Summit Speakers

The Gateway Outdoor Summit brings together diverse voices that are actively shaping the future of outdoor recreation. Through honest conversation and shared vision, our speakers challenge assumptions, spark new ideas, and inspire meaningful action that extends beyond the Summit itself.

Our 2026 speakers include:

Kristina Anderson

Kristina Anderson is the Recreation Supervisor for Downtown Parks at the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, where she leads a team responsible for daily programming, events, and park activation across eight downtown and Mississippi River/regional parks: The Commons, Water Works at Mill Ruins, North Loop Park, Graco Park, Nicollet Island Pavilion, Boom Island, James I. Rice Park, and Gateway Plaza. She joined the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board in 2022 and has been integral in launching the Downtown Parks team, established to bring vibrancy to existing downtown parks and activate newly developed parks. Prior to this role, Kristina spent 15 years with the University of Minnesota Athletics Department as a Director of Operations and Coach.

Melanie Borger

Melanie Borger serves as the Senior Director of Athletics at the RIVERSPORT Foundation in downtown Oklahoma City, where she works with coaches, colleagues, volunteers, and families to expand access to outdoor recreation and Olympic watersports. She believes every child is an athlete — they just haven’t found the right sport yet. This philosophy guides her leadership of Thrive Outside OKC, an inclusive network of community partners dedicated to connecting youth with the outdoors. Over the past 19 years, Melanie has held a variety of leadership roles at RIVERSPORT, helping transform the organization from a small nonprofit offering a single activity on the Oklahoma River into a nationally recognized destination for outdoor recreation and Olympic sports. Through more than $200 million in public and private investment, RIVERSPORT now offers year-round adventure experiences across central Oklahoma and will host canoe slalom during the 2028 Olympic Games. Melanie is passionate about developing athletes, mentoring coaches, and creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to experience the lifelong benefits of sport and the outdoors. She and her partner, Jimmy, have four sons, two dogs, and a tortoise, and enjoy spending time together on the water.

Dan Burkhardt

Dan Burkhardt grew up on a farm and currently owns a farm near the Missouri River west of St. Louis. He is a lifelong conservationist. With his wife, Connie, he was recently awarded the Master Conservationist award from the Missouri Department of Conservation. He has also been involved in a variety of projects in the Santa Monica Mountains of California and the Florida Everglades and is a trustee of the Missouri Botanical Garden. He is the President of Magnificent Missouri, a not-for-profit he formed with the late John McPheeters in 2012 to advocate for Missouri’s landscape along the Katy and Rock Island Trails. He has published several books including “Trails Across Missouri: The Katy and Rock Island,” created television documentaries about Missouri’s trails with the Nine Network in St. Louis, planted trees and prairies, created public art, and restored two historic buildings along the Katy Trail. He believes that where trails are built, hope follows — bringing social, economic, and cultural benefits to the areas they traverse.

Aubrey Byron

Aubrey Byron is a writer and lifelong cyclist from St Louis. She is an organizer for the St. Louis Coalition to Protect Cyclists and Pedestrians (CP2) and is fiercely dedicated to creating a more walkable, bikeable, and enjoyable outdoor landscape for her young son.

Arielle Claypool

Arielle Claypool is the Assistant Director, Communications and Marketing for Gateway Arch Park Foundation. Since joining the organization in 2023, she has used strategic storytelling to maintain the Foundation’s reputation, support fundraising efforts, and raise awareness of the Foundation’s initiatives in and around Gateway Arch National Park. Of note, she led the planning around the reopening of the Old Courthouse in 2025 and managed the public announcements of the acquisition of the former Millennium Hotel site and progress on the potential expansion of Gateway Arch National Park into East St. Louis. She is a national park enthusiast who enjoys camping, hiking, and experiencing the sights and sounds of our public lands. 

Dr. Evan Coulson

Dr. Evan Coulson is an outdoor education and youth development professional with more than 25 years of experience in program design, land management, and higher education. Based in Southern Illinois, his work focuses on place-based youth development, conservation workforce pathways, and outdoor recreation as essential infrastructure for resilient communities.

