East Coast Greenway staff posing in tie dye shirts

Our Team

Alliance Staff Members

Our staff members work from our headquarters on the Greenway route in downtown Durham, N.C., and from multiple remote locations along the route. We value the diversity of perspectives, cultures and experiences found throughout the Eastern Seaboard. We strive to respect and represent these diverse voices and we work to ensure that the Greenway’s economic, environmental and health benefits reach everyone, especially underserved communities.

About the Alliance
Executive Director

Dennis Markatos-Soriano

Executive Director

Dennis Markatos-Soriano

Dennis Markatos-Soriano has served as executive director of the East Coast Greenway since 2009. He and a staff of 16 work alongside volunteers, partners and elected officials to complete the 3,000-mile, Maine-to-Florida Greenway and promote its use.

Under his watch, the East Coast Greenway has grown from 18 to 37 percent complete, adding more than 500 new miles of Greenway. Markatos-Soriano has quadrupled the organization’s funding through his cultivation of foundations, corporations and individual donors. And he has conceived and led ambitious programming for the Alliance, from regional conferences that gather and energize thought leaders to the East Coast River Relay, a two-month series of public events that marked the organization’s 25th anniversary, while also strengthening its partnerships throughout the corridor.

Markatos-Soriano holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead and Byrd Scholar; and a master’s in public affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Princeton University, where he received the 2008 Bradford Prize for Academic & Civic Achievement in Science, Technology and Environmental Policy. Prior to joining the Alliance, he served as executive director of two nonprofit organizations he co-founded: Students United for a Responsible Global Environment (SURGE) and Sustainable Energy Transition.

A native of rural Chatham County near the town of Pittsboro, N.C., he now lives in Durham, N.C. Markatos-Soriano enjoys basketball, soccer, riding his bike and time outdoors with his wife, kids, extended family and friends.

Email: dennis@greenway.org
Niles Barnes
Deputy Director

Niles Barnes

Niles Barnes
Deputy Director

Niles Barnes

A champion for sustainability and developing walkable and bikeable communities, Niles Barnes joined the East Coast Greenway Alliance in 2013 and currently serves as deputy director.

“Being part of the Alliance allows me to collaborate on strategies to not only develop the physical trail, but also contribute to the creation of a sustainable future that includes more healthy and prosperous local communities along the entire Eastern Seaboard.” 

Based in Durham, N.C., Niles provides internal and external strategy for the Alliance. Working across departments, he implements strategies for Greenway advocacy and public policy initiatives and contributes to organizational operations, program delivery, finance and technology.

“I’m fortunate to work with an outstanding team of staff and volunteers committed to improving public health, environmental sustainability, economic development, and civic engagement. Together, we are connecting people to nature and communities via a safe, accessible Greenway.”

Niles graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Kentucky and received his master’s degree in environmental management from Duke University. He is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) and holds a certificate in business administration from the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics.

Email: niles@greenway.org
Allison Burson
National Greenway Director

Allison Burson

Allison Burson
National Greenway Director

Allison Burson

Based in Maine, Allison Burson brings more than 20 years experience making public spaces more accessible, equitable and enjoyable for people to the East Coast Greenway Alliance’s role of national greenway director.

In this position, Allison oversees the Alliance’s trail development projects and programs and leads the Greenway’s eight-person field staff team.

Prior to joining the Greenway team, Allison worked in the nonprofit, foundation, private, higher education and public sectors in Seattle, Boston and the United Kingdom.

Most recently, Allison worked at The Lawrence and Lillian Solomon Foundation as its program manager for A Greener Greater Boston. In this role, her love of trails and open space led her to manage a partnership program between the Barr and Solomon Foundations that provides technical assistance, seed funding and advocacy to support and accelerate the creation of parks and greenways in Massachusetts’ cities. She helped partners working on parks and trails to envision, test and plan projects. Allison also supported grassroots community engagement and helped partners secure large-scale federal, state and local funding for multi-million dollar infrastructure investments

Previously Allison worked at an urban advocacy nonprofit in Seattle focused on transit-oriented development, transportation and open-space policies. In Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn’s office, she continued her work on policies and programs to make Seattle a more accessible, liveable city for all. At the University of York in the United Kingdom, she built international research and learning partnerships. Allison also has experience consulting with organizations on leadership transitions, helping them with change management and diversifying their leadership teams.

