We are thrilled to announce two exciting staff leadership transitions. Rebecca Saltzman, previously our Development Director, has stepped into the role of Co-Executive Director of Development and Engagement, joining Co-Executive Directors Justin and Jill. Simultaneously, Caitlin Gleason, our former Events Manager, has been promoted to Community Engagement Director.Â
These transitions are furthering our core values of shared leadership and collaborative decision-making. We transitioned to a Co-Executive Director model in 2023 to foster sustainability, resilience, and mutual support, within executive leadership and to challenge traditional, unilateral top-down decision-making. Not only are we sharing leadership at the top, but we empower all staff to make decisions in their role since they’re the closest ones to the work.
The executive director role can be isolating and overwhelming for one person. Through the Co-ED model we aim to create an environment of mutual support and sustainability that shows that alternative leadership structures can be effective and beneficial.
Transitioning from two to three Co-EDs allows us to continue to iterate on this model and find a structure that reflects where we are as an organization and who we are as staff. Rebecca, Justin and Jill all bring unique skills and lived experiences to their roles, and this new structure allows us to deepen our focus in key areas. By distributing leadership responsibilities, we can ensure that all of the critical functions of our organization receive the dedicated attention they deserve. This transition also supports our Co-EDs as people – Jill, Justin, and Rebecca are parents of young children, and having three Co-EDs helps them navigate work-life balance, especially given Bike East Bay’s evening and weekend activities. We’re confident that this new structure will empower us to be even more effective and responsive as we continue to champion safe streets and build vibrant communities.
These promotions also fulfill career development aspirations for both Rebecca and Caitlin. Bike East Bay aims to be a first-in-class nonprofit with defined career development plans and an average staff tenure of 3-5 years. By supporting our staff in achieving their career development goals, we retain knowledgeable and talented individuals while fostering their growth. Since adopting our strategic plan, we’ve made big strides in our average staff tenure and are currently meeting our goal at 3.4 years.
Rebecca’s significant experience has prepared her well for this new role. She has been reporting to both Justin and Jill since they began as Co-EDs and has served as a key thought partner on development, engagement, and organizational strategy. While Jill was on parental leave for four months in 2024, Rebecca stepped in as interim Co-ED, leading the organization with Justin, heading the operations team, and delivering our biggest fundraising year to date. Rebecca has worked in leadership roles at non-profits for two decades, including as Interim Executive Director of California League of Conservation Voters (now California Environmental Voters) and Deputy Director of Breast Cancer Action.
Caitlin’s promotion to Community Engagement Director supports our strategic plan priority to grow an accessible, diverse movement. During her 2-year tenure, Caitlin has been instrumental in orchestrating our major events, securing corporate and government sponsorships, and bringing more people into the movement. In her new role, she will oversee the engagement team, which encompasses events, group rides, volunteers, and bike valet programming. Caitlin brings over 12 years of experience in nonprofit events, communications, and fundraising and has held leadership roles at Roulette Intermedium and The Kitchen in New York City before relocating to the West Coast and joining Bike East Bay.
We are excited to take this next step in our organization’s journey with Rebecca and Caitlin in their new roles. And you can continue to count on our engagement team to do what they do best: create a sense of belonging and community vital for building our movement – a movement dedicated to communities where people come first, not cars.