Committee

NANCY AVILLA - Event Director

I have been a Nevada County resident since 1990.  Although since childhood, I spent many summer weekends playing in Deer Creek.  My first involvement with the Barbara Schmidt Millar “Celebration of Life” Women’s Triathlon began in 1999 as a participant.  Cathy Anderson Meyers invited me to join the event.  Of course I thought she was crazy for asking, but I turned around and used Cathy’s same persuasive tactic and begged one of my sisters to also participate.  Together we trained for our 1st, but not last, triathlon.  Once there, with my husband cheering me on, I realized the extent of this event and quickly volunteered my services. 

As a 28 year PG&E employee I have had many opportunities to be involved in various community events.  However, the BSM Tri soon held a special place in my heart.  Whether you are a participant, a volunteer, or both, you can’t help but notice the wonderful, positive energy surrounding the day’s activities.  Even though the BSM Tri promotes health and well being for women of all ages, the financial support provided through scholarships and our local Breast Imaging Center can’t go unnoticed.  We truly live in an amazing community and I’m proud to be such an integral part of it.

Even though I never met Barbara, her inspiration to her friends and family (Cathy, Lindsay, Viki, Karen…) has added inspiration to our community.  I have life long memories from each of the events:  Pink bathing caps huddled together on the boat ramp, crossing the finish line hand in hand, camaraderie, new friends, involving family and friends , sharing laughter, sharing tears...  Being thanked by strangers for helping to make a difference.

KAREN SCHMIDT LING - Webmaster and Sister to Barbara

I have known Barbara all my life...sharing many days, nights, laughter, tears, memories and treasured moments with her...she was my little sister!  I miss her, dearly, but I am so proud and amazed at how the Celebration of Life Triathlon has evolved in her memory.   Barb would have been so humble and thankful to all who have been involved over the years with their countless hours of dedication and steadfast support.  It has truly been a Community effort to support the health and fitness of the women of Nevada County!

I'm an R.N. who has lived and worked around the World and returned to my roots in Grass Valley, living with my Yellow Lab, Ellie, in Alta Sierra.

SHIRLEY SCHMIDT - Mother to Barbara

Barbara was my youngest child.  We moved here from the Bay Area in 1963.  During WWII I was a Navy Wave Link Trainer Operator stationed at Fort Lauderdale Florida naval air station.  I met my husband, Don, a naval aviator, there and we were married in 1946 and moved to Burlingame.  During that time Don and I  were the first married couple to graduate from San Mateo Junior College.

Unfortunately Don died in 2006.  I cannot believe the impact the triathlon in Barbara's name has had in this area.  Barbara would have been amazed .  Barbara's sister Karen, and my grandson Stewart Millar have been involved in the event every year since the early days.

BOBBIE HEARD - Training Coordinator

Thirteen years ago, Cathy approached me about doing a triathlon. I looked at her like she was nuts and said "I was too old" and a definite "NO". For the next year I thought about it and finally convinced myself that maybe I could do this. After all, I was a swimmer and I was a runner and I did ride a bike when I was a kid. So, I tried lake swimming and Cathy helped me learn to shift my bike and I ran up the boat ramp. Twelve years later, I am still doing this event and I am now 64 years old!!!

This event had become the focal point of my year. I have been serving on the board for the past 3 years and have seen the positive effect it has on our community. Not only have women benefited from the services the monies collected provide, but I firmly believe that every woman who participates is taking steps in promoting her own breast health.

KIMBERLY PARKER - SNMHF Executive Director

Kimberly Parker, CFRE, Executive Director has been with Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation since 2001. She has been a member of the Barbara Schmidt Millar Celebration of Life Triathlon board since 2005 although she has been involved with the event since 2001.  Kimberly works actively with the 49er Rotary Breakfast Club of Nevada City to involve club members as volunteers to manage the volunteer food and t- shirt booth, take photographs, assist on the lake in kayaks and more.    

While Kimberly actively works on many types of Hospital projects including the recent Sierra Nevada Diagnostic Center and expansion of Sierra Nevada Cancer Center, last year the Foundation raised over $100,000 for Project Pink, a campaign to further breast care in western Nevada County through the purchase of Faxitron equipment used during lumpectomies.  Funding also provided blanket warming cabinets for the comfort of our breast patients. 

