MEET OUR TEAM

Victor Gurel

  • Victor Gurel is the founder of Custom Electronics Inc., NWA's largest electronics sales and installation company with a staff of 80+, where he served as CEO there until he retired in 2023. Before starting Custom Electronics, he was the Field Supervisor for DirecTV overseeing Washington, Benton, and Madison Counties and was responsible for managing all installation services for 3 years. Prior to that, he was a construction foreman for Davis Construction Company in Anchorage, Alaska, managing a commercial framing crew. In 2013, as the stress of starting a small business was taking a toll on his health, he bought the first bike he owned in 15 years and began riding the Razorback Greenway at night to relieve stress and improve his health. Those late-night rides down the Greenway were the beginning of his passion for all things cycling-related. Since that time, he has worn a half dozen State Championship jerseys, become a regular sponsor of local cycling events, a women’s cycling team and two junior development teams as well as being one of the founding sponsors to get NICA started in Arkansas. He remains very active in the cycling community and is always down for a ride.

Gabriela Ruiz

  • Gabriela Ruíz grew up in Houston, TX, where her journey as a classically trained flutist and bike commuter began. While studying at the University of Texas at Austin, she discovered a passion for cycling, venturing beyond the music practice rooms to immerse herself in Austin's vibrant social and competitive cycling community. 

    She serves as Chief Operating Officer at Trailblazers, where she supports staff, builds systems, and helps the organization operate effectively as it grows. Her work is rooted in the belief that building trails and building community go hand in hand.

    Gabriela has been involved in Trailblazers programming since her early days with the organization and has helped connect hundreds of children and adults to cycling through community classes and partnerships. She continues to support efforts that expand access to riding and strengthen the local cycling community.

    Gabriela holds a Master of Music degree from Boston University. In her spare time, she enjoys riding bikes, performing with the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, and mentoring budding flutists.

Ira Rocchi

  • Ira has a profound passion for numbers and community, complemented by a global perspective and a strong dedication to local engagement. Holding a degree in Political Science from St. John’s University in New York, Ira transitioned into the field of accounting through an unconventional route and has since accumulated extensive experience, particularly within the construction and real estate development sectors.

    Having resided in multiple countries during her upbringing, Ira relocated to Bentonville over 12 years ago and now considers Northwest Arkansas her home. Outside of her professional commitments, Ira finds fulfillment in spending time with her family, reading, gardening, and cooking, embracing both precision and creativity. She remains deeply committed to advancing the mission of Trailblazers through strategic financial leadership.

Gavin Williams

  • Gavin grew up in Kansas City where his connection to cycling began with BMX. While completing his degree at the University of Arkansas, he joined Trailblazers as an intern and gained experience in a support role, teaching community classes, and leading volunteer workdays. After graduating, he stepped into a full-time role and now serves as Director of Soft Surface Development, overseeing trail projects from design to construction and ensuring high-quality trail experiences throughout the Northwest Arkansas region.

     Outside of work, he enjoys riding local trails with his dog, Millie, and experimenting with bike fabrication.

Summer Reighn

  • Summer Reighn was born in Arkansas and spent many years traveling across the country. In 2020, she returned to Northwest Arkansas to raise her daughter, finding a deep connection to the community. In 2021, Summer discovered her love for racing bikes through the Arkansas Enduro Series, which sparked a pathway into endurance sports and a passion for adventure racing. Now an avid adventure racer, she enjoys living in Bella Vista, where she frequently takes advantage of the local trail systems for both cycling and running. Summer is incredibly passionate about promoting a healthy, active outdoor lifestyle, filled with adventure, challenges, and a sense of community that thrives in Northwest Arkansas.

Becky Miller

  • Becky moved to Bella Vista from St. Louis, MO, in 2019 with her husband, bringing with her a wealth of experience and a passion for adventure. She holds a Bachelor of Business from Murray State University and a Master of Business from Webster University. With 20 years of expertise in accounting, project management, and financial planning, Becky has made a significant impact in her professional field. Joining Trailblazers was a natural fit for Becky, as it perfectly aligns her professional experience with her passion for supporting an organization that benefits the community.

