kids on bikes
Our People
Daniel Byrd
Executive Director
Jess Verplank
Deputy Director
Jessica is a Colorado native with deep roots in the local mountain bike community. She wants to change the world and have a big impact on our Colorado Springs community. She has a huge passion to get more women and kids on bikes and brings that passion to Kids on Bikes. “I believe that we all need to experience the freedom that bikes allow”. She has volunteered for the Women’s Mountain Bike Association of Colorado Springs, coached women’s mountain bike clinics around Colorado and volunteered and coached for summer camps with Kids on Bikes. She loves gardening, cooking, bikepacking and traveling with her family searching for the best locations across the US to camp, mountain bike, paddle board, ski and adventure together.
Aspen Saren
Event and Development Coordinator
Aspen was born and raised in Colorado Springs. She attended UCCS and graduated with her degree in Health and Wellness Promotion. After an internship with Kids on Bikes, she accepted a full time position as Camp Manager. After a wonderful year, Aspen moved to Sun Valley, Idaho to explore what’s beyond Colorado. She recently has moved back to the Springs and is thrilled to work with the KOB team again! As her name implies, Aspen loves doing anything outdoors including biking, hiking, backpacking, snowboarding and camping. Both personally and professionally, she has seen the power the bike has on the health and resiliency of an individual. She is stoked to share her love of biking with the Colorado Springs community and beyond!
Ryan Bunge
Bike Mechanic/Retail associate
Austin Latare
Bike Service Associate
Austin grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio fascinated with snowboarding, skateboarding, and motocross. He spent high school and thereafter studying and working in the small engine repair and diesel mechanic field. After relocating to the Springs in 2018, Austin found the Colorado landscape rekindling his love for the outdoors. He enjoys hiking, snowboarding, biking, and camping with his family and friends. In 2020, Austin started maintaining family bikes and learning all he could about bike mechanics and the cycle industry. Through countless rides in the 2020/2021 seasons, Austin fell in love with the therapeutic benefits of riding bikes and decided to pursue bikes as a career. Today, he enjoys the opportunity the Pedal Station and Kids on Bikes provides to pass along those same feelings and benefits to the Colorado Springs community.
Isaac Remington
Bike Mechanic
Isaac has lived in Colorado Springs his whole life. While living here, he has grown passionate for all things cycling. Early on, Isaac raced BMX around Colorado and then discovered gears soon after. Since then, Isaac has been competing in cross country races, some of which have been Colorado State Championships in Durango and USAC Nationals in Winter Park. When Isaac is not racing, he’s working to GET MORE KIDS ON BIKES by volunteering as a coach and a board member with Front Rangers Junior Cycling and as a Summer coach for Kids On Bikes, both of which he has been doing for 4 years. This passion for getting more bikes into the community has also provided Isaac with an interest in how to make bicycles more efficient which is why he is currently studying Systems Engineering at UCCS. If Isaac is not in the shop or on the trail, he’s probably trying to rock climb or find time to eat a sandwich.
Jill Martin
Programs Coordinator
Jill grew up all over the world with Japan as her favorite place to live. However, that changed when Colorado became her home in 1999. She is an outdoor enthusiast who has engaged in pretty much every outdoor activity including backpacking, caving, snowboarding, mountain biking, and rock climbing. She recently retired from a 33-year career as a federal employee with the Department of Defense. After taking two years off to backpack the Colorado Trail, chase powder, learn to fly fish, and care for elderly parents; she decided to pursue an encore career. She wanted an encore career to provide greater personal meaning and social impact that weren’t always a factor in her previous career. Jill is excited to support the Kids on Bikes vision to inspire and empower ALL KIDS to lead HEALTHY, ACTIVE, and HAPPY lives through bicycling.
Clever Martinez
Velodrome Programming Coach+ Bike MEchanic
Clever Martinez is a cycling inspiration from Venezuela. Since his childhood, cycling was more than just a hobby to him; it has been a passion and an integral part of his life. He began cycling when he was only 5 years old, and as the years went by, it grew into a major part of his identity.Determined to become a professional cycling athlete, Clever trained hard and eventually became one of the best track and criterium racers in the USA. He has even participated in various cycling races across the world.With his inspiring story and passion for cycling, Clever Martinez continues to inspire cyclists of all ages to do their best and never give up on their dreams. His dedication to cycling serves as an inspiration for those who are chasing their own cycling dreams. He truly is an inspiration!By continuing to train hard, believe in himself, and never give up, Clever Martinez has managed to achieve great things in cycling – something that serves as an inspiration for aspiring cyclists everywhere. We can’t wait to see what else he will accomplish!
Tyler Lull
Bike Mechanic
Tyler was born and raised in Gunnison, Colorado where he developed a love for riding, building, and fixing bicycles at a young age while working alongside his grandfather. In 2023, Tyler took his passion to the next level by receiving an Associates Degree in Bicycle Design and Fabrication from Minnesota State College Southeast in Red Wing Minnesota. It has always been his dream to work with kids and use what is already on hand to recycle and fix bicycles in order to make them accessible to everyone, no matter their background. Tyler is excited to begin his career doing just that right here with the Colorado Springs community. When he’s not at the Pedal Station, you will find him hanging out with his family, paddle boarding, hiking, and, of course, riding his bicycle.
Interested in joining our team? Click here to check out our available opportunities
Board of Directors
- Founder, Paige Carmichael, Co-Founder, Carmichael Training Systems.
- President, Kristen Kinsman, Senior Director, Trade Relations and Account Management at Eli Lilly and Company (retired)
- Treasurer, Felicia Geray, CPA, Senior Manager, Connor Group
- Secretary, Melissa McMartin, University of Colorado-Rocky Mountain Prevention Center: Sr. Health Promotion Coordinator
- Edward C. (Ted) Maynard, MD. Physician-Founding partner of Iron Horse Pediatrics. Children's Hospital Colorado
- Ryan Hammes, Assistant Vice President for Administrative Services at Colorado College
- LaDonna Reed, M.Ed., NSCA-CPT*D, CWC, CNC, Health and Wellness Specialist at Diversus Health, Owner of Get Movin' Personal Training, LLC.
- Grayson Potter, Education Manager, US Anti-Doping Agency.