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
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 MECHANIC
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
MARK THORNTON
BIKE SHOP MANAGER
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.
Contact Mark
mark@bikewalktompkins.org
ERIC CROUTHAMEL
SEASONAL EDUCATION & OUTREACH FACILITATOR
Eric (He/Him) is a teacher's aide currently working in the Ithaca City School District. He has over 20 years of experience in bicycle retail (sales and service), bicycle and pedestrian advocacy, and bicycle repair and safety instruction. Teaching mechanic classes at the Boy’s and Girl’s Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, then Safe Routes to School with the Wisconsin Bike Fed inspired Eric to return to school and earn his B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, in 2020. He then began teaching middle school Family and Consumer Science while continuing to teach Safe Routes to School in Milwaukee Public School sites during the summers. In 2023, Eric moved to Danby to be closer to family.
Eric has a passion for education, community, and all things bicycle-related. In off-hours, Eric can be found with his partner playing with their pack of bad dogs or splashing in a creek.
Contact Eric
education@bikewalktompkins.org
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
Molly Hajjar
Grace Johnston-Fennell
Linda Holzbaur
Kartik Sribarra
Mason Wilson
Emme Wong
Additional Thanks
Edna Brown (photographer)
Mary Buehler (website design)
Jess Hana (brand design)
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!