Dr. Katie Dudley

Dr. Katie Dudley’s expertise lies at the intersection of local community engagement, economic development, and responsible tourism systems. She has more than two decades of combined hands-on and academic experience in sustainable tourism planning, outdoor recreation, and community development. Raised in Carrollton, Illinois, she helps communities use local identity, public lands, schools, and career pathways to build stronger regional economies that serve residents first and welcome visitors second.

Daniel Engler

Daniel Engler is the Planning Section Chief for Missouri State Parks. He grew up in Farmington and has spent his life in Missouri, having lived in the Jefferson City area for about 15 years. Daniel has been with the State of Missouri for over a decade, working for the Office of Administration, Department of Economic Development, and the Department of Natural Resources. In his professional life, he works with parks and historic sites across Missouri, planning for future development and helping State Parks in various long-range and strategic planning capacities. He is a husband and father with a deep love for natural environments, the creative arts, and philosophy. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.

Ryan Hanlon

Ryan Hanlon is the founder and owner of Route 3 Films, a St. Louis-based video production company specializing in cinematic storytelling for nonprofits, educational institutions, and small businesses across the Midwest. With nearly 20 years of experience, he has built a reputation for creating authentic, compelling films that connect audiences with meaningful missions and real people. Beyond filmmaking, Ryan is a dedicated community leader and conservation advocate. He serves on the Board of Directors for Friends of Carondelet Park, sponsors the South City Otters mountain bike team, and spearheaded the community effort to design and build Federer’s Folly, the only hiking and mountain biking trail within the City of St. Louis. He also volunteers as a trail builder, crew leader, consultant, and donor for the Ozark Trail Association, while supporting numerous local nonprofits through his time, creative expertise, and philanthropy. Ryan lives and works in the St. Louis area, where he continues to lead Route 3 Films and help organizations tell stories that inspire action. Away from work, he enjoys campaigning vintage race cars with his son and father at drag strips throughout the region.

Ricky Hughes

Ricky Hughes is the founder of STL Run Crew and a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Certified Run Coach dedicated to growing a more inclusive, connected, and vibrant running community throughout the St. Louis region. He believes movement is more than a sport, it’s a powerful tool for building relationships, improving health, and strengthening neighborhoods. With a background in community engagement and project management, Ricky has led the planning and execution of large-scale initiatives, community runs, wellness initiatives, and collaborative events that bring together runners, local organizations, and civic partners. His work focuses on creating meaningful experiences that remove barriers to participation and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to embrace movement. Through intentional leadership, strategic partnerships, and a passion for service, Ricky continues to use running as a catalyst for connection, belonging, health, and lasting community impact.

Dr. Brooke Jacobs

Dr. Brooke Jacobs is a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Delve Health Consulting, where she helps organizations translate evidence-based wellness and mental health strategies into practical systems change. Raised on a Southern Illinois farm, she specializes in practitioner wellness, trauma-informed workplaces, and nature-based approaches that strengthen resilience across public-facing sectors.

Cory Jobe

Cory Jobe spent over 20 years in Illinois state government and is the former Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism. He is currently President and CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau of Southwest Illinois, which includes Madison, Jersey, Macoupin, Montgomery, Calhoun and Greene Counties and the City of East St. Louis in St. Clair County.

Tony Mellinger 

Tony Mellinger is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Aspen Creative Co., an adventure creative marketing agency based in St. Louis specializing in branding, video production, and digital strategy for outdoor and adventure brands. Since founding the agency in 2017, Tony has built long-term partnerships with companies and organizations, helping them grow their communities through authentic visual storytelling. His approach goes beyond content creation. He lives and breathes adventure culture – covering off-road events, producing cinematic brand films, and developing digital strategies that connect brands with the audiences who live for the outdoors. When he’s not behind the camera, you’ll find him on the trails on two wheels or navigating back roads in his Jeep. Tony believes great adventure brands don’t just sell products; they invite people into a story worth telling.

