Bike Works Staff
Bike Works staff is a diverse group of exceptional individuals. They bring years of experience in the nonprofit, social justice, environmental, and youth empowerment arenas and are dedicated to service toward young people, cycling, and building sustainable communities.
Brennan Antunell Shop/Recycle & Reuse Mechanic
he/him
Chelsea Alvarez Development Director
she/they
A little about me:
My goal every day is to help build a more equitable world, one where every person has the same access to safety, freedom, and joy as the next, regardless of their identities. I was drawn to Bike Works because I see that reflected in both the mission and the staff.
Throughout my career, storytelling has been at the core of everything I do, from labor union comms to startup marketing to community fundraising. It is my strong belief that getting the right story in front of the right people is how we can begin to make change. I have honed my storytelling, marketing, and leadership skills working in an array of fields, and I am proud to bring those skills to the Bike Works team.
In my off hours, you can find me trying to make friends with every baby, cat, and crow that crosses my path, unless I’m behind a pottery wheel at Seward Park Clay Studio.
Why I work at Bike Works:
As longtime South Seattle residents, my family and I have intersected with Bike Works as supporters, customers, and volunteers. I love what we do and am delighted to help tell the Bike Works story. If you’d like to connect about how you can help support our work, email me at chelsea@bikeworks.org
Cooper Berrysmith Hybrid Mechanical Support Coordinator
he/him
A little bit about me
I am a born and raised Seattleite, growing up in the CD before moving to the South end when I was 9. I’ve been riding bikes since I was too young to remember and have enjoyed the feeling of freedom and excitement (and speed) for basically my whole life. I went through most of the Bike Works youth programs, and then joined the Major Taylor Project in high school, before eventually getting hired as a MTP ride leader and starting at Recycled Cycles. I then worked at Back Alley Bike Repair, and now finally I started at Bike Works as a seasonal shop mechanic, before signing as a full time employee.
Why I work at Bike Works
I work here because I support and believe in our mission. I love to see bikes from us in the neighborhood being used by youth and adults alike. I used my bike and occasionally buses to get nearly everywhere for 8 years and enjoyed all of it. I know first hand how life changing it can be to have your own mobility and and very happy to be able to help others achieve that same freedom.
Rich Brown Youth Programs Director
he/him
A little bit about me
I am originally from Southern California but now I call the Northwest my home. I learned how to ride a bicycle at age five and rode BMX competitively from age 12 to 16. The BMX community was not very diverse and I quit racing and focused on Baseball, Track, and Football. These sports were very diverse and I felt more welcomed and accepted. I did ride bikes a little in college but it just wasn’t the same to me. Following college I embarked on a prosperous career in the High Tech Industry during the 90s. Still again I saw the lack of diversity and people that looked like me. After 10 years in the Tech Industry I decided to take my knowledge of computers and give back to the community. I then began teaching technology at both the University and Community college levels where it was more diverse but not enough. Following that I became a technical instructor at a local non-profit where the mission was to provide technology access and STEM education to youth of color. After 10 years of teaching (there’s a theme here), I decided to take some time off work to travel and play music (DJ, playing the trumpet, and trombone) for about three years. Those were some of the funnest times of my life! In 2012 my passion for cycling was reignited when he began working at REI. Nowadays, it’s hard for me to stay off one of my many bikes for more than a day or two.
Why I work at Bike Works
My experience and background in Education, Youth Programming, Environmental Justice, and Diversity and Inclusion aligns perfectly with Bike Works’ vision and mission. This all resonates with my personal goals and desires to work for Racial Equity and Social Justice reform in South Seattle and King County.
Mickey Buendia Velomancer/Shop Manager
they/them
A little bit about me
Picture this: Tan cutie with hi-top sneakers, short shorts, denim jacket, biking with a beach towel and pizza box in the front basket, thermos full of cold brew in the bottle cage, and a skateboard on the rear rack. Long wavy hair coming out from beneath a helmet, blowing in the breeze. Singing along to hot jams blasting out of some undisclosed bluetooth speaker. If seen, please say, “hey!” I love meeting new people.
