Our People

A smiling woman wearing sunglasses, a black bike helmet, and a gray tank top stands outdoors next to a green electric scooter. She has tattoos on her arms, a name tag, and is holding the scooter's handlebar. The background features a modern building with large windows and a brick base.

Ann Donaca

Inspired by her son Cody’s struggle to learn to ride, Ann (she/her) is the director and founder of Bike First!™ and Executive Director of Inclusion Empowers!™. As an advocate for people with disabilities, Ann has shared her knowledge with hundreds of people. She participated in Oregon and National Safe Routes to School panels as an expert on including people with disabilities. Ann was part of a Cycle Oregon team that wrote a handbook for Oregon PE teachers on teaching students with disabilities to ride bicycles. She handles fundraising, community advocacy, scholarships, and directs the camp. Ann is retired from school administration, and in her spare time, she works in her yard alongside her chickens, exercises with friends, cooks, and looks for ways to advocate for people with disabilities.

A person standing indoors, wearing a burgundy t-shirt with a bicycle graphic and the text 'Bike First! 2024 dip on'. Behind them, there is a rainbow pride flag and two handwritten signs that say 'Bike First! 2024' and 'Bike On'. The person is smiling and giving a thumbs-up with both hands.

Cody Sullivan

Cody (he/him) is the inspiration behind Bike First!™ and Inclusion Empowers!™. He is our Equity Ambassador, on the Advisory Board for Inclusion Empowers!™, and is everyone’s best friend. Cody was the first person with Down syndrome in the state of Oregon to graduate from a university in 2018. This news spread worldwide as it went viral in multiple countries. Cody is a strong advocate for marginalized populations and has shared his first-hand knowledge of an inclusive life as a person with a disability. Cody participated in Oregon and National Safe Routes to School panels, serving as an expert on the inclusion of people with disabilities. He supports the Portland Trail Blazers, the UO Ducks, and MANY other sports teams. Cody has been described as "pure joy". His favorite ice creams are chocolate chip mint and strawberry.

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Dr. Angela Vossenkuhl

Dr. Angela Vossenkuhl (she/her) serves as our Business Director for Bike First!™ and Inclusion Empowers!™. At Bike First! she manages merchandise & our partnership with Little Rebels with a Cause. Angela is our Safe Routes to School liaison & on the steering committee. She was integral in the development of Inclusion Empowers!™ and is on the Advisory Board. Since meeting Cody Sullivan as a baby, Angela has diligently advocated for people with disabilities. She serves as the chair of the College of Education at Eastern Oregon University, and previously led a team in creating an inclusive program at Concordia University, Portland, to help Cody graduate from college. Angela is dedicated to educating others about inclusion in general education.

A smiling woman wearing glasses and a wide-brim hat holds a cheerful young child with a missing front tooth. They are outdoors in front of a building with horizontal siding.

Hannah McGowan Blystone

Hannah McGowan Blystone has joined our team as the Financial Manager for Bike First!™ and Treasurer of Inclusion Empowers!™.

Hannah is overseeing all things money and brings fresh insight into current inclusive best practices. Hannah has a passion for advocacy and lives this with her husband, daughter and two stepsons. She loves to knit, cook, and engage others in conversation. Hannah is well known for her homemade cakes!

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Bobbi Sullivan

Bobbi (she/her) received her undergraduate degree in Behavioral Psychology from Saint Mary’s College of California in 2020. She has worked for Bike First!™ since it began in 2006 and is Cody’s younger sister. Currently, Bobbi is a middle school dance teacher and a professional artist. She is a student at PSU, pursuing her master's degree in teaching. Bobbi wears many hats for Bike First!™. She is a floor director and works year-round as a rider & volunteer coordinator. She is on the Advisory Board for Inclusion Empowers!. Bobbi has a kitty named Lola and spends her free time creating collages with her friends.

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Owen McLafferty

Owen (he/him) first came to Bike First!™ in 2007 as a fourth grader after befriending Cody in elementary school. That friendship sparked his passion for the program, and he has been involved every year since – first as a volunteer and now as a leader and outreach coordinator. After graduating from the University of Oregon in 2018 with a B.S. in Business Administration, Owen built a career locally in Portland while staying deeply connected to his community. He is honored to serve as Board President of Inclusion Empowers!™, the nonprofit that supports Bike First!™ and expands its mission of inclusion through new events and programs. Outside of work, Owen enjoys music, sneakers, and sports – he also coaches baseball at his alma mater, Grant High School.

A young man and young woman smiling and taking a selfie outdoors in a lush, green garden setting. The young man is holding a dark-colored drink with a straw, and wearing a black sleeveless shirt with a logo. The young woman has long hair and is wearing a black sleeveless top. They are sitting close to each other, surrounded by trees and plants.