Brannon Pack

Brannon Pack is a tourism and destination marketing professional with more than a decade of experience leading initiatives that drive visitation, enhance quality of life, and strengthen community engagement in Arkansas. He currently serves as Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Experience Fayetteville, where he oversees destination branding, marketing, public relations, communications, and stakeholder engagement efforts. Prior to this role, Brannon served as Senior Director of Operations for the Ozark Foundation, leading the development, marketing, and production of nationally recognized outdoor recreation events that generated tourism across Arkansas. He previously spent four years with Experience Fayetteville as Director of Cycling Tourism, where he helped position Fayetteville as a premier cycling destination, served on the organizing committee for the 2022 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, and contributed to the city earning international recognition as a UCI Bike City. Earlier in his career, Brannon served as Executive Director of the Ozark Off Road Cyclists, helping secure millions of dollars in community investment for outdoor recreation infrastructure across Northwest Arkansas. Throughout his career, he has combined expertise in tourism development, marketing, project management, and community partnerships to create lasting economic and community impact.

Mark Perkins

Mark Perkins is a seasoned public servant and visionary leader with more than 35 years of experience in city management, regional collaboration, and civic innovation. Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Great Rivers Greenway in August 2025, Mark leads the agency’s mission to connect communities across the St. Louis region through a vibrant network of greenways that enhance quality of life and drive economic vitality. Before joining GRG, Mark served as City Administrator for Creve Coeur, Missouri, overseeing a $31 million budget and 120 full-time staff. Beyond his professional credentials and regional board service to Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District and 39 North AgTech District, Mark brings a lifelong personal passion for greenways. Raised in a Kansas City neighborhood with a trail system and later living near a multi-community greenway in Chicago, he understands how greenways foster connection, enhance quality of life, and contribute to economic vitality. At GRG, he is guiding the agency through its fifth strategic plan update, the completion of the Brickline Greenway, and a pivotal tax levy renewal by 2033. You can find him playing tennis, riding a bike, or enjoying live local music with his partner Danielle.

Anthony Reed

Anthony Reed, CPA, PMP, is an award-winning author, filmmaker, entrepreneur, coach, and former Fortune 500 technology executive whose career spans business, athletics, and leadership. A native of St. Louis and graduate of John Burroughs School, he is one of only eight recipients of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition Hero Award. As a pioneering distance runner, Tony has completed more than 130 marathons, including races in all 50 states and on all seven continents. He co-founded the National Black Marathoners Association, the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to African American runners, helping spark a nationwide movement that expanded participation and representation in the sport. His contributions have earned induction into the RRCA National Distance Running Hall of Fame, the National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame, and the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame. Tony is also a prolific storyteller, authoring six books and directing award-winning documentaries recognized internationally. His work and achievements have been featured by ESPN, Runner’s World, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and numerous other publications. Drawing from a lifetime of leadership, innovation, and perseverance, Tony inspires audiences to challenge limits, embrace change, and create lasting impact.

Michael Sertle

Michael Sertle grew up in the Driftless Area of northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin, where a lifelong connection to the Mississippi River and its surrounding landscapes inspired his career in conservation. After earning a B.S. in Zoology from Western Illinois University and an M.S. in Wetland Ecology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, he worked with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, conducting field research on endangered species, waterfowl migration, and carbon sequestration across the northern Great Plains. In 2007, Mike joined Ducks Unlimited, serving as both a biologist and conservation program manager. In those roles, he led strategic planning, partnership development, and habitat restoration efforts throughout the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River regions. His expertise includes natural infrastructure solutions for flooding and water quality challenges, as well as bottomland hardwood reforestation to restore biodiversity and capture atmospheric carbon. Mike joined American Rivers in September 2024, where he applies his extensive experience in river and floodplain conservation to advance the organization’s mission. He lives in the St. Louis area with his wife, Ashley, and their two sons, River and Rowan.

