About > Our Team

Our Team

Staff

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President and Chief Executive Officer

Ken joined Bike New York after spending his entire career working for the City of New York, previously serving as the City’s Sports Commissioner, a position he held for 12 years. Prior to that, he served as Deputy Commissioner/Chief Financial Officer for the Taxi & Limousine Commission; Assistant Commissioner of Finance for the Department of Youth & Community Development; and Senior Project Manager for the Economic Development Corporation. Ken began his career as an urban planner for the Department of Housing Preservation & Development, where he was the project manager of Metro Tech, a $1 billion commercial, academic and technology center that was responsible for revitalizing downtown Brooklyn. He graduated from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Communications and the Whitman School of Management. He received his graduate degree from Columbia University’s School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation, and currently serves on a variety of boards, including The League of American Bicyclists, Achilles International, United Jewish Appeal, Sports for Youth Committee, and the National Sports Marketing Network.

Hometown:

Oceanside, NY

Favorite restaurant and what to order:

The Zen calm of HanGawi, a vegetarian Korean restaurant in Murray Hill, is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s also where I met my wife on the best blind date ever. The rice bowls are all delicious, but make sure to try the organic wheat-free kale pancakes as an appetizer. (It tastes a lot better than it sounds.)

I like working for Bike New York because:

I love that we empower people to lead healthier, more productive lives through bicycling, and I feel blessed to be able to work with such a talented, committed and big-hearted group of people. My favorite part of the job is getting out to our classes and teaching kids and adults to ride—being by their side during that amazing moment when they’re riding for the first time is pure joy!

Personal Motto:

Dream big, work hard, stay focused and, most importantly, surround yourself with good people.

Dream vacation destination:

A ride through the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Last good book read:

I love historical fiction, especially about old New York. Reading The Alienist by Caleb Carr felt as if a time machine brought me back to 1896.

Something people are surprised to learn about me:

Growing up I was an avid skateboarder and I now ride with my daughters.

Favorite post-ride treat:

Short rides: ice cream. Long rides: an ice cold beer.

Karen Ash

Coordinator, Community Outreach and Membership

A native of Bushwick, Brooklyn, Karen was a long-time volunteer and instructor at Bike New York before joining the team as Membership and Outreach Coordinator in 2017. Prior to Bike New York, Karen worked as an analyst for a financial software company and the director of research for a national litigation communications firm.

Her passion for biking is only exceed by her passion for cookbooks, of which she owns more than 200 and counting. A graduate of Yale University and University College London, she is also an award-winning baker and a two-day “Jeopardy!” champion. Just don’t ask her about Greek mythology.

Hometown:
Brooklyn, NY

Favorite New York restaurant and what to order:
The Thanksgiving Sandoo and a Fudgie Wudgie donut from Cinnamon Snail.

Hobbies:

Biking, baking, and way too much FIFA.

Nickname(s):
Kash

Personal motto:
A girl in trouble is a temporary thing.

Something people are surprised to learn about me:
I speak Japanese, German, and Icelandic.

Favorite post-ride treat:
Ice cream, coffee, coffee-flavored ice cream, or ice-cream flavored coffee.

Emily Calderalo

Customer Service Associate

Emily Calderalo has been a coordinator for two TD Five Boro Bike Tours and currently assists the indomitable Kathy Stout part time in juggling customer relations and being a first line of communication.

Hometown:
Oswego, NY

Favorite New York restaurant:
Mamoun’s falafel. Tastes even better when you pay in all quarters

Ask me about:
Photography, music, dance battles

Personal motto:
The juice is worth the squeeze

Dream vacation destination:
Costa Rica

Last good book read:
Collages by Anais Nin

When I’m not working at Bike New York, you’ll most likely find me:
Hanging out in Bushwick

Rich Conroy

Director of Education

Rich has been the Director of Education since starting at Bike New York in 2004. He has a masters and doctorate from University of Notre Dame, and his bike industry experience includes working for Metro Bicycles and teaching middle school kids for Recycle-A-Bicycle. In addition to being a League Cycling Instructor (LCI), he’s an LCI coach for the League of American Bicyclists. He has a brilliant, wonderful teenage daughter and three cats who are nice, but not so brilliant.

Hometown:

Lincoln, Nebraska

I like working for Bike New York because:

The people here are really fun to work with, and we have great programs that make an immediate difference in peoples’ lives.

