LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 30 Thanks for taking the time to meet with me, Glenn. The board of directors and our members are honored to have you leading the organization forward. It's an exciting time as we build on one success after another. What put BETA on your radar? I was looking for an opportunity to focus again on outdoor recre- ation at the local level. The more I researched the role and the organi- zation, the more exciting the oppor- tunity became. It's clear BETA has been maturing and strengthening its impact. The local support and trust in the organization is also readily apparent. I thought I could be the right person to keep that momen- tum moving forward. We couldn't agree more. You worked on state-wide recreation for ten years in Washington with Evergreen Mountain Bike Alli- ance, Washington State Trails, and the Department of Natural Resources. How are you approach- ing BETA and its smaller scale? When I started at Evergreen, it was actually smaller than BETA in terms of membership, finances, and the region it represented. No one, myself included, had an expectation that it would grow to cover the whole state. It ended up being the right direction for that organization. However, I'm not trying to replicate that path with BETA or grow for the sake of growth. My values are rooted in how much impact and relevance we have in the community. We can't measure the or- ganization's success solely on scale, miles of trail, or membership num- bers. If we positively impact a lot of people and communicate effectively, I am confident the rest will fall into place. My previous work exposed me to a wide range of challenges and solutions. I'm excited to use that experience to help BETA keep moving forward for a long time to come. As a "transplant" myself, I love seeing people choose to build lives here. What excites you about living and working in the Adirondacks? My wife Toni and I have lived just east of Seattle, Washington, for twenty-five years. We know Adiron- dack weather is no joke, but not hav- ing 9 to 10 months of constant cloud cover and drizzle is pretty exciting! Toni and I met in the mountains north of Boise, Idaho, where we both worked for a river rafting company, among other small-town jobs. We moved to Seattle so I could pursue electrical engineering, but we always knew we'd end up back in a small town in the mountains. It was just a matter of when. I grew up in Massa- chusetts, so moving to the Northeast feels like coming home. The thing that really stood out during our visits here is the people. It didn't matter where we were; everyone we ran into was genuine- ly welcoming and open. That truly touched us because we've been to plenty of places where communities feel exclusive. There is so much pride here in the Adirondacks and genuine excitement to share it with anyone who respects the history and culture of the area. We have so many future trail proj- ects on the horizon. Which has you the most excited? In Conversation with Glenn Glover - The New Director of BETA - By Patrick Carey In early 2023, the Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA) began the search for a new executive director. As we know it today, BETA could not exist without the vision and leadership of previous Executive Directors Tony Goodwin and Josh Wilson. To ensure success, the organization requires an extraordinary person at the helm. The stars even- tually aligned, and we were introduced to Glenn Glover. Some have had the chance to meet Glenn, but I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce him here. Glenn's unique blend of experience, passion, and personality has me more excited than ever for what BETA can accomplish and how we can serve our community.

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