

Jeff Calvert
PRESIDENT


Benjamin Mazur
VICE-PRESIDENT


Thad Will
TREASURER


George Conrad
SECRETARY


JEFF CALVERT
President
Jeff Calvert is a Pennsylvania native and Penn State graduate now living in State College, PA. He recently retired from the Army after 30 years of service, and now focuses on running, writing, and service to the trailrunning community. He is co-founder of the Worlds End Ultras, Operations Coordinator for Eastern States 100, and co-founder of the Eastern States Trail-Endurance Alliance. He’s run 60 trail races, including 39 ultras. Eastern States 2015 was the first of his 9 hundred-milers. Jeff writes about "trailrunning and other adventures in distance and wonderment" on his Substack, The Rush of it All.

BENJAMIN MAZUR
Vice-President
Benjamin J. Mazur has been very active in the "Rocksylvania" running community. Nine years ago, Benjamin was a founding member and now serves as current president of Allegheny Trailrunners, Inc. - a 501c3, all-volunteer not-for-profit, that organizes a series of trail races as an advocate for trail development throughout the Alleghenies. Benjamin has directed almost two dozen trail events including Rock 'N The Knob, Dirty Kiln, and the new Ironstone 100K, and also served as co-director, volunteer coordinator and/or as logistical support for Worlds End, Eastern States and Black Forest ultramarathons. If he is not working at those races, you can find him volunteering, or cheering on at dozens of other trail events, or at a brewpub or tavern enjoying an IPA. He now serves as race director for Ironstone 100K and Eastern States 100.

THAD WILL
Treasurer
Thad Will’s trail running roots started with the Nittany Valley Hash House Harriers, a social running club in the State College area that values the recuperative effect of beer to the body and soul of its members. As such, it was only a natural transition for Thad to the central PA trail running community in 2009. Thad completed his first ultra at Hyner in 2014. Since then he’s completed multiple ultras at every distance up to 100 miles, including Worlds End, Laurel Highlands, Massanutten, and Eastern States. Thad lives in State College with his understanding wife Ellen, and boys Jacob and Nate.

SEAN ROBBINS
Secretary
Sean Robbins is a graduate of Villanova University and the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law. He is an attorney with the Governor’s Office of General Counsel at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection where he has practiced law since 2000. Sean currently serves on the boards of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, the Luzerne County Transportation Authority and is the President of the Anthracite Scenic Trails Association. In his free time, he likes to be outdoors and enjoys running, skiing, hiking, climbing, cycling and competing in triathlons. Sean currently resides in Dallas, Pennsylvania.

CASSANDRA LIZZA
Director
Originally an avid equestrian, Cassandra Lizza gradually turned in her riding boots for running shoes as she discovered the sport of trail running. With a love of rugged, tough, and remote trail events, she found herself drawn to the Pennsylvania Wilds region. She ran her first ultra at the inaugural Hyner Trail Challenge 50K and has since completed multiple ultra events around the region—including Eastern States and the PA Triple Crown in 2016. She has participated in Eastern States every year that it was officially held since its inception, starting with crew and pacer to volunteer. A New Jersey native who now calls Lancaster City home, Cassandra can often be found exploring trails in Michaux, Tuscarora, and Bald Eagle State Forests.

JADE OAKES-HATT
Director
Jade is a life-long Pine “Cricker” who was running around the Rocksylvania mountains before she even knew trail running was a thing. Running her first trail race at the original Call of the Wilds, she discovered other people who like to hide in the woods for hours on end as much as she does. More of a hard ass than a bad ass, she’s likely to tell you to quit whining and run. But, she’s married to a Canadian, so she’ll probably apologize to you for it, too. Jade served as co-Race Director for Eastern States 100 in 2019, and she's excited to not only serve on the ESTEA board, but also stepped into the Eastern States 100 Race Director role from 2021 to 2022.

KAYLA THOMPSON
Director
Kayla started trail running when she lived in Northeast Ohio during nursing school. When she moved back to Central Pennsylvania, she recalls thinking "these people are crazy - they are literally running mountains." Since then, she's continued to run numerous Pennsylvania trail events and has completed three 100 mile races. In addition to being part of the ESTEA and helping to coordinate safety at the Eastern States 100, she is also the vice president of the Allegheny Trailrunners; she helps to coordinate volunteers and safety for both of their events, Dirty Kiln and Rock 'N The Knob. Kayla loves to introduce new people to our Pennsylvania trails because just like her when she started trail running here, so many have lived here all of their lives and have never seen the beauty the trails have to offer. When she's not out on the trails, Kayla works as a pediatric nurse practitioner and enjoys spending time with family and friends (which usually involves being outside).

TOM McNERNEY
Director
Tom was born and raised in Williamsport, PA. During the normal work week you’ll find him at work with PA’s Department of Environmental Protection where he is a Professional Geologist, charged with protecting the Commonwealth’s environment. Tom got into trail running in 2010 as a way to get into shape. He ran at the inaugural year of the Hyner 50k, and since has been hooked on ultrarunning. He has traveled to various ultras up and down the East Coast from the New York Catskills to the Georgia mountains but has found that trail running in Pennsylvania is the best; from the courses, to the volunteers and the overall positive attitude in the Pennsylvania trailrunning community. Tom truly believes in giving back to this community, which is why you will most likely see Tom volunteering in some capacity at ultramarathons in Central Pennsylvania.

TOM COSTELLO
Director
Tom is a "stump jumper" originally from Bradford, PA. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Tom is a veteran of the US Air Force, where he provided support to the US Army, Navy, and NASA. He currently runs a management consulting firm with headquarters in the Philadelphia area. He has served on various for-profit and not-for-profit boards, and looks forward to contributing to the mission of ESTEA. Tom has been with the Eastern States 100 since 2020 on the Logistics team.