.

Jeff Stromgren

Jeff Stromgren

Director of Course Management

Jeff is a school teacher by trade and works year round developing social wellness programs and healthy living initiatives for children and families. Adding to his workload is a passion for organizing and managing adventure sport tourism events. Enthusiastic about making sure participants experience the thrills of adventure in a well designed and safe environment, Jeff assures in his work for BCBR the deliverance of consistent quality racing for our wide range of riders. He loves mountain biking with friends, food and wine, travel and adventure, and cherishes time with his family of four and two dogs.
Matt Oviatt

Matt Oviatt

Production Manager

Matt has over 12 years of extensive experience in concert, theatre, and dance production, as well as managing site operations and logistics for upwards of 25 outdoor events and festivals. The production management of a bike race combines his work with a passion for the outdoors. Since starting on the BC Bike Race site crew in 2012, Matt has found an appreciation and love for mountain biking, but has always enjoyed hiking and camping, and prefers to spend his free time in the outdoors. When he is not working for BCBR, he can be found working on as many outdoor events as he can fit into his schedule or catching some downtime – either in a hammock or on a bike.
Brooks Hogya

Brooks Hogya

Director of Safety

Brooks Hogya is the Safety Advocate for the BC Bike Race, and a paramedic with the BC Ambulance Service. He is well known throughout Canada as the founder, owner and chief instructor of Canada’s most innovative and successful wilderness medical training provider, Slipstream Wilderness First Aid (www.wildernessfirstaid.ca). With more than 25 years experience as a professional outdoor adventure guide and wilderness first aid instructor, Brooks is in wide demand as a safety consultant and in 2006 join the BC Bike Race team.
About The BC Bike Race