Staff
John Tallmadge (he/him),
Executive Director
John joined Bike Durham in January 2020 as our first executive director. John had a 21+ year career in public transportation at GoTriangle as a planner, manager, and leader. He led the agency’s service planning team, the Transportation Demand Management team, and the customer information team. He also served as the interim Project Director for the Light-Rail Project from September 2018 through March 2019. Before getting his graduate degree in city and regional planning at UNC - Chapel Hill, he worked as Co-Coordinator for the Natural Resources Defense Council's Clean Air Network in Washington, DC. He is also a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison and was born and raised in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin immediately west of Milwaukee. He has lived with his family in the Old West Durham neighborhood since 1999, and is a lifelong user of bikes, transit, shoes, and cars to get around.
You can reach John at Director@bikedurham.org.
Jacopo Montobbio (he/him),
Education Program Manager
Jacopo joined Bike Durham as a Safe Routes To School team member in August 2021. Post graduation, Jacopo decided to shift his career to the biking industry and Bike Tourism, and he’s traveled internationally on his bike ever since, both as a Tour Leader on organized bike trips and as a solo traveler. When not at a Durham Public School teaching students how to ride bikes safely, you’ll find him leading local group rides, wanderlusting in the parks around Durham or volunteering at the Durham Bike Coop refurbishing bikes for those in need of sustainable and affordable transportation. Born and raised in Italy, Jacopo moved to Durham in 2020 after living in New England for the last few years, and has joined the Bike Durham world out of his shared dedication and dream for a better, more inclusive and sustainable community. Bicycles can save the world and so can you!
You can reach Jacopo at jacopo@bikedurham.org, he’ll love to go for a bike ride with you.
Gregory Williams (he/him), Advocacy Campaign Organizer
Gregory brings a decade of organizing experience to his role as Advocacy Campaign Organizer at Bike Durham. With a background in coordinating political races at various levels, from city council to presidential campaigns, Gregory is passionate about effecting change and amplifying voices within the community.
Having moved to North Carolina as a child due to his parents' military service, Gregory fell in love with the state and chose to make it his permanent home. He is committed to contributing to the betterment of his community and ensuring a brighter future for the next generation.
Outside of his advocacy work, Gregory is an avid musician and multi-instrumentalist, often found making music or enjoying the outdoors.
You can reach Gregory at gregory@bikedurham.org
Ashley Scott (he/him),
Safe Routes to School Lead Educator
Growing up in New Jersey during the '70s, Ashley recalls his father's active participation in local road races, which fueled his own love for cycling. During his time at UNC-Chapel Hill, Ashley became an experienced cycling commuter, making his daily journey from Carrboro to campus a regular routine. Since the early 2000s, Ashley Scott has been an engaged resident of Durham. Through riding with his son on the American Tobacco Trail, he developed his passion for cycling and community involvement. Though currently residing in Downtown Durham, he is frequently in South Durham to spend time with family and embark on cycling adventures, often accompanied by his young niece.
Ashley's dedication to education and service shines through his role as a Lead Educator with Bike Durham and his active involvement in various cycling-related initiatives as a volunteer.
You can reach Ashley at ashley@bikedurham.org.
Desiree Squire (she/her), Safe Routes to School Lead Educator
Desiree is a New Jersey native. She graduated from Rutgers University in 2017, where she studied Women and Gender studies and Spanish. As a daughter of immigrants, she has always had a passion to connect with vulnerable populations. She is all for empowering, giving back, and providing equal experiences for all.
As long as she can remember, she has always been a lover of animals, plants, and nature. In her free time, she enjoys kayaking, hiking, gardening, and traveling. When exploring other countries, she loves to learn about different languages and cultures.
You can reach Desiree at desiree@bikedurham.org
Kelsey Graywill (she/her), Communications Specialist
Kelsey grew up in Colorado and moved to Durham in 2014 to study Neuroaesthetics at Duke, later moving to London, England to pursue an MSc in the same topic at the University of London, Goldsmiths. She started learning to ride a bike in 2022 after returning to the US and joined Bike Durham shortly after.
Since she never learned how to drive, you can find her rolling around town commuting on her bike, on social cruiser rides, or sweating it out on a road ride with her amateur racing team, Rescue Racing.
You can reach Kelsey at kelsey@bikedurham.org
Ruth Kathol Browne (she/her), Bicycle Safety Educator
July of 2021 was the close to a long and loved career in the Medical Imaging World. Ruth's roots developed in northeast Nebraska on a farm, one of twelve siblings. Being a part of community keeps one grounded, happy and busy.
Travel, bikes and kids have always been a part of her life. Thus, no surprise that in October of 2021 Ruth volunteered to be an educator at the beginning of Bike Durham's Bike Safety Classes. She soon became part of the part-time paid staff.
Ruth spends time at Durham Bike Co-op alongside others working on bikes. Her priority is and always will be family.
