Ron Durgin (President)
rdurgin@sustainablestreets.org
Mr. Durgin earned a Masters in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability (MSLS) from Blekinge Institute of Technology, Karlskrona Sweden in 2005. Since returning to Los Angeles he has been a strong advocate for sustainable transportation options, such as biking and walking. Ron believes education is a key to empowerment and transformation, as such the bike education programs at Sustainable Streets will serve as a catalyst for motivating people to embrace active transportation as a viable solution for getting around.
His work experience includes almost 20 years in the imaging industry as a B2B product consultant and more recently working in a lead research role to provide content for the publication, Greenopia: The Urban Dwellers Guide to Green Living in the Los Angeles and New York markets. His nonprofit experience includes working for Greenpeace USA on fundraising and environmental advocacy campaigns and volunteering with LA based Heal the Bay and TreePeople. Ron is a League of American Bicyclists certified League Cycling Instructor (2007); and he is certified as an Employee Transportation Coordinator by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (2009).
Mr. Durgin currently serves as the President of Sustainable Streets and oversees board governance. He develops and delivers active transportation education programs for all audiences; he assists with fundraising, grant writing and community outreach; and he evaluates and assesses bicycle use in the Los Angeles area for the purpose of developing and implementing new active transportation education and encouragement programs.
Alison Kendall (Vice President)
akendall@sustainablestreets.org
Alison Kendall is an urban designer and planner with 25 years experience in public participation, streetscape design and preparation of planning documents and sustainable design. She initiated the Safe Routes to Schools effort for Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District and prepared two successful grant proposals with City officials to support efforts while building a broad coalition of support over a five year period. Alison Kendall is the principal and sole proprietor of Kendall Planning and Design, a sustainable design and planning consulting firm.
Ms. Kendall currently serves as the V.P. for Sustainable Streets. She provides grant and proposal writing and also coordinates marketing, public relations and media relations for the organization. Alison responds to grant or contract opportunities, coordinates proposals and negotiates contracts with public agencies. She manages services and relationships with public agencies on an ongoing basis, as opportunities arise, in relation to Requests for Proposals, grant schedules, and public events. Alison has also completed the League Cycling Instructor certification program.
Brett Conrad (CFO)
bconrad@sustainablestreets.org
Mr. Conrad has a MBA from the University of Colorado and is the managing partner of Longboard Capital Advisors, LLC, an investment firm specializing in clean energy technologies. He has established and developed many successful businesses focused on action sports.
Brett currently serves as the CFO of Sustainable Streets. He oversees board functions, contracts, compliance requirements, and fundraising activities. He also maintains and prepares financial records and books, develops and monitors the budget with Board assistance, and coordinates the preparation and filing of any tax returns.
Stephen Box
sbox@sustainablestreets.org
Stephen is a writer, producer, community organizer, public speaker, moderator, and branding guru. He currently writes for CityWatchLA, LAist, and the Transit Coalition on alternative transportation, grass roots politics and bicycle activism. He also works with Neighborhood Councils and Central Business Organizations throughout Los Angeles on communication and outreach endeavors, funding, advocacy, board retreats and campaign workshops. Mr. Box serves on Caltrans District 7 Bicycle Advisory Committee; he is the co-founder of the Bike Writers Collective; and he is the co-author of the Cyclist’s Bill of Rights.
Stephen assists Sustainable Streets with marketing of existing programs and the development of new programs and initiatives.
William McCarthy, Ph.D.
wmccarthy@sustainablestreets.org
Dr. McCarthy is an Adjunct Professor of Health Services, UCLA School of Public Health and an Adjunct Professor of Psychology, UCLA Department of Psychology. He has over 20 years experience in the public health sector, including developing and implementing national campaigns encouraging a tobacco free lifestyle. Dr. McCarthy has considerable nonprofit experience as a former board member and officer of the American Cancer Society.
Mr. McCarthy provides board governance guidance and contributes his knowledge and experience to the organization in developing effective communication strategies about the health benefits associated with active transportation.
Donald Strauss
dstrauss@sustainablestreets.org
Donald is the Founding Chair and Core Faculty of Antioch University Los Angeles’ M.A. in Urban Sustainability. After several years teaching Academic and Creative Writing, Donald Strauss entered the PhD Program in Environmental Studies at Antioch University New England. The general focus of his doctoral work is on the narratives of individuals and groups in urban communities and their relationships to the natural, social and political ecosystems with which they interact. In his current research, he is examining the phenomenon of urban alternative bike culture in Los Angeles as an emergent property of an urban ecosystem. He is a former Member of the Board of Directors and regular volunteer at Bikerowave, a D-I-Y bike repair co-op located in West LA’s Mar Vista neighborhood.
Mr. Strauss provides board governance, fund raising and guidance on Sustainable Streets education programs.
