Forum Preview: Women’s Leadership

The Women Bike movement is a diverse as the spectrum of female experiences. But, no matter our unique expressions, there’s one clear trend: women are rising in the ranks as current and future leaders.

Just as the bicycle movement itself has matured, advocates and enthusiasts who are working to get more women riding are eager to enhance their leadership skills. So we’re bringing together a panel of dynamic, high-ranking women from different backgrounds to discuss their experiences at the 2014 National Women’s Bicycling Forum.

Moderated by Lori Richman, Director of Organization Development at Quality Bicycle Products and member of the Women Bike Advisory Board), the “Gearing Up, Climbing to the Top” session will share critical skills and lessons learned that will help you propel your career and your impact in a still male-dominated arena.

Don’t miss the insight of…

Elayna Caldwell
SRAM’s director of brand marketing for mountain bikes, Caldwell has more than 15 years of experience in the action sports industry. Prior to joining SRAM in late 2012, she was marketing director at Interbike and, before that, marketing manager at Fox Racing Shox. An avid mountain biker – and formerly an avid racer – she is well versed in the cross-country and downhill disciplines. She is the Vice Chair of the Board of the International Mountain Bicycling Association and served on the NorCal High School Mountain Bike League board from 2007 to 2011. In 2013, she received Bicycle Indusry and Retailer News’ “Advocate of the Year” award and, in February 2014, was recognized by BRAIN as one of “50 Influential Women Driving the Business.”

Barb Chamberlain
Chamberlain joined Washington Bikes (formerly the Bicycle Alliance of Washington) in 2012 as executive director after founding Bike to Work Spokane, creating WomenBikeBlogs.com, and serving on numerous nonprofit boards. She served in the Idaho state legislature, where she was the youngest woman to be elected to the House and Senate, then worked in communications and government relations at Washington State University Spokane. A Senior Fellow of the Society for New Communications Research, Barb is recognized as a leader in the use of social media; she holds bachelor’s degrees in English and linguistics from WSU and a master’s in public administration from Eastern Washington University. Twitter: @barbchamberlain

Shellie Pfohl
Pfohl was appointed by President Barack Obama in February 2010 to serve as Executive Director of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. She manages the activities and operations of the Council and leads the Council’s efforts related to First Lady Michelle Obama’s national Let’s Move! initiative to solve childhood obesity within a generation. Prior to the Council, Pfohl was a founding director of Be Active America, a national nonprofit advocacy organization. She also served as Executive Director of the North Carolina Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Health from 1990 to 1998, and was head of the Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch in the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. She was also Assistant Director of the National Association of Governor’s Councils on Physical Fitness and Sports for three years (1986-1988), and planned and implemented the first International Conference on Physical Fitness and Nutrition. Pfohl earned her BA in Community Health Education from the University of Northern Iowa and a MS in Exercise Physiology/Fitness Leadership from Northern Illinois University. She also has a certification in Non-Profit Management from Duke University and is a graduate of Leadership North Carolina Class XIII.

Renee Rivera
Rivera joined the East Bay Bicycle Coalition (EBBC) in 2011 as executive director, after many years as a volunteer, board member, and most recently acting executive director at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. Renee has a background in non-profit financial management and administration, and worked for many years at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Her position as executive director at the EBBC allows her to bring her management, financial, and administrative experience to bear on her passion for bicycling and bicycle advocacy. Renee was honored in 2013 by the Alliance for Biking & Walking with the Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm award. Photo by Lisa Beth Anderson for the Pedal Love Project

See the full agenda and register for the Forum today — space is limited!