MEET the Board
Zachary Gootman
President
Zachary Gootman’s journey into endurance sports began with running alongside his wife, Candace, as part of a lifestyle change and weight loss journey. In 2022, he took the plunge into his first triathlon at the Smiley Sprint Triathlon, driven by a desire to tackle one of the most demanding physical challenges he could imagine and prove that the old version of himself was behind him. Since then, Zack has been a fixture at local racing, including winning the 2023 Trivium Multisport Series in the Clydesdale. Zack has also participated in several Ironman-branded events, finishing his first full-distance race at Ironman Florida in 2024. In addition to triathlons, Zack also participates in both gravel cycling races and ultramarathons. Zack joined the board in 2025 as a member at large and transitioned to team president at the start of the 2026 season.
Nick Atz
Vice President
Nick joined TTT in 2020 after completing High Point Sprint Triathlon as his first triathlon in 2019. Since
then, he has completed two half ironman events and participates in Sprint and Olympic distance events
in the Triad area each year. Nick has enjoyed getting to know the many awesome triathletes in our area
and seeks to continue fostering the triad triathlon community. Outside of triathlon, Nick enjoys anything
outdoors, especially when the (3) dogs are involved, and accompanies his partner Nicole in some of her
trail running adventures.
Arlene Barbosa
Treasurer / VP
Arlene was introduced to the sport of triathlon when her husband asked her to do a race with him. She started doing them as a "bucket list" item, but quickly realized how incredibly blessed she was to "tri". After years of competing, she now gets to enjoy her kids competing, racing with friends and introducing friends to the sport. Arlene has participated in Sprint, Olympic and Half Ironman Distance events, along with countless running events, her favorites being Nat Greene’s Tri and the Myrtle Beach half marathon.
Arlene was drawn to TTT in 2017 after witnessing the support and camaraderie the team offered. She has held the position as team treasurer for several years and maintains her role in 2022 with the goal to “grow the team even more and offer more team building experiences.”
Outside of training, Arlene holds a degree in civil engineering, has been married for 20 years this September. She has 3 kids, (Ana 14, twins Oscar and David 12) and has been an instructor at the YMCA for 20 years. She enjoys working for Junction 311 racing, and this past year, her family adopted their first rescue dog, Midnight!
Jim Jeremiah
Website Administrator
Jim joined the world of triathlon to stay motivated, push his physical limits, and set a positive example for his sons, Dylan and Jacob. As a former Navy rescue swimmer, Jim is very comfortable in the water, though he wouldn’t call himself the fastest swimmer out there!
Since joining TTT in 2024, he has truly valued the camaraderie, and opportunities the team provides to train with others and share our hard learned lessons. He is excited to serve as a new board member and the Website Administrator and looks forward to contributing to the team’s success and growth.
Stacy Crockett
Board Member at Large
Stacy's very first triathlon was the 2022 Smiley Triathlon. After being a runner her whole life (she actually just finished her 8th marathon) she has been excited to take on the challenges in the triathlon world. Over the past 3 years she has competed in a variety of local triathlons. Stacy's first 70.3 was the 2024 IMNC in Wilmington and she is already signed up for the 2026 Eagleman 70.3 in Maryland (with a few other TTT members!)
Stacy has been a member of TTT for the past 2 years and will be joining the 2026 Board as an At-Large Member. Stacy and her husband have lived in Winston Salem for 11 years. She is a mom to 3 teenage boys as well as 3 dogs, all of which keep her busy.
Beth Warren
Board Member at Large
Beth Warren brings decades of endurance sports experience to the Triad Triathlon Team Board. A lifelong runner for 44 years, she has completed over 30 marathons and several 50K trail races. Her passion for multisport began 15 years ago, leading to an impressive record of four Ironman 140.6 finishes and more than 20 Ironman 70.3 races, including multiple 70.3 events this season- such as the inaugural Dallas 70.3 and a 50K trail race in Michigan.
Professionally, Beth is a licensed Professional Engineer and Senior Project Engineering Manager in the Packaging Industry, with an extensive global experience spanning 36 countries. Her leadership skills extend beyond the workplace to the triathlon community, where she loves organizing and leading group rides, including an annual 100-mile ride from Greensboro to Virgina and back. Known for her enthusiasm and willingness to mentor, Beth is always eager to help new athletes navigate their journey into endurance sports. Her combination of athletic achievement, professional expertise, and community engagement makes her a valuable asset to the Triad Triathlon Team Board.