    Outside of work, Becky enjoys biking, hiking, and immersing herself in nature, always seeking the next adventure. She loves spending quality time with her family and taking long walks with her dog (Jax), and in her downtime, you can find her traveling, exploring new places, or enjoying a good book.

Craig Homsley

  • Craig brings over 25 years of sales experience with leading Fortune 500 companies based in NWA. Originally from Little Rock, Craig has proudly called NWA home for the past 25 years and has built strong connections throughout the region.

    As Director of Real Estate, Craig specializes in land acquisition and works closely with local officials, as well as private landowners, to help guide responsible land use that benefits the biking community. His work plays a key role in shaping growth and development across the area. With several years of experience in real estate and a passion for smart, community-focused planning, Craig is driven by helping bring meaningful projects to life.

    He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and values collaboration, transparency, and community impact in every deal.

    When he’s off the clock, Craig enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, playing golf, and staying involved in the local car scene.

Roni Ramos

  • Roni is a Hot Springs, AR, native who made the move to the thriving Northwest Arkansas region in the fall of 2022. She was specifically drawn to participate in the accredited Bicycle Technician program at Northwest Arkansas Community College. While pursuing her technical degree, she became more directly involved in the cycling industry by working at a local bike shop and volunteering her time with cycling non-profits in the area.

    Most recently, Roni has worked in cycling education as a bicycle technician instructor, teaching students eager to wrench on bikes in the industry. She has also had the opportunity to develop cycling education curriculum for organizations such as IPMBA and NICA.

    Aside from riding and working on bikes, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and visiting new places. You can also find her at your local coffee spot, sipping on an oat milk cappuccino.

Aimee Ross

  • Aimee is a cycling industry leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing growth, advocacy, and inclusion in the sport. Throughout her career, she has held influential roles across business development, brand strategy, marketing, sales, and community engagement — driving innovation and expanding access to cycling at every level. Aimee’s leadership has shaped initiatives for organizations such as Runway Group, Visit Bentonville’s Bike Bentonville, and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), where she also created Women’s UPRISING, an all-women’s mountain bike summit dedicated to advocacy and education. She currently serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for Project Bike Tech, providing strategic counsel to strengthen youth engagement and workforce development in the cycling industry.

    Beyond her professional accomplishments, Aimee is passionate about creating spaces that inspire confidence, connection, and community through cycling. She helped shapeFemmes Gravel, a women’s cycling organization focused on empowering riders to explore and find joy in the sport within supportive and inclusive environments. When she’s not working to elevate cycling initiatives, she enjoys riding all types of bikes. Outside of riding, Aimee values spending time outdoors year-round, sharing adventures with her husband, Nat, and their two dogs, and finding renewal in moments with family and friends. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Public Health Education and Promotion and Recreation Management and Marketing from Central Michigan University.

Bavié Grafals

  • Bavié grew up in Miami, Florida, where she began studying music at age eight and started working in hospitality at sixteen. In her mid-twenties she discovered mountain biking, an experience that reshaped her life and introduced her to a community that felt both welcoming and transformative.

    She later began racing mountain bikes and traveled to Northwest Arkansas in 2022 to compete in the UCI Pro Cup in Fayetteville, where she quickly fell in love with the region’s trails and outdoor culture.

    During a return visit, she connected with someone from Specialized and was later offered a position at the Specialized Bentonville Experience Center, relocating from Miami to Bentonville within two weeks. Within a year, she stepped into the role of General Manager.

    Today, Bavié lives in Bella Vista and spends as much time as possible outside — trail running, riding bikes, climbing, floating rivers, gardening, bird watching, and cooking. In 2026 she launched Little Window, a small Cuban pastry project inspired by the bakery windows of her hometown and her love for bringing people together.

Kristen Card

  • Kristen was born into a military family and spent very early years moving around but primarily grew up in Wichita, Kansas. In 2022, she married the love of her life, Aaron, after being apart 28 years, and together they have 5 amazing children. She moved to Minneapolis and after surviving two Minnesota winters, moved to Pea Ridge, Arkansas in June 2024. 

