Staff
ALEX AJAYI
Mobile Bike Shop Mechanic
Alex comes to Bikemore with over six years of experience as a local bike mechanic, during which time he has seen his penchant for cycling grow from a hobby to an obsession.
Besides his work with Bikemore's mobile bike shop, he serves on the board of Velocipede Bike Project, another Baltimore cycling non-profit with a focus on affordable transportation and DIY bicycle repair.
SONYA THOMAS
Development Director
Sonya is responsible for raising funds and awareness for Bikemore through community events, grants, and advocacy education.
She has a passion for nonprofit work, previously managing marketing and fundraising initiatives for the American Heart Association, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., St. Vincent dePaul, and Big Brothers Big Sisters – just to name few.
She has also worked as a marketing professional at the University of Toledo in Ohio, and provided consulting services for several Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Ohio.
Thomas holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio and is the mother of two young-adult children.
When she is not working, she loves to travel, cycle, garden and explore farmer’s markets. She also loves to kayak, walk her dog, visit museums, and relax at the beach with her partner.
JED WEEKS
Interim Executive Director/Policy Director
Jed has over fifteen years experience working on policy issues and campaigns, including the Baltimore Complete Streets Ordinance, Transit Safety and Improvement Act, and Baltimore’s major and progressive reform of zoning and fire codes.
His prior work focused on major fundraising campaigns to end automatic suspension and expulsion for youth showing up late to school, expand transit pass hours for youth, end the automatic prosecution of youth as adults for certain crimes, normalize buprenorphine prescription, and create standing prescriptions for naloxone.
He holds degrees in English and Political Science from the University of Delaware. He is a board member of the Greater Remington Improvement Association, founding board member of Bikemore, and most recently served as Director of External Relations at the University of Baltimore School of Law. Prior to that he worked at the Open Society Foundations and served as an aide to Governor Jack Markell of Delaware.
MENELIK YEHA
Director of Culture and Education
Menelik comes to Bikemore with a professional background in design, hospitality, and transportation.
Profound interests in various modes of transportation and aspects of multimodal communication have fueled his desire to be part of a solution where safety, fluidity, and accessibility can cohesively be prioritized. His experiences are all undergirded with a natural zeal for how things can work collectively.
Great community experience and passion for the hobby of cycling has inspired him to expand and build programs of meaning, purpose and significance, namely Cycling Smart and Friday Night Lights among others. These program additions stand as compliments to the Mobile Bike Shop, which he has coordinated since his beginning with Bikemore.
Board
JUAN CARLOS PUGA NIETO President
Attorney, Saiontz & Kirk P.A.
Juan Carlos Puga Nieto is a plaintiff's attorney who works at a Baltimore based law firm. Juan Carlos was born in Mexico and emigrated at a young age to the Baltimore area. He moved to Baltimore City from west Baltimore County in 2013 to attend University of Baltimore, stayed through law school and has grown deep roots through friends and family in this city
Juan Carlos is a Baltimore-everything lover, DACA recipient, and father, with an unwavering commitment to making Baltimore a more vibrant and people-centered city. He has a fervent belief in the transformative power of sustainable transportation, and wants to help Baltimore live to its potential by improving its streets.
Juan Carlos started commuting via bike out of necessity due to his immigration status, and continues to do so everyday out of love for bikes and car-less transportation. He spends his weekends riding his bike as much as possible with his wife and daughter, or with any friend who is willing to ride around Baltimore.
NIA REED-JONES
Vice President
Food and Drug Administration, Black People Ride Bikes
Dr. Reed-Jones is originally from Ypsilanti, MI and has resided in Maryland for over 16 years and Baltimore for 4 years. Dr. Reed-Jones is currently a Biologist at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM).
In addition, to her work at the FDA she is also an avid cyclist and co-founder of Black People Ride Bikes, Inc, (BPRB) a Baltimore-Based non-profit advocacy organization established in 2019 in Baltimore whose mission is to bring cycling awareness to the black diaspora by building a community of black cyclists with a focus in exploration, health, and advocacy.
Neiunna is also very active in her community as the Vice-President of Friends of Carroll Park and a level one Coach for the Patterson Park Girls Mountain biking team.
When Dr. Reed-Jones is not on her bike or doing community work, she enjoys yoga as a member of the Be More Yoga Community, watching Netflix, cooking vegan food, playing games, hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
KYLE HARRER
Treasurer
BGE
Kyle Harrer Manages BGE’s Emerging Technologies and Innovation department. He is responsible for BGE’s R&D program and BGE’s innovation efforts. Kyle has a professional background in sustainable technologies, innovation, data analytics, and project management. Kyle also serves on the board of RelyHR LLC, a Human Resource consulting and outsourcing company.
Kyle earned an MBA from Loyola University and BA degrees in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems from Towson University. He lives in Baltimore County with his wife and daughter. When he is not working, he enjoys spending his time hiking, climbing, and mountain biking.
ELI POUSSON
Secretary
Baltimore City Department of Planning
Eli Pousson is a historian, planner, cargo bike riding family biker, and a Harwood neighborhood resident.
Eli has helped organize the annual Baltimore Family Biking Open House since 2017. Eli also spends every day in April posting online about picking up litter and is always ready to talk to friends and colleagues about how to use 311.
