COMPANY HISTORY
Spectrum Trail Design was formed in 2004 when proprietor Alex Stewart transitioned from a dedicated volunteer trailbuilder to a full-time professional trail contractor. Since then, Spectrum has built a reputation in the Midwest for developing top quality trails that have gained national recognition. We earned membership in the Professional TrailBuilders Association in 2011.
Spectrum has designed and installed 180+ miles of natural surface trails. Through partnerships with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association, we have helped transform Indiana into a mountain biking hub by creating destination trail systems in Brown County, O'Bannon Woods, and Versailles State Parks. We have worked with a range of responsible private land owners, municipal and county parks and recreation departments, and public land managers whose goal is the creation of sustainable trails to access the beauty and unique features of their property. Stakeholders in our projects over the past fifteen years have ranged from local mountain bike clubs to the National Park Service. We have trained and supervised trail workers with ACE, AmeriCorps, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Park Service, as well as the Cleveland Mountain Bike Association, Hoosier Mountain Bike Association, Southwest Kentucky Mountain Bike Association, Midwest Michigan Mountain Bike Association, Western Michigan Mountain Bike Association, and the Southwest Michigan Mountain Bike Association. We frequently employ local labor as necessary, often drawing upon the most talented volunteers to supplement our key staff.
Recent large-scale projects include the development of the DTE Energy Foundation Trail system in Michigan's Waterloo State Recreation Area and the East Rim flow trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Spectrum's style and skill are also showcased in a variety of smaller regional projects, such as the Maple Hill Trail in Kalamazoo and the addition of the Hobbs Hollow Flow Trail to the trail system in Brown County State Park. Our portfolio has also expanded in recent years to include crushed stone ADA hiking trails and custom cedar bridges.
CORE CREW MEMBERS
Alex Stewart has been an avid trail enthusiast since he built his first trail through the woods for his BMX bike in 1977. As a founding member of the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association in 1996 he has been involved in trail advocacy and mountain bike specific trail development for over two decades. As a volunteer and as a professional he has collaborated in the development of over 350 miles of trail; 165 of those miles have been direct design/build projects. Trails have become an anchor in his lifestyle. When not designing or building a new trail, he is likely to be found doing important “trail research” in AZ, NC, CO or some other place with plenty of rocks and elevation change. He brings enthusiasm and unique experience to every trail project and hopes to continue creating lasting, memorable trail experiences for many years to come.
Kevin Marzahl joined Spectrum in 2014. A skilled small equipment operator, Kevin has years of experience in hand building and volunteer management from his five years as a Trail Specialist with the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, during which he oversaw the redevelopment of the city's mountain bike park. Kevin has been instrumental in the construction of several major mountain bike trail projects with Spectrum, including the DTE Energy Foundation and Maple Hill trail systems in Michigan, the East Rim Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Hobbs Hollow Flow Trail in Brown County State Park, as well as managing the development of two private trail systems in an ecologically sensitive zone adjacent to Lake Monroe in Bloomington, Indiana.
Jeff Seelig was hired in 2015 and has rapidly become a proficient machine operator who has channeled his enthusiasm for mountain biking and his background in motocross into his development as a trail builder. Jeff's education in trail building includes six months living and riding in New Zealand. He has been involved in the construction of all recent mountain bike projects: DTE Energy Foundation Trail, CVNP's East Rim, Maple Hill, and Hobbs Hollow. Jeff is also an experienced welder and mechanic bringing a well-rounded set of skills needed for mechanized trail construction.
Ty Sovern brings a lifetime of experience in the construction trades to the Spectrum trail crew. Hired in 2016, Ty spent three decades working his way up from the ground floor of Hoosier State Construction. He spent ten years as a laborer in the family business before becoming a crew foreman, and after six years assumed the dual roles of Vice President and Project Manager. Spectrum was happy to welcome Ty and his broad range of skills—from carpentry to mechanics to machine operation—to the crew. On his off-days you can find Ty traveling to compete in regional DH races.
Additional Crew Members: We have three other part-time machine operators and another carpenter/hand-finisher available to augment our main crew's efforts. We typically hire local labor (preferably future trail users) to help with hand-finishing and bridge construction. As noted, we are also experts at collaborating with land agency resources and local volunteer groups to help stretch the budget and increase potential for added features (benches, optional lines, etc…..pre-approved, of course).