Our People

Ann Donaca

Inspired by her son Cody’s struggle to learn to ride, Ann (she/her) is the director and founder of Bike First!. 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.

Cody Sullivan

Cody (he/him) is the inspiration behind Bike First! He is our motivation leader and equity ambassador, and 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.

Dr. Angela Vossenkuhl

Dr. Angela Vossenkuhl (she/her) serves as our Business Director. 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. 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.

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. Bobbi has a kitty named Lola and spends her free time creating collages with her friends.

Calyn Hauck

Calyn (she/her) got excited about Bike First! when her daughter learned to ride in 2019. Now she 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.

Hannah McGowan Blystone

Hannah McGowan Blystone has joined our team as the Financial Manager. She is overseeing all things money and brings fresh insight into current incusive best practices.

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 Matters, 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.

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 Matters!. 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!

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. Heather completed her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education at Oregon State in June 2022 and her master's degree in special education at Portland State University. She currently works as a special education teacher in Portland Public Schools.

Maya Catton

Maya Catton (she/her) is the social media specialist at Bike First! She ensures our messages of inclusion are clearly represented through thoughtful photos and engaging captions.

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  • Walt

    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.

  • Lloyd

    Chief Technician

    Lloyd is leading the project of building a new fleet for Bike First! supportive bike technolgoy.

    More to come soon about this important team member!

  • Tammy

    Tammy is a dedicated techniciant and helping to build our new fleet for Bike First! supportive bike technology.

    More to come soon about this important team member!