(KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, November 4, 2022) — Chris Doane has been elected Vice President of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA) and will begin serving the organization on January 1, 2023. A Coweta resident, Doane replaces Mary Anne Swanstrom of Huntsville, Alabama who will begin serving as President of SORBA. The Board of Director’s primary functions are to manage policy and to oversee the management of the resources of SORBA to support the organization’s mission.
“This is a great honor and I’m excited to contribute my time and energy to an organization that’s making a difference across the Southeast,” Doane says. “During my tenure as president of MTB Atlanta, we have realized significant success in trail advocacy and the building of multi use trails in the Metro Atlanta area. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the efforts of SORBA and to share my experiences. SORBA has established an incredible example for other organizations across the U.S. to follow regarding advocacy and conservation.”
Mr. Doane will continue to serve as president of MTB Atlanta. MTB Atlanta manages a trail network of more than 25 parks and 160 miles of trails. The organization partners with the National Parks Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Georgia State Parks, and multiple municipalities in the Metro Atlanta area. MTB Atlanta is a membership organization of 450+ members across the metro region. The organization has most recently merged West Georgia SORBA and Gwinnett SORBA under the MTB Atlanta organization. MTB Atlanta has successfully raised more than $1 Million in 2022 through grants, fundraising, memberships and foundation awards. The organization is currently developing 25 new miles of multi-use trail in the Metro Region that includes projects in Troup, Coweta, Carroll, Spalding, Rockdale, Fulton and Cobb Counties.
“SORBA is extremely excited to welcome our newly elected officials to our executive committee beginning in 2023. Chris Doane, from MTB Atlanta and Bike Coweta, will be an excellent addition to the role of Vice President. His leadership abilities have been proven by his involvement in the successful efforts of MTB Atlanta. We welcome his experience to the board and look forward to working together to continue growing mountain biking in the southeast,” states Philip Darden; SORBA Executive Director, Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association.
About SORBA: Since 1989, The Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association works to ensure that public lands offer fun, challenging and sustainable mountain biking for all mountain bikers. As the leading mountain biking organization in the southeast, the organization’s mission is to create, enhance, and protect great mountain biking experiences in the southeast. SORBA volunteers donate thousands of hours each year to advocate for trail access, raise funds for trail development, build trails, and maintain trails. SORBA consists of 47 chapters in seven states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
