MCA Board Members

Kevin Burns photo

Kevin Burns

President of MCA

Kevin is the MCA’s President, and he has been a curler at Exmoor Country Club since 2018. He and his wife Elaine (also a curler) live in Lake Forest and have two grown children. Kevin is VP of Merger Integration at Wesco International in Glenview. When not curling, he enjoys golf, travel, rooting for the Buffalo Bills and walking his dog Carly.

Square Eric

Eric Reithel

Vice President of MCA

Eric Reithel is the MCA's Vice President. He’s been a member of Windy City Curling since 2014 and currently serves as its Secretary. One of Eric’s favorite curling memories was representing (and offering Streamline™ commentary for) WCC at the USCA Arena Nationals in 2019, the last year Windy City was eligible, before it became a dedicated-ice club.

Ryan Picture

Ryan Koralik

Treasurer of MCA

Ryan is the MCA Treasurer and a current member of the Chicago Curling Club. He started curling in 2018, after watching curling for several Olympics. Ryan is a Data Scientist by trade for NielsenIQ in Chicago, though he works from home all the way out in Algonquin. When not curling, or thinking about curling, he spends quality family time with his wife and two children and occasionally speedrunning some old time NES games.

Kerry

Kerry Dickson

Secretary of MCA

Kerry is the Secretary of the MCA. Kerry’s curling journey began with what is known in his house as the “Best Christmas Present Ever” in December 2012. His wife, Ellen, unable to find an open Learn to Curl opted to purchase memberships at Chicago CC. From that “both feet in” start, Kerry and Ellen have curled throughout the US and in Europe. Their friendships created through curling are immeasurable.

katephoto

Kate Hagenbuch

Media & Communications Director

Kate is the MCA Media & Communications Director and a member of Waltham Curling Club.  Kate's husband John and two daughters also curl.  Her son has opted for the other Scottish sport, rugby.  Kate's curling claim to fame is that she coached her daughters' team at the Mixed World Championship in 2023 in Aberdeen, Scotland.  Now she drives the "Spielmobile" around the country to National events for her daughters.

Chris Longee

Chris Longee

Past President of MCA

Chris is the MCA President and a current member of Chicago Curling Club. He started curling in 2012, and since that time has served in multiple roles including Board Member, Membership Director, and Director of Corporate Events. Chris is recently retired, and he and his wife Laurie have five children and currently live in Northbrook, Illinois.

MCA Representatives

Lon-Peper---Head-Shot

Lon Peper

MCA Representative - Cedar Rapids

Lon is the MCA Rep and Vice President of Cedar Rapids Curling. Lon began curling in 2010, and is a founding member of Cedar Rapids Curling. He is a Level 1 Instructor, Level 2 Official, and Level 1 Ice Tech. His curling highlights include helping start Cedar Rapids Curling, winning the MCA 5 & Under, and scoring an 8-ender at The Big Spiel. Lon supports his curling habit as a Software Engineer in the life insurance and annuities industry.

IMG_6673 (1)

Adam Miller

MCA Representative - Chicago

Adam is an MCA Representative for Chicago Curling Club. Adam is a high school theatre and English teacher and lover of curling. He joined the Chicago Curling Club on a whim after watching the sport at the Olympics, and has found not only a passion in the community and camaraderie of the sport itself, but he fell in love with a fellow curler, Sara Gaum. They got married at the Chicago Curling Club and have competed at Mixed Nationals multiple times in addition to bringing home multiple wins of the Kettle Moraine Mixed Bonspiel Costume Contest.

Matthew Sherry

Matt Sherry

MCA Representative - Chicago

Matthew is an MCA Representative for Chicago Curling Club. He started curling in 2011, and he has bottled his passion for the sport by leading the junior curling program at CCC with fellow curler and partner, Lorna Cagann. Matt is active on the Bonspiel circuit and contrary to popular belief has made a shot before.

tori headshot

Tori Hanson

MCA Representative - Des Moines
Tori is a current MCA representative and the current President of the Des Moines Curling Club. She started curling in 2022 as an ask from her family members. Since then, it has been a way to spend quality time with family, local community and extended curling community at bonspiels and participate in an amazing sport. When Tori is not curling is Senior Director, Education for the Iowa Hospital Association.
_MG_0441 (3)

Sandy Stevenson

MCA Representative - Exmoor

Sandy is currently the MCA Rep for Exmoor Country Club and serves as the chairman of men’s curling. He has been a member of Exmoor since 1999 and served as its 59th President in 2015 and 2016. He started curling in 2006 and has participated in numerous bonspiels including the USCA Senior Men’s Nationals. Sandy’s rink won Exmoor’s Club Championship in 2023. During the day he is an architect who advises non-profit organizations on the design and construction of their facilities.

Labadie_Josh-938-Edit-ColorWeb_Original

Josh Labadie

MCA Representative - St. Louis

Josh is the MCA MCA Rep for the St. Louis Curling Club. He is new to curling as of 2023 but became immediately hooked at his first Learn to Curl, after which he was immediately thrown into a bonspiel at Waltham where he only fell once. When not curling, he enjoys landscape photography, hiking, traveling, and chess. Josh works as a bank auditor and lives in the St. Louis area with his wife Annie and their two dogs.

IMG_0153 (2)

Jane Vahle

Co-MCA Representative - Waltham

Jane is a co-MCA Rep with her husband Larry for Waltham Curling Club. She began curling in 2010 and has enjoyed both league play and traveling to bonspiels. She has curled at two Senior Women’s Nationals with gals from Waltham. Jane retired from teaching high school Physical Education and Driver Education for 45 years in 2010. Her retirement interests include, traveling, hiking and skiing out west.

IMG_0154 (2)

Larry Vahle

Co-MCA Representative - Waltham

Larry is a co-MCA Rep with his wife, Jane, for the Waltham Curling Club. He started curling in 2010 after trying with a snow skiing group and watching Jane’s dad, a past member of Wauwatosa Curling Club. He taught mathematics in HS for 37 years and at a community college for 10 years. He was an IHSA official in baseball and softball for over 30 years. He enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing, and rooting for his favorite baseball, football, and hockey teams in retirement.

IMG_3703

Nels Leutwiler

MCA Representative - Wilmette

Nels is the MCA Rep and President of Wilmette Curling Club. He began curling in 1981 at Anchorage Curling Club (he was the 1981 “Cheechako Curler of the Year—just sayin.’). Nels curled for many years at North Shore, and is now a dual member of Wilmette and Chicago curling clubs.

Square Eric

Eric Reithel

MCA Representative - Windy City

Eric Reithel is the new MCA REp for Windy City CC. He’s been a member of Windy City Curling since 2014 and currently serves as its Secretary. One of Eric’s favorite curling memories was representing (and offering Streamline™ commentary for) WCC at the USCA Arena Nationals in 2019, the last year Windy City was eligible, before it became a dedicated-ice club.