Sam Adams, Harry Brull Join League Board

The League’s Board of Directors last week appointed Sam Adams and Harry Brull to fill two vacancies.

Sam Adams is the former Mayor of Portland, Oregon. Now the director of WRI’s U.S. Climate Initiative, Adams leads WRI’s efforts to analyze and develop new policies and support coalitions that will encourage the U.S.’s transition to a strong, low-carbon economy. 

As Mayor, and a member of the city council, Sam was the Commission-in-Charge of transportation for Portland, Sam was a strong advocate for safe bicycling and pedestrian options. He helped expand Portland bikeways system by 75 miles, and focused new investments – like the Bike Box Program — to address the 25 most dangerous streets and intersections for bike and pedestrians. He expanded the Safe Routes to School program and launched Portland’s summer Sunday Parkways bike program, which attracted 109,000 participants last year. In 2008, Portland was designated a Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community, only one of four in the  country.

Sam holds a B.A. in political science from University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon.

Harry Brull served on the League’s Board from 2005 to 2014. Professionally, he served as Senior Vice President of Personnel Decisions International (now part of Korn/Ferry), an international consulting firm grounded in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. During his 37-year tenure, he designed selection and promotional processes for organizations ranging from Ford Motor Company to the Peace Corps. His particular areas of specialty are services to government and non-profit organizations. 

As an educator, he has taught kindergartners, undergraduates, and graduate students. He has delivered national and international addresses on a variety of topics. He currently lives in the small Colorado mountain town of Salida which he and his wife discovered on 2006 Ride the Rockies. Harry’s commitment to a bicycle-friendly America stems from taking up cycling in 1991 after a life-threatening diagnosis and giving up cigarettes. Cycling became the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle and experiencing the joy of being on the bike. He has participated in dozens of bike events including Ride the Rockies, The Death Ride (Markleyville, CA), 8 AIDS Rides, Paris-Brest-Paris, and Ride Yellowstone.

In addition to bike commuting year-round from St. Paul to Minneapolis, he and his wife have taken bicycle centered-vacations across North America and Europe. Harry has a long history of serving non-profits, in both staff and Board positions. In addition to his tenure on the League’s board, his board experience includes the American Composers Forum, Walk-In   Counseling Center, KHEN Community Radio, Mount Zion Temple, the International Personnel Assessment Council, Minnesota Law Council, The Banyan Tree Resort Owners’ Association and the Salida Cycling Club.

Join us in congratulating Adams and Brull and welcoming them onto the board! Learn more about the League’s Board of Directors here.