Staff & Board
We are a small team of talented professionals with a wide range of skills and experience. We love what we do, and we do it with passion. We look forward to working with you.
Founders — Eric Anderson & Angela Santini
Over the last 25+ years, Eric has established national stature as the founder, operator and master groomer of ABR Ski Trails. Eric and Angela are the face and the heart of ABR to all who come here to enjoy the quality of the skiing and the personal warmth of the community they have built.
After completing his mechanical engineering degree at Michigan Tech, Eric spent over 10 years in the automotive industry. After living in Europe 4 years, Eric returned to the 80 acres where he grew up and began the creation of ABR, first working in partnership with his dad, then with his wife Angela Santini.
Both Eric and Angela’s families have been proud residents of the Gogebic Range for generations and their big-heartedness will create a legacy of active, fun lifestyles for generations to come.
Executive Director — Jay Sween
Jay joins the Anderson Bluff and River Trails Foundation as an avid and passionate skier of 25 years with a love of ABR, especially the classic-only tracks.
His introduction to skiing began in his late 20’s when his brother, Christian, bought him an old neon adorned pair of Atomic Arc skate skis for his birthday. That first ski was 3 kilometers and a complete struggle. However, it was the beginning of a journey that led to coaching the sport for over 20 years in both Wausau and Madison as well as the completion of countless marathon ski races, including 16 American Birkebeiners as well as three other Worldloppet races, the Konig Ludwig Lauf in Germany, the Transjurassienne in France, and the Gatineau in Canada. Jay aspires to complete at least 10 world loppet races to join the Worldloppet Masters club.
Jay received a Comprehensive Economics and Business degree from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire and spent a career in various management positions, mostly in the trucking/logistics industry. He recently retired from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation where he served as Section Chief responsible for registration of interstate trucking and fuel tax as well as several years leading the Compliance and Accounting section.
President — Will Andresen
Will was captain of NMU’s 1983 national championship ski team, and skied ABR when it first opened in 1995. Today, Will is living in his home on the ABR trails, skiing every day the trails are open. Both of Will and Marianne’s kids have returned to Ironwood to join the growing group of young professionals seeking active northern lifestyles, so 4 grandkids are also a daily part of their lives.
After degrees in Biophysical Systems and Geography, Will spent 35 years in professional pursuit of his other passion, community and economic development, creating the systems and relationships necessary to effect change. He embraced the challenges of collaboration among diverse groups through field work and leadership roles, including the University of Wisconsin Community Development Institute, the Gogebic Range Health Foundation, Copper Peak Foundation, and the Iron Belle Trail.
Vice president — Randy Ahnen
Randy grew up in the Gogebic Range as the grandchild of Croatian immigrants who worked the mines. After graduating from Michigan Tech with degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Biology, Randy joined Honeywell, then Medtronic in Minneapolis, but always wanted to return home. For over 25 years now, he has led new project development for Ironwood Plastics. He serves as VP of Wolverine Nordic Ski Trails and volunteers with the Friends of the Iron Belle Trail and is humbled by the difference committed volunteers can make.
As natives of the area, both Randy and his wife Mary raised their 4 daughters to share their love of active outdoor lives. Randy’s friendship with Eric Anderson goes back to Michigan Tech where they studied together and were both competitive power lifters. Randy welcomes the opportunity to help sustain the legacy of ABR as a gem of the broader community.
Treasurer— Missi King
For over 20 years, Missi and her husband Leighton searched for a place where they could enjoy the combination of both privacy and community while enjoying their huskies and skiing. When they visited ABR in Feb 2019, they knew they had found that place. The slower place of life here prompted them to make Erwin Township their full-time home on 90 acres adjoining ABR trails.
After completing her degree in Mathematical Science, she worked a wide range of corporate positions, including statistician, materials management, R&D engineer, quality engineer, and outside sales. She has travelled extensively domestically and internationally, but is glad to leave that behind and settle into the local community. Self-sufficiency is a fundamental drive, as evidenced by her solo backpacking trip around the world when she was in her 30s! When not skiing she enjoys learning more about the regional flora/fauna/fungi & is a Michigan Certified Wild-foraged Mushroom Expert.
Serving on the Foundation Board is just one of the ways they contribute to the community.
Marketing Director — Emily Burchell Fitting
Emily grew up in Ironwood as her parents own and operate the Classic Motor Inn and each of them has served as Ironwood’s mayor. In addition, her husband Eric follows his dad as owner and operator of an Ironwood bike and ski shop, the Hobby Wheel. Emily received a degree in fine art from the University of Minnesota, before completing a Master’s program at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Soon after, she immersed herself in efforts of the Denver Public Schools to provide access to the trades for at-risk kids. She then lived and worked in a resort marketing firm in Summit County, Colorado.
After returning to the area, she expressed her love for outdoor sports by working for WinMan trails. She currently works as an independent graphic and web designer, and is especially proud of her work with Regis University as they develop the largest on-line learning system in the country. Eric Anderson and Emily’s dad grew up together and lived in Ann Arbor when Emily was an infant, so Eric has been like an uncle to her.
