Bike Bakersfield has made changes to the nonprofit staff structure in 2018 by naming Jack Becker as the Executive Director. Becker has been working as Bike Bakersfield Program Director since early 2017.
“In an effort to increase community involvement, we will expand our bike education programs for adults and children in Bakersfield and South Kern,” Becker said. “I hope to strengthen our bike advocacy efforts by attracting more members to our organization. We will continue our successful recycle-a-bike program to provide bicycles to individuals in need of low cost transportation.”
Becker grew up in Bakersfield and earned his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies at UC Santa Cruz. He is passionate about the environment and making Bakersfield a better place to live and ride.
Becker has been bike commuting since his senior year of high school and can be seen riding downtown daily. Often he attaches a bike trailer to pull his dog Sheila.
Other notable changes in Bike Bakersfield staff is the addition of Asha Chandy as Grant Manager. Chandy received two bachelor’s degrees from UC Irvine in criminology and public health. Chandy has previously worked at Bakersfield College’s Public Health Department and as the project manager for the CQN4 Asthma Project at the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Natalie Barrett was added as the Communications Manager. Barrett graduated from Brigham Young University in print journalism and has previously worked for newspapers including the Bakersfield Californian, Daily Herald, St. George News, Deseret News and BYU’s Daily Universe.