People

Staff

Jacqueline Douglas / Director

As the Director of LivableStreets, Jackie is responsible for all outreach programs and events as well as coordinating all communications and day-to-day operations management. Above all, she is an advocate for the changes we all want to see on the streets of Boston, Cambridge and surrounding communities. She joined LivableStreets in January 2008 as a volunteer and was hired as the first full-time staff person in August 2008. One could say her interest in transportation began as a child after living in the Netherlands where she and her family cycled everywhere. She is car-free in Boston, enjoys bicycle touring and competes in triathlons. Through her work at Earth Pledge, Westchester Children's Association, Cause Marketing Forum and Ten Second World, Jackie has gained experience in public policy, community development and marketing. She sat on the Better School Food Coalition Advisory Board and the International Rescue Committee Advisory Board. Jackie graduated from Boston University with a self-designed major to study the forces that shape why people are the way they are, looking at factors such as their development, the policies that shape them, and the particular issues they face. She also spent a year studying abroad in the UK, Tanzania, India, New Zealand and Mexico through the International Honors Program 'Rethinking Globalization' program. jackie@livablestreets.info

Board of Directors

Jeffrey L. Rosenblum, PE / Co-founder

Transportation Planner, City of Cambridge

Jeff has over 15 years experience in consulting, research, training & education, public policy, and community advocacy at the intersection of environment, business, and community engagement. He has worked with Cadmus Group, Urban Institute, Adaptive Environments, Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin, League of American Bicyclists, and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy. Internationally, he has worked on sustainable development projects in Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Jeff holds a Masters degree in Environmental Engineering and Policy from Carnegie Mellon University (working with the Green Design Research Initiative), and a Professional Engineering License from the State of Maine. In 2005, he co-founded LivableStreets Alliance and served as Executive Director until December 2007. He is formerly with the Business & Sustainability group at Tellus Institute. jeff@livablestreets.info

Larry Slotnick / Co-founder

Principal, Taza Chocolate / Principal, Central Bike Services

Larry is a principal of Taza Chocolate of Somerville, MA, a maker of artisan, organic, fair-trade chocolate, and Central Bike Services, a consulting firm that helps organizations streamline and upgrade their bicycle transportation programs with a focus on parking infrastructure. He was a founding employee of Zipcar in 2000 and left Zipcar as National Director of Fleet Operations in 2006. While there, he helped launch Zipcar's flagship Boston car-sharing operation as Fleet Manager. He also served as Director of Business Development and performed supporting roles in Sales and Customer Service. In 1999, Larry served as Executive Director of MassBike - the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition. Larry earned a BS in Industrial Engineering from Syracuse University and worked for companies such as Intel, Raytheon and Prime Computer in facilities design and manufacturing engineering. Larry specializes in small business development for not only his own organizations -- but other local ones as well -- trying to connect people and companies who might have strategic complimentarily. larry@livablestreets.info

Charles F. Denison IV

Applications Developer, GEODE Capital Management

Charlie holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Computer Science, and works as a software developer for a financial services company in Boston, MA. A daily year-round bike commuter from his home in Somerville, he is a passionate advocate for better streets for bicycling, walking, and transit. Charlie has worked with LivableStreets since 2004 and has been on the Board of Directors since 2007. His primary focus with LivableStreets is direct advocacy through government agencies, local media, and other local organizations. In addition to his role with LivableStreets, he is also a member of the Somerville Bicycle Committee, sits on the Board of Directors with Allston Village Main Streets, and is an active member of the MassBike Metro Boston Chapter. charlie@livablestreets.info

Christopher Hart

Director of Urban and Transit Projects, Institute for Human Centered Design

Chris has extensive experience in public transportation, urban design, and disability work. His expertise in universal / human centered design focuses within the urban realm on transit and pedestrian design projects. He previously worked for the MBTA Office for Transportation Access. He authored the first "Getting Around Boston, A Guide for Riders of All Abilities" in 2004 and subsequent editions. He has provided pedestrian design review for the Big Dig. That work and his report "Surfaces Fit for People" earned him a “Golden Shoe Award” from WalkBoston's in 2006. In 2005-6, Chris was technical advisor during the   ADA   class action settlement negotiations between the MBTA and Greater Boston Legal Services and assisted in the writing of the final settlement.  Today, Chris continues to be heavily involved with both parties as they implement the settlement's key infrastructure, staff and policy changes.  Chris earned his Bachelors Degree at theUniversity   of   Massachusetts Boston. He is appointed to the US Transportation Research Board’s Committee for Accessible Transportation and Mobility and is a member of Project ACTION's National Steering Committee. Chris was born with cerebral palsy.   chart@livablestreets.info

