More than a year before he left his job, the former director oftheRegister's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa helped start anonprofit that is now operating his new, competing ride.
T.J. Juskiewicz's RAGBRAI alternative, Iowa's Ride, is organized under that nonprofit,the Iowa Festivals and Events Association,according to the ride's website.
An executive at Gannett Co., owner ofboth the Des Moines Register and RAGBRAI, saidJuskiewicz did not inform his bosses that he and his wife,Jodi Juskiewicz, were behindthe nonprofit.
“T.J. never disclosed to us that he and his wife had formed the Iowa Festivals and Events Association," Gannett Chief Marketing Officer Andy Yost said in an email."We have company policies in place thatrequireour employeesto avoidany activities that constitute a conflict of interest or any outside interests and associations that may interfere with their employment with our company or create the appearance of impropriety.”