The National 24-Hour Challenge is looking for a new executive director. Current executive director Gary Goscenski has resigned his position effective July 1, 2022. If there is to be a National 24 Hour Challenge in 2023, a new executive director will need to step up soon.

Candidates should have a love of cycling, preferably with some history as a rider, crew member or volunteer and should be based in West Michigan. Candidates will work with a host of volunteers to stage the world’s largest and finest ultra-marathon bicycle event. This position is ideal for a couple, a retiree or someone with significant schedule flexibility. The executive director position requires a commitment of about 250 hours per year. Skills in negotiation, written and verbal communication, as well as office computer operations will be vital.

What exactly would you be doing? Tasks include rider communications, government permits, sponsor relations, registration information preparation, volunteer communication, etc. Preparations take place all year long. There’s a well-defined structure for the event and we have developed a year-round timeline. The experienced, hands-on board of directors will remain in place, providing support, wisdom, and continuity.

Registration season runs from January through June, so the details of the event need to be confirmed by December. As spring progresses, supplies such as medals, patches, 1000-mile jerseys, 5000-mile jackets, door prizes, and fruit will need to be ordered and purchased. Support services need to be secured including police, medical, schools, portable toilets, cones and barricades, food services, portable lighting, etc.

We have an equipment trailer that comes out of storage in May for staging. On Friday morning of our weekend, the trailer is moved to the school campus for setup. On Sunday morning, volunteers pack up the trailer and it returns to the staging site for re-packing, then moves back to storage in July. After our big weekend, there’s follow-up to be done such as compiling and publishing results, handling lost and found requests, and paying bills.

And what are the rewards for all this?
– Appreciation from our riders is a source of tremendous satisfaction.
– Pride. We have an unparalleled history of excellence.
– It’s fun working with the board and over 100 volunteers with decades of experience to make the event happen.

The National 24 Hour Challenge is a Michigan non-profit corporation, recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt entity. The scope of our operations is purposely limited – it’s as simple as we can make it! We do not raise funds, make grants, or support any charity. Our operating expenses are primarily paid from registration fees. Our sponsors donate small amounts of cash or merchandise which is all used for rider door prizes. We are an all-volunteer organization, meaning the executive director position is unpaid.

To apply for the executive director position, please submit your resume outlining your relevant skills and cycling experience to director@n24hc.bike by July 15, 2022. Questions? Contact us at (616) 953-0234 or email director@n24hc.bike.