FBA Board of Directors
FBA's Board of Directors has eleven seats. The FBA Board strives to achieve a composition that reflects the geographic diversity of Florida as well as a wide range of bicycling interests and backgrounds, including on-road, off-road and shared-use path or rail trail riding. In this effort the board is assisted by an advisory board of FBA members who have expressed an interest in helping guide our efforts.
FBA has an executive director headquartered in Waldo (NE of Gainesville), program director (Ft. Myers), special projects director (St. Augustine) and membership director (Eustis).
David Henderson, President
A native of Coral Gables, David works as the Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator for the Miami-Dade MPO. He is a regular bike commuter and utilitarian cyclists who dabbles in touring and mountain biking. He has a BA in Economics from Indiana University and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Miami. David is a member of the Everglades Bike Club and Adventure Cycling. He hopes to see the FBA become a leader in public policy and in service to bicyclists.
Favorite Quote: “The human word is like a cracked cauldron upon which we beat out melodies fit for making bears dance when we are trying to move the stars to pity.”
— Gustave Flaubert
Mighk Wilson, Vice President
Of Orlando. Immediate past president Mighk Wilson says he's been bike commuting for more than 30 years, starting with his first paper route at age 10. In 1987 he toured the U.S., from Orlando to Portland, Maine, to the Oregon coast, and down to Oakland, California. If it can be done on a bike he's probably attempted it (except for working as a bike messenger or pedicab driver). In addition to touring and commuting he's raced (a bit), mountain-biked (not enough), been an advocate, ridden in a Critical Mass ride, built trails, played bike polo, and met the woman who became his wife and tandem co-pilot (Carol, former Executive Director of FBA). He is a League Cycling Instructor (formerly known as Effective Cycling®), a regional trainer for the Florida Traffic & Bicycle Safety Education Program, and has been a bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for Metroplan Orlando since 1993. For more information on his views on cycling, visit his website or read his recent compilation of essays on cycling here.
Favorite Quote at the Moment: “Those who would give up essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary Safety deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
— Benjamin Franklin, 1759.
Steve Diez, Secretary
Of Brooksville, Steve is the Bike/Ped Coordinator for Hernando County as part of his duties with the Hernando County MPO. While having ridden a bicycle since high school, shortly after the introduction of rubber tires, he only recently became an "advocate" for cycling. Now he is a League Certified Instructor (LCI) and a Regional Trainer for the Florida Traffic and Bicycle Safety Education Program. This provides him a greater opportunity to learn more about cycling and promote advocacy and education efforts with others. Primarily a "roadie," he will get off-road once in a while just to play in the dirt.
Favorite quote: “You don't stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing.”
— Louis Armstrong
Jodi Hohlstein, Treasurer
Jodi was a very successful career banker, rising to VP and Area Operations Manager at Citicorp, responsible for 43 branches in Southern California and Nevada. In 1991 she received one of only four annual CITIPRIDE Gold Awards issued company-wide.
In 1965 she married Jeff Hohlstein. In 1980, as Chairman of Volunteers, American Red Cross, she developed an all-volunteer staff that replaced paid personnel and increased service 600%. In 1994, she and Jeff opened, and then jointly operated Management Recruiters of Round Rock, an executive search firm, for over a decade.
After returning to Jacksonville in 2005, they joined the North Florida Bicycle Club. Jodi soon became passionate about bicycle education and has assisted in developing both Traffic Skills 101 Jacksonville and FBA First Coast Chapter.
Favorite quote: “A best friend is like a four leaf clover: Hard to find and lucky to have.”
Author unknown.
Don Braverman
Of Boynton Beach, has trained for service on the FBA board of directors via his previous service stints with the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation and the League of Illinois Bicyclists boards of directors. He, and his wife, Marianne Coulton, moved to Florida in 2001 from Evanston, Illinois where Don was an active member of the bicycle community. He served on the Evanston Bicycle Club’s board for six years, serving two years as president. His experiences included being the executive director of the club’s annual century ride that attracts more than 1,500 participants. He is a member of the League of American Bicyclists and has worked with the League’s Bicycle Friendly Community effort. Presently, he is the vice president of the Boca Raton Bicycle Club and has been the event chair of the club’s annual Frank Stark Celebration Ride which was named by Florida Sport Magazine as the best century ride in south Florida.