Kenneth Kruckemeyer

Private transportation consultant

Ken is a private consultant specializing in the design of civil infrastructure, focusing on integrated public transport systems, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and roadway and bridge design. In his life and in his profession. He is also an adjunct Research Associate at the Center for Transportation and Logistics and Lecturer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the MIT. Ken served as Associate Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Works from 1983 to 1991, where he was responsible for bridge and highway engineering, and where he co-authored the book: Bridge Design--Aesthetics and Developing Technologies. In the 1970's and early 80's he was Project Manager of the Southwest Corridor Project in Boston, a $750 million investment in railroad and rapid transit facilities, city streets, parkland and urban revitalization that received a Presidential Design Award and was named the Outstanding Engineering Achievement of 1988 by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Mr. Kruckemeyer is an Architect with degrees from Princeton University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a Loeb Fellow in Advanced Environmental Studies at Harvard University. kek@livablestreets.info

Debi Levine

Debi Levine is an organizational and staff development consultant with more than 20 years experience designing and facilitating programs that develop the leadership, managerial, professional, and decision-making skills of individuals and groups. Her clients have included Fortune 500 corporations, public and non-profit organizations, public schools, and community groups. A social psychologist and urban design enthusiast, Debi has recently turned her attention to training community and cohousing groups in facilitation and consensus building, and in the design of “places for people” – human-scaled, community-oriented housing and public space. Her perspective has been strongly influenced by having spent nearly 10 years in Denmark, where human-centered urban design and transportation has helped change the way people use and move about their city, and proven that it can be done! Debi holds a Master’s degree in Social Psychology from Boston University, where she completed the coursework and qualifying exams for the Ph.D., and focused her studies on environment-behavior relations. Debi was formerly a Director of Evaluation at TERC, Senior Associate the diversity training firm J. Howard & Associates, and Director of Leadership Development at Monster.com. She has also been a volunteer facilitator for a myriad of community design and development groups, including MetroFuture, Civic Alliance to Rebuild Downtown New York, and the Learning by Design initiative of the Boston Society of Architects; and she developed the Schoolyard Design: The Urban Edition manual for the Boston Schoolyard Initiative. Debi lives in the Cornerstone Village Cohousing community in Cambridge, MA. debi@livablestreets.info

Steven Miller 

Executive Director, New England Healthy Weight Initiative, Harvard School of Public Health

Steve was the founder of Boston's Hub On Wheels Bike festival, and is a current member of the Cambridge and MBTA bicycle committees, and Chair of the Board of TechBoston Academy (a public pilot high school). He founded and led Mass Networks, which organized campaigns to network schools. Miller's work in technology-facilitated education reform was recognized by an invitation to present to President Clinton's 1999 National Education Summit. Steve has served on the national boards of the Consortium for School Networks (CoSN), Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR), and as chair of Grassroots International (GRI). Steve currently chairs the Massachusetts Health / Transportation working group and is working with the Charles River Conservancy on the campaign to turn Storrow Drive into a "temporary bike & pedestrian park" on early-AM summer Sundays. steve@livablestreets.info

Bhupesh Patel

Principal, DesignTANK

As a trained Architect, Bhupesh works with many planning departments to further smart density housing, and traffic calming initiatives. In addition, he has initiated coalitions of marginalized advocacy groups he has brokered many changes in cities and towns as well as being awarded several grants and city sponsored initiatives. His professional objective is to address the crisis of policy, housing, and transportation. Bhupesh holds an Architecture degree from Carnegie Mellon University. bhupesh@livablestreets.info

Nina Garfinkle

Principal, Garfinkle Design

Nina Garfinkle is a designer and consultant who devises creative yet simplified solutions for diverse clients across multiple disciplines – from visual communications, to home/office organization, to urban streetscapes. Nina focuses on usability—people’s needs, and how they interact with what they see. As principal of Garfinkle Design, a graphic design consultancy she founded in 1987, Nina has over 20 years experience building brands through corporate identities, logos, annual reports, websites, and direct mail. She is also a frequent collaborator with prominent New England advertising agencies and design studios. Through her Clutter Consulting business, she offers her "less is more" organizing systems and skills to residential and commercial clients. Most recently, she extended her philosophy to Street Interface Design projects emphasizing walking and other forms of sustainable transport through presentations/workshops, advocacy, maps and educational materials. She serves on the board of WalkBoston, where she chairs the Communications Committee. She is a former board member and Vice President of the American Institute of Graphic Arts/Boston Chapter, and is a founding member of the virtual community SouthEnd.org. She earned a BFA in Graphic Design from Boston University’s School of Fine Arts. nina@livablestreets.info

