Who We Are
Board Members
Madin Akpo-Esampe
Term: 9/1/2023-8/31/2025
Madin is an investment partner at Tacoma Venture Fund. He bought his first road bike when he moved to Seattle in 2021 and since then, biking has been his guide to discovering the city and enjoying the city's nature and neighborhoods with his friends. With Rainier Beach being his homebase, he's been pleased with how much biking has been able to open up his exploration of the city, but has also experienced the discrepancies that exist in protected lanes and pathways throughout the city. In joining the board, he looks forward to learning from his exceptional fellow board members and helping drive progress towards ensuring the highest level of safety for bikers throughout Seattle.
Max Baker
Term: 9/1/2024-8/31/2026
Max is an urban planner and long-time bike rider in the Puget Sound region. His passion for safe infrastructure was initially inspired by his time abroad in the Netherlands, and continued to evolve as a student of the UW’s College of Built Environments. Now as a planner in south King County, he looks for opportunities to enhance safety for those outside of cars wherever he can.
Having lived, worked, and studied in many of Seattle’s neighborhoods, Max has observed the strengths and weaknesses of the city’s bike network first hand. As a current resident of West Seattle, he has enjoyed exploring the neighboring communities in all directions from his home, both within Seattle and beyond. Be it his daily commute to work, a bike packing trip into the mountains, or a ride around West Seattle with his kids on the family cargo bike, he takes every opportunity to get outside on two wheels that he can. He looks forward to continuing his advocacy for ever-safer streets as a member of the SBAB.
Ksenia Ershova
Term: 9/1/2023-8/31/2025
Ksenia is an anesthesiologist and a casual bike commuter. Every day, she rides her bike to work along the Burke Gilman Trail, one of Seattle's busiest bike routes. Observing how this dedicated and safe path attracts thousands of cyclists daily, Ksenia believes that many more Seattleites would choose to commute by bike if better infrastructure were available.
Having lived in Europe, Ksenia experienced urban biking cultures in the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. One thing quickly became apparent to her: cities with more biking and walking, and less driving, are not only safer but also much more pleasant for everyone. This shift fosters healthier, more connected communities where people feel less fear of one another. As a doctor, Ksenia believes that encouraging more biking in Seattle will lead to improved public health through increased physical activity and a reduction in air and noise pollution.
Donna McBain Evans
Term: 9/1/2024-8/31/2026
Donna has been an avid bicycle commuter since college in Madison, WI where she bought bike “snow tires” to ride to winter classes on the far end of campus. Calling Seattle home since 1983, Donna relies on her steel Bridgestone hybrid to transport her around the city. Living and working in China for 2 years opened her eyes to the power of that once-robust bicycle culture. At one time, entire car-lanes full of cyclists filled the streets, overwhelming the far fewer automobile drivers. It was mayhem but exciting to experience. Since moving to Belltown in 2015, one of her favorite things to do is explore various parts of the city to find new bike route connections and hidden gems for riding. As a newer resident of Belltown she has been amazed at recent infrastructure improvements that have made walking and cycling so much safer and pleasurable. Donna is excited to be part of a team that will help connect and extend these kinds of routes to underserved parts of the city. Donna is now retired from her work in non-profit real estate and fund development. When not cycling she spends time hiking, playing Mahjong and researching her next travel destination.
Taylor (TJ) Hom
Term: 9/1/2023-8/31/2025
T.J. is a video producer and co-founder of Particle Studios, established in Seattle's SODO neighborhood in 2018. Growing up in Tacoma, WA, he commuted to school on his mom's 21-speed Shogun mountain bike through the Proctor neighborhood. Since moving to Seattle in his 20s, T.J. has lived in half a dozen neighborhoods and cycled through most others.
T.J. envisions cycling in Seattle as a safe, accessible, and convenient alternative to single-occupancy vehicle travel for all. As a board member, T.J. aims to advocate for new and experienced Seattle cyclists by championing more extensive, safer, and prioritized biking and pedestrian infrastructure to help the city achieve true Vision Zero and meet its climate objectives.