Professionally, Kimberly has been honored as the Fundraising Executive of the Year for Northern California.  She is a CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive).  Service minded, she is a member of Rotary, on the board for the Center of Nonprofit Leadership, and is a member of Leave A Legacy. She also serves on numerous local committees and task forces.  Past service includes serving on the board of the Placer County SPCA, as president, of Volunteers of America, as vice-president on the California Consultancy for Arts Education board, as president of the Association of Professional Fundraisers board, and as a board member of the Planned Giving Forum. She is also a graduate of both the Nevada County and Sacramento County Leadership Institute Programs. 

LINDSAY KREMPLE - T-Shirt and Honor/Memory Board Coordinator

I met Barbara in 1981, when she moved back to Grass Valley after college. She was marrying a friend of mine from high school in Southern California. Barbara and I played volleyball together where we met Cathy Anderson-Meyers. When Barbara became ill we, along with some other friends, planned a triathlon in her honor. I have been fortunate enough to have participated in 11 of the 16 Celebration of Life Triathlons. I am the type of person who lacks any real discipline when it comes to exercise. If it’s not fun, I won’t do it. Every summer around July, I start my version of training for the tri, always keeping it fun! My favorite part of this event is the camaraderie of all of these different types of woman who participate. Young and old, athletic and couch potatoes, fit and out-of shape, come together for their varying reasons and share a great day.

JAMIE ZYDONIS - Event Expo Coordinator

I’ve been a member of this community for the past 35 years.  I have been a volunteer fire fighter/EMT for the City of Nevada City and a volunteer EMT for the BMX bike races.  I helped my friend Nancy with the Relay for Life booth for 4 years and I have worked for Network Real Estate for the past 10 years. 

When Nancy asked my 10 year old daughter to help her pass out t-shirts at the BSM Event Expo, she knew I would have to be the chaperone.  The next thing I knew, eleven years had passed and I was still volunteering and my duties had increased.  I have taken over the duties of coordinating the Event Expo while my daughter coordinates the participant t-shirt table and has become a Swim Angel. 

The 1st time I participated as a triathlete I was very nervous about the swim.  But the other participants, the Swim Angels and the kayakers all gave me the confidence I needed to complete the swim and make my way to the finish line.  I am a 11 year volunteer and an 10 year participant. 

I think volunteering is a huge part of our community.  I wish everybody would take the time to volunteer for local organizations that help benefit our community.  

Never did I dream that I would be involved in an event that would directly affect my family.  Early detection is more important than we sometimes want to admit.  I’m grateful to this event and I look forward to staying involved for many years to come. 

WENDI AUGUST - Event Assistant Director

I have been the Assistant Director of the BSM Triathlon since 2009.  I have always been impressed by the degree of community involvement that fuels this event. Not only does the event raise money for our local breast imaging center and fund high school scholarships for our area students, but it inspires women to challenge themselves physically, mentally, and often emotionally. This event can have a profound effect on the volunteers, participants, spectators, as well as those receiving the financial assistance for mammograms and the scholarships. 

The event is run by the community, for the community and I am grateful to be a part of the BSM Triathlon. Cathy and I first met in 1996 while working at a ski resort and I was impressed by her enthusiasm and dedication to health and fitness. I had participated in the BSM Triathlon several years and was honored when Cathy asked if I would be interested in helping as the Assistant Director.  In my spare time,  I am a Physical Therapist Assistant and work in the Cardiac Rehab Dept. at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital.

I have lived in Nevada City for 25 years, raised my children here and enjoyed all the outdoor  activities of our area.  I never knew Barbara, but my mother had breast cancer and I have been a strong supporter of mammograms ever since then.  

 For the past 13 years I have been a proud competitor in the triathlon.  I have encouraged, or harassed as some of my friends may call it, many women to get out there and try it.  My business, The Outside Inn, has been a sponsor of the event for many years as well.  My goal is to continue to participate in the event for many years to come, even though I am now a grandmother of two small boys.

I hope to continue to encourage  other women to enter the triathlon.  I have found nothing more satisfying than accomplishing the triathlon and I treasure the camaraderie of the other women involved.  what a treat and to have it benefit a great cause as well makes it even sweeter.  Now I am joining the board to help Cathy with the organizational side of the event.  I hope to see you all out there at the lake.