Favorite saying: “Promise only what you can do and then, do what you promise.”
Hope Howland-Cook
(bio to come)
Earl J Lang
Hails from Ohio and has been self employed most of his life. He and his wife Karen now own two bicycle shops, one in Punta Gorda and another in Port Charlotte. Earl became involved in Bicycle Advocacy 5 years ago when he was hit by a truck in North Florida. He had completed over 1000 miles in 21 days travelling from Philadelphia to Punta Gorda when the trip ended in an encounter with a semi. Earl was not seriously injured but the experience made him mad enough to want to do something about bicycle safety in Florida.
Earl has a degree in Economics and Business from Wilmington College, Ohio and has purposely continued his "education" through reading, classes, attending seminars and experience. Earl has been a Production Forman, Real Estate Investor, Home Improvement Contractor, Treasurer of Trotwood Rescue, Volunteer EMT/Paramedic; Board Member of the Greater Dayton Real Estate Investors, Rental Property Manager, and now a Bicycle Shop Owner. Earl is a League of American Bicyclists Member; a League Certified Instructor; Life Member - Amvets; and a member of Peace River Riders Bicycle Club; Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club and Coastal Cruisers Bicycle Club. His life experiences include, Sailboat Captain 3+ years; Scuba Diver, Parachutist, Scout Master, World Traveler, and Long Distance Bicycle Touring. Earl currently rides between 70 and 100 miles per week.
His goals for the FBA are to help increase its membership rolls and improve it's marketing, giving it a stronger influence for bicycling in Florida. Earl joined Toastmasters International to improve his speaking and leadership skills to help achieve his lifetime goal of "Making a Difference". He seems to have always gravitated toward challenges and change; at 68 he is planning to become a motivational speaker when he retires from the bicycle business.
There are three quotes that have been important in his life:
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. — Edmund Burke
I will either find a way, or I will make one. — Philip Sidney
Men are disturbed not by things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.
— Epictetus
Mike Lasché
With family roots in Florida since 1823, Mike now resides in Sarasota. As a student at New College, Mike embraced bicycle transportation due to its many environmental, health, and societal benefits. His thesis on bicycle transportation, which was purchased by cities in the US and Europe, included the first known cost-benefit methodology for public agencies to evaluate whether bicycle policies made economic sense. In the mid 1980’s, Mike founded the Spokespeople, which changed the bicycle policies of Sarasota and Manatee Counties, then became Florida’s first statewide bicycle advocacy group. As Florida’s bicycle lobbyist from 1987 to 1989, he passed three state laws, including the laws founding the Florida Child Traffic Safety Education program. In 1988, Mike invited advocates from around Florida to found the Florida Bicycle Association. Currently, Mike leads Bicycle/Pedestrian Advocates and emphasizes the need for non-roadway infrastructure such as secure bicycle parking and showers/lockers.
Mike’s quote of the month "To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing."
Stephanie Striefel
A third-generation West Palm Beacher, and the youngest member of the Board, Stephanie is a Senior Planner with the Renaissance Planning Group’s Delray Beach office. She earned a BA in Environmental Studies, and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida State University. It was in Tallahassee that she rekindled her childhood passion for off-road riding, and was also exposed to the wider bicycling community. Those experiences escorted her into the world of Florida bicycle advocacy while a grad student, where she co-authored Best Practices for Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning: A Guide for Plan Preparation. A passionate planner with a love for policy (and idealism still intact), she gets a geeky thrill at the idea that words and actions can and do make a difference – especially when it comes to improving safety for Florida’s bicyclists.
Favorite Quote: “This is the true joy in life: The being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. The being a force of nature, instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.”
—George Bernard Shaw
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FBA Staff
Laura Hallam,
Executive Director
P.O. Box 718
Waldo, FL 32694
Phone: 352-468-3430
Fax: 352-468-3430
Cell: 407-399-9961
laura@floridabicycle.org
Of Waldo, Laura brings over 14 years of experience in non-profit management to FBA, having worked for the Florida Governor's Council of Physical Fitness and Sports, the Sunshine State Games Foundation, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Bike Florida. Through these organizations she has managed or assisted in various programs such as the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, numerous Sunshine State Games events, the Florida Senior Games, and the six-day Bike Florida ride. Professional affiliations since joining FBA include League of American Bicyclists, LAB's Bicycle Friendly Communities Committee, Alliance for Biking & Walking, and League Cycling Instructor. Laura lives in Waldo, Florida.