Lowell Oakley, Bicycle Safety Educator
Lowell is a proud Durham native with a deep commitment to his hometown community. As a Safe Routes to School Educator at Bike Durham, he channels his passion for creating safer, more connected neighborhoods by teaching elementary students about safe biking practices. Lowell is excited to give back to the city that shaped him by helping the next generation of Durham residents develop independence and responsibility through cycling. In addition to his work at Bike Durham, Lowell works as an Artist and Producer—singing, performing, and collaborating with the many talented musicians of the Triangle.
Joe Wilson (he/him), Policy Intern
Joe Wilson is a master’s student in the Department of City and Regional Planning at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he is specializing in housing and community development. Before returning to school as a student, he worked in elementary and middle schools in Brooklyn and Carrboro, where he saw firsthand how transportation inequality can affect safety and access to community services. At Bike Durham, he hopes to help support transportation networks that promote safety, environmental responsibility, and equity.
A native of Winston-Salem, Joe enjoys drinking coffee and being outside. You can often find him sitting on his back porch, going for a run on a local greenway, or treating himself afterward with a baked good.
You can reach Joe at joe.wilson@bikedurham.org
Board of Directors
Shaun King (he/him), Chair
Shaun works in the field of communications for Trinity College at Duke University and he is the owner of Visual Rituals. Shaun co-leads the Duke Video + Photo Working Group. For Visual Rituals, he has worked on marketing campaigns for international brands and has taught at the largest photography trade shows, like PPA and WPPI. He is an award-winning volunteer in his service to the Boys and Girls Clubs over the past decade, and is proud to serve on the Board of Directors for Bike Durham.
You can reach him at Shaun@bikedurham.org
Joshua Poor (he/him), Vice Chair
Originally from Kansas, Josh Poor moved to Durham in 2017. He had been a bicycling enthusiast until his 20s, when work and school got in the way. After moving to Durham in 2017, he picked up cycling again as a means to get healthy. He enjoys commuting by bicycle whenever possible, but most of the time he’s on two wheels it’s for social rides or exercise. He enjoys volunteering and has worked with other nonprofits such as Durham Habitat for Humanity, the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, and Activate Good.
You can reach him at Josh@bikedurham.org
Angela Hollowell (she/her), Treasurer
Angela Hollowell is originally from Alabama and moved to Durham in 2019, just a few miles from the American Tobacco Trail. She is the founder of Rootful Media, a documentary film production company featuring projects centered on environmental justice, the outdoors, and social impact. She is also the podcast host of Honey & Hustle and Creative Architects by Castos. She has worked with other local cycling advocacy organizations like the East Coast Greenway Alliance and Oaks and Spokes and is a volunteer with Dogwood Alliance. Angela enjoys biking for exercise and enjoyment, with the added benefit of lowering her carbon footprint.
You can reach her at angela@bikedurham.org
Marc Maximov (he/him), Secretary
Marc's move to Durham in 2006 came with a question mark—is midsize-city living possible without a car? He's been delighted to find that the answer is yes! He gets around solely by biking and walking (with occasional bus rides and car trips with friends), and he believes nothing clears the mind and recharges the soul like pedaling home at the end of the day. His work with Bike Durham is focused on making the streets safe and pleasant for all users, which will help make Durham a more equitable city. He was formerly the coordinator of continuing education at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke, and today he works as a freelance sound recordist, audio producer, and writer.
You can reach him at Marc@bikedurham.org
Mary Rose Fontana (she/her)
Mary Rose is an Environmental Engineer, focussing primarily on air quality research for federal, state, and local governments. Her passion for biking started as a child - she attended bicycling camps and often used bicycling as transportation, even into her college years. In 2018, she started competing in triathlons, and much prefers the bike portion over the run or swim. She recently gave up using a personal vehicle for everyday transit, substituting it with bike rides along the greenways or taking the bus or train for farther destinations. Her dream for Durham, and the Triangle, is to make alternative modes of transportation more feasible and desirable for everyone.
You can reach her at maryrose@bikedurham.org
Eric Rubinstein (he/him)
You can reach him at Eric.Rubinstein@bikedurham.org
Katie Seiz (she/her)
Katie moved to Durham in 2008. She comes to Bike Durham with a passion for road cycling, mountain biking, group social rides, and environmental and social justice causes. She brings over 10 years of nonprofit management and fundraising experience to the board and is keenly interested in centering community, collaboration, and inclusion in our efforts. Katie is the Annual Fund Manager at the Triangle Land Conservancy where she supports their individual giving program to advance TLC’s focus areas safeguarding clean water, protecting natural habitats, supporting local farms and food, and connecting people with nature in our region.
You can reach her at Katie@bikedurham.org
Brian Van Cleave (he/him)
Brian grew up in a small town outside of Milwaukee, before attending the University of Miami to study Exercise Physiology and compete on the triathlon team. While in South Florida, he learned both the importance of a vibrant cycling community and the risks when a city does not protect its residents traveling by bike. After 4 collisions involving inattentive or aggressive drivers, he was inspired to volunteer with Bike South Miami and Safe Streets Miami, helping lead rides and advocate for better infrastructure. He moved to the Triangle in 2020 and has fallen in love with the local cycling community and is inspired to see this community grow through safer places to ride, walk, and commute. Come say 'hi' to him at Trek Chapel Hill, where you'll often find him leading a ride.