Nicknames:

Dr. Mosholu, Professor Hipwader

Ask me about:

American History, World War II, 20th Century global history

Personal motto:

Never send plastic to do a job that requires metal.

Something people are surprised to learn about me:

I was studying to be a Catholic priest at one time.

Favorite post-ride treat:

Any very cold beer.

Stephen Courage

Events Manager

Prior to coming to Bike New York, Steve graduated from Wesleyan University, where he studied history, politics and Economics, worked as a teacher in Springfield, MA, and received his Masters in City Planning at Rutgers University, focusing on bicycle and pedestrian planning. For years, he has spent his summers working in outdoor education, youth leadership and event planning. An instructor with Bike New York, an LCI, and an avid cyclist himself, he is passionate about the positive impact of cycling on individuals and communities.

Hometown:
Brooklyn, NY
Favorite New York restaurant:
All other falafels are disappointing after eating at Taim.
I like working for Bike New York because:
I get to work with smart, passionate people promoting something I love.
Nickname:
Captain Courage
Ask me about:
Random geographical facts, or if you need someone to calculate a tip real fast.
Favorite street to ride on in New York and why:
I love the slow traffic, beautiful houses and interesting shops on the narrow streets of the West Village.
If I could have any bike in the world, it’d be:
One that I could magically shrink to easily carry up stairs and store in my 4th-floor walkup.

Jamie De Four

Associate Mgr. / Charity Program Mgr.

Jamie moved to Brooklyn from the Caribbean island of Trinidad in 1990. In 2005, she graduated from Baruch College with a bachelor’s degree in Music Management. She also worked for an independent record label while earning her degree, in addition to a stint in publishing with Nielsen Company. She began her non-profit career at the Armory Foundation in 2005 and joined Bike New York in October 2010.

Hometown:
Brooklyn, but born in Trinidad and Tobago

Favorite New York restaurant:

I’m a foodie! I can’t just pick one. If I must choose, I will go with Sugarcane Restaurant in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Any dish that involves callaloo is amazing!

Nicknames:

Mimi, Jam, Jem Jem

Ask me about:

Caribbean culture, shoes (mostly heels), manicures, pedicures and food

Dream vacation destination:

Jade Mountain Resort, St. Lucia
Something people are surprised to learn about me:
I’m obsessed with Lionel Richie; I saw him live for the first time this past June. I think I was the youngest person in the crowd.
If I could have any bike in the world, it’d be:
A Brompton Folding Bike. It can fit in my closet next to the shoes.

Sera Erickson

Bike to School Program Coordinator

Hometown:
Richmond, VA

Favorite New York restaurant and what to order:
Souvlaki GR. Everything is spot on, but the chicken souvlaki pita is particularly nostalgic.

Nickname(s):
Stepsister

Personal motto:
Perceive, process, produce, pass it on for free.

Last good book read:
All the Single Ladies by Rebecca Traister & The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin

When I’m not working at Bike New York, you’ll most likely find me:
Singing in my disco-punk band Toxic Moxie, spreading more bike knowledge at Mechanical Gardens Bike Co-op, empowering youth to rock out at Girls Rock Camp.

Something people are surprised to learn about me:
I’m Greek-American; I lived in Athens as a child and the first language I learned to read and write in was Greek. More surprisingly, I am a bike mechanic and I only own one bike.

Andrew Gould

Chief Operating Officer

Prior to joining Bike New York, Andy was the Senior Vice President of Sports Marketing at NYC & Company, where he played an integral role in attracting the 2014 Super Bowl to the New York City region. Previously, he served for 11 years as Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Sports Commission.

Andy’s extensive career in the sports industry has included positions with the Israel Basketball Association, the University of California, Santa Barbara, the University of Connecticut, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. He is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara and has a Master of Science in Sports Management from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Andy created and taught a graduate course entitled Sports and Events Tourism at NYU’s Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management, and is a board member of Carnegie Sports and Entertainment, LLC, and currently serves on the board of the Armory Foundation and United Jewish Appeal’s Sports for Youth Committee.

Hometown:

Delmar, NY

Favorite New York restaurant:

SriPraPhai in Woodside, Queens. Best Thai food in the city. I love the Larb Gai as an appetizer along with the Som Tum (Green Papaya salad). Tom Yung Goong soup is fantastic! The curries are great and you can’t go wrong with the steamed or fried whole fish with sweet chili sauce or a garlic, chili and lime sauce. Close second is Taverna Kyclades in Astoria. Grilled Octopus is amazing! Excellent grilled fish, lamb chops, salads, and traditional dips like Skordalia, Tzatziki, and Taramosalata.

