Sharon Litschauer – President

As President of On A Shoestring, my goal is to help people increase the enjoyment of walking and running. I became involved with walking marathons over 10 years ago, after joining the Team in Training Program of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Since that time, I have completed 8 full marathons, 10 half marathons, 3 Century rides, and 1 Olympic Distance Triathlon. I am among a small group who has achieved the status of a Triple Crown recipient from The Team in Training Program. I have also participated in many local 5Ks, 10Ks, and sprint distance triathlons. I am a certified Coach with RRCA and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training Program. I enjoy working with people to allow them an opportunity to participate in an endurance event as a walker. When I am not at the store, I work as a Nurse Practitioner with Florida Cancer Specialists. I enjoy working with the community and currently am the Advocacy Chair for the local American Cancer Society on their Board of Directors and Secretary for the Executive Network of Manatee County.

Steve Litschauer - CEO

Steve oversees the daily operations of the store since he retired in December 2007 after 35 years in Law Enforcement / Public Safety in Manatee County. He brings many years of experience of organizational management and public relations to the business. Steve has completed 5 half marathons and 2 Century rides. Steve holds the following certifications: Road Runners Clubs of America (RRCA) – Running Coach, UAS Cycling – Coach, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America – Walking Coach, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America – Running Coach, FitSystem – Shoe Fitting. He also has been a Mentor (cycling, walking, running, and triathlon) for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America since 2000 and has been the Chairperson and a Team Captain for American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life since 2000. Steve also holds a Teaching Certificate from the State of Florida, has contributed to, and has authored, a number of articles and has presented and instructed in Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Brazil, Argentina, and Canada, as well as throughout the United States. Steve is the President of Bradenton Runners Club, Vice Chairman of the Manatee Chapter of the American Red Cross, Vice Chairman of the Branch Board of Mangers of Bradenton YMCA, Bradenton Kiwanis, Manatee County Chamber of Commerce, Manatee County Better Business Council, Recipient of BEALL’S Corporation’s 2002 Humanitarian of the Year Award, Active Member - America On The Move Partnership.

Rae Ann E. Darling Reed – Vice President

Rae Ann is a certified running coach, president of RunnerGirl Inc., active member of the area running clubs, and vice president at On A Shoestring where she enjoys helping customers find just the right shoe as well as offering them training and injury prevention advice. Rae Ann coaches cross country and track at Manatee High School plus runners of all ages at various endurance events. She has been running and competing since 1986 in cross country, track, and road races of all distances from the mile to the marathon. Rae Ann has completed 13 marathons including Boston three times and ran her last one at Disney in 2010. She has also participated in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program for several of her marathons. Rae Ann incorporates her personal experience with strength training, yoga, massage, and rehab from her own injuries to help others prevent and recover from injuries in order to become better, stronger runners. Rae Ann holds coaching certifications from USA Track & Field (USATF) Level 2 - Endurance, Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), American Sport Education Program (ASEP), and the State of Florida Department of Education for Athletic Coaching.

Jim Larsen – General Manager

Jim is a RCCA certified coach and a graduate of Manatee Community College and Manatee Technical Institute. Has worked for Manatee County EMS as a Paramedic for over 23 years. Has worked in the running shoe industry for over a decade. Has been racing Road Races and Triathlons for 20 years and has completed 3 Ironman Triathlons, several Ultra-Marathons along with over 30 combined Full and Half marathons. Has spent several years working with local runners and our local Team EMS running group. Is very interested in using his personal running experience to help get others involved at any level of the great sport of running.

Mary Bellows – Manager

Mary is a recent graduate of Manatee High School, where she was a member of the Track and Field team, participating in the half mile and mile events. She is now a full time student at Manatee Community College. Mary loves working at OAS because she enjoys meeting new people, and helping them find what they need, and gets to meet many new friendly faces each day at work. When Mary is not at school or work she enjoys playing sports such as Ultimate Frisbee, and the most demanding sport of all, shopping!

Sayuri Beretta - Manager

Sayuri Beretta is a 2006 graduate of Lakewood Ranch High School. She ran three years of track and two years of cross country at Manatee High School, where she met a very inspirational person, Coach Rae Ann Darling Reed, who introduced her to the wonderful world of running. She attended and graduated from Manatee Community College in 2008 with her AA degree and transferred to the University of South Florida, where she is currently seeking her Business Degree. She plans to graduate in the fall of 2010. She started working at On A Shoestring in August of 2007, and has learned a tremendous amount about shoes, injury prevention, and nutritional products over the past two years.

Lauren Wickman

Lauren is a graduate of Manatee High School and is currently attending the University of Florida majoring in Environmental Engineering. She was a member of Manatee’s track and field team for four years and a member of the Cross Country team for two years. Lauren loves working at On A Shoestring because she has an appreciation for how important the perfect shoe fit can be for someone who loves to run. When not running or in school, Lauren loves any sort of sporting event or activity, and cheering for the Gators.

Ryan Litschauer

Ryan has completed several 5K runs and walks, four half marathons including one in Anchorage, AK in summer 2008 and one sprint triathlon. He has attended several vendor based training sessions and enjoys helping people find the right shoe to fit their needs.

Angela Sheehan

Angela Sheehan is a 2005 graduate of Manatee High School, where she played 4 years of varsity soccer, 4 years of varsity track, and one year of varsity cross country. She played soccer on scholarship at Polk Community College and Cumberland University . She is currently attending MTI pursuing a nursing degree. Her interests include running, painting, scrapbooking, and spending time with family. Her favorite race was the 2010 Disney Princess Half, where she PR'd with a time of 1:42. Her favorite parts of working on On A Shoestring are meeting new people, learning about different running products, and introducing customers to the wonderful of running.

Emily Egan

Emily graduated from Bradenton Christian School in 2009 where she ran track and cross country. She attended Saint Leo University to run Cross Country but transfered to State College of Florida after a year. Now she enjoys working, running, spending time with friends and family. Emily loves meeting new people and talking to people who also have a passion for running!