Board Member Biographies
Please vote at the bottom.
RANCH PRATT, Board President
PROFILE: Ranch has been involved in the off road world since he was 6 when he began riding and racing motocross. Finishing a Pro season after ten years he decided it was time to move on.
For 19 years he worked in the Jeep parts industry running Military Equipment and Parts Co (MEPCO). MEPCO was Utah’s largest Jeep parts and accessories companies and served as a retailer, wholesale distributor, dismantler and used Jeep parts source for all Jeep vehicles from 1941 forward.
In 1996 Ranch co-founded TeraFlex. The first company to develop articulating control arms. Tera grew from two partners (Mark Falkner and Ranch) to 4 and over 300 employees. Recently sold, TeraFlex continues to enjoy being one of the premier off road brands in the world with hundreds of accessories and a wide range of product types.
While serving as President of TeraFlex and MEPCO, Ranch founded the RockCrawlers Association of America (ARCA) This organization created the sport of rockcrawling as a scored, professional motorsport and quickly became Americas fastest growing motorsport. Over the course of a few years the competition changed from a Jeep driven sport to full buggies, rear engines and extremely capable machines that could compete in desert type events as well as rockcrawling. The organization changed from ARCA to RCAA and then merged with other entities to form UROC. Featured in mainstream media like the New York Times, ESPN and as a premier at SEMA, UROC was the foundation of rock-based sports still ran today.
In the early 2000’s Ranch co-founded Prodigy Engineering and helped secure a contract with the Department of Energy through the Electric Propulsion Research Instite (EPRI) developing plug in hybrid electric Full size truck and vans. Developments from this propel EV’s to this day.
Today Ranch is a partner in BestOff-Road.Com, a premier Off-Road store in Northern Utah, and Torrix Off-Road, an off road manufacturing company. His love for off-road brings passion to his desire to preserve it. “We can’t be content with “Losing Less” and continually being on the defensive to save our lands for motorized use." Said Pratt. "We have to establish unity in the motorized modalities and not only stop unscrupulous closures, but dilute impact by opening more areas, trails and roads and lakes to motorized use."
SHANNON WELCH, Vice President
Summary: I have an extensive background in communications, event coordination, marketing, and social media. After 8+ years as the Communications Director at ULTRA4 Racing, the organization behind King of The Hammers, I have branched out on my own to do consulting for small businesses, events, and teams.
As a consultant, I can assess a company, event, or brand's current marketing strategy and offer practical, easily implemented solutions to better target new customers and effectively communicate with existing followers and customers. Specialties: creative media strategies, effective communication strategies, event coordination, social networking, social media, business promotion.
My Volunteer & Land Use Activities include: Volunteer – Communications Consultant - California Motorized Recreation Council 10/2012-3/2014 Coordinated with: Cal4Wheel, CORVA, ORBA, AMA, The United States Marine Corps, Congressman Cook’s Office, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer’s office The Livingston Group to preserve Johnson Valley for OHV use. Responsible for helping develop strategy for addressing key issues facing motorized recreation in Southern California. Responsibilities have included: drafting press releases, writing petitions, meeting with California Senators and Congressman, activating local communities and the off-road community to get involved on issues relevant to the off-road lifestyle.
Volunteer – San Bernardino National Forest Association Adopt-A-Trail Program 7/2005 – 11/2010 Worked 1-2 weekends a month for several year maintaining and rebuilding trails in the San Bernardino National Forest. Duties included; creating water bars, movement of large boulders to safer locations, removing downed trees, clearing trash and brush. Also involved in several search and rescue missions for missing hikers, etc. attended quarterly meetings to discuss pressing issues within the forest. Volunteer Driver –Kids on Public Land 2006-2011 Would volunteer to drive a child who had not been in the mountains on off road trails to answer their questions about the forest, wilderness, etc.
SEN. MARK MAYNARD, Board Member
AFFILIATIONS: A brief history of my affiliation with the motorized trail industry began as a youngster when my dad was president of a local 501c 4x4 club. We had weekly club meetings and weekly trail rides. Current Member of the BlueRibbon Coalition.
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: I’ve owned numerous dirt bikes, ATVs, rail-buggies, Baja bugs and many trail rig 4x4’s when l got my driver’s license. I grew up in a shop where my dad sold and installed 4x4 accessories, a business that l now operate.
HOME STATE: West Virginia
FAVORITE TRAIL/AREA: Trails and areas in and around West Virginia
HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED: I graduated from Marshall University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management. I was elected to the West Virginia State Senate in 2014. After elected l decided to devote a portion of my public service to public land advocacy.
COMMENTS/GOALS FOR BRC: My thoughts and ideas align with those of the BRC and l feel position a position on the board of directors would be a good fit for me to help with the proper use, maintenance and advocacy in land usage.
