The Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition board member annual election is now open.  The current board has decided to expand to the board from seven to nine members, so this election will fill five positions.  Current board members Jason Burch and Kyle Lawrence are running for reelection, and three candidates are running for the first time.  You may vote for up to all five candidates by clicking “VOTE NOW” below.  Voting closes on March 30, 2013.

VOTE NOW

Jason Burch

I grew up in Rockingham County, graduated from Turner Ashby High school, and, later, Virginia Tech. It was my time in Blacksburg that taught me the useful side of cycling and my return to Harrisonburg that taught me the recreational side. I joined the SVBC and quickly learned what a difference a group of dedicated people can make. Whether through trail work, advocacy meetings, organized events, or local government interaction, I have seen what members of the Coalition can do. Going forward, I am excited about the possibilities for the Coalition to make a difference in our community in all realms of cycling.

Suzi Carter

I strongly believe that continuing to grow a bicycle-friendly community is a fun and powerful way to transform our community towards a more vibrant, healthy and just place to live and work for all ages and abilities. I feel SVBC has played
and will continue to play a vital role in this shift. Since I arrived to Harrisonburg in 2001, I’ve had the opportunity to serve on many local non-profit boards and volunteer committees including the Community Resource Center, Bike Month Harrisonburg and Harrisonburg’s Candidate Forums. I bring experience in outreach, communications, fundraising, and organizational development to SVBC. As the current Program Director for the Northend Greenway of New Community Project, I’m excited for the opportunity to strengthen connections and build bridges that will get more infrastructure on the ground and more people riding for fun and for function. Before my time with the Greenway, I helped to open and manage Clementine (where I probably served you!), and later went on to help start Friendly City Food Co-op as its Outreach, Marketing & Membership Coordinator. I’ve been a proud member of SVBC since 2011, and currently enjoy bike commuting in ridiculously impractical clothes, road riding when it’s nicer out, and breaking down barriers to bicycling by taking friends on joy rides around the ‘burg!

Jack Broaddus

Being a lifelong resident of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County I have seen our community grow from
a small sleepy town to a city of exciting and diverse interests. The growth of SVBC and its influence
in the area has contributed greatly in making the community a great place to work, visit, and play
and retire. Having served as an officer and board member of the area United Way, officer and board
member of the H’burg/Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Harrisonburg City
Schools and board member of the Rockingham Memorial Hospital Foundation along with participating
in other community fundraising events, I bring many years of experience in the non-profit world. I
would like to share my knowledge of organization, governance; finance and strategic planning for non-
profits in assisting SVBC becomes an even stronger advocate for the biking community. I am an avid
biker having participated in many events sponsored by SVBC. I am a graduate of JMU with a B.S. and
M.B.A. and currently President and CEO of Sunnyside Communities, a non-profit organization, serving
the senior population.

Misty Tilson 

I have many fond memories from childhood of riding my bike with family and friends;
and growing up in a rural area with very little traffic
we didn’t have to worry much about cars or busy streets. It was not until after coming to Harrisonburg to pursue a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy at JMU (2006) where I learned that commuting to class by bike was quite challenging and a bit overwhelming on the busier roads. Then, after becoming a member of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) I began both mountain biking and road biking with a passion and more of a purpose. Perhaps this was the result of experiencing the overwhelming sense from others in the coalition to make it a lifelong habit. I also felt a strong desire from the members of SVBC to constantly improve the bike riding experience, make it safer, more fun, and to educate others of how their life can be enriched by riding a bicycle. I feel moved most by the following statement on the SVBC website that describes what the coalition is about… “Harrisonburg and the Central Shenandoah Valley will become known as a center of safe, sustainable and enjoyable cycling on roads, trails, and streets.”  I am delighted to have the opportunity to help contribute to this mission by serving on the board for the SVBC and continue to help make Harrisonburg a bicycle friendly place.

Kyle Lawrence

I believe the bicycle to be one of the most powerful tools to change lives, build community,
and transform our world. Harrisonburg and the Shenandoah Valley have provided me with
unmeasurable opportunities to ride my bicycle and interact with amazing, passionate people. After graduating from James Madison University, I remained in the area for the community and riding opportunities. I am excited to see momentum building on all cycling related fronts in the past few years from trails, to events, bike lanes to greenway planning. I hope to help keep that momentum rolling and continue growing the SVBC into an organization to represent all things cycling around Harrisonburg and in the Shenandoah Valley.