We started the CCC to provide a platform for the cause industry to network, share, and become better.
Ms. Nelson is the Senior Vice-President at Cadence Sports. Prior to Cadence, Adele was the Director of Chefs Cycle for No Kid Hungry, a fundraising endurance event featuring award-winning chefs and members of the culinary community fighting hunger outside the kitchen.
The event started in 2015 and Adele took over shortly after, working to increase rider participation from 30 to 250 and has quadrupled revenue to over $2M each year, raising a total of over $8M. Adele joined No Kid Hungry in 2013, where she has been developing key relationships and leading nationwide fundraising events in various roles.
In her 15+ years of event management experience, Adele has worked for Google, Linder Global Events, and Design Cuisine Catering. Adele has a love/hate relationship with her Peloton these days and is the mom of three kids, ages 12, 9 and 7.
Jim Birrell is a sports management and marketing professional with nearly 40 years of experience. Throughout his career he has been involved in producing premier domestic and international sporting events, including the Summer Olympics (1992, 1996 and 2000), Winter Olympics (1994), Summer Goodwill Games (1994, 1998 and 2001) and Winter Goodwill Games (1999). For 15 year he owned Medalist Sports, an event management company responsible for multiple professional and cause-related cycling events.
Obliteride, the largest community event at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, brings more than 3,000 riders, walkers and runners as well as 700 volunteers together to raise millions of dollars for cancer research. As director, Jim is responsible for setting the vision for Obliteride and delivering ambitious year-over-year growth in participation, number and size of teams, and participant-raised dollars. In addition, Jim uses Obliteride as a platform for community engagement that enhances knowledge of and philanthropic support for innovative research taking place at Fred Hutch.
A native of Houston, Texas, Jim received a Bachelor of Arts degree in business from Southwest Texas University. Jim has two extraordinary children, Abby, a recent graduate from Duke University, and Chandler, who is currently studying for his Masters at Colorado State University. He and his wife, Eileen, live in Kennewick, Washington.
Gary Co-Founded Cadence Sports in 2006 with a simple dream of working in the endurance sports arena he loved. A former soccer player turned triathlete, Gary is always on the move and does not comprehend the idea of being still.
Over the years, Gary has been fortunate to spearhead a myriad of different event projects, mostly in the cause-related arena, which has become a personal passion and focus of Cadence. Gary believes that our events can truly generate change by the impactful experience they create.
Gary holds bachelor degrees in Economics and International Business with a minor in Spanish from Texas Tech University. Gary works, trains, and spends as much time with his partner, Kim and son, Emerson.
Joe Apgar is the President of Pelotonia, which was established in 2008 with the objective to fund lifesaving cancer research and today is a rapidly growing non-profit. In this role, he is responsible for leading all aspects of Pelotonia’s operations and ensuring the success of the organization’s strategic plan.
Joe is a cancer survivor and was diagnosed with testicular cancer during his senior year of college. Joe began riding and fundraising for Pelotonia after being declared cancer-free. After graduating from Penn State University with a degree in finance, he spent eight years working at Rockbridge Capital, a Columbus-based private equity firm. While at Rockbridge, Joe was a member of the founding team of RTRX, a three-day leadership experience initially launched as an event for the hospitality industry to support cancer research. Today, RTRX now raises more than $1 million annually for Pelotonia.
Joe previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Pelotonia, where he focused on leading the organization’s day-to-day operations, community engagement, event planning, technology, and marketing. Prior to this role, he focused on strategic fundraising and operational initiatives aimed at growing the reach of the Pelotonia community.
Joe was named to the 40 Under 40 Class of 2020 by Columbus Business First and the Future 50 Class of 2021 by Columbus CEO Magazine. He is a passionate advocate for adoption and young adult cancer survivorship, and he speaks frequently about the importance of cancer research, advocacy, survivorship, and the unique challenges faced by adolescent and young adult survivors.
Joe lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife, Jill, and his daughter, Cora.
Serving as the Director of Operations and Community Engagement for Pedal the Cause, Ashley Saitta is the perennial driving force behind putting thousands of cyclists on the road and raising millions of dollars in the name of cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Saitta oversees the planning of over 15 events annually, maintains more than 50 vendor partnerships, and stewards the 30,000+ annual donors and $45 million in participant-raised donations since the establishment of Pedal the Cause in 2010. Additionally, she works with over 1,000 volunteers each year for event support. Saitta is thoughtful and innovative when it comes to expenditures and cost-saving opportunities, successfully managing a budget of more than $900,000. She works to garner in-kind donations and discounts totaling $150,000 per year.
Saitta has been with the organization since its inception, starting as a volunteer in its inaugural year and joining the staff in 2011. With a Master’s in public policy administration with an emphasis in non-profit management, she brings years of experience to the table and offers insightful, analytical expertise through a Non-Profit lens. Her work is weaved throughout the DNA of Pedal the Cause, beginning at the ground level where she created the systems and processes that the organization utilizes daily.
She resides in St. Louis, MO with her husband and two young children.
