Meet the UnTapped Team | Learn | UnTapped

The UnTapped Team

Photo of co-founder Doug Brown in the sugar woods.

Doug Brown

CEO & Co-Founder

Douglas Brown, attended St. Lawrence University, competing on the varsity ski team and majoring in Chemistry. After teaching and coaching at the Berkshire School post-grad, in 2010 Doug moved back to Vermont to start Slopeside Syrup with his brother, Roger and their two cousins. UnTapped’s formation followed in 2014.

Doug is involved at some level with every aspect of the business, even product development, using his chemistry degree to fine-tune all UnTapped recipes. He is our business’ architect, organizing most operations and keeping the company strategically aligned. Outside of work Doug can be found spending time with his partner and their dog Sadie on their homestead in Waterbury, VT. The Cochran family is known for their skiing, but Doug’s greatest accolades are as a sugarmaker, business leader, and friend.

Father's Day With Founder Roger Brown

Roger Brown

Co-Founder

Roger Brown, a co-founder of UnTapped, attended Dartmouth College where he was NCAA slalom champion in 2002 and a three-time All-American. After graduating in 2004 with a degree in Engineering, Brown became a member of the U.S. Ski Team from 2005-2007. In the following year, Brown joined the Barack Obama campaign and then worked as a Research Assistant for Senator Patrick Leahy, until the end of 2010 where he joined his brother and cousins in starting a maple syrup farm. In 2014 He was named Maple Person of the Year by the Vermont Sugar Makers Association. Most recently Roger entered his first gravel race, Unbound in Kansas where he took on the 200-mile distance, because “Why not?” 
Roger lives in Richmond with his wife, and their four children and remains very involved in athletics by coaching the next generation in skiing, soccer, and baseball. 

Ted King in a bike helmet and holding ski poles

Ted King

Co-Founder

Ted King needs little introduction. Raised in New Hampshire, Ted grew up playing hockey and skiing before finding cycling as a student at Middlebury College in 2002. His progression through the national racing calendar and into the Pro Tour ranks was aided by his New England work ethic and a consistent stream of maple syrup from erstwhile supporters back home. Following 10 years as a pro cyclist including stints in the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, Ted settled into his current life as a pioneering privateer in the gravel racing field, the face of a new movement of cyclists and a thoughtful voice for cycling’s progression. When he’s not riding or acting as UnTapped’s Chief Maple Prolesthetizer, he can be found close to the original sugaring operation in Richmond, Vermont where he lives with his wife Laura and their two children Hazel and Hayden.

Andrew Gardner

Co-Founder

Born in maple-producing Upper Michigan, Andrew Gardner is the former Nordic Ski racer of the group. After graduating from Bates College in 1999, Andrew turned from racing to coaching, taking over the reins at Middlebury in 2006 and settling in the Addison County area with his wife Carolyn. After seven years of coaching, with several top ten NCAA results under his belt, AG (as he is known), turned to communications, founding the public relations firm Press Forward in downtown Middlebury in 2012.  
Not only did AG make the connection between biker Ted and skiers Roger and Doug but he was there at the very beginning of the company – “Lets call it Un-Tapped” – and managed the crowdfunding launch campaign. 
In seven years as a media guru, AG has been a founding partner not only in UnTapped but also in clothing company Velocio. He lives in Middlebury with his wife and their son, Sam, a budding biker and skier in his own right.

Marilyn Cochran skiing

Marilyn

Fulfillment

The most accomplished athlete under the UnTapped roof, Marilyn Cochran is the first American to win a season-long World Cup discipline title when she won the giant slalom ski title at 19. The three-time national champion is the eldest of the “Skiing Cochrans”, four siblings who are all in the US Ski Hall of Fame. From UnTapped’s infancy, Marilyn has managed the company’s shipping department and will often hand-deliver local packages with a smile and story.

Tim Putnam headshot

Tim Putnam

Sales Director

A collegiate cyclist, Tim Putnam grew up sugaring on his family farm in Alstead, NH. His passions aligned perfectly to join the UnTapped team in 2018 and was the company’s first full-time employee. Tim works closely with the owners to support business development, design, and operations efforts. He wears many hats, and some type of UnTapped merchandise, at all times.

Tim is an avid cyclist and spends his free time tinkering in the garage and on long mountain, gravel, and road rides. When he’s not in the saddle or at the office, he’s at home in Richmond, VT with his dog, Cal, and partner, Kate.

Aliza Lapierre

Aliza Lapierre

Events Director

A Vermont native, Aliza grew up playing hockey in Burlington and adventuring everywhere. She went on to play NCAA Division 1 Hockey for St Lawrence University before finding her true passion, ultrarunning. Aliza’s wins are too numerous to list entirely but include the Vermont 50, The Mt Mitchell Challenge, and The Georgia Death Race. Aliza is also a UTMB finisher and has podiumed at the Western States Endurance Run, and was ranked as the second-best female ultra-runner in the world. The most amazing part of all of these accolades is that while being a fierce competitor, Aliza will still stop to help friends and strangers to the finish. Before coming to work at UnTapped, Aliza was one of the first UnTapped athletes and ran RunVT’s kids programs. At UnTapped Aliza is the events and sponsorships director, coordinating all things related to UnTapped’s event presence and being the liaison with all of the UnTapped ambassador team.

Michael Stearns headshot

Michael Stearns

Ecommerce Manager

A 7th generation Vermonter, Michael grew up skiing and running all over the Green Mountains. He attended Montana State University in Bozeman, where he raced on the collegiate cycling team for 3 years before graduating and falling back in love with running. Before coming to work at UnTapped, Michael managed an e-commerce department for an outdoor retailer in Minneapolis, MN. Michael is the newest member of the UnTapped team and is thrilled to be back home in Vermont. 

Tim Putnam headshot

Linnae Horan

Community Manager

Linnae is a born and raised Vermonter who grew up in a large family with a fervor for activity and being outdoors.  After graduating from The University of Vermont in 2016 she moved down to Waterbury, VT where she now resides with her husband and the delightful company of their two dogs. 

Linnae’s story is one of entrepreneurship as well. As the proud owner of two small businesses, Lazy Bones and Chug Water, she has demonstrated her drive to build and nurture ventures that align with her values and passions. Linnae is not only a remarkable professional but also an avid runner and fervent coffee enthusiast. Her dedication to running has led her to conquer an impressive ten marathons, showcasing her tenacity and commitment to pushing her limits.

Linnae’s journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment to her community, her pursuit of excellence, and her zest for life. Her warmth mirrors her approach to community management, where she treats every interaction with the same care and consideration.