Dear RAGBRAI Nation,
After six unforgettable years, it’s time for me to share some personal news: I’m leaving RAGBRAI to pursue new passions.
This isn’t an easy goodbye because the ride has become such a meaningful part of my life.
I’ve been fortunate to see RAGBRAI from a seat most never get to experience. From spending months on the road crisscrossing Iowa helping our towns prepare for 20,000 guests, to hours spent in the office brainstorming strategies to make each year unique, to hearing stories from riders who have changed and grown in immeasurable ways, I’ve watched as the team working behind the scenes pours every inch of themselves into ensuring not just a successful ride – but a remarkable one.
When I stepped into this role in 2019, RAGBRAI was at a crossroads. We weathered big transitions, a global pandemic, the 50th anniversary ride, and plenty of other challenges that tested me in ways I never expected.
Our Team innovated through COVID by launching the RAGBRAI Roadshows, which took us to bike trails across the state and let us create community at a time we desperately needed togetherness. We built operational infrastructure that freed towns to focus on hospitality and showcasing what makes their communities home. We took a huge step in independence moving to RAGBRAI HQ in fall of 2022. And we created RAGBRAI Gives, which ensures $1 million is reinvested every year into Iowa’s backroads as well as its urban centers.
As proud as I am of these accomplishments, it’s leaving this community of people that makes saying goodbye the hardest.
Bringing Andrea Parrott back to the fold in my first months of leadership felt like returning a missing piece to our puzzle. She carries a history and perspective that has always grounded us.
Adding Erica Determan gave us fresh energy and excitement. Pairing that with her work ethic quickly made her the team’s backbone.
In Matt Phippen I found a rare mix of head and heart. He can work through complex logistics one minute and pivot swiftly to remind us of the bigger “why” the next.
Cory Mutch co-chaired the Charles City committee when RAGBRAI came through in 2022 with passion and determination – both qualities he’s brought to our team in spades.
From our customer service manager to your nutrition coach, Erin Oliphant’s personal and professional life have become so deeply woven into this ride that it’s impossible to separate the two.
Kim Sharp-Leyba infused an effervescence and instinctual sharpness that reminded us the importance of even the smallest moments.
And, recently, Hayden Meister rounded out the team, stepping in with a determination that meant he could shoulder the weight when it mattered most.
Together, we made the impossible possible. Proud doesn’t seem enough to describe how I feel about the work we’ve done, the ways we’ve grown and the tradition we’ve honored – even as we sought to carry that legacy forward into new generations.
I’m so thankful to my team, and the many others who left a mark on my time with RAGBRAI. And for the Iowa communities who opened their hearts and homes and have become friends. And for the riders, whose joy reminded me that a bicycle ride could be so much more.
RAGBRAI has shaped me. It’s given me friendships, stories and lessons I’ll carry forever. And while it’s hard to step away, this is an opportunity for me to pursue other passions.
I know the ride is in the right hands. The team will carry this institution forward with the same passion and purpose that has defined it for more than 50 years.
Thank you, RAGBRAI Nation, for letting me be a small part of this incredible story.
It’s been the honor of my career.
With a full heart,
Anne Lawrie
Cycling Director