Why I work at Bike Works
I have worked on and off for Bike Works in various roles since 2013. Originally I came here because I am an advocate for bikes as a means for empowerment, and believe Bike Works is doing that better than any other organization in Seattle. I’m still here because the staff and work culture are super rad, and I still love and believe in bikes.
Fisher Curran Shop/Recycle & Reuse Mechanic
he/him
Gabe Dries Retail Manager
she/her
Adopted from the Philippines at nine months old, I grew up in Colorado, where my parents gave me my first bike, a pink Schwinn Stingray. My friends and I spent countless summer days riding until sunset, and winter didn’t stop us either. We rode through the snow, pulled each other on sleds, and found every excuse to be outside. Looking back, I had no idea that bike would become much more than a childhood memory. It was the beginning of a lifelong connection to bicycles that eventually became my career.
Over the years, I’ve worked in a variety of roles throughout the bicycle and outdoor industries, including retail, service, operations, leadership, training, and community engagement. While those experiences helped shape my career, they’ve also reinforced something I’ve always believed: bicycles are more than products. They create independence, confidence, access, and community.
That’s what drew me to Bike Works. A bike can be a kid’s first taste of freedom, a way to get to work, a pathway into a new skill, or a connection to something bigger than themselves. I’m excited to be part of an organization that uses bicycles to create opportunities and strengthen communities, while helping more people discover what a bike can make possible.
Simon Durbin Shop/Recycle & Reuse Mechanic
he/him
A little bit about me
I have been a resident of South Seattle for 17 years. I was in Bike Works programs from age 11 to 18 and started working here at age 17. I enjoy serving my community and helping with what I can. I am thankful to work with such positive people who are open to share and communicate.
Why I work at Bike Works
What keeps me motivated to work at Bike Works is our strong team of staff who are passionate about what they do and care about the impact they make. There is always an opportunity to learn more when I clock and that makes me feel a step ahead.
Ed Ewing Executive Director
he/him
A little bit about me
I was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and developed a love for cycling through family bike trips and riding to work with my Dad. I started bike racing in ’83 and actively race today. After graduating from the College of St. Thomas in ’88, I moved to Seattle to start a twenty year career in Sales & Marketing.
I join Bike Works with 31 years of marketing, sales, project development, strategic planning, and non-profit leadership experience. I have a passion for racial equity, diversity, and inclusion, and have developed and implemented successful equity-focused programs initiatives that present community-minded solutions. In 2007, I co-founded and directed the Major Taylor Project, a year-round youth development cycling initiative focused on creating access and opportunities for Black and Brown youth in diverse and underserved communities. I believe in meeting challenges with an innovative and authentic visionary approach to inspire team members and community partners. I believe in strong community partnerships, building and promoting positive, authentic relationships, and leading with a collective voice.
Why I work at Bike Works
I am excited by the possibilities at Bike Works and in its community. It is an honor and extreme pleasure to be working in an organization so deeply committed to Racial Equity. The passion and commitment of the Bike Works Staff, Board, volunteers, and supporters, positively transforms the lives of youth. This aligns with my personal and professional beliefs, I feel blessed to be working with such an amazing organization.
Steven Gadingan Recycle & Reuse Director
he/him
A little bit about me
I am deeply grateful for my community and the geology of Washington state. After years of moving throughout the USA as a military brat, I settled in Bellingham, WA. I was never a mechanically minded person, but I somehow found myself at the campus bike shop more than the library. The Hub Community Bike Shop caught wind of my new found passion and reeled me in with lucrative bait–my first job as a bike mechanic. I got hooked. That new community defined my formative years: squash & pickleball, volunteering at a food bank, volunteering at a music nonprofit, and pursuing a science degree in Public Health in my late twenties. Suddenly, the current shifted and this little fish got swept up into the huge Seattle marine ecosystem. Eight years later, I’ve helped process well over a million pounds of material.