I like working for Bike New York because:

We have an amazing team of smart, passionate, dedicated professionals that make every day a great day and we’re helping change the culture of the City which will make it a safer and more livable place.

Dream vacation destination:

Machu Picchu, Patagonia, or Bhutan

Last good book read:

The Power Broker, by Robert Caro

Something people are surprised to learn about me:

I backpacked through Asia for 7 months.

Favorite post-ride treat:

Ice Cream Sundae

David Heslop

Shop Manager

Hometown:
New York, NY

Favorite New York restaurant and what to order:
Glaser’s Bake Shop on 1st Ave. between 87th and 88th Street. Get the Black and White cookies if they haven’t sold out.

I like working for Bike New York because:
I have turned a hobby into a job. Recycle-A-Bicycle’s volunteer program taught me everything I know about bikes, and developing that into a full time job has allowed me to put what I have learned into practice. I can now give back helping others to learn the same techniques and skills so they can experience the same enjoyment and ease of biking and bike mechanics.

Dream vacation destination:
Belgium, a great culturally rich country…but also waffles, fries, and beer. Need I say more?

Favorite street to ride on in New York and why:
Downhill on the Queensboro, Williamsburg, or Manhattan Bridge for the great views and the feeling of going downhill.

Favorite post-ride treat:
A cold, hoppy IPA

If I could have any bike in the world, it’d be:
A great touring bike, something to commute, haul things, and go on long rides. Currently, I’m looking to build an All-City Space Horse.

Rebecca Karrin

Events Manager

Rebecca has spent most of her life as a member of the Bike New York family, thanks to her father who was involved with the Tour for more than 25 years. As a child, she remembers the days when the staff would host barbecues on the back lawn of the Youth Hostel on Amsterdam (their old office location). She’d play with the other BNY kids and the litters of kittens that would turn up season after season. When she was old enough to volunteer, she was assigned to the SAG truck for the tail of the Five Boro Bike Tour, where she quickly discovered her love for the tour. As the organization grew, she found employment as a freelancer working on the Five Boro, the regional rides, and their summer outreach booths. Her experiences with Bike New York led her to pursue a degree in Hospitality Management and additional event production opportunities, but her commitment to the organization never waned. Although she spent some time overseas and exploring other professions, she kept in contact with her Bike New York family. Now she joins us as a full-time Events Manager.

Hometown:
Staten Island, New York

Nickname(s):
Red or Bec

Ask me about:
Domestic feline health advice. I used to work in a number of veterinary hospitals, including an all cat clinic. Need help trimming your cat’s nails? I’m the best cat wrangler in town!

Personal motto:
“I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an opportunity to make a living.” ~John D. Rockefeller

Last good book read:
The Power of One by Bryce Courtney – both moving and insightful.

Something people are surprised to learn about me:
I want to be a farmer. My first job was at the Staten Island Zoo as a Jr. Zookeeper caring for ponies. When I was 20, I spent half a year on a kibbutz in Israel working in a petting zoo. Shortly thereafter, I went off to New Zealand to live on a hundred acre cattle farm where I straightened fence wire, moved cows between paddocks, and cooed at chickens. At some point, I’d like to move upstate, get off the grid, and live a simpler life.

Favorite post-ride treat:
Post ride? How about mid-ride?! One of my favorite routes in the summer begins in south slope where I’ll cruise Northeast to prospect park, head down Vanderbilt to the Flushing/Kent bike path and cut up and over to Peter Pan’s in Greenpoint for a marble cruller. The return trip is a sugary daze.

Jared Lauridsen

Bike Fleet Manager

Jared joined Bike New York as their Bike Fleet Manager after instructing for their Summer Camp and Afterschool programs. Before that he wasn’t a New Yorker at all, coming from a stint in Chicago at a postgraduate Design-Build program (Archeworks) after his time at the University of Alabama where he honed the myriad talents he now brings to the bike fleet.

