BikeWalkKC is pleased to welcome four community leaders to our Board of Directors in 2021 as we celebrate Mile 10, our 10th anniversary. Our board is a passionate and talented group of volunteer leaders from throughout the Kansas City region who govern the organization and support our professional staff.
Mary Estrada
Retired
Mary has been a longtime BikeWalkKC member and volunteer, and she previously worked for us as an instructor in our Safe Routes to School program. Since retiring from a career in banking, she remains active in many volunteer and nonprofit initiatives. Some of Mary’s current and past involvement includes El Centro, United Community Services, Mainstream Coalition, the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Kansas City AIDS Service Foundation, and Citizens Advisory Committee for Parks and Recreation in Overland Park.
Matthew Oates
Lead Electrical Engineer, Burns and McDonnell
Matthew has long been an advocate of community efforts for education and economic development. He is interested in how transportation impacts the delivery of education and economic prosperity to everyday people. Matthew currently serves on the PortKC Board of Commissioners and the City Year KC Board of Directors. Some of his previous community involvement includes the Kansas City Public Schools Board of Education and fundraising chair for the Mizzou Black Alumni Network.
Usha Rengachary
Attorney and community volunteer
Usha re-discovered the joys of bicycling during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. The power of e-bikes enabled her family to become a car-light household. Now she looks forward to more protected bike lanes to feel safer and more comfortable on her commute. Usha is a life-long Kansas Citian interested in social justice issues. She also serves on the board of KC Mothers in Charge, which supports families impacted by homicide.
Robin Shook, Ph.D.
Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Children’s Mercy and University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and the Director of Weighing In.
Dr. Shook is an expert on childhood obesity and physical activity. His research results in public health strategies to prevent or reduce obesity at the population level. Dr. Shook is the Director of Weighing In, a program at Children’s Mercy, which seeks to align community programs addressing healthy lifestyles. Dr. Shook and his colleagues have led research projects centered on BikeWalkKCs Safe Routes to School and homeless outreach programs.
BikeWalkKC Board of Directors
Malenda Shahane
Chair
Senior Vice-President, Digital Marketing Manager at UMB Bank
Ashley Z. Hand, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Chair-Elect
Director of Strategic Communications at the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS
John Jespersen, MBA, AIF
Treasurer
Financial Planner and Wealth Advisor at Metcalf Partners
Robin Shook, Ph.D.
Secretary
Assistant Professor, Center for Children’s Healthy Lifestyles and Nutrition, Children’s Mercy, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Lesley Pories, MCRP, MALD
Past-Chair
Manager, Sector Strategy at Water.org
Amanda Grimes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor at University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing and Health Studies
Mary Estrada
Community volunteer, retired
Ruth Anne French-Hodson
Attorney at Sharp Law Firm
Jake Jacobson
Senior Advisor at Parris Communications
Matthew Oates
Lead Electrical Engineer at Burns and McDonnell
Usha Rengachary
Senior Trial Attorney at the United States Department of Labor