Entries tagged: Georgette Yaindl

Two New EDs Take the Helm of Alliance Organizations

Thanks in part to Advocacy Advance Grants from the Alliance for Biking & Walking, two statewide organizations recently announced the hiring of new, full-time executive directors. And they’re both familiar faces.

imageOut on the west coast, Dave Snyder took the helm of the California Bicycle Coalition this month. Dave has a long history of bike-ped success, including growing the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition into a political powerhouse with thousands of engaged members and starting several nonprofits aimed at environmentally sustainable and socially just transportation options in the Bay Area. Dave’s got a long history with the Alliance, too — not only has he led a number of our Winning Campaigns Trainings, but also served as our director of program development back when we were still called the Thunderhead Alliance.

The veteran advocate will be the CBC’s first ED in four years, thanks to a $30,000 Startup/Capacity Grant from the Alliance’s Advocacy Advance program. According to the CBC: Snyder will lead efforts to secure substantial long-term funding, strengthen relationships with bike industry allies and the local bike advocacy community, and increase California’s influence in national bike advocacy.

“The recent midterm elections signaled a sea-change for the national transportation agenda,” CBC president, Chris Morfas, said in the group’s most recent newsletter “Fifteen years of gains for bicycling nationwide are now under serious threat. This couldn’t be a better time for us to have someone with Dave’s skills.”

imageOn the other side of the country, Georgette Yaindl is leaving her ocean paradise and returning to her roots. Her hiring as the first executive director for Bike Walk Connecticut is also being funded, in part, by a $15,000 Advocacy Advance Grant from the Alliance.

According to Bike Walk Connecticut: “Yaindl is returning to Connecticut where she worked for many years, including as the first Executive Director of the Connecticut Bicycle Coalition. She left the CBC in 2000 to work for the Hawaii Bicycling League as its Community Liaison. In 2007, she graduated from the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and focused her practice in Hawaii in the areas of environmental, and labor and employment law. Bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position of Executive Director, Georgette also has a lifelong passion for biking and walking, and wants to help re-establish Connecticut’s identity as a center for innovative transportation technology.”

“Dorothy was right,” Georgette says. “There is no place like home. I am stoked knowing I shall soon be back in the mix helping improve the health and vitality of our residents and communities via the simple yet revolutionary acts of bicycling and walking. Aloha!”

Read more from the CBC and Bike Walk Connecticut.