Our Team
BikeMN is governed by a statewide Board of Directors
and staffed by tireless advocates for bicycling and walking.
BikeMN Staff
Reach us by email – (first name)@bikemn.org
Michael Wojcik
Executive Director
Michael Wojcik is the newly appointed Executive Director of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN), having officially joined the organization on August 1, 2023. As the second-ever Executive Director, he follows the successful tenure of founding Executive Director, Dorian Grilley. Michael brings a diverse background in Business, Technology, and Local Government Leadership to his role.
Born and raised in Greater Minnesota, Michael has spent the majority of his life immersed in the state’s communities. Currently residing in Rochester, MN, with his family, he has a deep connection to various regions, including Minnesota’s Iron Range, the Red River Valley, and the scenic area of Duluth and the North Shore. Michael is strongly committed to extending BikeMN’s reach and resources to both Urban and Greater Minnesota, including Native communities, with a focus on ensuring safe and accessible biking, walking, or rolling options for all.
Before joining BikeMN, Michael served 12 years as a City Councilmember in Rochester, MN, where he devoted considerable efforts to promoting safe biking, walking, and rolling as viable transportation alternatives. He played a key role in spearheading the development of noteworthy bike and pedestrian infrastructure projects in Rochester. Moreover, Michael contributed to updating the community’s comprehensive plan, placing a central focus on equity and sustainability. His dedication to environmental stewardship also led to the successful transition of Minnesota’s largest public utility to rely entirely on renewable energy by 2030, earning recognition at the local, state, and national levels.
Michael’s academic achievements include an MBA from the prestigious Carlson School of Management and a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering. He has further demonstrated his proficiency by passing Level III of the Chartered Financial Analyst exam sequence.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Michael finds joy in his personal life. Married to Lisa (Hokenson) Wojcik since 2001, he is a proud father to two daughters, Anastasia and Natalia, and shares his home with a shelter dog named “Bader.”
In his leisure time, Michael delights in exploring nature through walking excursions, attempting to play soccer, and immersing himself in culturally vibrant parts of the world. He has an unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals through the creation of people-centered spaces and infrastructure.
With Michael Wojcik at the helm, the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota is poised to embrace a new era of leadership, advocacy, and progress in fostering safe and sustainable transportation options for all Minnesotans.
angela olson she/her
Deputy & Education Director
Angela has worked in the bike industry as a mechanic, service writer, and in sales, as well as leading rides and workshops for WTF (women, trans, femme) folks. Advocating for cycling and pedestrian safety speaks to her passion for public health and access. Angela views her role at BikeMN as a perfect marriage between her personal interest and professional experience.
Erik Noonan he/them
Communications Manager
Erik Noonan (he/them) believes that effective communication is critical to the path forward for BikeMN. Whether that is lifting up the stories being told by members of communities both big and small, or highlighting the personal impacts of BikeMN’s advocacy and education work – it is critical to show that biking and people powered mobility is a growing movement here in Minnesota. Ours is a movement that succeeds by empowering grassroots leaders. Erik’s background spans disability advocacy, climate action, transportation infrastructure education, and the intersection community outreach and public health.
Helena Howard they/she
Adult Education Manager
Helena grew up biking around Bloomington, MN and moved to Minneapolis in 2015, where they worked at Animal Humane Society providing low-cost vet care and snuggling baby animals. During this time, they attempted to bike across the country which sparked their interest in bike repair. In their time as a professional bike mechanic, they felt most fulfilled when getting someone rolling again who needed their bike for transportation. They facilitate bike repair nights as a volunteer for Grease Rag, a Twin Cities group for FTW riders. When not riding their bike, Helena loves sewing, puppetry, dance, and taking their dog Maple on long walks.
Ted Duepner he/him
Operations & Supporter Relations Manager
Ted has been using his bike as a main source of transportation year-round in Minnesota since 2003 including 15 years of commuting 20+ miles per day. While the most rewarding job he had was being a playground/lunchroom supervisor at an elementary school for 10 years, he has always strived to incorporate bicycle advocacy and encourage ridership wherever he has found himself. Legitimizing cycling and walking for transportation has been and remains a central component of his identity. When not on his bike you may find him, canoeing, hiking, fishing, hunting, playing yard games, losing at board games, and foraging for wild foods or pretty rocks.
CJ Lindor he/they
Education Coordinator
Before coming to the Bicycle Alliance in 2014, CJ was teaching outdoor and environmental education for 6 years. His background also includes many years of bike shop retail and repair experience, and he is a founding coach for one of the MN High School Cycling League teams. CJ believes in the transformative power of the bicycle to improve the quality of life for people and communities. His current role at the Bicycle Alliance is a perfect synthesis of his passions for outdoor recreation, sustainable communities, and transportation advocacy. CJ loves all types of cycling but most especially ripping through the forest on a mountain bike.