EDWARD MOORE, Board Member
AFFILIATIONS: President of Ready2Rock 4x4 Club, California Four Wheel Drive Association (CAL4WHEEL) Life Member, Volunteer with the U.S. Forest Service
HOME STATE: California
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: Building and repairing Jeeps, run 4x4 trails, Volunteering with the U.S. Forest Service and Trail repair and clean up.
FAVORITE TRAIL OR AREA: Sierra National Forest in California.
HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED IN BRC: I was asked to by Todd Ockert and Del Albright.
COMMENTS/GOALS FOR BRC: BRC should be the gold standard for land use advocacy. Joining forces with as many organization as we can that work for the same cause. I have been a long-time member of Cal4wheel and a club member of 3 different clubs. I hold the office of President in my current club (Ready2Rock) I am a forest service volunteer.
CHUCK RAMSEY, Board Member
AFFILIATIONS: BlueRibbon Coalition member, Colorado Snowmobile Association (CSA) Safety Chair (2013 -2018), Colorado Volleyball Officials Association(CVOA) area director (2016 – 2018), Wyoming State Snowmobile Association (WSSA) member. S&W Adventure Riders Snowmobile Club
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: Snowmobiling, Hunting, Fishing, Boating, Hiking, All Terrain Vehicles
HOME STATE: Wyoming
FAVORITE TRAIL/AREA: Hahn’s Peak area in Colorado, Yellowstone in the winter, Strawberry Reservoir Utah, Big Horns Wyoming, Grand Mesa Colorado, Taylor Park Colorado.
HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED IN BRC: I’ve been friends with Jack Welch for a number of years now. He got me involved with Blue Ribbon some years ago. Membership has been off and on over the years due to my career and children taking precedents.
COMMENTS/GOALS FOR BRC: To help increase membership and financial stability in order to keep promoting outdoor activities and protecting the outdoors that all of us love so much.
PHIL RAWLINGS, Board Member
Profile: Director and Founder of the Salt Lake Off-Road & Outdoor Expo. President of Utah Off-Roaders Alliance the non profit behind the Expo. Been involved with the Off-Road community for many years as enthusiast, engineer, event staff and promoter.
Fifteen years mechanical engineering experience with expertise in product design, development, and manufacturing, including a diverse background in; composites, castings, sheet-metal design, and stress analysis. Add in a unique mix of hands on skills and an additional 10 years as an automotive mechanic.
Skills: • Working with people of differing backgrounds to achieve a common goal. • Excellent problem solving abilities with vendors, designs, and people. • Good communication skills in work process documentation, concept generation, specifications. • Developed many products from concept to production, optimizing for the manufacturing process, designing all phases from castings/raw material to machining and final assembly
Land Use This is the big one with a couple components, without places to go all of this would be in vain. We are a fractured community, jeepers don't always get along with Side by Sides, or Motorcyclists and vice versa. The organizations that we often find ourselves opposing for access to trails are very organized. If we can come together as a complete community we have a much better chance of protecting our access. This is why we have all the different vehicles at the Expo and our rally cry is OFF-ROADERS UNITE!
Summary: I have an extensive background in communications, event coordination, marketing, and social media. After 8+ years as the Communications Director at ULTRA4 Racing, the organization behind King of The Hammers, I have branched out on my own to do consulting for small businesses, events, and teams.
As a consultant, I can assess a company, event, or brand's current marketing strategy and offer practical, easily implemented solutions to better target new customers and effectively communicate with existing followers and customers. Specialties: creative media strategies, effective communication strategies, event coordination, social networking, social media, business promotion.
My Volunteer & Land Use Activities include: Volunteer – Communications Consultant - California Motorized Recreation Council 10/2012-3/2014 Coordinated with: Cal4Wheel, CORVA, ORBA, AMA, The United States Marine Corps, Congressman Cook’s Office, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer’s office The Livingston Group to preserve Johnson Valley for OHV use. Responsible for helping develop strategy for addressing key issues facing motorized recreation in Southern California. Responsibilities have included: drafting press releases, writing petitions, meeting with California Senators and Congressman, activating local communities and the off-road community to get involved on issues relevant to the off-road lifestyle.
Volunteer – San Bernardino National Forest Association Adopt-A-Trail Program 7/2005 – 11/2010 Worked 1-2 weekends a month for several year maintaining and rebuilding trails in the San Bernardino National Forest. Duties included; creating water bars, movement of large boulders to safer locations, removing downed trees, clearing trash and brush. Also involved in several search and rescue missions for missing hikers, etc. attended quarterly meetings to discuss pressing issues within the forest. Volunteer Driver –Kids on Public Land 2006-2011 Would volunteer to drive a child who had not been in the mountains on off road trails to answer their questions about the forest, wilderness, etc.
