Fun life fact: I used to be a pastry chef at a restaurant, and now I love to bake at home for my friends (like GF treats for my darling Emma!) Favorite Memory: ENDLESS amazing memories with Emma!! One that stands out was when we let Emma lead the way for our hike of Mt. Moosilauke (7 mile hike) and somehow Emma made it into a 20+ mile hike! We did lose a couple of toenails, but luckily the company was exceptional.

Life update: I am currently living and going to school in London! Favorite memory: There almost too many to choose from. But emma took me on my first camping trip to Acadia National park. We woke up at 4am to hike mount cadillac and be the among the first people in America to see the sunrise on that day. Every time we go back, we do the sunrise hike, and it’s one of the most special places to me!!

Fun life fact: Paula is moving to Mammoth Lakes, California with her husband Kory where she’ll be sad to not be near Emma but excited to run and bike and climb and ski allll the time! Favorite Memory: As one might assume, our best memories were made while enjoying our favorite activity: long distance running. Whether chatting over 20 miles along the Esplanade, running circles around the Harvard stadium, or surviving blustery conditions through the Boston winter, our friendship flourished over those many miles. In fact, I remember exactly how we met: during a three by mile interval workout in what is essentially a parking lot. How else does one meet their best friends?!

Fun life fact: By the time Emma and Matt's wedding happens, I will be just about to begin my first real job as a lawyer! Favorite memory: Emma and I spent so many days during the pandemic running together with masks on along the Charles, essentially drowning in our sweat. We were still constantly chatting, dancing to our music, and laughing for miles. You might be wondering where this oxygen was coming from. I am as well! A weirdly magical time. When Matt first stole her as a running buddy, I was only a tiny bit mad. <3

Life fun fact: I'm a single mother to two adorable orange cats, Oliver and Reggie! Favorite memory: One of my favorite memories from Emma's most recent trip to Colorado was when we finally met in person an Olympian skier who we had hosted for a lunch & learn session for our Green Teams at work. Emma and I were at the Denver holiday party, checking in on all of the zero-waste stations of course, when the event planner dropped him off for us to hang out with the rest of the night. We ended up at a bar with him later in the night and felt famous. Little did we know he would go on to win gold and take first in I think all of his events last year - we really met a celebrity!

Michael Liberato, affectionately known as "Lib" or "Branch" met Matt in 2016 after joining the University of Michigan triathlon team. They quickly became close friends, and their friendship only deepened when they lived together Matt's senior year, bonding over catan marathons, losing in spikeball, and Tour De House (a bike race through the living room and kitchen). Even after moving to opposite coasts after graduation, Matt and Lib have only gotten closer through the years, becoming each others best friend, hype man, and therapist all in one. Fun fact: He has done 5 17+ hr solo road trips (one of them being Tampa to San Francisco....with a doggo) Favorite memory: Hard run workouts on the Huron River in Ann Arbor hours after a night out

Oh man, where to even begin. Andrew and Matthew Schafer were born 8 minutes apart on May 15, 1997 and essentially spent every minute together for the following 18 years. Having a twin growing up means that you always have a companion, but also a competitor. Andrew was better than Matt at basically everything: sports, music, and most of school except for math. Andrew actually played against Emma's brother Aaron in the 2007 Novi little league all star game, while Matt watched from the stands (Matt was scared of the ball). After high school, both brothers went to the University of Michigan and while they pursued very different studies, they always made time for a football game tailgate or a karaoke night :). Matt is eternally grateful to have grown up with a brother like Andrew, and is honored to have him by his side for his wedding. Fun fact: he is currently doing a Masters Degree in Choral Conducting at Michigan State in the summer, while teaching middle school choir the rest of the year. Favorite Memory: boys trip in Boston in 2022 going to watch the final round of the US Open at The Country Club.

Malcolm and Matt met their freshman year at the University of Michigan when the both joined the club triathlon team. They were friendly to each other, but their friendship really took off during a 2016 spring break trip to Destin, FL. Malcolm was also a part of the tri team house Matt lived in senior year with Michael, and the 3 of them were almost inseparable that year. Even though Malcolm is now a Canadian resident, their friendship has only deepened with regular online catan game nights, yearly boys trips around the country, and sharing way too many instagram reels. Fun fact: The first time he rode a road bike was with Matt and he didn't know how to shift gears and had to get off and walk up each hill. Favorite memory: Crossing the finishing line at our last Collegiate National Championships together super pumped after we had great races, and getting to hang out in the ice bath with Michael after.

Nirek and Matt met in band class in the 7th grade. Matt thought he was a shoo-in for first chair, only for this new kid from Georgia to come in and dominate the competition. Although their relationship started as rivals, it quickly turned into a deep friendship. Nirek and Matt spent all of high school together, becoming co-captains of the swim team and trying to one-up each-other with AP classes. After high school they went their separate ways, but managed to keep in touch. When Matt moved to Boston in March 2020, Nirek was there to welcome him to his new home. They were inseparable that year, spending every weekend hiking, running, or surfing all across New England. Fun fact: Nirek eats Trader Joe's chicken fried rice way too much (read: daily). Favorite Memory: A 20 mile trail run/hike in the Adirondack mountains we were both desperately unprepared for. After 8 hours of deep suffering in the wilderness, our friendship changed to a brotherhood.

Devin and Matt met when Matt joined the Every Man Jack triathlon team at the end of 2018. Devin was actually the guy assigned to call Matt and welcome him to the team. Matt remembers being super nervous to talk to Devin, who had already made a name for himself as an impressive athlete. Fast forward to 2020, and with all races canceled due to the pandemic, Devin, Nirek, Matt, and Justin Riele decided to go to the Grand Canyon to run the 48 mile Rim-To-Rim-To-Rim. After 14 hours of suffering (disproportionately by Nirek) the four of them emerged from the desert the closest of friends. Since then, Devin and Matt have traveled all over the country together for training camps and triathlon races, but the highlight of each trip has always been spending time with eachother. Fun fact: Devin was in a circus in Mexico as a trapeze artist. Favorite Memory: Running the Boston Marathon with Matt stride for stride in 2023!