Director — Clay Diggins
Clay grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Professionally, Clay joined a fledgling Slumberland furniture in 1983. In his later years as Vice President of Stores and Operations, Clay initiated and supported the relationship with the American Birkebeiner Foundation that resulted in Slumberland’s title sponsorship of the Birkie, now in its ninth year.
Clay’s two daughters, Jessie and Mackenzie, were born into a family that values quality time outdoors. Jessie’s passion for skiing motivated her to take it to the highest levels. Some of the pictures Jessie shares of her early years developing a love for skiing were taken on the trails at ABR. The family has been enjoying ABR for decades.When Clay learned about the vision to maintain the legacy of ABR by putting the land and business into a nonprofit foundation, he was truly awed. Clay is honored to lend his experience, skills, and energy towards helping the new foundation reach its potential.
Director — Greg Greene
Greg grew up in Oshkosh and with his wife Lori raised their daughter Rachel. His career started with 9 years in sales and management at a multi store family furniture business. Then 27 years with a Wisconsin-based plastic manufacturing company as VP of sales and as an investor. Greg retired in 2015 and spends most winter days in paradise at ABR! Greg’s wife Lori is not only the best thing to happen to him, but her family connection to the Ironwood area made spending more time there possible. Lori’s grandparents (Bugni), immigrated from Italy and raised her father plus seven other siblings in Montreal Wisconsin. There he developed a thriving logging business, buying up land throughout the area for its timber including property on Pike Lake in Mercer where Greg and Lori now have a home.
What started as a dare between friends at a 1981 New Years Eve party, skiing the American Birkebeiner that year evolved into a driving passion for the sport. Greg will ski his 40th Birkie this February with the same joy and excitement he felt back in 1981. Even with most years living in ski challenged Oshkosh and working 50 hour weeks, Greg managed to not only place in the top 50 skiers of the Birkie but qualify for the Elite Wave for 26 years straight. Over the years, participation in many other ski marathons, including Sweden’s 90k Vasaloppet, has provided plenty of challenges and rewards. His love for paddling and racing ocean surfskis including the Molokai crossing, a 32 mile World Championship ocean race from Molokai to Oahu over the “CHANNEL OF BONES” is considered one of Greg’s greatest accomplishments. As an older athlete, Greg now is more interested in helping others experience joy on skis or on the water paddling than he does in his own competitive pursuits.
Director — Kristi Reitz
Kristi grew up just outside of Duluth, MN, which fostered her love for cold weather, snow, and all things winter. Kristi and her husband, John, embarked on their inaugural visit to ABR in 2018, rented a ski-in cabin on the trail and were instantly hooked on ABR magic and rustic cabin life. Now, they make multiple trips per year to unwind in the rustic cabin life for long weekends, enjoy the pristine trails, and explore all of the small business joy and outdoor adventure that the Ironwood community has to offer.
Kristi and John own Better Life Chiropractic and Wellness in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Kristi earned her PhD in instructional design for online learning, her master’s degree in educational technology, and her undergraduate degree in elementary education. She spent the first 15 years of her career in the education field with the bulk in higher education. Her focus today surrounds patient education within the chiropractic office. She also volunteers with the Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin, running their social media and marketing. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, camping, backpacking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, fat tire biking, reading, yoga, and paddle boarding on Lake Michigan. Kristi is honored to contribute to ABR’s ongoing legacy and guide others in their exploration of rustic cabin life.
Director — Sue Schroeder, Ph.D
Sue is a retired academic with a passion for outdoor adventures. Her academic background includes an MBA with a focus on marketing, and a MS and PhD emphasizing the human dimensions of natural resource management. Professionally, she worked in communications and development in the nonprofit world for several years, then spent 20 years doing social psychological survey research related to natural resource management at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
Sue enjoys a multitude of outdoor activities including rock climbing, mountaineering, cycling, kayaking, and cross-country and telemark skiing. In what seems like a previous life, she was a division one track and cross-country runner and marathoner, and continues to feed her competitive streak through gravel cycling and cross-country ski races—but adventure in beautiful places is her main focus. She has traveled widely to engage in her passions, including recent trips to ski in Norway, cycle across Bhutan, and climb in the Italian Dolomites. She and her husband Jim had been traveling to the UP to ski for 30 years, so they retired early and bought a second home in Ironwood several years ago. They love the unpretentious, hardworking, and friendly Yoopers who aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty to get things done in the community. Sue and Jim participate in a variety of volunteer activities including grooming at Miner’s Park and Wolverine. Sue looks forward to seeing how ABR evolves and grows as part of the greater Ironwood area community.
Donate Today
Supporting the Anderson Bluff River Trails Foundation helps ensure a lasting legacy for Nordic skiing in the Ironwood area for generations to come. We’re so excited to continue building toward our goal of connecting all Gogebic Range communities via world-class Nordic ski trails.
