Meet the Staff
At Sockeye Cycle you can expect the highest level of customer service, professionalism, and passion for cycling! We come from a variety of backgrounds; some work summers guiding our daily trips while others are long time Alaska residents.
John Grenz – Skagway Retail Manager
John traded the deserts of Nevada for the temperate rain forests of Alaska. He enjoys multi day backpacking trips, including the nearby Chilkoot Trail. He recently graduated from Bike Mechanic school so you may find him in the back of the shop as well as on the retail floor.
Ryan Rice – Skagway Shop Manager
Ryan first fell in love with the beauty Alaska had to offer back in 2001, while patrolling the Bearing Sea during his Coast Guard Service. It’s that beauty, teamed with the resilient and passionate people of Alaska that he can’t get enough of. He’s worked bicycle tours across Africa and SE Asia and is always planning the next bike packing adventure. Stop on by, he’ll talk your ear off about it all over a fresh baked loaf of sourdough bread.
Nora Zimmerly – Mechanic
Nora has a passion for all things mechanical. She can fix bikes and almost anything else you bring in. She was most recently in Oregon and Talkeetna, Alaska. Next on her list of goals is to get her pilot's license so she can explore from the air as well as the ground.
Ted Kelly – Haines Shop Manager
Ted was raised by wolves in a vast expanse of wilderness. After a long migration he came to Haines, where, though he still doesn't speak much English, he enjoys working on bikes, trucks, stalking and eating delicious food, and spending time with his canine friends and his partner.
Matt Jillson – Skagway Operations Manager
Matt arrived in Alaska after a long stint of travel and adventure guiding in the lower 48. He is an avid mountain biker and loves long bike tours. Lately he has been immersed in the adventure of his back yard complete with ducks, chickens, and a variety of garden beds. Matt thinks that southeast Alaska is the best place in the world.
Dustin Craney – President
In 2009, Dustin sold everything that didn't fit in his station wagon and drove north to work on bikes in Alaska. One summer of bike work turned into 11 years (and counting) of exploring Alaska by bicycle. Dustin met his wife Katie on the Alaska State Ferry Malaspina on the way from Juneau to Skagway. They live year round in Haines.
Becky Hill – Office Manager
Becky's love for Southeast Alaska began on a backpacking trip in 1994. A year later, she sold nearly everything she owned, packed her car and left the DC area on a 5000 mile road trip to Alaska. After a couple years of exploring the state, she settled down in Haines where she enjoys the slower pace of small town living and embraces a lifestyle full of amazing scenery and adventure. Becky has been our office manager since 2010.
Katie Craney – Senior Guide
Katie first came to Alaska in 2004 and has worked for the National Park Service in both Gustavus and Skagway AK. In addition to guiding at Sockeye Cycle, Katie helps with our new staff training and marketing. She also works as a naturalist on a small ship that sails the Inside Passage. Katie is also an artist who's work can be viewed at www.katieionecraney.com
Thom Ely – Founder and Director
Thom first came to Alaska in 1981 to work for the Young Adult Conservation Corp at False Island near Sitka. He fell in love with the Southeast Alaska environment and returned summers to work as a deck hand on a salmon troller. He moved to Haines in 1987 and bought an existing bike shop the following year. He expanded the business to Skagway in 1992. He continues to bike, hike, paraglide, ski and enjoy and advocate for the environment of Alaska and the world.