[Update: I’ve added a link to the press release and the date Remmers will take over]
The Community Cycling Center has named Susan Remmers as their new Executive Director. Remmers will take over on April 17th. Here’s more on Remmers from the CCC press release:
“A native Kentuckian, Remmers brings 17 years of non-profit, electoral campaign, and small business experience to the CCC. Most recently, Remmers served as Interim Director with Q Center, Portland’s new LBGTQ community center. Her accomplishments over a six-month period include developing a business plan, building a board, raising over $100,000 start-up funds, securing a site, and maintaining a core volunteer pool to develop programs.”
Remmers is also former executive director of the McKenzie River Gathering Foundation, a group that “pools the financial resources of Oregon’s progressive community and distributes it back to grassroots groups working on a variety of social change issues.”
Remmers is an unknown quantity in the local bike scene, but her political connections and financial management skills should lead her to a successful tenure with the CCC.
I’m a bit disappointed that Interim Director Tom Knipe didn’t get the job (here’s a recent interview I did with him). Tom is a a five-year CCC veteran who I’m sure would have been a great leader. He hasn’t decided if he’ll stay with the CCC or pursue other opportunities.
I’m looking forward to the next chapter at the CCC because I think their programs, which combine bikes and social service, have tremendous potential.
I will try and set up an interview with Ms. Remmers so we can all get to know her a little better.
Remmers (she goes by Remmers) is not an unknown to the local bike scene. She was a major coordinator in the BTA’s 2005 Alice auction, has volunteered other times with us, and is a long-time friend of biking.
I’m excited to work with her, and think she’ll be a great leader for the CCC.
Evan, I think it depends on your definition of “the local bike scene”. I was referring more to the average cyclist on the street than those in the advocacy circles.
But you’re right, I’ve learned more about her since my post and I’m very excited about what I’ve heard! She seems like an incredible person and look forward to meeting her.
That’s the joy of Portland — the “local bike scene” is so large, we can’t keep up with all the people and all the dimensions. I’m not even sure the average cyclist on the street knows about the BTA!
It’s true. There are so many people on bikes here that there’s enough room for people to even dislike other segments. In my former life on the east coast, it seemed like everyone on a bike was so beaten down by car drivers that we all had a common bond. Here things are (relatively) so good that this mentality isn’t as prevalent. That’s an overall good thing.
Any change is good. Remmer’s experience can only be a good thing for the CCC.
I met Tom at the Alice awards as we sat at the CCC table. I was reminded of Tom’s cool head recently as the CCC was getting a lot of bad press on a local cycling board. I was impressed with the manner in which he resonded and defended the CCC citing the positive changes afoot.
I hope that Susan Remmers can keep the wheel rolling in a positive direction.
I too had hoped to see Tom get this position.
-r