COPMOBA Hires new Executive Director
January 14, 2026
On Monday, the new executive director of the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association started her first day on the job, but she brings with her an extensive knowledge of the Western Slope community and its many mountain biking trails.
Faith Rodriguez has lived in Grand Junction for the past five years. She served as the executive director of United Way of Mesa County before being hired on by COPMOBA. Previously her career had been in health care.
“When moving over here, I just really wanted to get involved in the community,” Rodriguez said. “I wanted to take a step away from health care just so I could be a mom and have a career with normal-ish hours. So I started at United Way and I was there for three years.”
Rodriguez said she still believes strongly in the mission of United Way, but was looking for an opportunity that would also align with her personal life and passions.
“When the COPMOBA executive director position came up I was really excited because my family, particularly my husband, is very involved in mountain biking,” Rodriguez said. “He races mountain bikes all over the world. It was almost like combining my personal life with my professional life.”
Rodriguez and her son also mountain bike, though she said it was a pastime she married into. She said locally the Kokopelli Trail system is one of her favorites.
“Lunch Loops can be a little bit intimidating for me,” Rodriguez said. “I feel like when you really want to just go and ride and clear your mind, I like being out at Kokopelli.”
Rodriguez said she is excited to help work on the organization’s upcoming projects, like its renovation of the Lunch Loops Bike Park in Grand Junction, as well as trail expansions in Delta and Montrose. She said she’s looking forward to working and partnering with other local outdoor recreation groups as well.
“I have a lot of good ideas to kind of take the strategic plan and the vision that the board of directors has put in place for COPMOBA and just really expand and (work) with some of the community partners who are doing a lot of the outdoor work,” Rodriguez said.
COPMOBA’s hiring of Rodriguez was announced on social media last week with a post by COPMOBA Board President Adam Kinsey, who welcomed her aboard. He touted her nonprofit experience as a key factor in her hiring, along with her vision for the future.
“We are confident that her vision, experience and commitment will help guide our organization into its next chapter,” Kinsey wrote. “Please join me in welcoming Faith to our community. Over the coming months, there will be opportunities for you to meet with her and learn more about her priorities and goals.”
Since her hiring was announced, Rodriguez said the response she has gotten has been very positive. While she’s only a few days on the job, she said she’s excited to get to work on behalf of the mountain biking community.
“The community that I have heard from has been so supportive and excited,” Rodriguez said. “I think it was a little bit of a surprise to some people, but also those who know me personally (have said) that it’s a perfect fit, which makes me feel really good and just excited.”
Article by Dan West - Daily Sentinel