Hometown:
Killen, AL
I like working for Bike New York because:
Human power is divine power.
Personal motto:
Makin’ it work!
Last good book read:
The Dungeon’s and Dragons Player’s Handbook (5th ed.)
People are surprised:
That I’m from Alabama.
Favorite post-ride treat:
FRO-YOOOOOOOOO!
If I could have any bike in the world, it’d be:
The Mochet Velocar that caused UCI to get all uptight when a second-category athlete broke speed records with it. Recumbents are the better bike!

Jena McLaughlin

Director of Events

Hailing from what she still considers the “Best Coast”, Jena originates from Seattle, WA where she studied Communication and Psychology at the University of Washington. After graduation she accepted an internship at an event production company bringing her to New York. While at Eventage, not only did she meet her now husband but was also introduced to Bike New York as they became one of her clients. Jena has managed the rest areas and water stops along the TD Five Boro Bike Tour route as well as SAG operations for over five years. Additionally she’s worked on fundraising athletic events for other non-profits including, National Brain Tumor Society, United Way of New York City, Women’s Sports Foundation and New York Road Runners. No stranger to Bike New York, transitioning to Director of Events was the perfect fit. She is excited to expand her cycling knowledge and purchase a new set of wheels. Jena lives with her husband Kyle in Jersey City and are seriously considering adding a four-legged little one to their family.

Favorite New York restaurant and what to order:

Not so much a restaurant but a store, Porto Rico Importing Co on Bleecker Street has the best coffee bean selection. The aroma of stepping into the store is what I imagine heaven smells like.

Hobbies:

Making healthy treats that still involve chocolate, organizing, Pinterest-ing, and exploring the outdoors

Ask me about:

Nail polish – I own over 100 bottles, and tapping fire hydrants

Personal motto:

There’s a place for everything and everything has it’s place.

Dream vacation destination:

A thatched roof hut over the crystal blue waters of Bora Bora

When I’m not working at Bike New York, you’ll most likely find me:

Exploring a new neighborhood with my husband, trying a new recipe, painting my nails, or planning our next getaway

Favorite post-ride treat:

Margarita on the rocks with salt and a drink umbrella

If I could have any bike in the world, it’d be:

Lightweight and purple, with streamers and a really sweet bike bell

Ian Marsh

Bicycle Mechanic, Donations Coordinator

Hometown:
Brooklyn

Favorite New York restaurant and what to order:
Gregory’s 26 Corner Taverna, Grilled Octopus

Ask me about:
Bicycle maintenance, current events, 20th century American history.

Something people are surprised to learn about me:
I didn’t learn how to ride a bike until I was 15

Favorite street to ride on in New York and why:
The Hudson River Greenway along the West Side Highway—no cars and great views!

Favorite post-ride treat:
Pizza or a bagel.

If I could have any bike in the world, it’d be:
A pristine 1980s Schwinn Paramount

Susan Lindell

DUMBO Shop Manager

Hometown:
Fargo, ND.

Favorite New York restaurant and what to order:
Ali’s Trinidad Roti Shop on Fulton St. The chana pumpkin roti is the best and dirt cheap!

I like working for Bike New York because:
I get to work with great people, fix bikes, and help get new cyclists on the road.

Last good book read:
Summerhill School by A. S. Neill

Something people are surprised to learn about me:
My age and that I love disco.

Favorite street to ride on in New York and why:
Waverly Avenue in Brooklyn. It’s a quiet, has beautiful homes, and helps me decompress after work.

Favorite post-ride treat:
Anything covered in peanut butter.

Alba N. Morales

Events Volunteer Manager

Hometown:

Chelsea, New York City

Favorite New York restaurant and what to order:

Spicy Miso Ramen at Ippudo in the East Village

Ask me about:

Having worked at the Spider Exhibit at the Museum of Natural History, I would be happy to talk to anyone about the fascinating world of arachnids.

Personal motto:

Every time you wake up you make a decision on how you see your circumstances.

Dream vacation destination:

Glowworm Caves in New Zealand

Something people are surprised to learn about me:
I lived in Saudi Arabia for four months in High School, as Youth Ambassador for the United States.

Favorite street to ride on in New York and why:

Stuyvesant Cove, East Side Water Front. I love being by the water and watching the seaplanes with my Son.

Favorite post-ride treat:

Coconut Water

Kevin Navarrete

Mechanic

Hometown:
Corona Queens, New York

Favorite New York restaurant and what to order:
My favorite restaurant is called Pollo’s Mario and I always order breaded chicken.

