ASA Board of Directors

The BOD is the main governing body of the ASA.

Email sent to asaboard@asasand.org will be received by all the board members

Name

Email Address

Bio

Nicole Gilles

ngilles@asasand.org

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Gilles is a long time resident of the Imperial Valley and the former Chief Executive Officer of the Brawley Chamber of Commerce and the Brawley Economic development Commission. She is currently the President of the United
Desert Gateway and a dedicated duner. Gilles’ husband Bob, lived in Glamis for 22 years and helped his dad operate the family buggy repair business known as "Dirty Bob’s."

Bob Mason

rwmskm@cox.net

PRESIDENT

Moved to Arizona in 1947 from Ohio at 14. Have been involved in OHV activity all my life. Started duning in the early 60's. Have camped everwhere at ISDRA. Sharon and I have 4 children and 8 grandchildren. Retired from the Salt River Project (water and power reclamation project) as the Manager of Water Planning after 38 years in various water and power operating and planning positions. Building off-road vehicles has been my hobby forever. VW, Corvair, Pinto, Buick, Cheve and currently a Donovan V8 have powered several unique and original creations. Water pumpers are the prefered power plant.

Robert Gagliano

 I’m 47, and have been involved in OHV’s as an enthusiast for the past 38 years. I had the best of both worlds as my parents enjoyed the varied environments of hardpack and sand duning. I spent most of my younger years enjoying the challenges of Pismo (Oceano) Dunes and Dumont Dunes, and have enjoyed Glamis for the past 4 years. I am a second-generation duner, and have recently had the pleasure of introducing my first grandkids to the sport my whole family loves so much. I am employed in the aviation field. My other hobbies include street rodding, camping, and computers. I have been a volunteer on many different committees and activities throughout my life.

Dick Holliday

I have been going to Glamis since the late 1960’s and have a Corvair dune buggy and 350X ATC’s. My children have grown up going to Glamis and now as adults they have dune buggies and take their children to Glamis.

OPEN BOD

POSITION

Gary Jordan

 In 1982 I opened Paul Bunyan’s Firewood to supply restaurants with wood for cooking and to residents for fireplaces and camping. I also do commercial real estate and development. I was introduced to the dunes in 2001. My friends are duners with sand cars and quads, and I didn’t have either.  They told me about a sand car that a friend had built which took him over two years to build.  I bought the sand car, a toy hauler, a golf cart, and a new pick-up to pull all my new toys and had never been to the dunes. Needless to say, one trip to the dunes and I was hooked ($$$ GOOD THING).

At my firewood yard I talk to numerous people going to the dunes some old time duners and some brand new.  Most of them are clueless on the legal battle with the dunes.

In 2005 I was voted to the ASA Board of Directors. I am the Director of Events and Awards, including the JRS Award, and special assignments. I also help with the raffle car transportation and scheduling with the endowment committee.

Scott Swenka

 I moved to Arizona in 1996, and have been a avid off-roader since then. I started duning around 1998, and got heavily involved with the ASA in 2004. I was asked to be the Chairman of the Checkered Flag program in late 2004, in 2005 I became the webmaster for the ASA, and in December of 2008 I was voted onto the ASA Board. 

I have received the JRS award nominee 2 times (2006 and 2007). I work full time for Banner Health as their I/T Security Consultant. I hold a Masters of Science, and Bachelors of Science degrees. I am a certified NSA-IAM/IEM consultant, and also hold my NOMAN certification, and have over 1000 hours of professional technical training.

I have been doing information security for 15 years professionally. Part time I am a pyrotechnician for Fireworks Productions of Arizona. In my spare time I work on my sand car, and Polaris Outlaw Quad, and am very much into Home Theaters, and Car Audio systems.

Michael Sommer

"I got involved with duning 25 years ago and have lots of fun memories relating to the ISDRA. I began working at Hot VWs magazine in 1984 (our company also produced 3-Wheeling magazine which later became ATV Sports). I started publishing Sand Sports magazine in 1996 and I have been fortunate enough to participate in a lot of changes that have taken place in the sand industry during this time. My wife Kellie and I have two sons, Alec & Anthony (they both love the dunes and playing baseball). Currently, most of the trips that I make to the dunes are work-related, but I do take a few trips each season without my camera equipment just to have fun with my kids and friends. I’ve been a member of the ASA Board of Directors since January 2005, volunteering as the Media Affairs Chairman."