Why I work at Bike Works
This one time in Home Ec 101, our instructor gave us a budgeting sheet. She told us to write out all of the expenses of an adult. While everyone in the class wrote in a car payment with insurance and gas, I thought “screw the car bills, I’ll take the bus or ride my bike.” I had this premonition 10 years before I turned into a serious bike mechanic and discovering my own social justice journey. A decade later, I view the bike as a tool to help alleviate mental health and social inequities. Any free time I have to ride, find me with BIPOC riding clubs cooking Ramen Outside with the Ampersand Bike Club or at Wednesday night Mercer Island loop with Northstar Cycling. I feel very fortunate to be a part of Bike Works. I feel happy when I work, one bike at a time.
Summer Hanson Shop/Recycle & Reuse Mechanic
she/her
A little bit about me:
When I’m not at work or hangin’ with my neighborhood friends in Beacon Hill, you can generally find me riding a steel basket bike loaded up with too much stuff, a camera slung over my shoulder, and a big smile on my face. I love leading chill group rides, and depending on the season, I spend my free time bike camping, splashing around in any body of water, hosting clothing swaps and mending circles, crafting, and filmmaking. I grew up in the Seattle area and have been living in the city for over 10 years, so my local roots run deep.
Why I work at Bike Works:
I am obsessed with sustainability, bikes, and supporting my local community, so it makes a lot of sense that I found my way to Bike Works, which shares these values. I also feel that my creativity and ideas are valued here which makes all the difference. So far in my career, I’ve channeled my passion for waste diversion and skills from an e-commerce background into sustainable, community-oriented local businesses, such as a zero waste lifestyle shop in Ballard, and a vintage bike shop in Fremont. I learned to be a mechanic by way of photographing, writing about, revamping and customizing countless 80’s and 90’s steel bikes. Helping people who visit Bike Works to find sustainable transportation options while diverting bike waste brings me great joy, and I hope to contribute a variety of my skills to amplify what’s already happening here!
Rebekah Ko Community Resources Director
she/her
A little bit about me
I was born and raised in Southern California, but consider the Northwest to be my home. I discovered cycling as a means of commuting when attending college in Texas, and it changed my life. From being a point of empowerment through self-sustainability to providing freedom to wander and adventure, riding bicycles has broken down barriers in my life and expanded my scope of what is possible. I feel a lot of gratitude towards all the people and circumstances that have supported my journey and want to be a resource to empower others! Other life activities include making music, exploring on my mountain bike, and trying to eat as much food as possible.
Why I work at Bike Works
I have a strong commitment towards improving public safety, creating accessible resources, and providing effective services to those in need. It’s important to me to work with like-minded individuals who also feel passionately about public service, so Bike Works is the perfect vehicle to help give back to the community.
Jatin Konchady Recycle & Reuse Program Manager
he/him
A little bit about me
I grew up in India, and even a lack of bike infrastructure didn’t stop me from developing a passion for riding my bike. Moving back to the states for college only enhanced my passion and allowed me to try all the forms of biking one can experience like mountain biking, road biking, bikepacking, and commuting. It’s helped me make some great friends and feel like I’m a part of my community.
Why I work at Bike Works
I was a consistent bike rider throughout my childhood, and when I got to college I had the opportunity to learn how to work on bikes. Learning how to fix my own bike and helping people fix theirs was very rewarding, and I wanted to continue helping people once I graduated. I’ve met some wonderful people through working on bikes, and I want to contribute to fostering a space where other people can have the same positive and empowering experiences I have had.
Roderick McClain Communications & Grants Manager
he/him
A little bit about me
I grew up riding BMX bikes in the woods of rural downstate Illinois. My parents encouraged me to be outdoors as much as possible, and I am grateful for that. I’ve lived in Michigan, Eastern Washington, and North Carolina, and I’m happy that my family now calls South King County home. I studied art and creative writing at a couple universities during my travels. In my spare time I hang out with my family, draw, play indoor soccer, ride my bike in the woods, and provide services for a cat with very high standards.
Why I work at Bike Works
I first heard of Bike Works while living in Eastern Washington, though I didn’t get to visit until around 2015 when my family relocated to the region. The experience stretched well beyond my dreams. Bike Works operates at the intersection of social and environmental justice by creating a secondary economy for landfill-destined bicycles and by creating space for people to experience the joy, movement, and freedom that only bikes can provide. I am so happy to be working with an organization that is actively working with its community to promote bicycling as an accessible, affordable, and equitable means of transportation.