Hobbies:
Biking, swimming, hiking, and fixing anything I can get my hands on.

Personal motto:
Teamwork makes the dream work.

Dream vacation destination:
Ecuador

Last good book read:
The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor, by Jay Bonansinga and Robert Kirkman

When I’m not working at Bike New York, you’ll most likely find me:
At my house or around my neighborhood in East New York, Brooklyn.

Karen Overton

Director, Recyle-A-Bicycle

Hometown:
Bridgeport, NY, just outside of Syracuse (from ages 9-17)

Favorite New York restaurant and what to order:
Superfine in Dumbo. It’s our favorite hangout after Volunteer Night at the Recycle-A-Bicycle shop. We order beer and large plates of crispy french fries.

I like working for Bike New York because:

We help people of all ages discover the empowerment and freedom of building bikes and riding them. I love the look on a young person’s face when the bike they have been working on passes safety inspection and it earn’s them the right to take it home!

Last good book read:
Unbowed by Wangari Muta Maathai

Something people are surprised to learn about me:
I was an exchange student to Brazil , worked in Mozambique, and speak Portuguese.

Favorite street to ride on in New York and why:
Kent Street greenway in Brooklyn. It used to be so wide cars would race by each other and frighten me. Now it’s the hipster highway, and parents are comfortable biking with their kids!

If I could have any bike in the world, it’d be:
built at Recycle-A-Bicycle. It’s not uncommon for me to fall in love with a donated bike, at least once a month!

Sam Polcer

Director of Communications

Sam Polcer came to Bike New York after more than seven years as a travel magazine editor. He also freelances as a photographer and recently completed his first book, New York Bike Style, which was published by Prestel in Spring 2014. (He also maintains a blog, Preferred Mode, featuring some of the photos from that project.) His images have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and many magazine and websites. Previously, he was a nightclub visual designer, flyer distributor, traveling circus spotlight operator, documentary filmmaker, DJ, video editor, blueberry picker, election campaigner and event producer.

Hometown:
New York, NY
I like working for Bike New York because:
It allows me to use my skills to help make New York an even better place, while surrounded by the smartest, kindest, most interesting and most dedicated group of people I could ever hope to work with.
Personal motto:
Live the interesting life and leave the place better than you found it.
Last good book read:
Do Not Sell At Any Price: The Wild, Obsessive Hunt for the World’s Rarest 78 rpm Records by Amanda Petrusich
Something people are surprised to learn about me:
I once ran away and joined the circus for a year.
Favorite street to ride on in New York:
Flushing Avenue at night
Favorite post-ride treat:
A slice and a can of Coke

Sharon Pope

Director, Community Outreach and Membership

Sharon returned to Bike New York after having served as volunteer coordinator for rest areas and water stops for the TD Five Boro Bike Tour. Previously she assisted with community outreach for CIVITAS’ Reimagining the Waterfront design competition.

Favorite New York restaurant and what to order:
Spring Street Natural: Medallions of Seitan Piccata and there’s excellent live jazz Thursday nights. Ahhh, life is good.
I like working for Bike New York because:
Everyone here has such diverse and amazing backgrounds. Hey, I fit right in!
Personal motto:
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” -Albert Einstein
Dream vacation destination:
A silent meditation retreat at a monastery in Thailand. It would be nice (or a challenge) to be quiet for a short, defined period of time. Of course with my cellphone close by!
Something people are surprised to learn about me:
I love HGTV.
If I could have any bike in the world, it’d be:
An Electra Royal 8i in ocean blue. Beautiful.

Alison Rosenberg

Communications Intern

Alison came to Bike New York during a gap semester from Kenyon College, where she studies English and sociology. As a tour guide at a rural environmental center, she taught children about the importance of physical activity and going outdoors. She is passionate about writing and community service.

Hometown:
Chappaqua, New York

Favorite New York restaurant and what to order:

Taim is where I learned that falafel and smoothies make the perfect pair.

Ask me about:
Photography, nineteenth-century British literature, or my incredible cat.

Personal motto:
The only rule on Earth is that you have to be kind.

Dream vacation destination:
Morocco and Santorini

Last good book read:
Diane Seuss, Four-Legged Girl

Something people are surprised to learn about me:
My legal name used to be Alsion.