Eli works at Baltimore City Department of Planning and has worked as a program coordinator and planner at the Neighborhood Design Center where he is focused on empowering community organizations to push for safer streets, stable housing, and clean parks.
Prior to joining NDC, Eli completed an MPH at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health where he focused on the health effects of demolishing vacant housing and started a partnership with the Department of Transportation to pilot play street program in Baltimore City.
ADAM AVIV
George Washington University
Adam Aviv is an associate professor of computer science at the George Washington University in DC.
In addition to his work at GW, Adam is an avid cyclist and transit advocate, as well as a regular MARC train rider (with scooter and/or bike in tow) for his commute to DC.
Since moving to Baltimore in 2014, he has been committed to supporting Bikemore in its mission to advocate for a more connected and thriving Baltimore.
SUZANNE BAILEY
Women’s Law Center
Suzanne hails from South Carolina, is a lover of Baltimore and resident of Upper Fells Point. She is an attorney and considers it an honor to direct the MEDOVI project for the Women's Law Center that provides pro bono and low bono immigration legal services to Maryland residents who have experienced domestic violence, human sex trafficking and/or sexual assault.
Suzanne enjoys riding her bike all over the city and other adventures, and firmly believes that biking helps our mental health, physical health, wallet and planet. After being hit on her bike, she understands how important safety and bike lanes are to city residents, and is grateful to work with other Bikemore staff and supporters to move its mission forward.
You may see Suzanne joyfully riding in Baltimore with a dog in a basket on the back. Say hello.
JIM BROWN
Audubon Society
Jim is a native Baltimorean, bike commuter, and recreational rider. He is excited to work with Bikemore to make cycling a viable, fun and dignified mode of transportation and recreation for all of Baltimore’s residents.
Jim works as Mid-Atlantic Policy Director at the National Audubon Society and he holds a Masters Degree in landscape architecture from Morgan State University.
His prior experience in Baltimore and across the country incudes environmental education, city parks, trails planning and coalition building as program director with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
CHRISTIAN KANSLER
Harborside Group
Christian has over 14 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently a Vice President and Director of Sales at The Harborside Group, a third party distribution firm that provides sales and marketing services for boutique Asset Management firms. Prior to Harborside, Christian was a regional sales consultant with ProFunds/ProShares and a team leader of derivative operations with Morgan Stanley.
Christian earned a BS from Salisbury University with a concentration in finance and investments. He grew up in Bel Air, MD and currently resides in Roland Park with his Wife, Brynn, and two young daughters, Kyle and Palmer. When not working, Christian enjoys spending time with his family, biking, Golfing, and anything related to the Ravens and Orioles!
LILY MITCHELL
CareFirst
Lily Mitchell is a public health nurse who works with clinical data at CareFirst. She spends her free time sewing and exploring Baltimore’s neighborhoods, parks, trails, and playgrounds.
She wants more people to have safe and affordable access to the outdoors in our city.
You can spot Lily on a red bicycle with a kid's seat (often occupied by a toddler) on the rear rack.
PATRICE KINGSLEY
CareFirst
Patrice Kingsley currently manages operations for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Patient Centered Medical Home Program, where she identifies opportunities to lower the cost and improve the quality of healthcare in Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia. Previously, Patrice has supported operations and logistics for several anti-hunger and wellness nonprofit organizations and has honed her skills using data to improve decision making in large organizations.
Patrice graduated from the University of Maryland – College Park with a Dual Masters in Public Policy and Business Administration.
Originally from North Carolina, Patrice currently lives in the Bolton Hill neighborhood of Baltimore City and is excited to work with Bikemore to advocate for complete streets and walkable communities!
DAVID WOLFE
Alex. Brown Realty
David moved to the Baltimore area in 2004, and now lives in Towson. In 2011, David began commuting by bicycle to his job in downtown Baltimore with some frequency. After 10,000 miles, he is connected and committed to Baltimore in ways he never contemplated when he used to drive his car to work.
David also enjoys mountain bike riding on weekends. David is general counsel to a local real estate investment firm.
He previously served as Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors of HPRP (Homeless Person Representation Project, Inc.).
WAMWEA
Nurse, University of Maryland Medical System
Wamwea moved to Baltimore in 2006. He’s a long time bicycle commuter. In the beginning, it was mostly between Timonium where he lived and Towson University. These days it’s mostly in the city where he resides.
When he’s not working as a nurse, you’ll find him on the road either cycling, running or hiking with his wife and pup.
As a bicycle lover, he’s committed to putting more butts on bikes. He also supports developing an infrastructure that makes transportation more accessible, especially to those without cars.
DAVID ZIELNICKI
Partner, Unknown Studio
David is a landscape architect and partner at Unknown Studio Landscape Architecture & Urban Design (located at 2612 Maryland Avenue overlooking the Maryland Ave. bicycle facility). Apart from his landscape architecture work, David is a lifelong cyclist and lover of walking. David knows firsthand the life-changing impact of safe streets. From both professional and personal perspectives, David dreams of more high-quality, community-building, public spaces in Baltimore.
When not in the office, you can usually find David on the Stony Run trails near his home or around town on his well-loved, well-traveled, bright-red Bianchi.