Dan Nemes
he/him
Development Manager
Dan has worked in nonprofits since 2006 as a teacher, legal assistant and fundraiser–no matter the role, he always commuted by bike. A stay-at-home parent for the past eight years, Dan and his family get around Rochester, MN by cargo bike. While Dan always knew he’d throw his kids on their own two wheels as soon as they could walk, he’s been surprised by how cycling supports his kids’ well being, especially when it comes to his autistic six-year-old child, who thrives from the saddle of his bike. BikeMN’s advocacy and education work is important to Dan because he thinks everyone deserves the chance to feel good and safe, and his work as a grant writer and fundraiser at BikeMN is his contribution to BikeMN’s mission to include all Minnesotans in the benefits of walking and cycling for fun and transportation. Besides the somewhat deviant pleasure of completing grant applications within word limits, and the more wholesome joy of riding bikes with his family, Dan enjoys gardening and cooking, as well as reading and writing science fiction and fantasy, punctuated by occasional and regrettable pretensions to literary fiction and poetry.
Natalie Gille
Northwest Regional Coordinator
Natalie Gille grew up in Lauderdale, Minnesota, biking and walking to local parks, community events, church, and the mall. She continued commuting by bike while studying at Bemidji State University. As a League Cycling Instructor (LCI), Natalie teaches bike education, leads bike rides, helps plan Bike Month activities, and works with communities to become more bicycle-friendly.
Email: Natalie@bikemn.org
Maryellen Saatzer she/they Office Manager
Maryellen has been walking and biking around Minneapolis since 2019. This is their first role in the transportation industry and she is excited to be aligning passion with work at BikeMN. She mostly rides for fun or to do errands, and enjoys finding new trails in and around Minneapolis. In their free time, they love to knit, read fiction, and hang out with other people’s dogs.
Ilse Griffin they/them
Education Coordinator
Ilse comes with over a decade of experience in education, having worked as a youth worker, an adult ESL school coordinator, a tutor, and a teacher for ESL students both in Minnesota and abroad. Ilse is dedicated to education that is practical, accessible, and empowering. They also have spent years organizing and facilitating as a member of various community and justice groups in the Twin Cities. They are very passionate about the impact of popular education on culture change, social movements, and general community well-being. Ilse has been living happily car-free for their entire adult life. Outside of bike adventures, Ilse loves to write, read, create music, and meditate.
Reilly Friend she/her
Greencorps Member
Reilly grew up in Mankato, Minnesota where she spent lots of time outdoors enjoying local parks and trails with her friends and family. In December 2023, Reilly graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN and took a job as a substitute teacher to save money for a bikepacking trip, something she agreed to blindly, having never once biked outside of her hometown’s paved trails. After 3 months of traversing another continent on her two wheels, she had discovered a new passion: bike safety, advocacy, and infrastructure. After The Big Bike Trip, Reilly applied for the Minnesota GreenCorps program and landed a position with the American Lung Association. She serves most of her time with the Lung Association and is excited to be serving part time with BikeMN to gain hands-on experience in their education programs and learn more about the biking community in the metro area. She believes that communities are stronger when they come together and that BikeMN is playing a big part in helping Minnesotans do just that.
Chi Chi (Kachina)
Education Assistant
Based in Saint Paul, MN, Chi Chi is a fitness advocate and lifestyle cyclist that finds a great sense of fulfillment and joy in inspiring others to ride bikes.
Staff & Board Demographics
Interested in Becoming a Board Member?
The BikeMN board has annual openings for people from around Minnesota that are interested in contributing their time, interest, skills, and passion toward accomplishing BikeMN’s mission and vision.
Everyone is invited to apply.
Board of Directors
This group of skilled professionals, active transportation advocates, and passionate bicyclists and pedestrians has built up BikeMN from an ad-hoc committee to an organization with statewide influence and a $1 million budget. Directors have hailed from communities across Minnesota.
Reyna Lopez, Board Chair, Minneapolis
Reyna López is a passionate community advocate devoted to empowering
diverse youth and vulnerable populations, driving positive change, and
transforming lives through education, advocacy, and leadership. With over 10
years of experience as a teacher and school counselor, and more than 6 years
dedicated to empowering the Latino community in Minnesota through
volunteering with various nonprofits, she has made a lasting impact.
Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Reyna holds a Law degree and a master’s in
Education, both earned in Mexico, which have shaped her unwavering
commitment to education and community development.
Since joining the Board of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN) in 2022,
Reyna has been an active leader in promoting safer and more inclusive cycling
communities. Now, as the new Board Chair, she is honored to continue building
on the remarkable work of her predecessor, Andy Lambert, who represented
BikeMN with dedication and vision. Reyna is excited to lead BikeMN into this new
chapter, fostering growth and innovation in cycling advocacy across the state.
As a passionate cyclist and advocate for education, Reyna believes that learning
is the foundation for growth, whether in the classroom or on a bike. She
developed impactful programs like “Bicis y Becas,” a fundraising initiative
supporting the Latino Scholarship Fund, and continues to inspire others to
embrace outdoor activities as a way to experience freedom, joy, and connection.
Reyna values empathy, storytelling, and community connection, and she is
dedicated to creating spaces where everyone feels welcome and empowered.
Kim Struk, Secretary, Roseville
Kim Struk is great and will add a bio soon.