Heather Hunt

Heather (she/her) has been with the Bike First!™ family since 2016. She is a leader and works year-round as a rider & volunteer coordinator. She is also on the Advisory Board for Inclusion Empowers!™. Heather completed her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education at Oregon State in 2022 and her master's degree in Special Education at Portland State in 2024. Heather currently works as a special education teacher in Portland where she supports students with disabilities in both general and special education settings. Heather truly believes that Inclusion matters in all aspects of our lives. Heather is an avid reader and tries to read almost 100 books a year! At Bike First!™ you can catch her running around helping volunteers, making connections with riders and caregivers, and problem-solving all the behind the scenes happenings! Heather is all things magical.

A woman riding a tandem bicycle with four young children, all wearing helmets, in a parking lot with trees and houses in the background.

Calyn Hauck

Calyn (she/her) got excited about Bike First! when her daughter learned to ride in 2019. Now she is the Assistant Director for Bike First!™, on the Advisory Board for Inclusion Empowers!™ , guides our webmaster, and is a Safety Coordinator working specifically with caregivers on Safe Systems and Vision Zero. All of her children are enthusiastic volunteers. Calyn enjoys riding with her family but understands many challenges faced by riders and caregivers. She is passionate about making biking more accessible to all and is eager to help more people opt for biking over driving. Calyn and her husband have raised four children in Portland, where she works as a literacy and math tutor. Her favorite bike is “Clementine,” a human-powered minivan.

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Rhonda Teeny

Rhonda (she/her) joined Bike First!™ in 2010 as a volunteer. She eventually became a leader and now is the Secretary on the Inclusion Empowers!™ Board. Rhonda owns Big Teeny, a purpose-driven firm that delivers project management & community engagement services designed to move social justice efforts from vision to action, which is one of Bike First!™ sponsors! Rhonda enjoys watching live sports, dancing, yoga, seeing live music and comedy shows. She is learning Arabic & ASL.

A woman smiling while riding a bicycle indoors. She is wearing a red helmet, glasses, and a gray jacket. The background shows a wooden interior with desks, computers, and some people.

Emma Flynn

Emma (she/her) has been with Bike First!™ family since 2009 as a volunteer and has served as leader, floor director, outreach coordinator and Board Member of Inclusion Empowers!™. Emma's passion for inclusive and adaptive recreation began with Bike First!™ and has since grown to include skiing, climbing, cycling, rafting, paddling, snow fun, and more. After 10 years working in behavioral health, she now works in year-round adaptive outdoor recreation, where she instructs and supports people with disabilities of all ages. Emma lives in Central Oregon with her partner and pup, where she can be found skiing, biking, climbing, and painting. Find Emma at camp for: glitter, outrigger/bike instruction, stickers, behavioral support, high fives, or to chat about inclusion!

A young girl smiling outdoors on a sports track field, holding a pink camera, wearing a black t-shirt with a 'Bike First' logo.

Maya Catton

Maya Catton (she/her) is the social media specialist at Bike First!™and Inclusion Empowers!™. She uses her passion for art while creating posts on social media. It is common to find her crocheting, drawing, and painting. Maya is a student at University of Oregon and loves living in Eugene. She has two kitties that she adores so much that she has even taken them on trips to California. Maya is Cody’s God-sister.

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Levi Hauck

Levi (he/him) is the Tech Intern for Inclusion Empowers! and a leader for Bike First! camp. He first volunteered in middle school, when his sister learned to ride at camp. He has grown in friendship with Cody and other leaders over many years.

Levi helped create and launch our website this year and answers countless tech requests and questions from our team. He graduates from Portland State University in Spring 2026 with an Honors degree in Computer Science and Math minor, and plans to start working as a Software Engineer after camp.

He enjoys riding his bike and other outdoor activities, plays and follows soccer, works as a PSW, and cares deeply about people.

  • A man with long hair, a beard, wearing a blue shirt, glasses, and a beige cap with patches, standing indoors with people seated in the background.

    Walt Custer

    Walt (he/him) has been part of the Bike First! family since its birth in 2007. He transports the bikes to Portland, Oregon, from Sonoma, California, each summer. Walt is our bike technician extraordinaire. He not only ensures that riders’ bikes have the best fittings, but he tunes up the entire fleet for each family. Walt is our hero.

  • A smiling man wearing glasses, a beige cap, a burgundy t-shirt with a bicycle design and the words 'Bike First! 2024', and blue gloves standing in a gym with a scooter.

    Lloyd Lucas

    Chief Technician

    Lloyd (he/him) is a retired Heavy Equipment Mechanic and Equipment Manager who joined Bike First! in 2024 as one of our bike mechanics. He volunteers year-round with United Cerebral Palsy, fixing bikes to help fund bicycle events connected to UCP.  Lloyd is motivated by the expressions of joy when riders learn to ride with confidence. Lloyd is leading the project of building a new fleet for Bike First! supportive bike technology.

  • A woman with short brown hair and glasses smiling at the camera, sitting in a room with a brick wall and a window showing trees outside, holding a piece of paper and a crutch.

