flmasters-mirror: Board Member Bios

Friday, January 15, 2010

Board Member Bios

5:02 AM | Posted by Plochman | | Edit Post

Dave Viney, President Florida Masters Cycling for 2010, born Dec. 8, 1950. Canadian citizen, divorced. Lives in Montverde, Fl in winter and Orillia, Ontario in summer. Retired, was high school teacher, then in retail sales (bikes and skis) and then built and ran x-c ski and mtn. bike resort for 25 yrs. Cat 2 Domestic License in Florida and Raced 50+ in UCI events and this season 60+4 x Canadian Champion- 3x in Time trial and 1x in Road Race, plus couple of silvers in Road Race. 5x North American Masters Champion 50+ age group, in 2008 won 44 races and in 2009 won 38 races. Best Race in 2009 Florida State TT 40km 50:46. Recently Dave won the 2010 60-64 world championship at the Huntsman World Senior Games Championships setting a new 40K TT record and an all time best for the 5K hill climb event.

Steve Agronick, Vice President of Florida Masters, started athletics at a very young age, at 12 years old he was on the YMCA track team in Prov.RI and had many victories as a sprinter and part of a 4 x 100 relay team , for years his was the track team to beat . He moved to upstae New York as a teen and took up dirt bikes and x-country skiing. By age 20 he was the district 34 NY MX champion in both 125cc and 250cc. He went on to become a full factory rider for Bultaco motorcycles and spent time in Barcelona Spain on the development team. It was in Spain where he found one of his true loves - bicycles. Most of his early years were spent on bicycles training in and around Barcelona. He came back to the US and rode for a great many years in the New England area and went on to a great many victories in the Pro ranks. He was a very competive x-country skier and won a great many regional championships, all the while still racing bicycles. At that time in his life he discoverd mountain bikes. It was in this venue that he had the most success. He went on to many championships in and around New England . In the Masters ranks he has been an age group National champion and got a podium at the 2000 Masters world championships. Steve had the honor of being on the USA Masters Mountain Bike Team in both 2000 & 2002 proudly wearing the stars and stripes jersey representing the USA twice at the world championships. He was the oldest member of the SoBe Cannondle Pro team for (3) years in a row. In 2003 he moved to Florida where he went to work for American Classic as the National sales Manager - Steve describes it as one of the greatest experiences of his working life. He moved to the Villages Florida two years later. He has continued to race off road and in 2003 came in second in the masters division and again second in 2005. His bicycling love is now ITT "it's so much like mountain bike racing in that ready set go, red Line." "I am now a member of the Florida Masters Cycling team and have embraced Bicyle racing again with the new age formats that I feel FMC helped bring to the 2010 schdule. One of my favorite saying is Masters racers are not second class citizens. As i work full time still I am time challenged and only can manage 10 to 12 hours a week training time, I wish I could do more but it is what it is."

Dan O'Hara, Florida Masters Treasurer, Recently retired (Dec. 2009), had a distinguished record of accomplishment in the fields of professional sales and management services, training and development and human resources. He had extensive experience in the development and implementation of executive assessment, coaching, professional development, and succession-planning and management strategies. Dan's last work assignment was with National HVAC Service, Ltd., as Senior Vice President. National HVAC Service, Ltd. is a family of companies based in Wexford, PA providing heating, air conditioning and mechanical services, primarily in the commercial, industrial and institutional market sectors. There are eight company locations in the northeast and mid-south.

Previously, Dan was President of Bizet Human Asset Management, a Pittsburgh based assessment and outplacement firm. Prior to Bizet, Dan was a senior executive and board member of The LINC Corporation, where he established start-up franchises nationally and internationally.

Dan is proficient in behavior analysis and performance consulting. He has provided human resources leadership in areas ranging from recruiting and training to policy development and has conducted new business start-ups in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.

Dan’s early career included service as a military medic, teacher, rehabilitation counselor and account executive for AT&T. Dan holds a BS degree in education from California University of PA and a Masters degree in counseling from the University of Delaware. Additionally, he was certified as a rehabilitation counselor (CRC) and served as a Vocational Expert in the Expert Witness Program of the Social Security Administration.

Dan's cycling career started in 1991 and began riding and racing road bicycles as a Masters racer in 2000. He won gold medals in the 5k and 10k road races at the Pennsylvania Senior Olympics in , 2003 and silver medals in 2004 5k time trials and the 40k road race. In 2005 National Senior Olympics held in Pittsburgh, was 4th nationally in the 40k road race, 6th nationally in the 20k road race, and earned 7th and 8th places nationally in the 5k and 10k Time Trials. In 2006 he took Gold in the 5k and 40k time trials at the Pennsylvania Senior Olympics, and in 2008 Gold in the 5k and 40k time trials. At the USCF Nationals at Seven Spring in 2008 he was 2nd in the cat 5 road race.

Recently relocated from Pittsburgh, PA. to The Villages in Fl. He has competed in the 2010 Jacksonville Senior Games, placing 2nd in the 5k and 10k time trials. At the USCF State Road Race Championships in October 2010 he placed 3rd and at the State Senior Games he placed 1st in both the 5k and 10k time trals (new state age group record), and was 2nd in the 20k road race.
Dan is married to Judy, his wife of 44+ years and they have three adult children and two grandsons.