As a volunteer, Allison serves as founding board chair of the Moving Maine network, as a board member of the Greater Portland Council of Governments PACTs Policy Board, and as a board member of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. She previously served as board chair for MassBike and on her town’s conservation commission which included filling the role of tree warden aka the Lorax. Allison is a graduate of Wesleyan University with bachelor’s degrees in American studies and environmental studies. A bike commuter, bike packer, and recreational cyclist, she also enjoys running, hiking, swimming, baking, kayaking and cooking.

Email: allison@greenway.org
Mary Paige McLaurin
Creative Director

Mary Paige McLaurin

Mary Paige McLaurin
Creative Director

Mary Paige McLaurin

Promoted to Creative Director in January 2024, Mary-Paige McLaurin joined the East Coast Greenway team in June 2021 after extensive experience in visual storytelling in collegiate athletics.

Mary Paige focuses on bringing the East Coast Greenway story to life through photo and video capture and production, social media content and distribution and graphic design. With Mary Paige on staff, the Alliance has experienced expansive growth in video views, engagement and external media reach.

Before joining the Greenway staff, she served as the producer and project manager in the New and Creative Media Department with University of South Carolina athletics. In this role she created engaging photo and video content for various South Carolina sports teams, including Gamecock football.

Mary Paige spent more than 2 years volunteering on a national level with the American Cancer Society in different capacities, including social media chair and team chair for the National Campus & Youth Engagement Team. Doing this work helped her discover her passion for nonprofits and led to her decision to pursue more impactful work.

Mary Paige is a graduate of South Carolina where she obtained her Master and Bachelor of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management. In her free time, you can find her exploring the Greenway with her dog, training for marathons, and playing pickleball with her friends.

Email:

 
John Martin
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications

John Martin

John Martin
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications

John Martin

Currently the East Coast Greenway Alliance’s Senior Director, Marketing & Communications John Martin joined the East Coast Greenway Alliance staff in 2019. In this role, he leads strategic marketing and communications efforts for the Alliance with a primary focus on organizational communications, media relations and digital marketing.

John has led the Alliance to measured enhancements in brand awareness, digital communications, merchandising, external media exposure and other areas. He recently led comprehensive website redesign process for greenway.org.

He joined the Alliance staff following extensive communications work in the Olympic Movement and collegiate athletics. Most recently, he was based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as the associate director, communications at USA Swimming and communications and media relations manager at USA Triathlon. In these roles, he staffed two Olympic Games and multiple national and world championship events.

Previously, John worked in collegiate athletic communications at the University of North Carolina and Georgia Tech. He is a graduate of UNC with degrees in journalism and mass communication and history.

John is a native of Charlotte, N.C., and resides in Chapel Hill with his wife, Whitney, and two energetic sons. He enjoys running, travel, local restaurants and spending time in the outdoors.

Email: john@greenway.org
Sofia Barandiaran
New Jersey & New York Manager

Sofia Barandiaran

Sofia Barandiaran
New Jersey & New York Manager

Sofia Barandiaran

Based in New York, Sofia Barandiaran joined the East Coast Greenway Alliance in 2024 as its New Jersey & New York Manager. In this role, Sofia carries region-wide responsibilities for all aspects of Greenway development, advocacy and state committee and volunteer engagement. She supports communities along the route in New Jersey and New York as they plan, build and maintain sections of the Greenway. Sofia serves as New Jersey Chair of the Circuit Trails Coalition and as a Steering Committee Member of the New York City Greenways Coalition.

An urban planner specializing in sustainable transportation and environmental justice, Sofia joined the Alliance team from infrastructure consulting firm AECOM in New York. In this role, she supported an array of transportation projects using qualitative and quantitative analysis, community engagement and written and visual communication tools, including GIS-created maps.