Deb DeVoe,
Membership Director
Of Eustis works part time for FBA to handle correspondence with members, keep up the membership database, and promote membership development. Deb grew up in Jordan, New York, near Syracuse in the Finger Lakes area. She moved to Florida and has been living in the Altamonte Springs area for about ten years. She began bicycling in 1997, and soon became involved in bicycle advocacy. Deb is one of the founding members of Central Florida Bicycle Advocates. One of Deb's other passions is animals. She is active with Poodle Rescue and always seems to be taking care of new "kids" while they await a loving home. Her fulltime pets accept the visitors their mom brings around.
Dan has been involved in bike/ped advocacy since the early 1980s and entered the profession in 1999 as a Bike/Ped Coordinator, a position he held until 2008. Over the years he has been involved in many committees and organization on the local and state level that focus on bike/ped safety, education, policy, and planning. Dan currently serves as Lee County BPAC chair and is a member of the Lee County MPO Bike/Ped Coordinating Committee, City of Fort Myers Bike/Ped Advisory Board, and Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition. He is a member of apbp and a Florida Traffic & Bicycle Safety Education Instructor-Trainer and a League Cycling Instructor. Dan lives in Fort Myers with his wife, Maria.
Favorite Quote: “It's better to burn out, than to fade away.” Neil Young
George Martin,
Bicycle Law Training Program Director
Retired as a Captain after 28 years of an exciting and rewarding career in the U.S. Coast Guard, with extensive experience in law enforcement and ship operations. Achieved a BS and MS from the University of Florida (Go Gators!), and graduated from the Naval War College. Since 2000, involved in bicycle advocacy as president of the West Palm Beach Bicycle Club, Florida Bicycle Association, Safe Bicycling Coalition of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County Bicycle Greenways and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and with the PBC Sheriff’s Office on a bicycle safety grant from the Florida Department of Transportation. Initiated the Bicycle Law Enforcement Program through the PBC Law Enforcement Planning Council and completed the written curriculum on an FDOT grant. Presently living in St. Augustine, a League of American Bicyclists’ Cycling Instructor, continuing work on the Bike LE Program as an FBA Advisory Board member of FBA, and involved in other bicycle advocacy efforts.
Favorite Quote: "In matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same." —Albert Einstein
Of Orange Park, Jeff spent the first 45 years of his adult life as a Navy fighter pilot, member of Lockheed’s Skunkworks management team and as a small business owner. In 1965 he married the former Jo Manly and in 1974 he completed his Bachelor’s degree. In late 2004, Jeff and Jodi returned permanently to Jacksonville, FL. Jeff and Jodi subsequently joined the North Florida Bicycle Club. Jeff is currently their Recording Secretary and its Tour de Forts Ride Director. In 2009, working with FBA’s Laura Hallam, Jeff organized Jacksonville’s first Traffic Skills 101 class, designed the ride route and recruited the attendees. He was named FBA First Coast Chapter Director in July 2009 He is a League Cycling Instructor (#2529) and currently directs the Smart Cycling: Traffic Skills 101 Program, while continuing to build the Chapter.
Advisory Board
Becky Afonso, Marketing
Lisa Blount, Public Affairs
Keri Caffrey, Webmaster
Paul Casazza, Law Enforcement
Raphael Clemente
Dan Connaughton, Florida Traffic & Bicycle Safety Education Program
Hal Downing, Legal Affairs
Herb Hiller, Journalist
Dwight Kingsbury, Historian
Henry Lawrence
Jessica Meurer
Laura Minns
Danny Page
Roger Pierce, Florida Bicycle Touring Calendar
Carol Pulley
Bianca Pyko
Louis Rossi
Tina Russo
Robert Seidler, Filmmaker
John Sinibaldi
Ted Wendler
Randy Williams, FBA Messenger |
