Breen Goodwin speaking at Philadelphia Bike to Work Day 2009
I am excited to share the news that our former Education and Deputy Director Breen Goodwin is the new Executive Director of the Alliance for Biking and Walking, a national advocacy organization whose mission it is to create, strengthen and unite state and local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations all over North America.
Breen was responsible for launching both our Safe Routes Philly and Bicycling Ambassadors programs. Beyond that, Breen was critical to both better articulating our vision through strategic planning and in building the organizational capacity for us to act on that vision.
When I hired Breen, there were only four others of us on staff. When she left three years later, we had a staff of 14. One example of Breen’s talent and impact is in whom she hired while she was here. Our Operations Director, Education Director and Cadence Youth Cycling Program Manager grew into their current responsibilities after being hired and mentored by Breen.
This year has seen changes in the leadership of two of our national groups: Jeff Miller recently stepped down after seven years leading the Alliance and, last month, Andy Clarke stepped down after 12 years leading the League of American Bicyclists. It is a natural time to ask how our national groups can better collaborate and how they can better support and coordinate the work of local bike groups like the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
I am very excited to see how Breen tackles this challenge and helps to make the bicycle movement stronger — both across the country and in our own neck of the woods.