Prior to joining AECOM, Sofia supported Alliance partner New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition as the statewide advocacy group’s communications associate. She managed communications and the website for the organization, while also advocating for projects such as The Greenway, a transformative active transportation project underway and future segment of the East Coast Greenway in New Jersey’s Essex and Hudson counties.

Sofia, who also has held climate- and planning-focused positions in Massachusetts and California, earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Williams College and a Master of City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.

While at Rutgers, Sofia was part of a number of important academic and volunteer projects, including a visioning report for The Greenway and a bike network plan for Rutgers University – New Brunswick. She also gained valuable leadership experience as an EDF Climate Corps Fellow at the New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) working on EJNYC, New York City’s first comprehensive city-led study of environmental justice; as an intern with the Sierra Club; and as a member of the Piedmont (California) Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Commission.

Sofia is always eager to get outdoors and can often be found cycling, walking or roller skating around New York City and the region.

Email: sofia@greenway.org
Elliott Caldwell
Virginia & Washington, D.C. Manager

Elliott Caldwell

Elliott Caldwell
Virginia & Washington, D.C. Manager

Elliott Caldwell

Based in Washington, D.C., Elliott Caldwell is the East Coast Greenway Alliance’s first Virginia & Washington, D.C. Manager. In this role, Elliott carries region-wide responsibilities for all aspects of Greenway development, advocacy and state committee and volunteer engagement. Elliott supports communities along the route in Virginia and Washington, D.C., as they plan, build and maintain sections of the Greenway.

From 2017-21, he served as the executive director of Georgia Bikes, the statewide bicycle advocacy organization in Georgia. Among his responsibilities at Georgia Bikes were the management of multiple staff members, coordination of state legislative efforts and organization of the annual Georgia Bike Summit. Elliott also served as Georgia Bikes’ complete streets coordinator and the board president of BikeAthens.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and African-American Studies from Emory University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia. A longtime cyclist, Elliott has worked extensively in the bicycle industry as a mechanic, courier and bikeshare worker. A USA Cycling member, Elliott has been involved in cyclocross for nearly 15 years as a racer, event volunteer and pit crew member. He is a native of Washington, D.C.

Email: elliott@greenway.org
Bruce Donald
Southern New England Manager

Bruce Donald

Bruce Donald
Southern New England Manager

Bruce Donald

Based in Farmington, Connecticut, Bruce Donald is the East Coast Greenway Alliance’s Southern New England Manager.

In this role, Bruce carries region-wide responsibilities for all aspects of Greenway development, advocacy and state committee and volunteer engagement. He supports communities along the route in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts as they plan, build and maintain sections of the Greenway.

Previously, he served as president of the nonprofit Farmington Valley Trails Council for 12 years. He is also a past chairman of the Connecticut Committee of the East Coast Greenway Alliance. In 2014, Bruce was appointed chairman of the Governor’s Connecticut Greenways Council, which coordinates all state stakeholders in planning, implementing, and funding the greenway system. He serves on many other boards and was recognized by the Connecticut General Assembly in a 2016 Official Citation as a regional force in bicycle and pedestrian advocacy.

Bruce graduated from Middlebury College with a bachelor’s degree in political science and from Trinity College with an master’s in history. He is the author of many financial, investment and historical articles and a book, Manhood and Patriotic Awakening in the American Civil War. Before turning to greenways advocacy, he worked for 17 years in investment brokerage, management, and banking with international companies in Boston, Hartford, New York and Beijing. He is a lifelong bicyclist and alpine skier.

Email: bruce@greenway.org
Jim Hemphill
South Carolina & Georgia Manager

Jim Hemphill

Jim Hemphill
South Carolina & Georgia Manager

Jim Hemphill

Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Jim Hemphill joined the East Coast Greenway Alliance in 2024 as its South Carolina & Georgia Manager. In this role, Jim carries region-wide responsibilities for all aspects of Greenway development, advocacy and state committee and volunteer engagement. He supports communities along the route in South Carolina and Georgia as they plan, build and maintain sections of the Greenway.

