Kids in Dubuque Skate Board of Directors:

Laura Bies is a native Dubuquer and parent of 2 boys, the oldest a skateboarder since age 8. After traveling regionally to many skateparks with her son, Laura got involved in the movement for a new skatepark back in 2005 after meeting Mike Heitz, owner of Reality Check skate shop, and they formed a group called Kids in Dubuque Skate (KIDS). Laura was part of the public input sessions before and after the skate park was budgeted by the Dubuque City Council in 2013. Laura was then asked to join the city’s skatepark committee to help with the proposal and bidding processes as a community member with a vested interest in the project. On behalf of KIDS, she has been involved in several fundraisers for the skatepark, works with the Leisure Services staff on all issues relating to the skatepark process and fundraising. Laura is also very passionate about Scouting and is a Board Member for the Northeast Iowa Council of the Boy Scouts of America, where she leads the Marketing and STEM Committees, and is an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 94. Laura works as a Senior Core Content Project Manager with McGraw-Hill Education where she also leads a mentoring program for employees who mentor students in K-5 at Kennedy Elementary School in Dubuque.

Mike Heitz was born and raised in Dubuque. He graduated from University of Dubuque in 1984. He has been a self-employed entrepreneur since 1986. He was co-owner of Reality Check board shop from 1997-2017. During that time he managed Youth Action Sports (YAS), a non-profit organization that sponsored board sport activities for area youth. In 2005, he organized a group of adults and youth interested in seeing a new skatepark built in Dubuque, called Kids in Dubuque Skate (KIDS), and hosted many meetings.  He is also an avid supporter of skateboarders, scooter riders, and snowboarders and organized many Skate Jams to bring together local and regional riders to participate in a fun, friendly competition at the McAleece Skatepark. He worked with national skate and clothing companies as well as local sponsors such as Sundown to provide free prizes to all participants at least once or twice annually.

Jennifer Tigges is a self-proclaimed “community advocate” and local business owner. She stuck her nose in at a Skate Jam and said she would love to help with a new Dubuque Outdoor Skate Park. With a background in marketing, fundraising and social media she helps the community get to know the need for a new, centrally-located park. Mother of two boys, she took several trips out of town to skate parks with their friends. Jennifer is currently the Chairperson of the City of Dubuque Park and Recreation commission among other boards and commissions. She believes in the comradery that skaters have and the need to get youth off the couch and outside. Ask to see the photo of her on a skateboard in the 80’s.

Adam Riegler, 26, is a born and raised Dubuquer and currently resides here with his wife, Lindsey, and their dog, Tater Tot. He is currently employed at Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors and has been since 2014. He has been skateboarding since he was 11 years old and plans to keep skating until his body won’t let him anymore! During his free time (other than skating), he enjoys watching the Chicago Cubs, playing golf, basketball, softball or just about any other sport. He has also been a part of the student mentoring program at Audubon Elementary School for the past couple of years.  Adam joined the KIDS group in early 2017 because he wanted to provide help any way he could to the people who have been involved with the Dubuque skatepark project for so many years. He feels as someone who grew up skating in this town, it is his duty to put the work in and volunteer his time for the next generation to be able to have a world class facility right in their own town.  

Kyle Bies, 21, is a native Dubuquer, an Eagle Scout, and currently a student at Loras College. He has been a skateboarder since the age of about 8. Kyle grew up skating, playing soccer, bowling, snowboarding and is a member of the group Kids in Dubuque Skate (KIDS). Kyle is studying Media Studies, audio/visual production, at Loras College and works part-time for the Telegraph Herald as a photo/video editor. Kyle was one of the first kids to take skateboard lessons from Ben Kahle, who the city’s hired later as the first teacher of skate lessons for the Leisure Services department. Kyle is passionate about skateboarding and as a youth his family traveled to Madison for a skate camp and to anywhere they could find a skatepark to skate from Davenport to Milwaukee, and Ankeny to Chicago. Kyle enjoyed the many Skate Jams put on by Reality Check every year growing up and some of his best friends are skateboarders who also grew up learning to skate in Dubuque.