Glen Berkowitz

Glen has over 20 years experience in traffic management and planning, construction management, and public outreach. His focus is on interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving, and likes to integrate aspects of public administration, the legal process, engineering and design, and community mitigation in his work. He has worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Administration and Finance and Executive Office of Transportation, Massachusetts Highway Department, and Central Artery/Tunnel Project where he oversaw efforts to maintain adequate motor vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian accommodations throughout the Big Dig’s 15-year construction period. Glen recently changed his own commuting choices and now leaves his car parked at home whenever possible, and travels instead by bicycle, foot, or his all-electric moped. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME; a Master in Public Administration from the J.F.K School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA ; and a J.D. in Law from Suffolk University School of Law, Boston, MA. In 2005, Glen founded Beaufort Power LLC, Boston, MA, a renewable energy development and consulting firm where he continues to pursue appropriate wind and solar power projects in Massachusetts and New England. glen@livablestreets.info

Aaron Desatnik, LEED AP

Events & Marketing Coordinator, The Green Roundtable

Aaron manages events and marketing at The Green Roundtable, a non-profit in Boston working to mainstream green building through education, policy, and technical assistance. In less than two years, he has established an events program to provide thousands of building professionals, business professionals, and the general public with the mindset, skills, and networks to implement green building. As a trained community organizer, he also organizes Jewish young adults, most recently running a campaign to increase awareness and community-wide purchasing of local foods in the Greater Boston Jewish community. Aaron sees his life’s work as using community organizing, popular education, network building, and innovation to facilitate real solutions to complex social, economic, and environmental inequities. At LivableStreets, Aaron is currently providing organizing support for the Neighborhood Outreach Campaign. He earned a BA in Comparative Studies from the Ohio State University, is a LEED Accredited Professional, and is an intermediate-level bike mechanic. aaron@livablestreets.info

Megan Ramey

Megan Ramey is the Sustainability Coordinator for A Better City, a non-profit organization working to address the issues of congestion and air-quality in downtown Boston and the Back Bay.  She holds a Master in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin in Madison and a Bachelor of Science in Consumer Sciences from the University of Georgia in Athens.  Mrs. Ramey joined A Better City in 2010 after spending two years in service, volunteering for LivableStreets and she also currently sits on the advisory board to Mayor Menino for Boston Bikes.  Prior to moving to Boston, her career spanned the food, retail and hospitality industries.  In 2006, Megan claimed her entrepreneurial spirit and opened MoCo Market, a modern general store that promoted walking and biking, community and sustainable business practices. Megan designed the interior of MoCo to LEED gold standards and it was the first Green Restaurant Certified establishment in the state of Wisconsin. Although achieving great marketing success (20 pieces of local and national press in less than a year), MoCo was too new a concept and coupled with the economic downturn, Megan closed the doors in July 2008.  Mrs. Ramey’s trade in sustainability is mirrored at home where her new family (Annika born in 2009) enjoys cooking with local food, spending the weekends playing outside and redefining the mini-van as a couple of vintage bikes and a burley trailer.

Wenzday Jane

Owner and CEO, Metro Pedal Power

Wenzday Jane is the owner and CEO of Metro Pedal Power (formerly New Amsterdam Project), a small growing company in Somerville, MA dedicated to replacing internal combustion with human power for local transportation of goods. Metro Pedal Power uses cargo bikes and “pedal-trucks” for last-mile delivery in Metro Boston in order to reduce pollution and increase the health of our communities. Wenzday has been a full-time bicycle enthusiast for many, many years. Born to parents who did not have driver’s licenses and raised in the city, Wenzday grew up walking, waiting at bus stops, taking the subway, and bicycling in Boston. wenzday@livablestreets.info

Former board members:

• Phil Goff, Goody Clancy
• Scott Mullen, ZipCar
• Mark Chase, Nelson/Nygaard
• Chella Sudjir Rajan, Indian Institute of Technology Madras
• Holly (Bogle) Parker, Yale University
• Ona Ferguson, Concensus Building Institute
• William Reyelt, Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development
• Dorothy Fennell, Programs Manager, Boston-based Transportation Management Association, A Better City
• Zakcq Lockrem