Meet our Board of Directors & Volunteers
Stacey Hicks, Board Member & President
Stacey is President of Team Hoyt Denver, leading the organization in strategic planning, sponsor partnerships and fundraising, and program development. She oversees all aspects of the organization’s operations, volunteer leadership and the Board of Directors. Stacey spent over 20 years in technology marketing, working with both startups in fast-paced, high growth environments and in several large corporations focused on new product introductions. In 2010, she shifted her focus to mission-driven work. She started the inaugural American Cancer Society’s gala in Denver and led their endurance athlete fundraising program. Stacey has run for decades, having completed 10 marathons and raced in hundreds of other races. She has a huge passion for bringing the transformative power of racing to athletes with disabilities and believes there is no greater joy than sharing the thrill of the race and the exhilaration of crossing the finish line with her athlete Roxy.
Ali Bowling, Board Member & Vice President
Ali is the Vice President of Team Hoyt Denver. As Vice President, she oversees all aspects of the organization's activities and supervises the affairs of the chapter, Board of Directors, and its officers.
Raised in Denver and graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder, Ali is passionate about the active and healthy lifestyle Colorado promotes. She spends her weekends enjoying the outdoors with her husband and dog, exploring the various trails and parks in and around the Denver metro area. Her dedication to an active lifestyle stemmed her commitment to the Team Hoyt Denver mission of providing an inclusive environment for all to participate in running events.
Cara Frangipane, Board Member & Secretary
Cara is Secretary of Team Hoyt Denver. Cara is a passionate athlete who believes everyone should have the opportunity to be active outdoors. She finds the outdoors to be therapeutic and healing from the stresses of everyday life. Working full time as a VP of Transaction Management, Cara oversees complex financial transactions which has given her the skills required to contribute to running a nonprofit organization. She looks forward to seeing our athletes run and the joy it brings them and their families.
The Hoyt brothers are cousins of hers and she spent many holidays and family gatherings with Rick, Russ and Robbie growing up. They have always inspired her to be kind, welcoming and to stay active.
Over the years Cara has completed numerous half marathons and varying distances of road and trail races. You can also find her hitting the Colorado ski slopes in the winter and mountain biking in the summer. It's been a dream of hers to build a Team Hoyt Chapter in the front range of Colorado for years, and she's thrilled to be part of the team making it happen!
Lori Deacon, MBA, Board Member & Treasurer
As a charter school founder, Lori Deacon has been involved with nonprofits and school development for thirty years. She and her team currently manage the financial activities for 22 charter schools combined with her primary concentration as an outsourced CFO/Business Strategist. Through her partnerships with School Districts, the Colorado League of Charter Schools, and the Charter School Institute, she is strengthening the business models, financial service teams, and financial practices for schools and Districts throughout Colorado. Since leaving the school she opened in 2006, Lori has been involved with more than 50 charters and nonprofit organizations.
Allie DaCar, Board Member & Race Manager
Allie is a California native who has fully embraced the active lifestyle that Colorado has to offer. While never much of a runner growing up, she did play just about every team sport imaginable. She settled on lacrosse and was a lacrosse goalie through college. She has fully immersed herself in the Colorado running scene since she moved to Denver in 2022. She’s done two marathons, an Ironman 70.3 and a few half marathons.
She started running with the Achilles Denver chapter when she moved to Denver and has made some of her best friends through Achilles. She has always been passionate about service but Achilles helped her discover a passion for making running an inclusive sport for athletes with disabilities. This passion drew her to Team Hoyt Denver. Allie is helping THD build their race calendar and working with race organizers to equip THD runner and rider athletes with the tools they need to be successful on race day. When she’s not running, you can find Allie either cuddling or XC skiing with her big fluffy malamute.
Thatcher Bowling, Board Member & Merchandise Manager
Thatcher is a Founding Board Member of Team Hoyt Denver, serving as the Merchandise Manager and a reliable all-around team member, stepping in wherever support is needed. Driven by a passion for inclusion through movement, he plays a key role in ensuring operations run smoothly—whether it's managing gear, assisting with event coordination, helping with equipment or offering support behind the scenes. As part of the leadership team, Thatcher is proud to carry forward the Team Hoyt legacy and help foster a welcoming, empowering community for athletes of all abilities.
Outside of Team Hoyt Denver, Thatcher brings a professional background in technology and sales, with a focus on building strong relationships and solving problems, skills that serve him well in both work and volunteer roles.
A proud Colorado native, Thatcher enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, Ali, their son, and their Great Pyrenees—often exploring local trails, skiing, biking, or playing softball. He’s a loyal supporter of all Colorado sports teams and an enthusiastic alumnus of the University of Colorado Boulder.
Erik Carrera, Racing Chair Specialist
Erik was born in San Antonio, TX , but raised in New Orleans, LA. He studied at Baylor University and received a BS in Mechanical engineering. He then moved to CO in 2020 and received his MS in Biomedical engineering at CU Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus. Erik grew up playing baseball, but injury ended his career early which led to his discovery of CrossFit. He has remained active in CrossFit and concurrently trains distance running for Spartan Races! Fitness has always been an integral part of his life and he wants everyone to be able to enjoy it. Ever since he discovered Biomedical Engineering, he knew he wanted to help those with “extra challenges” overcome them and have the ability to be a part of a fitness community! Team Hoyt Denver is a blessing and he is excited to use his knowledge, skills, and physical abilities in service of others. When he's not working he is either training for his next CrossFit competition, Spartan Race, or exploring CO’s many outdoor activities!
Mary Kossa, Rider Athlete Manager
Mary is an occupational therapist with a deep passion for inclusion and empowerment through movement. She began her running journey in January 2024 with a Couch to 5K program and completed her first marathon at the Houston Chevron in January 2025. Her background includes 10 years working at Camp CAMP, a camp for children and adults with disabilities, where she witnessed the transformative power of adaptive recreation. Outside of work and running, Mary loves hiking, reading, and playing board games. She's excited to support Team Hoyt Denver’s mission and help create unforgettable racing experiences for our rider athletes.