Currently the Executive Director of the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation, Ms. Long was one of nearly 100 applicants for the position, which was opened in August 2017. She became one of and one of three finalists who participated in community forums organized by KTA in December.  Ms. Long will formally join the KTA team in February.

“We are absolutely thrilled that Abby has accepted our offer to join the KTA team,” said Matt Langlais, President of the Board of Directors. “Abby has the necessary communication skills, leadership style, welcoming spirit, grace, energy and ‘can-do’ attitude to successfully lead the Organization.” “She brings a wealth of translatable experience and fresh perspective from her tenure with the Leadville Race Series and Legacy Foundation as well as her community work in Lake County.”  “Her career commitment to service and outdoor recreation will serve KTA and the community as a whole well and we look forward to working with her.”

“It’s an honor and thrill to join such a solid staff, Board of Directors and welcoming community and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this amazing Organization,” said Abigail Long. “I thank them for their confidence in me and look forward to making a home and career in the Burke area, committing to the future of Kingdom Trails and the communities it serves.”

A native New Englander, Ms. Long is overjoyed to be returning home, and says she’s ready to immerse herself in her new Northeast Kingdom community, and dedicate herself to the mission and vision of the Kingdom Trail Association.

She brings over nine years of administrative, fundraising, capacity building, and program design and implementation experience in the nonprofit sector to the Organization, and holds a B.A. in Public & Community Service from Providence College in Rhode Island, as well as a Master’s Degree in Intercultural Service, Leadership & Management from the School for International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Ms. Long considers herself fortunate to have lived and worked in a number of different environments, participating in service work all over the country and world. Most recently she was the Executive Director for the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation, a charitable trust created to aid the needs of the Leadville, Lake County, Colorado community. Ms. Long also brings to bear extensive knowledge of the ultra-running and mountain bike race industry as the past Athlete Service Manager for the Leadville Race Series, a world-renowned endurance event series. Additionally, she served as an instrumental board member of Leadville’s Mineral Belt Trail system, an all-season, non-motorized trail that allows the Leadville community to preserve its mining history, highlight its scenic values, and provide recreational opportunities for all, a similar mission of the Kingdom Trail Association.

Ms. Long will be joined by her husband, Brandon Mapes, who is a Teacher for Blind & Visually Impaired students, with a passion for providing those he serves with adaptive outdoor recreation opportunities. Together they look forward to exploring all their new community has to offer.