Kristina Sepulveda

Youth Programs Manager

Kristina has been working with youth and/or bikes for the last seven years and came to Bike New York to integrate her two passions professionally. Previously, she ran large-scale academic and workforce development programs for disconnected and/or court-involved youth across the five boroughs. One time, she organized nine other women bike advocates to ride from New York to DC in the middle of winter to rally other women to get involved in conversations about transportation infrastructure. It was very cool but also very cold. She has a Master’s in Urban Policy (Politics and Advocacy) from the New School and a Bachelor’s in writing poems about boys who broke her heart in college.

Hometown:
Born a Manhattanite, aging as an Astorian

Favorite New York restaurant:
The duck bun guy on the corner of Prince and Main in Flushing. Runner-up status goes to the bacon, egg, and cheese on roll from whatever bodega will serve them to me after 11am.

Hobbies:
Racing bikes, complaining about fixing bikes, riding bikes while hunting for tacos.

Ask me about:
Navigating the five boroughs. Which celebrity is more problematic. The bottomless chasm in my heart where a Knicks championship should be.

Dream vacation destination:
An all-woman/trans/gender-nonconforming alleycat race in San Juan, PR.

Favorite street to ride on in New York and why:
Northern Boulevard, because it’s the central nervous system of Queens. There’s nothing like coming home off the QBB and falling into a group of wise cyclists who just want to take the lane and go home.

Favorite post-ride treat:
Americanized bar food quesadillas with a side of a sassy pico and a beer darker than the pain cave I just rode through.

Eric Robinson

Mechanic

Born and raised in Brooklyn NY, Eric has always been into taking things apart. He got his first tool belt at three and I never looked back. He’s worked in automotive mechanics, carpentry, roofing, and even as a electrical apprentice. He ended up going to college for business; “I just always liked the way attache case and double-breasted suits looked,” he says.

Hometown:
Brooklyn NewYork

Favorite New York restaurant and what to order:

Dinosuar BBQ. Baked beans.

Hobbies:
RC cars, sneakers and flight simulators

Nickname:
Boosie

Personal motto:
Preparation and timing =Luck

Something people are surprised to learn about me:
Had my first tool belt at the age of three, and I collect die cast cars.

Favorite post-ride treat:
Water

Anne Shaw

Customer Relations Specialist

Hometown:
Ottawa, Canada

I like working for Bike New York because:
I love the idea of teaching people how to ride (biking is one of the best feelings in the world, and for a kid it’s like having wings and wheels, all at the same time). Plus, I love the energy of the Tour; it’s better than espresso.

Hobbies:
Reading, cooking, gardening, finding new places to get lost and then back again.

Personal motto:
If you must hurt someone else in order to win, you have won nothing.

Last good book read:
The Martian.

Something people are surprised to learn about me:
I have synesthesia (I can see and feel music, hear flavors, etc.).

Favorite street to ride on in New York and why:
Shore Parkway Greenway Trail (not really a street), because it goes almost all the way to Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island

Jasmijn Staal

Communications Intern

Jasmijn (“You may pronounce it as Jasmin, but if you like you can always try to pronounce it in the Dutch way,” she says) is Master Marketing student at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, with a focus on sustainability. As an undergrad, she minored in “People, Planet, Profit” to learn more about sustainability, and after graduating, did an internship at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, where she joined the Environmental strategy & CSR department.

Hometown:
Groningen, The Netherlands (cycling city of the Netherlands)

Hobbies:
Cooking/baking, playing sports (running, cycling, gym), photography, traveling, and drinking coffee with friends.

Nickname(s):
Jas

Ask me about (topics you’re particularly interested in or know a lot about):
Vegetarian food, food in general, sports, Instagram.

Personal motto:
One key to success is to have lunch at the time of day most people have breakfast.

When I’m not working at Bike New York, you’ll most likely find me:
Playing sports, wandering through the city, taking pictures (mostly of food).

Something people are surprised to learn about me:
I was a dancer! After finishing high school I went to the dance academy in Rotterdam.

Robin Urban Smith

Communications Manager

Hometown:

Waterford, Virginia

Favorite New York restaurant and what to order:
Bike to brunch at Kevin’s in Red Hook — order the Eggs Chesapeake or the French Toast.

Hobbies:
Gardening, cooking, backpacking, speed knitting (I’ll knit a finger puppet of your pet in 30 minutes flat)

Dream vacation destination:
Hot springs in cold mountains.