Rose Marie Ray, Secretary of Florida Masters and Board Member, author of SuperWomen Do IT Less, and co-author of "From Broken Neck to Broken Records," is the significant other of Sandy Scott. She is a retired IT sales and marketing executive, innkeeper/owner, and management consultant. She devotes most of her time to riding her bicycles and competing, swimming, and walking her dogs. Rosie is a two time Florida state time trial and a road race champion, and represtented the state of Florida at the 2007 and 2009 Senior Olympics. She is also a triathlete. Rosie's son Ian Ray, was on the national triathlon team for two years and is a very successful pro triathlete. Rosie recently won 3 Georgia state championships winning the 5 & 10K time trial events and the 20K road race at the 2010 Georgia Golden Olympics.

Cliff Jackson, Board Member of Florida Masters, Raised in the Big Sky Country of Montana. Retired from the Air Force in 1983 after 21 years of followed by 27 years in private industry focused primarily on business in the Middle East and North Africa. Married to a fantastic woman for 41 years, two beautiful daughters, and three adorable grandchildren. Major sports have included rodeo (spent more time in orbit than the astronauts) weight lifting (4 years on the national powerlifting team), mountain climbing, scuba, and now cycling. Still many things on my "bucket list".

Michael Ploch, Webmaster & Board Member Florida Masters - High School Graduate and US Navy Electronics trained technician, service dates 78’ thru 84’ with extensive professional engineering background in industrial motor control systems including sales and management duties as a Southeast Regional Sales Manager for a multi national Company.

In 1996 he took his sales and management skills and converted to an entrepreneur creating his own company, Caleb’s Creations, Inc. which specializes in marketing and brand imaging through the use of various media and social networking strategies.

Also worked as a consultant to Corel Draw corporation who has published his tutorials in their “Insight From The Experts” books.

He is currently responsible for building and maintaining Florida Masters online presence and projecting our brand through various online outlets including blogging, Facebook and Twitter.

Michael is also a Cat 5 Masters racer and participates in promoting cycling in many online forums and publications.

David Benzel, Board Member Florida Masters, 61 - Founder of Growing Champions for Life, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the youth sport experience by providing parents and coaches with positive strategies for creating confident kids in sports and in life.

Former national water ski record holder and eight time national water ski champion. Served as a commentator on ESPN for the professional water ski tour.

Cycling for five years with two years of racing experience in Masters 55+. Several wins and numerous second place finishes chasing his mentor, Dave Viney.

David Benzel
Growing Champions for Life, Inc.
Author of "From Chump to Champ"
http://www.growingchampionsforlife.com/

Member Bios

Bryan Staples, is the oldest member of FMC, and was born in Motspur Park, South London, England in 1934. Fascinatingly, Bryan was a founding member of the Festival Road Club in 1950, and now 60 years later he is a founding member of the FMC! He currently resides in Worcester Park, Surrey England during the summer and Eustis, Florida in the winter. He started riding at the age of 13, and commenced racing at the age of 14. In 1952 he qualified for the first NCU/UCI road racing license of which only 50 were issued for the UK based on performances over the past two seasons.

Bryan served in the Royal Air Force.

At the age of 34 he became Director and General Manager of a printing company employing over fifty. Ten years later he set up his own typesetting and design company until he retired in 1996.

He renewed his enthusiasm for cycling in 1993 after a forty year break from the sport and started road racing again in 1996. He won the GC in the South of England Vetarace Series of six road races that year. He competed as a Veteran in the UK, France, Majorca and the USA. He had success in Veteran Road Racing particularly on hilly circuits where he regularly made the podium. He completed four Etape du Tours from age 65 on, achieving two golds, one silver and one bronze. In the process he rode most of the major tour climbs in the Alps, Haute Alps, Pyrenees and Massif Central that included Mont Ventoux (twice), Col du Tourmalet, Col de Roselend, Lutz Ardiden, Col de Columbiere, Col d’Aspin, Col d’Aubisque.

He rode the “Grand Prix de Gentlemen” six years running finishing in the top ten against the likes of Tony Rominger and Tony Doyle. He competed four years running in the Veterans section of the “Duo Normand” which takes place in Marigny, France. The first year he rode it was won by Chris Boardman and Jens Voigt.

Bryan has retired from racing but is always game to help out and is a great resource having raced and officiated at all levels of sports.

Lance Brannigan, Florida Master, 51yrs, Masters 45+/ Cat 3, I started bike racing in my homeland of New Zealand back in the early 80's after playing 20yrs of rugby. Bike touring and Mountain biking have been my main passion, however, for the last 5yrs I have switched mainly to road racing. I am a retired firefighter and currently operate a small door to door Sharpening Service.

I toured extensively throughout Austrailia with my wife through the mid 80's. I have ridden self supported from Victoria, British Columbia to Los Angeles Ca. and two self supported tours through Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland.