Kellen Rack Bike Shop Director
he/him
A little bit about me
I grew up on Vashon Island where we were lucky to have ample opportunity to run around in the woods, build tree forts, and ride our bicycles. I spent many years living in Bellingham, WA while I attended college and found The Hub, a small non-profit bike shop, and gamely began ripping my bicycle apart and trying to get it back together again. Many months, and volunteer hours, later I had developed a keen obsession with cycling and they had a new mechanic. In my spare time I enjoy traveling, hiking and camping, long bike rides, cooking, playing drums, and the company of family and friends.
Why I work at Bike Works
I am drawn to Bike Works because of the shared commitment to community, social equity, justice, and education. Working as a mechanic means more to me than fixing bicycles- it means creating opportunity: for mobility, for employment, for confidence, for health, for leadership, for social interaction, and for joy. One of the joys of my job here is the chance I have to offer education and encouragement to riders of all stripes.
Seth Short Recycle & Reuse Outreach Manager
he/him
A little bit about me
I was born in rural Kentucky and attended college at Western Kentucky University to study sustainability and planning. After graduating I lived in Boston, MA briefly and interned with the Boston Cyclists Union and worked at the Hubway bike share. In 2013 I moved back to Kentucky to live in Louisville where I worked at a TV station part time and helped start a bicycle co-op. Through my whole life I’d never been further west than Fargo, ND but jumped at the opportunity to move to the pacific northwest to be at Bike Works. In my free time I like to make music, art, and write. I also like to play soccer and climb at the local bouldering gym. There is a lot for me to learn and explore in this region and I’m looking forward to experiencing it all.
Why I work at Bike Works
When I moved to college I started biking as a fun method of transportation as well as exercise but I quickly fell in love with the many financial, social, and environmental benefits that cycling provided. Learning to fix my bike made me feel empowered and organizing group rides made me feel like part of a fun and diverse community. All of my experiences since I became a bicycle “life-stylist” have led me to this position at Bike Works where I hope to both share my knowledge and continue learning myself.
Nick Strother Service Manager
he/him
A little about me
I grew up in western Pennsylvania riding dirt bikes. I went to college and started commuting by bicycle. I moved to Seattle in 2015. I love all the 80’s cars that are still on the roads out here. I own three! I like off-trail exploration. Outside of work you’ll find me swimming/snorkeling/canoeing the local waters, taking photographs, and bike commuting from West Seattle.
Why I work at Bike Works
Bike Works was a great resource for me as a newer resident to Seattle. I quickly fell in love with the vibe, its characters, and what it offered to the community. I jumped at the opportunity to work here and continue to work here just because I love it.
iea tov Youth Programs Manager
zey/zem
A little bit about me
Originally from Texas, I grew up on wildflowers and bean and cheese tacos. My first bike was my older brother’s that my dad rescued from a giant hornet’s nest (my dad did not come away unscathed, but the bike was eventually freed from purgatory). At 12, I learned how fun it was to go long distances from biking along the Mission Trails in San Antonio as a plus one to my brother’s boy scout activities. However, it wasn’t until I lived in Boston and made myself make a mental list called ‘10 things I love about Boston’ while on a spontaneous ride to Salem, Massachusetts that my bikelationship launched into what it is now (8 of the things on that list had to do with biking). My favorite is to bike fancy with a bow-tie and saddle oxford-inspired ensemble. It’s even better when my socks match with my bike. I’m looking forward to the days when my two kids are old enough to jump on balance bikes and join the biking community one stride at a time. When I’m not solo riding, you’ll find me being the powerhouse to our tandem.
Why I work at Bike Works
I have a background in empowering youth leadership, curriculum development and workshop design and am excited to contribute to Bike Works’ mission through the youth education programs. As a white trans person, I am committed to checking my privilege and doing the work to deconstruct systemic barriers and contribute to creating new opportunities in the body-mind connection offered through bicycling.
