We’re excited to present to you the newest additions to the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Biking & Walking: a nerd and a geek.

That’s right. In her bio, Lara Kalwinski (pictured, right) describes herself as “a compliance nerd.” She has a decade of nonprofit and foundation management expertise, currently working as director of national standards and a policy associate at the Council on Foundations. She’s known in the field for reversing nonprofit operating budget deficits, auditing international grant-making procedures, creating gift acceptance procedures to enhance regulatory compliance, and implementing community-led grant program design. Lara has worked for international, religious, and community foundations from Indiana to India, and we’re grateful to have her vast expertise now at the Alliance. 

And now the self-described geek: Bri Whitcraft (pictured, left), director of marketing at Dero, proudly announces that her job description involves “geeking out on bike parking.” Before Dero, she worked at Transit for Livable Communities (TLC), where she helped launch TLC’s Transportation Options program and organized events to celebrate new bike and pedestrian routes, funded by the federal Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program. On occasion, Bri leads bike camping trips or facilitates an Open Shop, organized by Grease Rag & Wrench, a volunteer-run women/trans/femme cycling organization in Minneapolis. She is also on the Steering Committee of the Minnesota Chapter of APBP (Association of Pedestrian and Bicycling Professionals).

We asked them both some questions to get to know them better.

What are you excited about as a new board member?

Bri: I am excited to support the Alliance as bike/pedestrian advocacy evolves. I have an interest in breaking down silos and bringing more people into conversations about equity and social justice to help improve people’s transportation options and quality of life. I strive to help move the world towards a better future and I believe the Alliance and its members are helping to create that future.

Lara: I'm a compliance nerd! I'm dedicated to working with organizations that want to do good work well. After meeting staff and board at the Alliance, I know their passion is also grounded in sound work, and I want to jump into this work with them. 

How do you hope to contribute to the board?

Bri: Throughout the year, I’m often traveling throughout North America. As a board member, I will be an Alliance ambassador. I look forward to meeting with advocacy groups and individuals, and I will share Alliance initiatives with members and bring back information on what challenges people are facing. I also enjoy connecting people, so beyond promoting the Alliance’s mission, I hope to become a conduit for organizations and individuals that may benefit from the Alliance’s expanding networks and coalitions. In addition to my marketing skills and experience, I will also contribute my unique perspective and passion to continue to move the Alliance and its “people-powered movement” forward.

Lara: I come to the nonprofit world with a background in taxes, management, and legal compliance. I know this skillset can be boring to discuss at dinner parties, but I believe that sound operations are the cornerstone that allows an organization to take risks as they meet their mission. 

Anything else you'd like to share?

Bri: Most memorable Jeff Miller moment (for me): At the 2014 Leadership Retreat, we discovered that we both had identical, retractable marshmallow roasting forks. Marshmallow fork fencing commenced! I’m going to miss him as the Alliance’s fearless leader. However, I’m looking forward to building on all of his hard work to help make sure the Alliance continues to be relevant and at the forefront of pedestrian and bicycling advocacy. And I would love to hear from you; feel free to contact me to share your thoughts on the future of the Alliance or any stories from its past.

Lara: I'm dedicated to the Alliance's work because I lost two family members and a dear friend to cycling and pedestrian accidents that were avoidable.