    Kristen has a bachelor's degree in Business Administrations and has worn many hats-business owner, manager, bartender, customer service, problem solver, bookkeeper, event planner, and occasional therapist. She has learned success comes from equal parts hard work, adaptability and the ability to stay calm when everything seems to be happening at once.

    When she is not working, you'll find her spending time with her three very spoiled dogs-Boston Terriers Eddy and Sammy, and Snookie the Whoodle-enjoying live music, connecting with friends and family or dreaming up the next adventure. Kristen believes life is too short to take yourself too seriously, but important enough to give your best to the people and things that matter.

In-House Construction & Maintenance

Robbie Wells

  • Robbie currently resides in the vibrant Northwest Arkansas region. With an unwavering passion for the great outdoors, Robbie has dedicated the last 7 years to the professional construction and maintenance of trails, contributing significantly to the renowned OZ Trails network and developing and building a privately owned bike park. His expertise and commitment to excellence have earned him a pivotal role in the creation and development of many of your favorite trails in OZ.

     In addition to his civilian accomplishments, Robbie proudly serves his country as a member of the Army National Guard, where he is now in his 12th year of service, including two combat deployments. His dual roles as a trail builder and a serviceman underscore his dedication to both his community and his nation.

Brenna Bulin

  • Brenna grew up camping and fishing in Nebraska with her family. She studied Biology in Colorado and worked for a biological laboratory researching invasive plant species. That early experience fueled her commitment to land stewardship and sustainable trail maintenance. When she's not managing crews or mapping out the next project, you'll find her exploring the Ozarks-hiking rugged trails, mountain biking forest singletrack, or kayaking the local rivers. Her deep connection to nature and strong ecological background inform every aspect of her work, helping ensure the trails are safe and accessible to all who seek adventure. 

Thomas Houlihan

  • Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Tommy cut his teeth in building on some of the most renowned BMX trails in the world. He has been building trails since 2000. Transitioning to NWA in 2013, he was stoked to learn what the area had to offer in regards to the bike scene. "My mother always laughed when I said I was going to be a professional trail builder. I joined Trailblazers/Ethic in 2021 and this has been a career change for the ages. I am honored to be part of this organization. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to work with...hands down! “ When Tommy isn’t slinging dirt, you can find him spending time with his family, shredding the local trails, playing some hoops in the gym, or shooting a round of golf with the guys.

Blake Ogden

  • Blake Ogden is a Northwest Arkansas local and has been a long time in the trail building and maintenance field, finding passion and fulfillment crafting trails for people to ride in the woods. Blake is a dedicated father who thrives outside whether it’s cutting fresh trail, riding horses, or competing in various sports and activities 

    His passion is to build & sustain trails that stand up to heavy use, keeping NWA’s backyard a highlight for hikers, riders, and families.

Cole Mason

  • Cole got his start building mountain bike trails over 10 years ago, starting off building BMX jumps and then following the natural progression from there. His passion for bikes really stems from racing motocross as a kid, and he still enjoys riding BMX, MTB, and moto whenever he gets the chance.

David Hansen

  • David is a dedicated trail builder who combines a lifelong love of the outdoors with a deep commitment to service. Born in American Fork, Utah, he entered the Marine Corps at age 19 and spent the next 20 years serving his country before retiring. About five years ago, David discovered mountain biking and quickly fell in love with the sport. That passion led him to the Veterans Future Foundation, where he began volunteering as a trail builder. Seeing how trails can bring healing and connection to veterans inspired him to pursue trail building as a full-time profession. Outside of work, David enjoys exploring the outdoors and spending quality time with his wife.

Zach Saenz

  • Growing up in the four-state area with a family focused on the outdoors and two-wheel activities, Zach spent a lot of time at local motocross tracks and xc mtb events in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas while also taking an enjoyment in machine operation. In 2018 he moved his family to NWA to start a full-time career in trail building and has been fortunate enough to be a part of many builds in the OZ Trails network. Going on 10 years of trail maintenance and building, he is laser focused on bringing great experiences to all ages and skill levels. Zach is super passionate about being outdoors with his family and friends and you can always find him on a trail, kayak, or motorcycle.

