2010 SVBC Board of Directors Election

It's time for our annual election of new directors to the SVBC Board. There are five open seats to be filled for the coming year. The Board reviewed a number of candidates and has chosen a slate of five to recommend to the membership. These candidates were chosen for their commitment to the mission of SVBC; specific skills, such as organizational development and fundraising; and ability to further the development of bicycling in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.

Members will also have the opportunity to list a write in candidate.

This election is open to current members in good standing. We are doing something new this year, which we hope will make it easier for you to vote; online voting. You will receive instructions for this in the next few days, to the email address you have on file with us in our membership list. The voting will be open through December 14. If it is not convenient for you to vote from home, come to the Winter Party on December 9. We will have computers available for people to vote then.

Candidates

Ian Dewar

I am excited about the opportunity to join the SVBC board and contribute to the ongoing success of building cycling momentum in the Silicon Valley. My experience as a cyclist began where most people’s did – I rode my bike to elementary school. I continued to do so through high-school, university, graduate school and my first job. I didn’t intend to make a statement about cycle commuting – it was just easier and more efficient. I have worked in cycling related employment for 15 years starting in 1996 as a bicycle tour guide, moving into event planning for cycling companies, working with professional teams and ultimately arriving at Specialized Bicycle Components as the Partnership Manager. In my current role at Specialized I work directly with local and national bicycle advocacy partners – and help to direct the goals and mission of the Specialized Advocacy Fund in the United States.

I am committed to increasing the use of bicycles for transportation as well as leisure and my primary focus as I develop as an advocate for bicycle use has been two fold – getting kids on bikes and creating infrastructure to allow safer bicycle use. I believe in Silicon Valley we are primed for growth on both fronts.

My education background is in community development and in previous positions I have worked on environmental education programs, children's afterschool programs and learn to ride programs. I currently work directly with national organizations such as Bikes Belong (I represent Specialized on the board of directors), the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) and National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA).

I am committed to pushing for the building the infrastructure to make cycling safer and more accessible for everyone. I believe the development of safe cycling will come from education, public and private partnerships and a continued goal to build partnerships with the world class companies in the Silicon Valley.

Melissa Hippard

I love the Bay Area and have had the good fortune to be able to work and live here most of my life. I currently work for Greenbelt Alliance where I am responsible for working with our field staff to coordinate citizen efforts to protect open space and create livable communities throughout the Bay Area. Before that I served as Chapter Director for the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club from 2003-2009 working closely with member activists to achieve a wide range of conservation goals from slowing climate change to forest protection to improving transportation policy. In addition to being a member, I have volunteered for SVBC for the past few years including working bike parking and organizing the Redwood City Energizer Station for Bike to Work Day. I also bike commute to San Francisco on Caltrain. When I am not working or volunteering I am riding my bike all over the Peninsula and South Bay. I am pleased to say I have conquered Mt Ham, Mt Tam and Mt Diablo. Multiple times. My work and play have made me keenly aware of the many needs that the bike community has and how cycling is an excellent solution to many social and environmental problems. If more people could bike to work or school they would get some exercise and reduce their contribution to air pollution. I have long been a community activist and am excited about bringing my skills and experiences to benefit the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition.

James Lucas

As a youth, James Lucas fell in love with the freedom his blue, 24” wheeled Schwinn Varsity could give him. He didn’t know at the time that this passion would cause him to seek out all knowledge bike related and result in his becoming a race mechanic, fit technician, and an expert in retail operations. He has spent the last 10 years managing people, operating a business, and converting people into regular cyclists by matching them to the right product and fitting them in a way that both minimizes pain and maximizes power.

James went to UCSB and completed a degree in Economics/Mathematics. He served the campus community on multiple boards of governance and as the Student Director of the Sport Clubs program. James competed in the first ever Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships, raced incessantly, and provided mechanical support for Shimano and the USA Cycling National Team during his tenure there. Afterwards, he followed his passion to the University of Wyoming to work on his Master’s in Exercise Physiology. There, he taught Exercise Physiology and served his campus community on boards of governance.

James is now working on his next level of service through bicycle advocacy. He went to his first National Bicycle Summit in 2010 and saw what individuals can do accomplish just by showing up. When James isn’t wearing every possible hat running Calmar Bicycles, he follows his two young sons on their rides to the park.

Jim Parker

I have served on the Board of Directors as Treasurer for the last two years. I was a founding member of two of the larger regional triathlon clubs, Silicon Valley Triathlon Club and Tribe.

I currently work in finance for a publicly traded solar company. Beyond the finance and tax expertise I bring to SVBC, I've been involved extensively with my employer's Corporate Societal Responsibility efforts and can add specific insight into SVBC's corporate fundraising efforts. I have been particularly interested and have worked on the Bike Friendly Workplace certification program to incentivize more local employers to encourage bicycle commuting. I believe that there has never been a better opportunity for SVBC to positively influence our community, and I'd like to continue assisting in those efforts.

Rick Sutton

Should I be elected, I look forward to serving on the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition Board of Directors. My professional experience in business development and marketing and my passion for all forms of cycling spans 30+ years.  I hope to share my creative instincts and operational experience to help SVBC achieve its mission of fostering a vibrant cycling culture in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

My SVBC wish list includes increasing both individual and corporate membership; developing a marketing and communications strategy that raises public awareness; and forging alliances with public and private health organizations to increase our chances of parallel success.

I currently lead Plus 3 Network, where we uniquely blend social networking, physical activities and charitable giving to motivate healthy lifestyles. Plus 3 offers both consumer and corporate employee wellness product lines delivered via Web and Mobile platforms.

Prior to launching Plus 3, I served a two-year stint as Specialized Bicycles Vice President of Retail Services, leading a team that refined the concept store design and construction process including negotiating store partnerships around the world.  From 1991 to 2004, I served as President of GaleForce Sports Marketing during which time I cofounded the Sea Otter Classic (selling my interests in 2004), promoted 25+ National Championship events, five World Cups, two Cyclocross Nationals, charity rides, track and field meets and trade shows. I was instrumental in the development of two new mountain bike racing disciplines, short track and 4-cross, which were awarded national and/or world championship status within two years of their introduction.

I am a former member of UCI International Mountain Bike Commission and a Director of the Junior Development Cycling Foundation. My wife Gail and I have been dance partners for 32 years; we are empty nesters with two ‘adult kids’ that still talk to us – nice! In the 80s and 90s, I competed successfully in triathlon, road cycling and mountain biking. No longer a racer dude, I continue to ride for fun and good health.