Pedals cranking, wheels turning, the wind in her face. Danielle Ravnikar leans into the handlebars and pushes forward, one mile at a time. On the road, she is a professional cyclist chasing new limits. At McGough, she brings that same focus, discipline, and determination to her work every day.
A lifelong dancer, Danielle performed on dance teams through high school and college, and later as an NFL cheerleader. When that chapter came to a close, she began thinking about what might come next. Starting a new sport at 24 was not the typical path, but she felt ready for a new challenge. “I started thinking of new ways to be athletic because I knew I was not done pushing my body,” she says. “I decided to pick up cycling at the age of 24.”
That decision changed the direction of her life. At McGough, she has found a place where her drive is understood and supported, both on the job and beyond it.
A local sporting store offered her sponsorship, and changed her life with one question: “They asked, ‘What do you want to do with this, and how can we help you?”
With that question, the world opened up,” Danielle says. “I said I want to go pro. And from that moment on I committed my life to becoming a professional cyclist.”
Danielle joined McGough in 2023, bringing with her the same discipline and focus she applies to her training on the bike. In her role, she supports project teams behind the scenes, contributing to complex builds that rely on collaboration and follow-through. As she has grown in her career, she has continued to pursue her goals as an athlete, learning how to balance demanding goals both at work and on the road.
Having worked for construction firms for several years, Danielle was also drawn to McGough for reasons that went beyond the work itself. “McGough stood out as a company that would do the right thing every time,” she says. “I felt a strong pull to come to McGough because of the ethics they have on every job, and I live that every day.”
Just as Danielle found support through her cycling community, she also relies on strong relationships in her work at McGough. In her role, she collaborates closely with teams across the company, from project management and VDC to safety and field leadership. “Through collaboration, we are able to create projects that no one on their own would be able to create,” she says.
In 2024, Danielle faced a challenge that would test her in an entirely different way. She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, bringing sudden uncertainty to the routines she depended on. For someone who thrives on structure and consistency, the diagnosis required her to rethink not only her training, but her approach to everyday life.
“That blew up every routine,” Danielle admits. Even in the midst of treatment, she found space for growth. “I’ve learned the art of flexibility and adaptation, so even though I’m not in a routine, I’m still seeing milestones and being happy with how things go.”
As she worked her way back to training, Danielle continued to feel supported by the people around her at McGough. When the company offered to sponsor her racing career, it reinforced what she already believed about the culture. “I needed something bigger than myself to train for and race for, and McGough filled that role,” she says. “Representing McGough on my jersey is so important to me.”
Today, as she flies down the road in her McGough racing kit, Danielle finds satisfaction in doing hard things and doing them well. Long training days and miles on the bike are part of what keeps her moving forward. “Sometimes in training I’ll ride for three and a half hours at twenty miles per hour, and my feet don’t ever touch the ground,” she says.
Through her story, Danielle hopes others see what is possible when they continue to show up, even when the path is not easy. “There’s going to be challenges everywhere in life, but I think moving forward and continuing to try to grow is the most important thing,” she says. “If I stay dedicated and keep moving forward, I can do anything.”
