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Keynote SpeakersKevin Mills shapes and oversees Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s policy agenda, including federal and state legislation and rulemaking, grassroots organizing, program initiatives, and research. Mills’ team at RTC is leading a movement to double investment in active transportation to make it safe and convenient to choose bicycling and walking for routine travel and to make trail systems accessible to nearly all Americans by 2020. RTC’s Active Transportation Campaign has organized over 50 communities across America to develop specific plans demonstrating how they could cost-effectively shift trips to bicycling and walking with concentrated investments to complete active transportation systems connecting the places where people live, work, learn, play, shop, and access transit. Mills co-authored “Active Transportation for America”, a report quantifying the national benefits of federal investment in such opportunities. He played a lead role in securing and saving billions of dollars for Transportation Enhancements, the nation’s top source of funding for trails, bicycling and walking. Prior to joining RTC in 2006, Mills spent nearly 16 years at the Environmental Defense Fund directing programs to reduce the climate and health impacts of automobiles, reduce the use and waste of toxic chemicals, and promote sustainable transportation and communities. He founded or played a key role in launching many innovative collaborative ventures including the Clean Car Campaign, the Partnership for Mercury Free Vehicles, the Partnership for Regulatory Innovation and Sustainable Manufacturing, the Great Printers Project, the Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Alliance, and the Clean Production Network. Vice President of Policy, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (2006-present); Director, Pollution Prevention Alliance and Clean Car Campaign, Environmental Defense (1990-2006); Staff Attorney, East Michigan Environmental Action Council (1987-1990); Teacher, The Storm King School (1983-1984); J.D., University of Michigan, B.A., Oberlin College. From June, 2003 to October, 2009, Bob was a Senior Program Manager with the National Center for Bicycling and Walking. He conducted literally hundreds of workshops and training sessions, facilitated meetings, and offered presentations throughout the US and abroad on how communities can encourage walking and bicycling through improving their facilities, policies and practices. He co-authored three publications with NCBW: a study of how state departments of transportation profess to accommodate bicycling and walking; an exploration into the best practices of metropolitan planning organizations; and a primer on conducting pedestrian and bicycling audits. In 2004, Bob assumed the leadership of the NCBW Walkable Community Workshops program. This highly successful program provided nationally recognized experts to communities interested in improving their pedestrian and bicycling accommodations. Under Bob’s tutelage, Walkable Community Workshops generated over 250% more revenue than in previous years, and won the prestigious Institute for Transportation Engineers Award as the leading Pedestrian Education Program in the nation. In 2007, Bob led a $125K program to help youth in Flint, MI create a program to improve the infrastructure in their neighborhoods. Despite some significant challenges, the project gained the support of the mayor and city council, setting the stage for the development of a city-wide Youth Advisory Council and the initiation of several neighborhood projects. In 2008-09, he led a $350K program for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota to create more active communities throughout the state. Among the accomplishments of this effort included beginning several “Safe Routes to School” programs, forming several bicycle and pedestrian committees to sustain progress, identifying infrastructure gaps in several communities, and consulting with local and state planners on specific bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. From October, 2000 to June, 2003, Bob was an independent consultant in the field of bicycling and walking. He served as the first paid executive director for One Less Car, Maryland’s statewide advocacy group for the rights of bicyclists and pedestrians. In this role, Bob increased the organization’s membership by 50%, negotiated control of the state’s two premier fundraising bike rides, raised over $125,000 in new funds, wrote and successfully lobbied for Maryland’s first Safe Routes to Schools program, and wrote the state’s first Bicycle Safety Curriculum. Bob then organized and led “Cycle Across Maryland”, halting a multi-year decline in ridership, and obtaining several new corporate sponsors. He also organized and led the first fundraising bike ride for Healthy U, a prominent Maryland public health advocacy group. During this time, Bob found time to work in his local bike shop, delighting in getting his fingers dirty again as a bike mechanic. From mid-1999 through mid- 2000, Bob and his wife bought a small camper, affixed the bike to the back, and toured much of the United States and Canada. Other Activities:
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