Austin Runners Club Board Members

President

Angelica Kelley

The job: The President leads, manages, motivates and supports the Board of Directors and the ARC, represents the ARC to the general public, establishes annual goals and policies and procedures, and presides at all meetings.

The person: Angelica first started running when she was 15. Initially, it was just to tag along with her big sister, who had started running over the summer. But it quickly became an irresistible life long hobby, especially after discovering the beautiful trails of Town Lake. Daydreaming on the trail was almost immediate. Then one day at work, she was asked to fill in for an injured co-worker on a relay team. That experience uncovered the fun, social aspect of running. At first it appeared that the race crowd was a bit more serious than her daydream-while-you-run mentality. But she soon realized how friendly and easy going everyone was at the race and in the Austin running community in general, regardless of level. It was very inviting! Today, after many races, she is training for her ninth marathon. She really enjoys the challenge of the marathons, but favors the half marathon. She has been a member of ARC since 2001, has co-led club runs and volunteered in various events. Her favorite part about being an ARC member is meeting all the great people along the way.

Contact: president@austinrunners.org
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Vice President

Leilani Perry

The job: The Vice President serves in the absence of the President, plans the monthly programs for the general meetings, assists in public relations efforts, and recruits race directors for ARC events.

The person: Leaving college in 1985, Leilani found her way to Washington DC, were she worked on Capitol Hill for a California Congressman and in the media department of an international environmental non-profit. International environmental work kept her in Washington & Europe for 5 more years, before landing her in Texas, where she owned her own retail business for 15 years.

Leilani has served as a Coordinator for the Austin Livestrong Challenge in 2005, a committee member and coordinator for the Danskin Triathlon for 2 years and has been Race Director for the Colon Cancer Coaltions 'Get Your Rear in Gear 5K' for 3 years. Most recently she has been a coordinator for the Real Ale Ride in Austin - a 2,000 person multi-distance bike ride that will be a Red Licorice Events produced event in 2009. Leilani is also Race Director for the successful womens only triathlon series - the Rogue Womens Tri and the Sweet & Twisted Tri in Austin, Texas.

Leilani works for Rogue Training Systems in marketing and event planning, as well as a run & triathlon coach. Leilani loves red licorice. The twisty, sweet, fat free kind you get in the blue & white striped box. She particularly loves it stale! Leilani's love of licorice was the inspiration for Red Licorice Events & it's off-beat, approachable, quality, iconic athletic events. Leilani is a USAT Certified Race Director. She has a hunky, handsome husband, Ron, and 5 woofderful dogs.

Contact: vicepresident@austinrunners.org
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Secretary

Melissa Keller

The job: The Secretary is responsible for keeping records and minutes of all meetings, makes announcements of upcoming meetings and activities, and maintains internal and external correspondence.

The person: Melissa is originally from the San Antonio area and moved to Austin in 2004 after graduating college in Corpus Christi. She started running in 2006 and has completed numerous 5 & 10Ks around Central Texas. She has started working on longer distances, completing one half marathon and her first full marathon at this year's inaugural San Antonio Rock N Roll Marathon.

Melissa has always been a fan of the outdoors and enjoys the weather in Austin that allows her to run year-round. When she's not running at Brushy Creek or at Lady Bird Lake, Melissa enjoys live music, cheering on the Houston Astros, volunteering, and shopping.

Contact: secretary@austinrunners.org
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Treasurer

Ed Childress

The job: The Treasurer is responsible for keeping all monies of the ARC, records of income and expenses, collection of income and payment of receipted expenses. The Treasurer helps prepare and administer the annual budget, and makes periodic reports of the club's financial status.

The person: Ed Childress grew up in Flint Michigan, and has been running for as long as he can remember. He has been in Austin since 1998, and resumed serious running in 2001. He has since trained with Austin Fit, Rogue Training Systems, and Round Rock Fit (serving 2 years as an assistant coach - yellows). He has competed in many road and trail races, with personal favorites being the Rogue Trail Series, the "Double" Decker, Disney's Goofy Challenge and the Boston Marathon.

Contact: treasurer@austinrunners.org
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Director of Member Services

Erica Manger, D.C.

The job: The Director of Member Services is responsible for development of member benefits, recruitment of new members and development of regular club or group runs.

The person: Erica, from the good ole' city of New Orleans, is new to the Austin Area, joining her Fiance' in their practice of Chiropractic. Erica's passion for running started in Middle School with a Fun Run here and there. She joined her High School track team as an 800m and 400m runner. Jr. and Sr. year came and Erica won 1st in the 800m and 400m District meets, along with Second in Regionals. She was chosen to compete in England as a member of the USA Track & Field Club with the World Exchange Team. She was then offered a full ride athletic scholarship to the University of New Orleans. She competed for UNO for 3 years and then decided to attend Chiropractic School.

As a Chiropractor, she has treated runners and athletes of all sorts. Dr. Manger also treats her patients with Acupuncture and she had coached AAU Track for 2 years in New Orleans. She enjoys running shorter distances, calisthenics, drills and other speed training 5-6 days a week. You may see her in a road race here or there and being involved in the running community. Health, running, and wellness are her passions!!

Contact: membership@austinrunners.org
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Director of Volunteer Services

Megan Baker

The job: The Director of Volunteer Services is responsible for recruitment of volunteers for club events, coordination of club social activities.

The person: Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Megan has been running since the 4th grade. She ran the 50 and 100 meter in an elementary school track meet and placed first in both. From that moment on, she has been hooked on running. Her running career continued through high school where she helped establish her high school's first officially recognized female cross country team. 

After moving to Austin, Megan decided to fulfill a lifelong goal of completing a marathon. After finishing her first, she knew she could improve and now has 6 marathons under her belt including the Disney, Boston, Chicago, and (of course) Austin. Megan plans to continue running marathons for as long as her body allows her to, but has also started dabbling in triathlons with the idea that maybe someday she will complete an Ironman triathlon.  

You can usually find Megan on Town Lake with her favorite running partner, Rudy. Rudy is her scarf wearing, runner dog who can't stand when his mama leaves for a run without him!

Contact: volunteer@austinrunners.org
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Director of Information Services

Jim Greene

The job: The Director of Information Services is responsible for the maintenance of the membership database, the design of the Club Website, and other club promotional information in either printed or electronic form.

The person: Jim took up running when his once-reliable pool of racquetball partners dried up, and he needed something to keep fit. He did pure recreational running in the neighborhood, and entered a Thanksgiving Day 5 Mile race with the encouragement of a friend that was training for the Houston Marathon. He then paced that friend for the last 5 miles of the marathon and decided he had to try one himself. He's since completed three, and enjoys racing a lot more.

Jim came to Austin in 2004 and really got hooked on running in this great city. He joined ARC after experiencing his first Decker and has since participated in several Distance Challenges, trail races and other running adventures. He has enjoyed participating in several of the ARC race support volunteer efforts and had been a staple at the Wednesday night North group run. Jim will admit that he joined ARC for the race and gear discounts (which are cool), but that the people and spirit of the ARC are what keeps him an active member.

Contact: information@austinrunners.org
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