Adam Williams
Board Member at Large
Adam Williams completed his first triathlon, Nat Greene’s Revenge, in the fall of 2023 and joined the Triad Triathlon Team in the fall of 2024. I got into cycling when my daughter asked if we could ride RAGBRAI, the annual ride across Iowa, which we completed together on a tandem in the summer of 2023. I have really enjoyed doing triathlon and hope to complete my first 70.3 in 2026.
Matt Poplin
Director of Social Media
Matt Poplin joined TTT in 2024 while completing the Trivium Multisport Series, then joined the TTT Board in 2025 as Director of Social Media. Matt is an NC Native and outdoors enthusiast. He enjoys everything outdoors; from long mountain bike rides, to 4x4 overlanding and camping trips with his two sons. A lifelong athlete, Matt is an accomplished swimmer and runner; and began competing in middle school. After being encouraged by a friend to take up cycling to combine all three sports, Matt competed in his first Triathlon in 2019 at Nat Greene’s Revenge. When he’s not cheering for everyone at a race, in the pool, or on the trail, you’ll find him in the garage working on a project car. Matt is an avid motorsport enthusiast and frequents Virginia International Raceway when able. With joining the Board, Matt’s goal is to make the sport of Triathlon less intimidating to newcomers, while growing the team.
Amy Arruda
Director of Membership
Amy did her first triathlon on a whim in college with very little training. After a long break she got back into triathlons in 2021 and has done many races since then. Triathlon has provided a wonderful way to keep active and find a great community through TTT! In her free time when not working as a PA, Amy enjoys spending time with her husband, trail runs with her dog Daisy, and various artistic and musical pursuits.
Cary Maycock
Board Member at Large
If you have been to any local race, chances are you have seen Cary on the course, or the podium. Cary has been a member of TTT since the mid-2000’s and a key member of our local triathlon community. She joins the board in 2022 with a goal of encouraging team members to “enjoy the camaraderie of training and racing together no matter what level or distance you are participating in.”
Cary’s favorite races include: Belew’s Lake Triathlon and Chattanooga 70.3/140.6. Her strongest races have been Raleigh 70.3 in 2018 and Williamsburg 70.3 2019. Her upcoming races in 2022 include the Trivium Series, Blue Ridge 70.3, and potentially Knoxville SwimRun.
Cary’s husband Joel is also triathlete. She has 3 grown kids, and has worked as a PT at Moses Cone for the past 30 years.
Audrey Miller
Team Events Coordinator
Audrey Miller joined the team in 2020, just before the COVID shutdown. However, through virtual bike racing on Zwift and open water swims, she made the best of making friends and quickly settled into a group of like-minded athletes. Since then, those friends have inspired and motivated her to try numerous adventures. She has discovered trail running, relay events, Ironman 70.3, and shorter tri races. She is forever grateful for the sisterhood they have become. She looks forward to more racing, new friends, and future adventures through expanding her commitment to the team through board service this year. Her favorite local race is the High Point Triathlon. During her career as a local public educator, she has also gotten into coaching youth running through her school’s GOFAR team that includes 60 young runners. She is also a wife and mother of two, Charlie (20) and Catherine (18).
Valerie Thomas
Board Member at Large
Valerie was born in Southern California and lived there until her family moved to Fairbanks, Alaska when she was 12. Joining her high school swim team her freshman year, she gained a love for the water and competition, mainly racing in longer, freestyle races. She ran track as well, but swimming was where her heart was. Although she kept swimming sporadically to maintain fitness, she did not begin dedicating time to swimming again until she was 40 and decided to participate in the swim leg of the Outerbanks Olympic Triathlon. After that, she was hooked on triathlon and decided to compete in all three sports as an individual racer. Going into her third year of triathlon and multi-sport racing, Valerie is working on increasing her fitness and having fun.
Other than triathlon, Valerie is married with a middle school aged son, works as an assistant district attorney for the Stokes and Surry Prosecutorial Districts and is an avid equestrian among other things.