Nancy Lieberman President
Nancy is president and founder of GO! St. Louis, which was formed in 2000. Over the last eight years she has guided the organization from an upstart marathon weekend event, to an organization that today is a year-round community wellness leader. Her vision to create a weekend event that included fitness activities for all ages and abilities, has helped the event grow 700% since its inception. In addition, Nancy has created innovative programs and events that have received national acclaim, while inspiring thousands of people to get fit. Programs such as: Read, Right & Run Marathon®, Mature Mile and Mile-by-Mile Marathon, continue to support the organization’s overall mission.
Her past volunteer experiences include: Race Director for “Race For The Cure” and Event Director for Senior Olympics. Now, Nancy trains young women to run at Girls, Inc. where serves on the Board of Directors. In addition, she is a member of St. Louis Forum and is a founding member of a new organization: St. Louis Partnership for Girls & Women in Sports affiliated with Women’s Sports Foundation.
When not encouraging others in their pursuit of fitness, watch for Nancy on the roads, she has completed six marathons and dozens of triathlons, including an Ironman. She enjoys traveling to places where she can hike. In Nancy’s own words, “Hiking allows me to enjoy beautiful scenery and breathe fresh air. It’s a great way for me to clear my head”.
Most recently she fulfilled a dream by summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with her daughter, Elissa.
Prior to starting GO! St. Louis, Nancy spent 20 years working in health care management in St. Louis. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and received a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University. She has been a teacher and social worker.
E-mail Nancy at: nlieberman@gostlouis.org
Brian Lyons Race Director
Brian joined the GO! staff as the Assistant Race Director in November 2007 and assumed the Race Director duties in June 2008. Prior to joining GO!, Brian spent several years as a health and safety manager in the food service industry.
He is responsible for coordinating race operations for the organization’s events and programs. Most notably the GO! St. Louis Family Fitness Weekend, where he strives to build on the annual tradition of providing a safe and quality event for more than 18,000 participants. In addition, he chairs the race operations committee, a dedicated group of volunteers, who help plan and coordinate the marathon events.
Brian grew up in the hills of southwest Missouri and began his running career as a miler and half miler in middle school (he won his first race ever and was hooked). After running cross country for Purdy High School he went on to run track and cross county for Missouri Southern State University where he was an All-American two times. Today, he continues to compete on a regional and national level. His wife Margaret, also an All-American runner, was on the team and that is where they met. They are the proud parents of a daughter, Lilian, who competed in the 2008 GO! St. Louis Diaper Dash. When Brian isn't running, you can find him and his family spending time outdoors, camping and canoeing.
The Lyons' make their home in South St. Louis City.
E-mail Brian at: blyons@gostlouis.org
Jeff Trammel Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Jeff joined the GO! St. Louis staff in September 2007, after spending the previous four years as Director of Communications for the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Prior to the symphony, he spent 10-plus years with the St. Louis Blues (doing marketing, not playing hockey!). Jeff handles all of the marketing and communication initiatives for the organization. His fitness resume includes a four year track career (high hurdles, no distance) at Salem High School, in Salem, IL, followed by four years on the McKendree University’s soccer team. Jeff has completed one full marathon and more than 10 half marathons. He resides in University City, MO., enjoys spending time with his English bulldog “Brando” and keeping up with University of Illinois sports.
E-mail Jeff at: jtrammel@gostlouis.org
Mike Cosgrove Director of Special Events
Mike joined the GO! St. Louis staff in 2005 as the organization’s Race Director and recently (June 2008) changed his role, to focus on planning and coordinating a variety of events and programs. He will oversee the development of the Mile-by-Mile Marathon corporate wellness program and the Walk @ Work Day events.
Among his former duties as Race Director for GO!, Mike was responsible for the operation side of the GO! St. Louis Family Fitness Weekend, which under his guidance, continued to be a quality event that stressed a safe and rewarding experience for all participants.
Mike enjoyed teaching physical education for over 30 years in the Parkway School District. In Parkway, he also served as the Coordinator of Outdoor and Physical Education and Summer School. In 1999, he was chosen as the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) National Elementary School Physical Education Teacher of the Year.
Of course, Mike has run marathons. One thing you might not now about Mike, a long-time St. Louis resident – he says he’s “a member of Red Sox Nation, living in Cardinal land!”
E-mail Mike at: mcosgrove@gostlouis.org
Mona Vespa Langenberg Director of Youth Programs
After more than three years living on the West Coast, Mona is happy to be back in St. Louis and overseeing the increasingly-popular GO! youth programs. Among her responsibilities, she will lead the effort to increase participation and awareness for the GO! St.Louis Read, Right & Run Marathon program, which is entering its eighth year of student development. In addition, Mona will be instrumental in maintaining and developing community relationships with school administrators, parents, students and like-minded organizations.
Mona actually began her career working with Nancy (president, GO! St. Louis) as an intern in 2000. After three years interning, while at Washington University, she joined the staff full-time and worked in operations and registration until 2005. In her years away from the Midwest, Mona worked as a Childcare & Program Director for two YMCAs doing youth program management and development.
A long-time local runner, Mona loves the friendliness of our running community and of runners in general. She’s run six marathons, tried a few triathlons and is always looking for a new challenge! Mona is looking forward to working on the youth events for GO! St. Louis, and definitely believes after moving back that “there’s no place like home!”
E-mail Mona at: mlangenberg@gostlouis.org
Jen Tesmer Director of Registration & Website Management
Jen is our resident computer guru, registration specialist and catch-all person for just about any project that gets laid in front of her. She comes from a competitive running background that began her freshman year of high school when she didn't make the cheerleading squad. As it turns out, she found success in running all through high school, college and even now on the local road-racing circuit. When she's not running, Jen enjoys her monthly book club and sewing projects that include making skirts out of old running t-shirts.
E-mail Jen at: jtesmer@gostlouis.org
Karen Lester Health & Fitness Expo Coordinator
Karen’s operations run more smoothly than the best computer you could buy. It’s a good thing, too, because she won’t get near one! In Karen’s sixth year with GO! St. Louis, she will again assume responsibilities for the Health & Fitness Expo – a great job for Karen, who is always calm amidst a whirlwind of activity. The truth about Karen and technology is that she is, in fact, easing her way into the computer world, but always keeps a handwritten copy of everything. “Then,” she reminds us frequently, “as you all are searching frantically for lost computer files, I just pull my paper out of the folder and wait for you to come to me!”