Kyle Spradley

Kyle Spradley is a landscape and nature photographer who also specializes in sports, photojournalism, commercial photography and videography, drone imagery, and video production. Based out of Ellisville, Missouri, he works with nonprofits and small businesses across the country to help tell their story and elevate their brands. As an avid outdoorsman, he loves to fish with his wife and two daughters, float Missouri streams, camp, backpack, and be an advocate for treasured landscapes and public lands. After a decade out west in Wyoming, he returned in 2024 to his hometown St. Louis area with a diverse career in newspapers, magazines, higher education, public relations, and marketing. A Mizzou graduate with a degree in Agricultural Journalism, he is an active member of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Trout Unlimited, Missouri Outdoor Communicators, Wyoming Wilderness Association, Missouri Smallmouth Alliance, and National Park Foundation.

Dave Tobey

Dave Tobey’s connection to the Current River began in the late 1950s when his family started camping at Round Spring. In 1960, they purchased cabins in Courthouse Hollow, where Dave spent his youth exploring the river by johnboat, riding horseback, hiking, and learning from the local residents who shaped his love for the Ozarks. Although life eventually took him elsewhere, Dave always considered Round Spring home. He earned his first “Flat Hat” as an Interpretive Ranger at Alley Spring in 1982 before embarking on a 26-year career in education. After retiring in 2008, he returned to the National Park Service, serving at Alley Spring and Round Spring before working with Big Cypress National Preserve and the U.S. Forest Service in Washington. In 2016, Dave fulfilled a lifelong dream by returning to Round Spring as District Interpretive Supervisor, where he championed river safety, environmental education, trail stewardship, and community engagement. After retiring from the National Park Service in 2019, he helped organize the Ozark Riverways Foundation and continues sharing his passion for the natural and cultural heritage of the Current River through volunteer work and seasonal ranger positions.

Mona Vespa

Mona Vespa serves as the President of GO! St. Louis, where she brings over 20 years of experience designing and executing major endurance events and community fitness initiatives. She joined GO! St. Louis as its first intern and advanced through key operational roles before becoming President in 2016. Mona leads all aspects of the organization’s events, including the Greater St. Louis Marathon, overseeing large-scale logistics, course design and certification, volunteer and partner coordination, and cross-agency collaboration. Under her leadership, the event portfolio has expanded and adapted to complex operational challenges. Recognized for her collaborative, solution-driven leadership, Vespa builds strong civic, business, and neighborhood partnerships to elevate the regional running experience. 

Charlene Waggoner

Charlene Waggoner is president of Greenway Network, facilitator of the GN Team Leader Academy, and facilitator for the Missouri Paddling Coalition. She has served as the race director for the Race for the Rivers since its inception in 2007.

Brian Waldrop

Brian Waldrop’s connection to Missouri’s rivers began in childhood, exploring the woods and streams along the Meramec River near Flamm City, where he was born and raised. Guided by his grandparents’ deep respect for the land, he developed a lifelong passion for protecting the region’s natural resources. Following the Great Flood of 1993, Brian volunteered in river cleanups, long before discovering the Missouri Stream Team Program. After joining Stream Team, he quickly recognized its impact and became deeply involved, serving as co-chair of The Mighty 211 Stream Team and earning Level 3 Water Quality certification. His commitment to aquatic conservation extends into his academic work. Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Missouri and has pursued graduate studies in Aquatic Entomology through the University of Guyana. For more than 10 years, Brian has served as the Stream Team Assistant for the St. Louis region, working alongside Missouri Department of Conservation staff and an inspiring network of volunteers. Drawing on those experiences, he is dedicated to strengthening the Stream Team Program, supporting volunteer leaders, and fostering healthy rivers and streams for future generations.

Matt Wyczalkowski

Matt Wyczalkowski is a bicycle advocate and co-founder of the St. Louis Coalition to Protect Cyclists and Pedestrians (CP2). He has been a daily bicycle commuter for 20 years, and in that time has championed improved bike and pedestrian infrastructure throughout St. Louis, including along Tower Grove Avenue and Gravois Avenue. Matt is an avid kayaker and an assistant research professor at the Washington University School of Medicine.