2020 OBRA Annual Meeting

Board Members Running

Clint Culpepper:

Clint Culpepper has been an OBRA member since 2006 promoted races for the past twelve years, currently promoting Portland Trophy Cup. Clint is currently the Transportation Options Manager at Portland State University, managing the university’s transit, bicycle, and carpool programs. He is a member of the City of Portland’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and a longtime bicycle advocate.

The amazing support that OBRA members have provided this past year, even without racing has been truly amazing and that enthusiasm is what I’d like to continue to see on the board as well. My past year on the board has been one spent with an amazing group of folks working extremely hard to make OBRA the fantastic organization that it is. I hope to be given the opportunity to continue that work.

Julie Ann Smith-Simonsen:

After careful consideration, I have decided to run for an open position on the OBRA Board of Directors. I am a member of Sorella Forte Cycling Club and have raced all disciplines except track and downhill. I don’t have a long history of being a bike racer, nor am I very skilled at it (as my race results prove), but I sure do love it and the joy bike racing has brought to me and so many others. I really didn’t know how to ride a bike until I was forced to learn at the age of 42 after a running injury. It wasn’t long before I learned about OBRA and how much it has to offer. A friend convinced me to try PIR one day and he rode 1 lap with me, teaching me how to draft, and about 30 minutes later, I completed my first race! I was terrified, but I loved it! Quickly I realized how open and welcoming the OBRA community is and that it didn’t matter that I knew nothing and had no experience—all I needed was my bike and a desire to have fun. Two months later, I decided to try ‘cross at Heiser Farm. It was a bit of a circus act, but I was hooked—it was fun, messy, and difficult, but I was blown away by the enthusiastic crowds and how uplifting it was to be a part of it all. Not to mention, that day at the race, I met the man who would later become my husband (despite the fact he watched that first race)!

OBRA represents much more than just bike racing. It represents community, friendship, healthy competition, inspiration, confidence building, and family. My life has been truly enriched by OBRA. I have felt so welcomed despite coming from a baseline level of zero experience. I’d like to be a part of spreading that sense of “belonging” that I have enjoyed from OBRA to others—especially those who might feel they aren’t strong, skilled, or experienced enough to race, or feel like they don’t fit into the bike racing “culture”.

I’ve known all along how much OBRA has meant to me, but that has become especially clear this past year when we haven’t been able to get together as we previously did. I so miss all of you and the joy of racing with you fills my heart. OBRA and its members have given me so much and it’s time for me to give back, especially important at a time when navigating a return to normal may have its challenges. As someone who came into cycling fairly late in life, I can add the perspective of a novice combined with the knowledge I’ve gained over the past 8 years of racing road, short track, MTB, and cross. Bringing in novice racers and nurturing and supporting them the way I was would be something I’d like to focus on. My background in medicine as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon as well as a real estate agent may come in handy as well! I would be truly grateful to be elected to the Board. Thank you for your consideration.