Our Board of Directors
Larry Abele, Chair
Bike culture has always inspired Larry, a lifelong bike commuter who has lived abroad and has experienced cycling to work in several cities around the world, giving him a unique perspective and a drive to improve our local pedestrian/bike city access. Seeing this as a pathway to enrich the quality of life and strengthen our community’s economy, public health, and reduction of climatic impact.
Professionally, Larry has had a lengthy career with Volvo Cars. Having expertise in strategic product development and design innovation has given him a unique understanding of the next generation of urban mobility. Larry graduated from and was on Transportation Design faculty at Art Center College of Design, Pasadena CA.
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Dennis Peterson, Secretary
For Dennis, riding a bicycle offers a connectedness with oneself and with the surrounding environment. He sees the bicycle as a tool for both personal growth as well as community building. Dennis has been a volunteer with Bike Ventura County since 2019. Having grown up in the area, he has been energized to see recent improvements in bicycle infrastructure and transportation access around the county. Alongside other volunteers and staff at BikeVC and the Ventura Bike Hub, he seeks to keep that momentum for positive change moving in the right direction.
Dennis lives in Ventura with his wife, two kids and two cats. He works for the City of Oxnard and tries to commit to the 22 mile round trip bike commute at least once per week.
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Nina Danza
Nina sees cycling as an immediate practical environmental solution. She spreads a ‘more bikes less emissions’ ethic while volunteering in the shops, and at public event booths, as well as by advocating politically for better bike paths in our area. Not willing to see a good bike go to waste, she has brought 100s of fixer upper bikes to BikeVC that were destined for the scrap metal bin. Nina spends plenty of time working on and giving away bikes to needy local kids, knowing this is a certain way to grow bike support and their own long term healthy and happy lifestyle. Nina will ride the Great American Rail Trail when it is completed.
Pedro Barragan, Rotating Staff Board Member
Pedro is a highly skilled Master mechanic with exceptional digital expertise. As a shop manager at BikeVC, he has demonstrated remarkable proficiency, especially during the most challenging years. Pedro’s greatest asset is his unwavering passion for community care. He consistently finds time to support and ride with the youth bicycle community, embodying his commitment to fostering a love for cycling among the next generation.