You can reach him at brian@bikedurham.org
Erik Willis (he/him)
Erik relocated to Durham in 2019 and currently serves as a research scientist at the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Erik holds a Doctorate degree in exercise physiology, a Master of Public Health in epidemiology and biostatistics and completed his post-doctoral training in public health at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. Erik's research focuses on developing, testing, and disseminating effective programs aimed at promoting physical activity and healthy eating across the lifespan. Erik's goal is to foster communities where all individuals can live, work, and play in environments that prioritize optimal and equitable health and well-being.
You can reach him at erikwillis@bikedurham.org
Advisors
Aidil Ortiz
Aidil is a tribe member of SpiritHouse, a multigenerational Black women-led cultural organizing tribe with a rich legacy of using art, culture and media to support the empowerment and transformation of communities most impacted by racism, poverty, gender inequity, criminalization and incarceration. She is also the principal at Aidilisms, a consultancy focused on supporting government departments, non-profits, and communities wishing to make equity-driven systems, policy and environmental changes. As a long-time facilitator, trainer, community organizer, and technical assistance provider that has worked on local, state, and federal efforts, Aidil is currently coordinating and implementing diverse engagement strategies on mobility issues that also build the wellness and capacity of community members and their neighborhoods. She was co-coordinator of the 2019 Untokening Conference in Durham and has co-founded Blackity Bikes in her neighborhood to support people of color in their enjoyment of bicycling.
Charlene Reiss
For nearly 30 years, Charlene has had a varied career in the public sector with experience in small nonprofits, major universities, and consulting projects She combines her love of numbers and research with hands-on experience to help organizations explore creative, data-driven, realistic solutions to systemic challenges. As a nonprofit consultant, she has brought her commitment to authentic community-building, engagement, and addressing racial equity to coordinating multi-disciplinary, inter-agency teams and working with local and state-wide systems. Charlene works as a consultant with Partners for Impact and serves on the Board of Directors of several nonprofit organizations. She holds an MPA and a doctorate in Public Administration with a research focus on organizational theory, public participation, and civic engagement. She enjoys teaching and learning and is committed to making the world a better place.
Jacob Dolan
Jacob is thrilled to be connected to Bike Durham, its people, and its mission. Prior to fatherhood, Jacob spent six years as a bike commuter/mass transit rider in Chapel Hill and Durham and is passionate about creating connections for people looking to avoid using cars for every trip. He served a three-year stint on the national Board of the East Coast Greenway ending as Vice-Chair and has served on its NC state committee and Advisory Board too. He is a fan of mass transit and has taken busses across the US, Costa Rica, and parts of Spain. And he loves train travel too with memorable trips in the US, Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
In his career, Jacob has done a little bit of everything, working in the for-profit world from everything from teaching to leading sole proprietorships and small business startups to managing in a multi-billion dollar corporation. He has both volunteered and worked in the nonprofit world too. Currently, he serves as a consultant for nonprofits, for-profits, and government entities in strategic planning, workforce, and economic development, hiring and employee development, change management, and capacity building with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Josh Cohen
Josh is the co-host of The Movement Podcast and TransLoc's National Director of Policy, where he profiles and inspires the courageous leadership necessary to build the equitable, accessible, and verdant mobility future we all deserve. An early employee of TransLoc, Josh also served as Director of Business Development and Director of Strategy and Partnerships. Though he has lived and worked all over the Triangle, Josh’s heart is in its western half, attending both UNC and Duke and currently chasing his three kids around the Bull City, often on foot or bike and occasionally by transit. In his spare time, Josh enjoys roasting his own coffee, smoking his own barbeque, and relaxing on his screen porch.
Michael Schwartz
Michael grew up outside of Chicago, and implicitly understood from an early age that ubiquitous transit and safe biking and walking meant freedom for people who could not drive, including him at the time. He decided to make a career out of providing better transportation access for all after riding his bicycle across the country. Michael currently works as the Head of Customers and Policy for Ride Report, helping cities implement micromobility (i.e., shared scooter, e-bikes, etc.) programs that achieve their transportation objectives. Before starting at Ride Report, Michael was as a Principal Transportation Planner at the San Francisco County Transportation Authority where he spent nearly a decade implementing data-driven transportation plans, policies, and infrastructure, including the Van Ness Avenue Bus Rapid Transit Project. While in the Bay Area, Michael co-founded Transport Oakland, a transportation advocacy group that successfully pushed to implement the City's first Department of Transportation. His work in the public, private, and non-profit advocacy sectors informs his wide-ranging perspective. Michael has been involved with Bike Durham since moving back to the area with his wife and two kids in 2018. He is a proud graduate of UNC's Department of City and Regional Planning and School of Public Health.