Molly McNeely
Term: 9/1/2024-8/31/2026
Molly has been navigating Seattle by bike since moving to Seattle in 2018. Molly is interested in increasing the safety of bike infrastructure so that more vulnerable populations feel biking is a safe choice for transportation. Before serving on SBAB, Molly began volunteering with the Major Taylor Project. Molly enjoys helping youth build confidence with urban navigation, riding skills, and community. Molly is passionate about equitable access to and from Seattle neighborhoods and resources, as well as fostering inclusivity in the bike community for people of all ages, abilities, and identities. Molly works for SEIU 775 Benefits Group at the intersection of equity, healthcare, and the caregiving workforce.
Doug Migden
Term: 9/1/2021-8/31/23, 9/1/23-8/31/25
Doug is an emergency physician and long-distance cyclist. For many years he commuted to work in downtown Seattle at all hours of the day and night. Doug has completed the 4000 km Transcontinental Race, unsupported across Europe, five times and he has also finished the 5500 km Indian Pacific Wheel Race across Australia. His combination of professional and cycling experiences have led to a strong interest in improving road safety. He has a particular interest in making more Seattle streets safe for children and families to ride on. In addition to his medical training, Doug has a J.D. degree from the University of Washington.
Nia Ransom
Term: 9/1/2023-8/31/2025
Nia, a dedicated cyclist, commutes daily from the Atlantic neighborhood to the University District. She frequently rides along 12th Ave and occasionally takes Lake Washington Blvd. to reach her workplace. During her rides, she often ponders questions like, "Why does this bike lane abruptly end?" or "How did Broadway get a protected bike lane when other streets didn't?" On some days, she finds joy in observing small yet significant improvements in cycling safety, even if it's as simple as a single white line separating the driver's lane from the cyclist's lane.
Nia is determined to transform Seattle into a place where cyclists can ride without the fear of collisions with cars. She eagerly anticipates delving into the decision-making process behind the city's bike infrastructure. Drawing on her past experiences as an Americorps member, leader in a bike shop, mountain bike instructor, and educator, Nia aims to contribute to the expansion of Seattle's cycling infrastructure, thereby enhancing safety and the overall well-being of neighboring communities.
Kathryn (Katy) Ricchiuto
Term: 9/1/2024-8/31/2026
As a local all-season cyclist, Katy has experienced the joys of traversing Seattle through protected bike lanes, as well as the challenges (and occasional falls) associated with navigating areas like Rainier and MLK Avenues, West Seattle’s curving hills, the missing link in Ballard, and Eastlake Avenue.
Katy is an experienced professional with 10 years of practice in urban planning, community engagement, and policy. She is a program manager at the U District Partnership, where she leads public realm, urban planning, and built environment-related advocacy and projects for the U District. On SBAB, Katy brings her experience engaging with City officials and diverse stakeholders on public infrastructure conversations, as well as analyzing project and policy proposals and their effects on neighborhoods. Katy's favorite bike route connects her home in the Central District, downtown Seattle, the Elliott Bay Trail, Discovery Park, and the Burke Gilman Trail!
Joseph Roberts
Term: 9/1/2024-8/31/2026
Bio to be updated.
Rafael (Rafi) Ronquillo
Term: 9/1/2024-8/31/2026
Rafi is a bike commuter, volunteer mechanic, and recreational cyclist. During the week, he works for the US Environmental Protection Agency as a Community Involvement Coordinator. He engages with communities living near and in Superfund sites across the Pacific Northwest. Rafi is originally from Oakland, California, but has lived and biked in various places such as Guatemala, Colorado, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Rafi lives in Beacon Hill and enjoys using the newly minted bike infrastructure to get around town. He is currently trying to convince his loving but nervous dog that cycling in a trailer can be fun.
Joshua Scheidt
Term: 9/1/2024-8/31/2025
Josh Scheidt, a bike commuter from the Judkins Park neighborhood, is committed to improving Seattle's bike infrastructure. His work at Harborview Medical Center often exposes him to the shortcomings of current bike infrastructure, as he frequently encounters patients with severe injuries from cycling collisions. These experiences underscore the critical need for effective and safe bike infrastructure. Josh believes that Seattle has the potential to develop a world-class cycling network that ensures both excellence and equitable access throughout the city.