Our Tri CLE Team

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Founder/CEO

Mark is a long-time member of the downtown business community. He found triathlon at the elevated age of 50 and races in half IronMan distance events plus and enjoys sharing his disciplines of swimming, biking, running, strength training, and nutrition with others. He founded a newly reimagined triathlon in downtown Cleveland that took place on August 21, 2021, with the three shortest event distances to attract more people to the sport.

When you meet Mark, you will soon realize how big of a heart he has for triathlon & the community of Cleveland + his enthusiasm is contagious!

Event Director

USAT Level I Certified Race Director

Natalie is a life-long Clevelander and athlete. In 2007, she impulsively signed up for her first triathlon the day before the race without having any training or even an athletic swimsuit. Natalie fell in love with the sport and has been involved with triathlon ever since that day. She likes to use the sport as an excuse to travel and has raced in Denmark, Ireland, and in many locations around the US. What she loves most about the sport is that everyone has their own personal challenges to overcome on race day and the sense of accomplishment once you cross that finish line cannot be found anywhere else. Ironman said in a marketing campaign, ”It's a line you have to cross to understand” and that is completely true.

Marketing & Communications Director

 USAT Level I Certified Race Director 

Mel (aka Mel Pro) got into the sport of triathlon in 2010. At the time she didn't know how to swim & completed her first triathlon with her head completely out of the water!

Since then, she has learned how to swim & has embraced it by even swimming a few open water 5K races!

Mel has for many years given to the multisport community in various roles: member & coach of the Cleveland State Triathlon Team; member, board member, & Secretary for the Cleveland Triathlon Club; and member & President of SnakeBite Racing.

What she loves about the sport of triathlon is the community - not just when training & racing - but the support those in the sport provide outside of triathlon. 

When Mel isn't working her magic on all this social media & marketing, you can find her frolicking in the woods talking to the animals.

Volunteer and Community Outreach Director & Public Relations

Jess began her journey with Tri CLE in 2022, joining the team in their second year, and is back for year three in 2023 to support and engage the amazing volunteer community.

What Jess loves most about working with Tri CLE volunteers is seeing how much they care about supporting athletes and the community, using their own skills and heart to enhance race day for all! The icing on the cake is seeing volunteers transition into athletes, by trying something new that they didn’t think they could do before.

Jess is an ultra-runner and lover of Cleveland. You may see her around at a group run anywhere across northeast Ohio. One day she hopes to learn how to properly swim to complete a triathlon on her own, in the meantime, she enjoys helping people reach their goals and enjoying every moment in life!