Kyle was President of the Coalition (2010-2018), the Rockingham County Safe Routes to School Coordinator (2015-2018), and has been a member in the George Washington National Forest Stakeholder Collaborative since 2010. He is a Harrisonburg resident and 2007 graduate of James Madison University
Amanda graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Exercise Science and later earned her Master’s in Business from Wake Forest University. Her career spans startups, corporate, entrepreneurship, and consulting, all centered around food, health, and sustainability. At the heart of her work, it’s always been about the people, and it has driven her to coach in various capacities since her teenage years. In 2014, she launched Fueled, a locally-sourced food truck, and in 2021, published The NonRecipe Book.
As a World-Class Professional USA Off-Road Triathlete and Ultra-Runner, Amanda explores her world and herself through every stride, pedal stroke, and bite—seeing each as a chance for examination and connection.
Across every facet of her life, Amanda is a champion for inclusion in outdoor spaces, the fulfillment tapped when done with others, and the boundless potential of the human spirit when given the opportunity. Not shy of enthusiasm for life, you’ll find Amanda either hosting Coalition events, eagerly pedaling and running up mountains to chase each new sunrise and sunset, savoring unusually long miles (prioritizing big snackin’ while doing so), or lost in the weeds/vegetables of her garden. In all these pursuits, she’s almost always accompanied by either her spouse, Andrew, best of friends, or her pup, Mistie.
After high school, Ben enrolled at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) but took a three-year break to volunteer in Tucson, Arizona. Having already chosen the bike as his personal mode of transportation, the years in Tucson solidified Ben’s perspectives on the value of bike commuting.
Upon completing his studies at EMU, Ben married Anna Wyse, a nurse, and together they served as foster parents before starting their own family. Now, with two sons and a daughter, they have called Harrisonburg home for over two decades.
In 2009, after working in several local bike shops, Ben launched his own bicycle repair business. While running his shop, he also worked part-time with the Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation for several years, continuing his dedication to serving the community.
Outside of work, Ben enjoys spending time outdoors—whether it’s rock climbing, biking, or hiking with his family.
While my career brought me to Virginia, riding in and around Harrisonburg pulled me to the Shenandoah Valley. We’ve got it all here: world-class mountain biking on well-maintained trails; fantastic road biking through the gorgeous countryside; and communities that either are already put together with or have the potential to develop bike and pedestrian-friendly ways for getting to and from school, work, and life in general in a comfortable manner.It was apparent when I was a visitor and has been even clearer to me since I moved here in 2016 that it’s no accident that the Valley is such a great place to ride: the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) has very effectively put in the time and legwork to make this such a great place for bikes. And while it’s fantastic here in the Bike Capital, there is plenty we can do to make it even better, to bring in new riders and get more people out walking and riding and enjoying this wonderful place we have. I’m excited to be on the Coalition board and be a part of these efforts to bring the Shenandoah Valley to its full potential as a place where people can live, work, and play comfortably in the fresh air. Bikes are just a ton of fun and I want to share that with everyone. Let’s get to work!
Living in Portland, OR, I gained a true appreciation for a city that you can safely and efficiently bike anywhere and everywhere. It was my favorite thing about Portland. I love the work SVBC is doing. I know how large the scope of work that SVBC is involved with and how important it is and would love to help move the agenda forward.
I would like to see the SVBC platform and vision realized! I would especially love to see the bike/ped infrastructure greatly improved in Harrisonburg. It would be a dream to see Greenways connecting North to South and East to West.
Please fill out a Letter of Intent to let us know you are interested.
When are the elections?
Our board elections are typically held in March and as needed and called by the Board of Directors to fill vacant seats.
Who can vote?
Any current SVBC member 12 years or older.
How many Board Members will be elected?
The SVBC board consists of up to 11 members. The terms are three years. Each board member is limited to three consecutive terms with no limit on the total number of terms.
Board Members Eligibility
Must be an active member of SVBC in good standing. Good standing is defined as projecting a positive image, conducting oneself in a professional manner, respecting the rights of other directors, staff and members to express their ideas and communicating with honesty and respect.
Must agree to uphold the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the organization.
All Directors are elected to represent the membership as a whole and not the interest of a particular constituency.
Directors cannot own, run or be employed in a business that is in direct competition with this organization.
Time Commitment Required
The Board of Directors meets every month for an average of 2 hours per meeting. Committees of the SVBC meet three to six times a year, depending on the committee. Directors are expected to attend an annual board retreat, of one day in length. Board members are encouraged to attend the monthly membership social which typically immediately follows the monthly board meeting.
