Mission

The Road Ahead Partnership

The mission of the Road Ahead Partnership is to revitalize and sustain Route 66 as a national icon and international destination, for the benefit of all Route 66 communities, travelers, and businesses/attractions, through collaborative partnerships focused on promotion, preservation, research & education, and economic development.

In carrying out its mission, the Road Ahead is committed to achieving the following outcomes:

Purposeful Preservation

We want to purposefully maintain and preserve as much of the authentic roadway design, original buildings, landscapes, traditions, and experiences that together make up the idiosyncratic experience that is the essence of Route 66. To help achieve this outcome, the Road Ahead has established a Preservation Working Group.

Effective Promotion

We want to promote the road and increase the number of visitors, both domestic and international, coming to Route 66, with the specific aim of increasing their length of stay and the amount of money they spend along the Route. To help achieve this outcome, the Road Ahead has established a Promotion Working Group.

Increased Prosperity

We want to act as a catalyst for community development, increasing the prosperity of the people who live along, and are connected to, Route 66 by helping sustain existing businesses and attractions, and by helping new ones develop. To help achieve this outcome, the Road Ahead has established an Economic Development Working Group.

Accurate Research and Education

We want to ensure that the history and stories associated with Route 66 are both accurate and accessible to the public, to researchers, and to educational institutions in order to enhance and encourage greater understanding of the mother road. To help achieve this outcome, the Road Ahead has established a Research and Education Working Group.

Strong National, Tribal & International Collaboration

We want to increase communication and participation among and between Route 66 stakeholders and sectors (tourism, preservation, associations, transportation, economic & community development, tribal and international groups) to leverage their work for the benefit of the entire road. To help achieve this outcome, the Road Ahead has established a State Advocacy Working Group, a Tribal Advisory Group, and an International Advisory Group.

Board of Directors

The Road Ahead Board of Directors is comprised of a representative from the eight states through which Route 66 runs, the Chairmen of each of the organization’s five Working Groups, and the Chairman of the Steering Committee.

Dwight Cannon
Illinois Route 66 Association
Elizabeth Olwig
Route 66 Association of Missouri
Renee Charles
Kansas Historic Route 66 Association/Route 66 Association of Kansas
Rhys Martin
Oklahoma Route 66 Association
Gary Daggert
Texas Old Route 66 Association
Melissa Beasley
New Mexico Route 66 Association
Nikki Seeger

Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona

Beth Murray
California Historic Route 66 Association
TBD
Chair of the Promotion Working Group
David Bricker
Chair of the Preservation Working Group
Casey Claypool
Chair of the Economic Development Working Group
Dr. David Dunaway
Chair of the Research & Education Working Group
Rhys Martin
Chair of the State Associations Advocacy Work Group
Dries Bessels

International Advisory Group

Bill Thomas
Chairman of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership

Minutes of Board of Directors meetings can be accessed via Board of Directors Reports in the Resources area of this site.

Executive Committee

The Road Ahead Executive Committee is comprised of the Chairmen of the Working Groups and Chairman of the Steering Committee. The Executive Committee focuses on the day-to-day administration of the Road Ahead Partnership.

TBD
Chair of the Promotion Working Group
David Bricker
Chair of the Preservation Working Group
Casey Claypool
Chair of the Economic Development Working Group
Dr. David Dunaway
Chair of the Research & Education Working Group
Rhys Martin
Chair of the Route 66 State Associations Advocacy Working Group
Bill Thomas
Chairman of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership

Minutes of Executive Committee meetings can be accessed via Executive Committee Reports in the Resources area of this site.