There is something magical about using the bike as a tool and lens to engage in transformative justice that can’t be found elsewhere. It was my experience as a Ride Leader for the Major Taylor Project that led me to wanting to expand my educator skills and become a classroom teacher and now, 7 years later, it feels so good to return to the youth bike education field.
Bubbles “Bubs” Wang Office Manager
she/her
A little bit about me
I was adopted from the Seattle Area Feline Rescue in 2022 as a senior kitty and am thriving at age 10! I grew up in very lively household with 2 other cats and dogs, but now I’m a solo girlie. I’m a very social eater and love being around people. My primary meals are chicken and salmon pate with the occasional kibble on the side during after hours. I love to talk, chirp and nap. My favorite toys are felted toys and string. I like to chew plastic and paper, but I know this is not allowed. I’ve never been outside, but it would be nice to see the world on a basket bike someday!
Why I work at Bike Works
While my primary job is making biscuits for Bubbledough as their Head Baker, I also manage the Bike Works office spaces at the Hudson Building. You may have seen my photos plastered around the walls or at our annual fundraiser, Bikecitement!, but I love keeping things organized and purrfect with fully stocked supplies around the office. I’m always happy to welcome you into our building and keep our spaces soft and cozy!
Kae-Lin Wang Operations Manager
she/her
A little bit about me
I grew up in Texas and moved to Seattle in 2009 after college but never really did anything outdoors for most of my life. In 2013, I signed up for STP and for the first time in my life, I saw what my body was fully capable of. From there, I got really into long distance travel and had the privilege to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016. I spent the next several years volunteering with trails associations and learning to build trails within the hiking community. After surviving nearly a year with a debilitating health condition in 2018, I decided to sell my road bike for my first gravel bike so that I could fulfill my long time dream of bike touring. In 2021, I rode the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route after finding my racial roots during the pandemic that led me to instill my place in the bikepacking community and be okay with taking up space. Aside from bikes, I love baking sourdough, working on food projects, embracing my new found love for cats and documenting the people and places around me.
Why I work at Bike Works
I was connected with a few Bike Works staff after organizing an impromptu ride for the AANHPI community after the Atlanta spa shootings in March of 2021. I wanted to create a safe space for healing for those who had been also unfolding all of their past racial trauma. I was deeply craving close relationships with those who had similar lived experiences as me. For the next several months, we birthed ABC that intersected my passion for bikes, connecting people, food and racial justice. From there, I knew that I wanted to work at Bike Works where their mission aligned with my values. I want to help continue making bicycling more accessible and inclusive and empower the next generation to feel the joy and empowerment of riding their bikes. I’m very grateful to join the team and be part of an organization that cares so much for the community and making an impact.
Gina Whitney Grants Manager
she/her
A little about me
I believe that everyone deserves to have the resources they need to thrive. When I finished my MFA in Creative Writing as a fiction writer, I never imagined the degree would lead to 1) gainful employment and 2) the world of research and grant writing. I’m so happy that it did.
For the last 12 years, I’ve worked for nonprofits and policy centers raising money for—and awareness about—social justice issues including education, poverty, and LGBTQIA+, gender, and racial justice. My work centers the experiences and stories of those most impacted by inequities. I love learning directly from communities about the systems and structures that uphold disparities—and working together to find ways that those systems and structures can be mitigated, circumvented, and ultimately dismantled.
I grew up in a small town in the high desert of Southern Idaho. My first pivotal memory of interacting with a bike was at around age 10, staring down a 10-speed two sizes too big. Wobbling down my hometown’s only paved road was terrifying and a little bloody. But when I caught my balance and found myself actually riding a bike! I felt like I could do anything. Now, what I love most about riding a bike is the connection it brings to the world around me. I cruise slow enough to interact with people, dogs, geese, and the occasional giant tortoise, but fast enough to avoid those awkward moments when strangers meet and don’t quite know how to say goodbye.
Why I work at Bike Works
Bike Works’ values of youth empowerment, education, sustainability, community, and dedication to racial equity and accountability deeply resonate with me. I’m grateful to be working with great people doing meaningful work in an environment that is aligned with my beliefs.