Throughout the late 1980's, 90's up 2005 I competed in far too many mountain bike races to remember.

Highlights of my racing career thus far.
4th place Alberta Mtb Provincial Champs 1989
3rd place World Firefighter Games, MTB 40-45yrs, Christchurch NZ, 2002
7th place World Firefighter Games Road Race 40-4yrs 2002
6th Place World Police and Fire Games, Vancouver Canada, 45-50yrs Crit. 2009
5th Place World Police and Fire Games, Vancouver Canada, 45-50yrs Road race 2009

John Sharp, Florida Masters - I’m what’s left of John Sharp after almost seventy years. My goal in life now is to be active and healthy. I’ve been participating in endurance sports for over thirty years, as a runner, biker, swimmer and triathlete. A person of average athletic ability at best, participation has always been more important that accomplishments. To me doing sprint well is just as important as having done Iron.

The reason I compete is so I will workout regularly. Although I enjoy competition and the people I meet competing. The reason I workout is to be fit. Fitness is the most important accomplishments in life. If you are not fit, it diminishes the enjoyment of most other accomplishments. I hope doing time-trials this year increases my fitness.

Tracy Draper, Florida Master - Age 44
DOB March 24
Triathlete since 2006
Began cycling August 2010

4 time Disney World half marathon finisher
2008 Disney World marathon finisher
2007 Summer Sizzler Female Masters Champion
2007 Moss Park "Geezer Jock" Female Masters Champion
2010 Master's Championship Olympic Aqua Bike Champion

- Certified personal fitness trainer and part-time employee of the Children's Tumor Foundation (NF Endurance Team)
- Married to Bill with four kids between us (ages 14 - 20)
- competed in gymnastics from age 12-19 (collegiate level) and coached for 11 years
- hails from Georgia (Go Dawgs!)

John Sinibaldi, Jr., Florida Master - from Seminole, FL, has been riding recreationally for about 25 years. He has raced infrequently (typically between hospitalizations and rehabilitations related to multiple stints as a crash-test dummy), but has managed to win several senior games road races, including the 2008 Florida State Senior Games 40K Road Race 50-54 age group and the 2011 Collier County Senior Games 20K and 40K road races 55-59 age group.

He has been married to the lovely Lenore for 27 years, with two sons, Bruno 19, a freshman at University of Florida, and Joey 16, a sophomore at Seminole High School. Originally from New Jersey, John has been in Florida since 1979. He and his wife own an insurance agency specializing in employee benefits for small businesses in Florida.

John's late father, John Sinibaldi, Sr., was a world-class cyclist - competing for the United States in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics, nabbing 18 USCF national championship jerseys as a masters competitor after a 40 year hiatus from the sport, and winning his last national championship at age 91! He was inducted into the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame in 1997 http://www.usbhof.org/1997-inductees/

John A. Sinibaldi

Pete Loftis, Florida Master - 55 Lives in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Married to Patty 32 years
son Tate 20 years, owner of The UPS Store Atlantic beach, Florida 2010 Florida State Criterium Champ 55+ 2010 Florida State Time Trial Runner Up 55+ 2010 Florida Champion of Champions 55+ 2010 USA Triathlon honorable Mention All American 55-59

Ted Hollander, Florida Master - 55 years old TODAY, Feb. 21, Ted Hollander is president and founder of THD, LLC, a custom electronics design and installation firm in Winter Park, FL. A multi sport athlete, over the years Ted has been a collegiate tennis player, a sponsored team rider for various windsurfing companies, a sports car racer and competitive beach volleyball player. He has always been an avid cyclist and competed in road and cross country bike races in the late 1990's. He has traveled extensively around the country to seek out the best mountain biking and is now coming back to the competitive aspect of the sport after a 12 year layoff from competition. Ted resides in Oviedo FL with his wife Carol and 4 cats.

A few highlights from 2010:

Finished 2nd overall in Team category of the Squiggy Classic 6 hour mountain bike race

Finished 1st at San Felasco USAC MTB State Championship Series race XC-GM3

Finished 1st at Santos USAC MTB State Championship Series race XC-GM3

2011:

Finished 4th overall in the Solo Division of the 6 Hours of El Lagarto Lakeland January 30

Finished 9th in Masters 55 at the ORC road race February 19

Diana Correa, Florida Masters - I did my first crit in 1976. There were 3 women in the race. A lot has changed since those days. I switched to Triathlon in 1982 because there were more opportunitys for women. I had great success with that. I was many times long and sprint National Champion in my age group. Did Hawaii Ironman 6 times, age group podium x2. Was several times in the top ten all american in a lot of different age groups. Switched back to cycling in 1993. Went to many Masters Nationals and got a few time trial and road race medals. Got a couple of medals at Velodrome when Masters track Nationals were in Houston. Got a Masters florida state title in the roadrace. That was 1997 In 2005 got a silver in the Florida state road race for 45 plus. Many times florida state time trial champ. I'm 60 now and still luvin the bike. In my other life I am a RN. Served Naval nurse corps during Vietnam .Been in the operating room all these years. I still work 3 days a week.

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