Matt Andrews - Ambassador
Based in Eau Claire
Matt spread the bike love in and around Eau Clair through the Share & Be Aware campaign. Besides working for the Bike Fed, he holds a job with the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire as their Bicycle Program Specialist and lead mechanic through the University’s Environmental Adventure Center.
Favorite bike: 2011 Specialized Tricross, my 1st new/modern bike.
Great memory of biking in Wisconsin: Riding the Scenic Shore 150 tour benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Jessica Binder - Education Director
Based in Milwaukee
Jessica created and runs Bike Fed’s statewide Safe Routes to School Programs, Bike Camps, and adult bicyclist and motorist education programs.
Favorite bike: 1985 pink Peugeot that was found on a river bank.
Great memory of biking in Wisconsin: Camping and riding tandem to historic breweries and buildings in the southwest part of the state.
Hilary Carroll - Development & Membership Director
Based in Madison
Hilary coordinates fundraising events and programs for the Bike Fed.
Favorite bike: I used to say my old Giant Iguana, but now I really love my Trek hybrid. It is a great commuter bike!
Great memory of biking in Wisconsin: Biking through Ashland winters was always an adventure!
Barbara Connolly-Blick - Ambassador
Based in Milwaukee
Barb Blick is the SE WI Share & Be Aware Ambassador. She has also been a Safe Routes to School instructor for the Bike Fed for the past five summers in Milwaukee. She learned to ride a two-wheeler when she was four and hasn’t stopped since. She commutes year round and likes the slippery challenge of biking on Milwaukee’s snowy streets.
Favorite bike: Schwinn Twinn Deluxe that’s been in her family since 1972. It’s 67 pounds of banana yellow fun.
Great memory of biking in Wisconsin: Getting caught in a down pour on the Military Ridge Trail, arriving back at camp covered in sticky Loess soil, and having her kids pump bucket after bucket of water to pour over their muddy mom and her equally muddy bike.
Carolyn Dvorak - Ambassador
Based in La Crosse
Carolyn grew up in a family of bicyclists in Glendale, WI where weekends were spent on local tours and family bike rides. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Education at UWM and spent ten years teaching elementary school for Milwaukee Public Schools.
She has spent the last fifteen years in the La Crosse community nurturing her family, supporting the educational system, touring the beautiful driftless region, and developing her commuting skills.
Favorite bike: An Old Italian Bonita passed on to me from some friends. It is put together with a combination of mismatched parts and a sturdy steel frame. It is my comfortable, around town bike.
Great memory of biking in Wisconsin: The summer that I was eleven, my parents took our family of seven, on Amtrak to La Crosse, and we rode our bicycles home to Milwaukee.
Matt Gissibl - Development Coordinator
Based in Milwaukee
As the Development Coordinator, Matt helps businesses and organizations who are interested in supporting bicycling in Wisconsin. Whether wrenching at the Mountain Bike World Championships, shredding the mtb trails or selling advertisements for Wisconsin Bicycling, cycling is Matt’s hobby, career and passion.
Favorite bike: My Uni-Cycle. It’s like floating on air.
Great memory of biking in Wisconsin: Riding with my son to the top of Timm’s Hill, in Price County – the tallest point in Wisconsin.
Kevin Hardman - Executive Director
Based in Milwaukee
Kevin (pictured here with his oldest daughter Sophia) lives in Wauwatosa but regularly roams the state to help people build a better Wisconsin for bicycling.
Kevin joined the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin with over 15 years of business and real-estate development experience. He is a strong advocate for the creation of bikeable and walkable communities.
Favorite bike: Unfair question. That’s like picking my favorite child.
Great memory of biking in Wisconsin: Autumn ride up to Holy Hill in Washington County.
Kevin Luecke - Lead Planner
Based in Madison
Kevin is our resident wonk responsible for all aspects of bicycle planning including facilities planning, cartography, policy analysis and GIS.
As a life-long bicycle commuter who has never owned a car, Kevin is enthusiastic about making cycling a more popular means of transportation and recreation for all Wisconsin residents.
Favorite bike: 2002 Fondriest Status Carbon with Campagnolo Record components – Italian steel the way it was meant to be dressed.
Great memory of biking in Wisconsin: The Horribly Hilly. Enough said.
Jake Newborn - Education Project Manager
Based in Milwaukee
Jake manages Milwaukee’s Safe Routes to School education programs and the Bike Fed’s Valid Bike Shop at Milwaukee’s North Division High School, where students learn important jobs skills through learning how to fix bikes.
When he’s not working at the Bike Fed Jake is captain of the Milwaukee Bike Polo Club and his team currently ranks 17th in the World.
Favorite bike: My polo bike because I’ve put so much money and effort to keep it running smooth despite so much abuse.”
Great memory of biking in Wisconsin: Riding home from a Brewers game on the Hank Aaron State Trail and passing the line of cars (with Illinois plates) barely creeping along after a huge win over the Cubs.
Betsy Popelka - Membership Coordinator
Based in Madison
Betsy helps build our state-wide bicycling community by responding to member questions, concerns and requests.
Favorite bike:“Bianchi Eros touring bike that got me from the headwaters of the Mississippi River to New Orleans, all in one piece!”
Great memory of biking in Wisconsin: Riding along Lake Pepin on the Mississippi River Trail en route to New Orleans. I loved the scenery and the gently rolling hills – things I didn’t know existed in Wisconsin.
Scott Reilly - Ambassador
Based in Appleton
Scott is working with individuals, businesses, and community members to spread the Share & Be Aware message and teach confident cycling in the Fox Valley and Northeast Wisconsin.
Favorite bike: It has to be my first “grown-up” bike, a Specialized Stump Jumper.
Great memory of biking in Wisconsin: Yet to come, but thinking and dreaming about an extended camping trip along the Lake Superior shoreline.
Deb Salkin -Finance and Administration Director
Based in Milwaukee
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Deb has more than 20 years of experience in finance, accounting and administration. Deb’s responsible for making sure that the Bike Fed runs like a well-oiled machine (a bike of course)!
Great memory of biking in Wisconsin: One of my favorite places to ride is Peninsula State Park in Door County, where the land meets the water and the air smells sweet.
Dave Schlabowske -Communications Director
Based in Milwaukee
You can tell by his accent that Dave was born and raised in Milwaukee. Our resident “cycle chic” staffer, Dave has not driven a car to work in 15 years. You may have seen him pedaling to work in one of his vintage suits and ties.
Favorite bike: All of them.
Great memory of biking in Wisconsin: Biking to brunch in a freak hail storm.
Justin Sonnentag - Ambassador
Based in Stevens Point
Justin works to build a strong bicycle community in the Stevens Point are through our Share & Be Aware campaign. As a Geographer, he enjoys working with fellow bicycle enthusiasts and Urban Planners studying the spatial and temporal variables associated with making communities bicycle friendly.
Favorite bike: One with big tires ideally 650b, full fenders, racks, drum brakes, a generator hub, NO derailleurs and of course it has to be lugged steel.
Great memory of biking in Wisconsin: A spontaneous bike ride with no destination, no map, no phone and no front derailleur. I chased the sun all day, stumbled upon “The Driftless Area”, then the Mississippi River. I fell asleep in the woods on an island and rode home the next day.
Amanda White - Associate Director
Based in Madison
Amanda is our second in command and our big hitter for bicycling in Madison.
Favorite bike: 1964 Silverjet Huffy
Great memory of biking in Wisconsin: Summer biking on the country roads of Door County.