Andy Lambert, Minneapolis
Andy is a lifelong Minnesota resident and has been working to get more people cycling through grassroots advocacy and entrepreneurship for over 15 years. He firmly believes that infrastructure is the most effective way to influence how people move about within communities, so he spends his days running Cyclehoop US, a company that designs and manufactures secure parking and other active transportation infrastructure solutions. Andy joined the BikeMN board in June of 2020 and served as the Board Chair from July 2022 to November 2024.
Anne Walli, Saint Paul
(Coming Soon)
Marcie Lowry, Treasurer, Saint Louis Park
(Coming Soon)
Luke Ewald, Jackson
Luke grew up in Monticello, MN bicycling the scenic-wooded trails of Mississippi Regional Park and
blazing goat trails of his own from bicycling to and from school year-round. He attended college at Saint
Cloud State University and received a degree in Community Health. He interned at CentraCare Health’s
St. Benedict’s Senior Center in St. Cloud where he worked in the Alzheimer’s/Dementia Unit.
He moved to Jackson, MN in 2014 to start a career in public health at Des Moines Valley Health and
Human Services in 2014. Luke works under the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) grant program, with a particular interest in Community Active Living and Healthy Eating, Community Tobacco Prevention/Control, School Wellness, and Clinical-Community Linkages. Of these specialties, he really enjoys Community Active Living, helping communities, counties, and schools create and implement Active Living Plans, Land Use/Zoning Plans, and Safe Routes to School Plans.
In his free time, Luke enjoys being active as often as possible with a special interest in running and
biking; of course, you will see him bicycling around downtown Jackson during the dog days of
summer. In his downtime, you will find Luke watching college sports, watching Netflix or Amazon Prime
series, and surfing the internet listening to music.
Dina Khaled, Minneapolis
Dina Khaled (she/her)
After growing up in Detroit metro area, Dina moved to Minneapolis for work and fell in love with her new community – in no small part due to its abundance of green spaces and miles of pedestrian and bike trails. Dina joined the BikeMN Board because of her belief in the importance of expanding safe and equitable to similar resources for persons across the state. During the week, Dina is an attorney working for a local automation and robotics company, who on weekends (and many evenings) is likely to found on the local trails, or more likely, cheering on her teenaged son at his many sporting events – including mountain bike racing, football, and baseball.
Cindy Winters, Mankato
Cindy Winters is a retired public health professional who throughout her career, helped communities use the policy, systems and environmental approach to improving access and safety for walking and bicycling at the state and local levels. She is adamant about helping to develop local leadership so others are successful in their advocacy efforts. Cindy lives in Mankato with her husband and two rescue dogs. They enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, gardening and camping. Basically anything outdoors, and enjoying all that nature has to offer.
Bob Bierschied, Roseville
Bob retired as the Director of Parks and Recreation with the City of St. Paul and was the previous Director for the City of Roseville, and the City of Marshall. He also served with the MN Parks and Trails Legacy Funding Committee from 2012-13 and on the MN Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee (202010-2019 including Chair 2017-2019) and the Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails E-Team as an Evaluation Consultant. He recently retired as the Chair of the Minnesota Parks and Trails Council. He is a walker and an avid cyclist. He is currently a member of Minnesota Active Transportation Advisory Committee and the Explore Minnesota Commission.
Wayne Hurley, Fergus Falls
Wayne is the Director of Transportation Planning for West Central Initiative in Fergus Falls, where he has been employed for over 25 years.. His work focuses on helping small communities in the region become better places for people of all ages to walk and bike. Wayne is a certified professional planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners, and is also a League Cycling Instructor. He recently “retired” from the Board of Directors for Pedal Fergus Falls, the local walking and biking advocacy group.
As one of the founders of Pedal Fergus Falls, Wayne has been a vocal advocate for improving conditions for people walking and biking in his community of Fergus Falls. He hopes to bring that same passion to the BikeMN Board, and intends be a vocal advocate for Greater Minnesota.
Wayne recently moved to downtown Fergus Falls and is enjoying the benefits of living in a very walkable and bikeable neighborhood. His two adult daughters live in the Des Moines, Iowa area where one attends Drake University, and the other is employed as an architectural designer at an architecture firm. Wayne enjoys spending time with friends, playing trivia, listening to rock music, traveling, and visiting breweries (sometimes all of those at the same time!).
Khaleel Qandeel, Minneapolis
Khaleel grew up in the Twin Cities and now splits his time between Minneapolis and Chicago, where you’ll catch him exploring the cities by bike.
As a longtime cyclist, he joined BikeMN because he’d like to see Minnesota lead the country in bike friendliness, infrastructure, and advocacy.
Martha Wavrin, Belle Plaine
Martha is passionate about cycling; biking across the U.S. and other countries, competing in cycling
including at the Olympic Trials, cheering on her son in his Pro races, teaching bike safety as a health and
physical educator, turning wrenches and doing bike fittings in bike shops, and commuting to school/work by bike for 50+ years. She always wants others to see the myriad of possibilities in the simplicity of a bicycle.