Our CORE STAFF

NIKI RAY-ISRAELSOHN
DIRECTOR

Niki (they/them) makes their return to Ithaca as Director of Bike Walk Tompkins. They earned a B.M. in Music Education from Ithaca College in 2015, a launching pad for their four-year teaching career in New York City's public school system. Niki's focus on community and engagement grew, and in 2020, Niki earned their Masters in Arts and Cultural Management from Pratt Institute and worked with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy to develop a digital history project highlighting the Great American Rail-Trail. Niki is excited to pursue their goals of building vibrant and well-connected communities with BWT. When they aren't biking or hiking, they’re probably cheering on their favorite home state football club, Atlanta United.

Contact Niki
nicole@bikewalktompkins.org

CLAIRE DEHM
BIKE MECHANIC

Claire (she/her) is a year-round bike commuter, bike mechanic, and bike enthusiast. When Claire's not engaged in conversations about the intersection of bikes and community, you can find her teaching, playing, and learning at Circus Culture, Ithaca's very own circus school.

Contact Claire
claire@bikewalktompkins.org

MOLLY HAJJAR
EDUCATION COORDINATOR

Molly (she/her) is a nationally certified Recreation Therapist, specializing in making outdoor recreation opportunities accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. As the founding director of an accessible recreation program in southern New Hampshire, Molly has over 20 years of experience teaching children and adults to swim, ski, paddle, and bike. She’s very excited to partner with Bike Walk Tompkins to provide bike education to our community.

Contact Molly molly@bikewalktompkins.org

KELDA MCGURK
ADVOCACY COORDINATOR

Kelda McGurk (she/her) is an occupational therapist, currently working in the school district. She is also a mentor for BWT, and particularly enjoys working with individuals to learn to ride their individual commute/errands routes. Kelda has been a bike commuter for 20+ years, and has loved adapting this lifestyle to remain as functional as possible through weather conditions, surgeries, and kid-toting. 

Kelda spends most of her time with her daughter, enjoying outdoor adventures, traveling, or working on her house or yard. She is passionate about helping to create a community where people feel capable and safe enough to enjoy the freedom of getting around without needing a car. 

Contact Kelda
kelda@bikewalktompkins.org

TOM TARNOWSKI
BIKE SHOP MANAGER

Tom Tarnowski (he/him) is a mechanical engineer, currently semi-retired in Ithaca. He enjoys the fun of working with others to solve bike repair challenges. Tom is a lifelong cycling enthusiastic and daily rider who enjoys maintaining a collection of road, gravel, mountain, cruiser and stationary bikes. 

When Tom is not working on bikes, you can find him bouncing around local singletrack or seeking out new hiking and biking trails with his wife in their camper van.

Contact Tom
tom@bikewalktompkins.org

EMME WONG
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Emme (she/her) is an outdoor enthusiast with a love for riding bikes, outdoor education, and building community through adventure. Some of her local organizing focuses on making space for the women, trans, femme, non-binary community in the outdoor recreation scene. When she is not coordinating or instructing, she dabbles in woodworking and graphic design. You might also find her at the rock wall.

Contact Emme
emme@bikewalktompkins.org

OUR 2024 MENTOR STAFF

MURI JOHANSON
BIKE EDUCATION MENTOR

Muri (she/her), grew up in Ithaca and spent her teenage years getting everywhere by bicycle. These days, she is still getting wherever she needs to be on her bike. Her career has been eclectic; she has experience working in the service industry, compliance support, program development, and massage therapy. Throughout all of her work, teaching and coaching skills have been essential to her ability to get the job done. She has experience teaching skills in a variety of topics such as work readiness, essential computer skills, financial literacy, yoga, and therapeutic stretching. Muri approaches teaching as an opportunity to share knowledge, support building confidence, and ultimately empower individuals to take on new challenges in life.

MARK THORNTON
BIKE MECHANIC MENTOR

Mark (he/him) has been involved in the local biking community for over 10 years working with RIBs, Friends Bike Clinic, Bike Walk Tompkins, and teaching bike maintenance at New Roots Charter School where he is currently the Kitchen Coordinator. Mark is an avid commuter and advocate for the bike's cargo abilities. His favorite part of the community bike shop experience is demystifying basic bike maintenance and empowering people to learn how to care for their bikes, ensuring many years of satisfaction and safe rides. 

JULIE YUREK
BIKE EDUCATION MENTOR

Julie (she/her) and Apple (any/all) are excited to contribute good vibes to Ithaca’s bicycle community. When they are not hanging with the kind folx of Bike Walk Tompkins, you can find them hiking around Ithaca and the surrounding area. They also enjoy volunteering with Cornell Companions, an animal-assisted therapy program. Besides that, their favorite hobbies include “treats and snoozing and snoozing and treats” as best said by Marcel the Shell.

APPLE YUREK
STAFF THERAPY DOG & BIKE EDUCATION MENTOR

REMI MCGURK
STAFF THERAPY DOG - IN TRAINING

 

Our Gratitudes

Many thanks go to the following people who have shaped and grown the BWT program.

Former Directors

  • Margaret Johnson (2021-2023)

  • Hector Chang (2020-2021)

  • Victoria Armstrong (2016-2020)

  • Rena Scroggins (2014-2016)

Former Staff Members

  • Hector Chang

  • Grace Johnston-Fennell

  • Linda Holzbaur

  • Kartik Sribarra

  • Mason Wilson

Additional Thanks

Former Steering Committee Members

  • Fernando de Aragon

  • Karim Beers

  • Watne Bezner-Kerr

  • Jane Bowman-Brady

  • Phoebe Brown

  • Will Burbank

  • Lois Chaplin

  • Erika Colquehuanca

  • Jennifer Dotson

  • Kent Johnson

  • Margaret Johnson

  • Daniel Keough

  • Tom Knipe

  • Jeanne Leccese

  • Tim Logue

  • Jonathan Maddison

  • Jen Micale

  • Yasamin Miller

  • Davi Mozie

  • Sue Powell

  • Steven Powell

  • David West

We'd also like to give a big special thank you to our donors and supporters. Thank you!