    Tammy Carson

    Tammy (she/her) is a Registered Nurse who is a caring and compassionate caregiver on and off the clock. She enjoys bikes, hikes, and traveling to new and exciting places. Tammy jumped into the Bike First! family in 2024 as a bike mechanic, when she saw the need to coordinate multiple processes and proved herself to be a valuable asset to the Bike First! program.

  • A smiling man with glasses and a beard holding a bicycle wheel in an indoor setting.

    Nate Hallquist

    Nate (he/him) was in the Navy for 6 years and has been part of Bike First! since 2012. Nate works at one of our partners, Reborn Bikes, and is on the team building our new fleet. Nate’s passions are biking, music, trivia, reading and being outdoors. He is a self described/admitted geek who loves working with his hands and fixing things. Nate is a proud dad of 3 kids in a neurodivergent family.

  • A man smiling next to a person in a colorful bird costume with a yellow beard, wearing a superhero cape, against a blue backdrop.

    Dave Stewart

    Incredible longtime member of our Bike First! team.

    Bio update on the way!

  • Young woman smiling outdoors during winter, standing in front of bare trees and with a cloudy sky.

    Sammy Carey

    Sammy (she/her) joined the Bike First! family in 2017. She is a leader, a part of the safety team, and helps teach trauma-informed care and social emotional learning strategies. She is also Secretary on the Advisory Board for Inclusion Empowers!. Sammy has an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and is trained in behavior and crisis intervention. She now works at an elementary school as a behavior learning specialist. She is passionate about supporting those with disabilities in building their confidence and independence. Sammy enjoys crafting, games, and watching movies!

  • Two men sitting on a couch in a cozy room with holiday decorations, smiling at the camera.

    Grant Gearing

    As a boy diagnosed with Autism, Grant (he/him) didn’t really understand why he felt like an outcast at times.That all that changed when he met Cody in kindergarten, then Cody’s sister, Bobbi, and his parents. Eventually Grant and Cody’s friendship started to grow and evolved into a brotherhood (not in blood, but bond).

    Ultimately, Grant joined Bike First! in his early teenage years and eventually took advantage of his creativity. Last year, he joined the social media team and used a GoPro to video riders in action. He gave the viewers a perspective of a rider. Grant serves on the Advisory Board for Inclusion Empowers! with pride and uses his creative ideas to inspire others.

    Outside of Bike First! Grant enjoys his gaming, watching anime and movies, listening to music, and occasionally working out. His favorite food is tacos and Hawaiian pizza.

  • A young man with brown hair and a slight beard sitting outdoors on a wooden bench, wearing a dark gray hoodie and a black and red baseball cap that says 'Red Hot Chili Peppers,' next to plant greenery and a wooden fence.

    Griffin Carroll

    Griffin (he/him) first participated in Bike First! at age 9 and again at age 10, and then returned as a volunteer (along with his brother Myles) when was 18. He LOVES the tandem bikes and still appreciates the tandem Walt altered for extra safety. Griff is our Transition and Safety specialist and is on the Advisory Board. He loves being part of the Bike First! team because the leaders make the experience safe and fun for everyone. Griffin loves singing karaoke. He is also a huge sports fan, particularly loves to play basketball and soccer and is a proud player on this year’s Timbers Unified team. When not playing sports, he enjoys playing games and watching superhero movies.

  • A young woman with shoulder-length black hair, wearing a black long-sleeve top, stands at night against a dark background with some distant lights, and has a name tag on her chest.

    Maitri Ghosh

    Maitri (she/her) was first introduced to Bike First! many year ago when her brother attended camp. She has been a volunteer with the Bike First! family since 2023 and she is also a member of the Advisory Board of Inclusion Empowers!™. Maitri is passionate about inclusivity and her other hobbies include singing, playing the piano, hiking, biking, and hanging out with friends. She is currently a freshman at Jesuit High School.

  • Joey Vossenkuhl

    Joey (he/him) has been volunteering with Bikefirst! since 2010. Growing up alongside Cody, he has been able to experience the importance and positive impact that inclusion brings to all individuals. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Central Washington University in 2022 and manages a paint store in Tigard, Oregon, which is now a sponsor of Bike First!. Joey’s hobbies include soccer, paddle boarding, video games, and Legos. Joey happily serves on the Advisory Board for Inclusion Empowers!.

  • Two men wearing maroon T-shirts with 'Bike First!' logo, standing arm-in-arm indoors against a brick wall with signs about a bike event.

    Harrison Steinbrecher

    Harrison Steinbrecher (he/him) learned to ride a bike at Bike First! in June 2007. He is an employee of Bike First! as the lead DJ and playing music that gets riders to pedal steadily and strongly. Harrison thinks it is so much fun to be the DJ and be able to play what the riders want. If you have a request let Harrison know and he can play it for you during your session. He enjoys doing the bike camp and making friends at Bike First!. 

    Harrison likes to camp and travel. In the winter he skis with his dad who is retired. On Monday nights Harrison goes to Club Impact NW to socialize, eat, and make new friends. Bike First! is the highlight of his year!