When I’m not working at Bike New York, you’ll most likely find me:
In Prospect Park, in a bike lane, at the movies, with friends & family.

Something people are surprised to learn about me:
I’m really good at juggling a soccer ball.

Favorite post-ride treat:
Beer…preferably paired w/ $1 oysters.

Kathy Stout

Customer Relations and Registration Manager

Kathy graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Psychology. In 2007 she won AFA’s national competition in Prose Interpretation and began acting, writing and performing. She also worked freelance events and was introduced to Bike New York where, in 2013, she started her full time position as customer service manager.

Hometown:
Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Nickname:
“Katherole” for a brief time, but I’m holding out for more options.
Ask me about:
My cat. Her full name is Notorious C.A.T. aka kitty smalls aka Carol Wallace, but you can call her Carol. She is amazing.
Dream vacation destination:
Anywhere near water, preferably the ocean—but I’d settle for a great waterfall.
Last good book read:
Sorry We’re Close by J. Tarin Towers
When I’m not working, you’ll most likely find me:
Writing
If I could have any bike in the world, it’d be:
Turquoise, collapsible and impossible to steal.

Sameer Tolani

Education Volunteer Manager

Sameer’s journey with Bike New York began as a participant in the Twin Lights Ride 2014 and the TD Five Boro Bike Tour 2015. “I saw so many Bike New York volunteers everywhere and it seemed like such a fun and fulfilling experience.” Soon after, he became an avid volunteer for our Learn to Ride and Bicycle Basics classes, eventually becoming a Volunteer Ambassador for the TD Five Boro Bike Tour in 2016. Additionally, he was an instructor for our Youth Program for a year, teaching children around New York City how to ride bikes safely. What he loves most about teaching and volunteering is watching people’s belief in themselves grow. “Many of them arrive hesitant and unsure of themselves, but by the end of the class or program they are transformed and empowered.” He as well feels transformed and empowered by his time at Bike New York and is ready to use his experience and implement his ideas to improve the Volunteer Department in his new role as Education Volunteer Manager.

Hometown:

Cincinnati, Ohio (I’m mostly a Californian though)

Favorite New York restaurant and what to order:

Wangs! And not just because my girlfriend owns the place. It’s southern soul food with east Asian flavors. People love the wings but my personal fav is the fried chicken. And the corn on the cob. And the cornbread with salted scallion butter!

I like working for Bike New York because:

We make a positive difference in the world. Also, because for once I’m not the only employee at my job biking to work!

Hobbies:

Hangin’ with my lady, writing songs for and playing shows with my band TOLANI (shameless plug: tolani.squarespace.com), dog sitting, calisthenics, frisbee, people watching.

Dream vacation destination: The Son Doong cave in Vietnam. It’s the biggest cave in the world and was only very recently discovered so the human footprint is minimal.

Favorite street to ride on in New York and why:

W 141^st St in Hamilton Heights. It runs alongside the Hamilton Grange National Memorial and City College of New York campus. It’s just a long stretch of pure incline. I love hills (I’m a masochist).

Favorite post-ride treat:

Honeycrisp apples and peanut butter. Good sugar, good fat, and most importantly, good taste.

Instagram: @somemoresameer

Instructors

Scott Aiken

Simona Bares-Lemmon

Julie Blackburn

Hope Boeve

Daniel Brown

Chris Brunson

Matt Budd

Cecelia Casey

Bob Castro

Sandi Cheng

Yancy Coby

Stephen Courage

Elena Crotty

Emilia Crotty

Laura Diaz de Leon

Emily DiGiovanni

Marilyn Donahue-Schiller

Jonathan Eckman

Jim Fagan

Melody Feo

Elena Fernsler

Coriel Gaffney

Federico Gardúno

Julian Goetz

Douglas Gonzalez

Lina Gonzalez

Francesca Hays

Lance Jacobs

Joyce Jian

Darius Jones

Jackie Junttonen

Lars Klove

Robert Kurilla

Jennifer Laurita

Emily Lazar

Geoffrey Lenat

Susan Lindell

Sophie Luo

Samantha Merkt

Alex Minier

Michael Mintz

Claire Mordas

Greg Paxton

Mark Plaut

Dahlia Ramsay

Irasema Rivera

Juliana Smith

Roy Summer

Dan Suraci

Gloria Tate

Raffi Wartanian

Susan Rodetis