Prior to joining the Alliance team, Jim served as the Senior Program Manager – Mobility Safety Strategy with the National Safety Council. In this role, he led the Road to Zero Coalition and its Community Traffic Safety Grant program, which aims to end roadway deaths in the United States by 2050.

Jim also worked for three-plus years as a long-range planner in the City of Charleston’s Department of Planning, Preservation, Sustainability. In this role, he managed a portfolio of ongoing transportation and land use projects, managed the City of Charleston Planning Commission and drove community engagement and outreach.

Jim holds a master’s in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned bachelor’s degrees in history and community studies from Appalachian State University. He has served as an adjunct professor in transportation policy at the College of Charleston and has held planning and sustainability roles with Sustain Charlotte and Gotcha Mobility.

Jim enjoys eating ice cream, being outside, riding bikes, playing video games and anything related to cats. He volunteers with Alliance partner Charleston Moves and the Charleston Parks Conservancy.

Email: jim@greenway.org
Catherine Kitchin
Operations Manager

Catherine Kitchin

Catherine Kitchin
Operations Manager

Catherine Kitchin

Based out of the East Coast Greenway Alliance’s headquarters in Durham, North Carolina, Catherine Kitchin brings a wealth of experience in operations management and human resources to her role as operations manager.

Catherine previously served as operations manager at the butterfly protection nonprofit Monarch Joint Venture, where she ensured the success of the organization’s mission through exceptional direction of day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives. Catherine oversaw financial operations, enhanced internal record-keeping infrastructure and facilitated state registration processes to support a remote team spanning 10-plus locations across the United States.

Catherine also served as operations manager at ArchiveSocial, where she played a pivotal role in streamlining HR operations and fostering organizational growth. During her tenure, she managed annual benefits enrollment, authored HR policy documents and facilitated the onboarding process for new hires. Catherine’s expertise in financial operations and vendor management also contributed to the success of company-wide events and meetings.

An alumna of North Carolina State University, Catherine holds a bachelor’s degree in parks, recreation and tourism management, with a concentration in program management, and a minor in nonprofit studies. In her free time, Catherine enjoys live music, hiking and spending time with her dog, Pete, and two cats, Reggie and Melvin.

Email: catherine@greenway.org
Andrew Meeker
North Carolina Manager

Andrew Meeker

Andrew Meeker
North Carolina Manager

Andrew Meeker

Based in Durham, North Carolina, Andrew Meeker is the East Coast Greenway Alliance’s first full-time North Carolina Manager. In this role, Andrew carries state-wide responsibilities for all aspects of Greenway development, advocacy and state committee and volunteer engagement. Andrew supports communities along the route in North Carolina, which has been designated an official State Trail, as they plan, build and maintain sections of the Greenway.

Proficient in Geographic Information Systems, Andrew most recently worked as a map designer for Terrabilt Wayfinding Systems, while also serving as campaign manager for Durham City Council candidate AJ Williams. Since 2019, he also has worked with NCGrowth, the North Carolina Climate Justice Collective and Sunrise Movement.

Andrew holds a bachelor’s degree in geography and environmental studies from Macalester College and earned his master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Email: andrew@greenway.org
Daniel Paschall
Mid-Atlantic Manager

Daniel Paschall

Daniel Paschall
Mid-Atlantic Manager

Daniel Paschall

Based in Philadelphia, Daniel Paschall is the East Coast Greenway Alliance’s Mid-Atlantic Manager.

In this role, Daniel carries region-wide responsibilities for all aspects of Greenway development, advocacy and state committee and volunteer engagement. He supports communities along the route in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland as they plan, build and maintain sections of the Greenway.

Before joining the East Coast Greenway Alliance in July 2017, he served as a transportation/urban design intern with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Office of Transit, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Planning in Philadelphia. Daniel also worked as a research analyst for the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy in New York City and as a communications and customer service coordinator for The Green Project in New Orleans.

