BIKE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY HIRES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF ADVOCACY

(Wednesday, November 16, 2016) Santa Cruz, CA – Janneke Strause, current Bike Santa Cruz County Events & Membership Coordinator, has been named the next Executive Director of Bike Santa Cruz County by the organization’s board of directors. Strause will officially assume this new role on November 16th, 2016.

“The Board is pleased with Janneke as our new Executive Director as she has demonstrated herself to be an effective leader since joining the organization 6 months ago. She successfully managed the organization's largest and newest community events: Run by the Sea and Open Streets Santa Cruz. We look forward working with her as she grows the organization and works to better cycling for everyone in Santa Cruz County,” says Elise Ehrheart, board member, Bike Santa Cruz County.

Strause has served as Bike Santa Cruz County’s Events & Membership Coordinator for the last 6 months and has proven herself to be a capable and talented leader in the community. Her experience as the Executive Director of The Inspiring Enterprise, an accelerator for social ventures, and her background in political and community organizing, positions her to advance Bike Santa Cruz County’s vision for people of all ages and abilities to feel comfortable riding for work or pleasure.

“I am honored to fill this position and will work hard to represent cyclists of Santa Cruz County, from Boulder Creek, to the Summit, to the City of Watsonville. I believe all people should feel safe to bike on our streets whether they commute to Downtown Santa Cruz or the strawberry fields in Watsonville. By building world-class infrastructure, Santa Cruz County can be a place where commuters, tourists, families, and students can safely use bicycles as transportation,” says Strause.

As Bike Santa Cruz County enters a new chapter, the board wants to take the time to acknowledge outgoing Executive Director, Amelia Conlen, for her hard work and dedication over the last fours years with Bike Santa Cruz County. Conlen has been elected to join the board of directors of Bike Santa Cruz County.

Meet Janneke Strause at Bike Santa Cruz County’s Annual Dinner & Auction on Sunday, December 4th, 2016 at the Food Lounge at 1001 Center Street in downtown Santa Cruz. Join Bike Santa Cruz County to celebrate 25 years of advocacy, as well as recognizing community heroes with the 2016 Wheelie awards. Food Lounge Chef Andrea Mollenauer will prepare a locally-sourced dinner paired with local wine and beer. Bid on silent auction items from local artists and businesses. Make your reservation today at www.bikesantacruzcounty.eventbrite.com.

For questions or to communicate your advocacy goals, email director@bikesantacruzcounty.org.

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