Dustin Fairbanks

  • I was born in northwest Arkansas and grew up in Bella Vista. Spent much of that time exploring creeks fishing, hiking, and hunting the area. I have a wife and 2 kids and we still reside in Bella Vista. I was working at Compton Gardens in Bentonville when I heard about an opportunity to work on the trails I got to watch begin built around me and couldn't wait to be a part of it. Have been building trails for two years with a longer history operating heavy equipment and working in the outdoors.

Caleb Schoeppe

  • Caleb was born and raised in Rogers, AR spending most his life in the outdoors. Riding, climbing, kayaking, fishing...if it is outdoors, he is in. He takes this love and experience of the outdoors and utilizes these while on the trails working with Trailblazers. He currently lives in Lowell with his wife Sydney and his two kids, Monroe and Oxford, where they operate a wildflower farm. When he is not on the trails you can find him at his farm spending more time outside.

Daniel Smith

  • Originally from California, Daniel has always felt at home outdoors. As a kid, he was all about BMX. That early love for outside eventually led him to a career working in the wilderness, where he served as a Trail Crew Lead with the Los Padres Forest Association. There, Daniel gained valuable experience maintaining and building trails deep in California’s backcountry.

    After riding the downhill bike park in Mammoth Lakes, Daniel’s passion for bikes reignited—this time through mountain biking. Now, he’s thrilled to combine his love for trail work and riding as part of the Soft Surface Trailblazers team here in Northwest Arkansas.

    Daniel and his wife, Tayler, made the move to the Bentonville/Bella Vista area to be closer to her family, but he quickly fell in love with the region’s incredible outdoor access. From the endless bike trails to the close-knit trail community, Daniel is excited to help shape the trails that make Northwest Arkansas such a special place to ride and explore.

Teagun Wells

  • Born in Wyoming, but grew up in Northwest Arkansas, Teagun loves anything with wheels. He started digging backyard tracks with his buddies when he was 12 and got hooked on shredding bikes and playing in the dirt. Teagun started a business venture building backyard trails but eventually found his way to the Trailblazers group to keep crafting trails and having good times building for the community. 

David Greer

  • Greer lives in War Eagle with his wife Andrea and two daughters, Piper (2) and Quinn (6). He studied geology/geoscience and graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Greer has worked in geology, business management, and construction and is an avid outdoorsman and native Arkansan. Greer enjoys camping and outdoor sports and photography in his spare time and can be spotted riding around town on his beloved Santa Cruz mountain bike, riding rock tech, and single track.

Graham Burrow

  • Born and raised in Northwest Arkansas, Graham is excited about what the local trail system has to offer. As an avid mountain biker with experience in construction and the ski industry in Colorado, Graham is passionate about making Northwest Arkansas a top cycling destination. 

Jacob Smith

  • Jacob has lived in NWA for 5 years now. He recently graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Soil, and Water Science where he gained experience in wetland studies and soil identification. Jacob loves spending time outdoors hiking, riding bikes and adventuring with his dog.

Doug Criswell

  • Doug was born in Warsaw, Indiana, but spent most of his life in Texas. He and his wife made the move to Northwest Arkansas and quickly found a home in its incredible trail systems and outdoor lifestyle. In his 20's and 30's, he raced flat track and Enduro on motorcycles, chasing speed and competition. About nine years ago, his buddy Josh, introduced him to mountain biking. It completely reshaped his health and connection to the trails. In Doug's free time, he loves shredding and hiking the trails with his wife Blythe, and son, Seth. Driven by a shared passion for the outdoors, adventure, and community that surrounds it. He has lived here almost 4 years now, and can't imagine living anywhere else. Doug is super stoked and blessed to get the opportunity to be a part of Trailblazers.

Dawson Fryar

  • Shortly after moving to NWA in the fall of 2024, Dawson fell in love with all things biking. He began digging at the local dirt jumps a few months later, sparking his interest in trail building.  If he's not building, you can find him at the dirt jumps, skatepark, or doing anything outside. Dawson is stoked on what this area has to offer and can't wait to see what the future holds!