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!™ 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hannah McGowan Blystone

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

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.

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!

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 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. Heather is all things magical.

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.

Follow us on Instagram! and Facebook!

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!™’s sponsors! Rhonda enjoys watching live sports, dancing, yoga, seeing live music and comedy shows. She is learning Arabic & ASL.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.