Daniel holds a master’s in city and regional planning from Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture and a B.S. in environmental engineering from Northwestern University. He grew up in northern Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C., and loves exploring by bike his adopted home of Philadelphia.

Email: daniel@greenway.org
Emily Paskewicz
Northern New England Manager

Emily Paskewicz

Emily Paskewicz
Northern New England Manager

Emily Paskewicz

Based in Maine, Emily Paskewicz joined the East Coast Greenway Alliance in 2024 as its Northern New England Manager. In this role, Emily carries region-wide responsibilities for all aspects of Greenway development, advocacy and state committee and volunteer engagement. She supports communities along the route in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts as they plan, build and maintain sections of the Greenway. Emily also serves on the Leadership Team and Executive Committee for the Maine Trails Coalition. 

From 2015-23, Emily worked for two consulting firms in Eastern Pennsylvania, which included serving as the appointed landscape architect for multiple Pennsylvania municipalities. She managed and executed master planning projects; trail feasibility studies; land use studies; and comprehensive park, recreation, open space, greenway and trail plans. Emily also designed and executed park, trail, civic and open space projects, also while preparing GIS maps and analyses. She also played a key role in navigating the intricacies of a trail right-of-way along a utility easement.

Emily holds bachelor’s degrees in landscape architecture and geography, as well as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) minor, from Pennsylvania State University.

She has served as a leadership team member with the ASLA Parks & Recreation Professional Practice Network, as well as a mentor in the Penn State Landscape Architecture Mentorship Program. She also has volunteer experience with the Midcoast Humane Society, Friends of the Wissahickon and Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society.

Email: emily@greenway.org
Development Manager

Debra West

Development Manager

Debra West

Based in Durham, N.C., Debra West is currently the East Coast Greenway Alliance’s grants and membership manager and has more than a decade of experience with the organization.

She joined the Alliance in 2011 as office manager and was promoted to development manager in 2017. Debbie’s responsibilities include membership engagement and grant writing. Her role is critical for acquiring the funds to support trails for the millions of people who use the Greenway every year. She grew up enjoying what is now the Mount Vernon Trail section of the Greenway in Alexandria, Va., and loves living and working near the Ellerbee Creek and American Tobacco Trail sections in Durham.

Debbie is a member of the Durham Community Trail Watch and previously served on the boards of local nonprofits Bike Durham and the Durham Bicycle Cooperative. She earned a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University in 2016 and a certificate in documentary video at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University in 2019. In her free time she is making a mockumentary sitcom, doing yoga, hiking and bicycling.

Email: debbie@greenway.org

Consultants

The Alliance serves as the fiscal sponsor of the Maine Trails Coalition and TriangleTrails Initiative.

Leigh Hallett headshot
Director, Maine Trails Coalition

Leigh Hallett

Leigh Hallett headshot
Director, Maine Trails Coalition

Leigh Hallett

Leigh Hallett leads the Maine Trails Coalition, a statewide collaborative championing trail stewardship, equitable access and infrastructure. With a career spanning nonprofit leadership and rural economic development, Leigh previously served as Public Information Officer for USDA Rural Development and Director of Agricultural Resource Development for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF). Her executive leadership experience includes guiding organizations like the Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets through periods of significant expansion.

The Maine Trails Coalition is directed by a Leadership Group of nonprofit leaders dedicated to Maine’s outdoors. Supported by a broad network of volunteers and organizations, MTC’s core work coordinates action in three key areas: Trails Workforce Development, Trails for Transportation and the Maine Trails Program. The Alliance began partnering with MTC as fiscal sponsor in 2026.

A Central Maine resident and active trail user, Leigh serves on the Maine Recreational Trails Advisory Committee and the boards of GrowSmart Maine and Community Plate.

Email: mainetrailscoalition@gmail.com
Rashawn King
Program Manager, TriangleTrails Initiative

Rashawn King

Rashawn King
Program Manager, TriangleTrails Initiative

Rashawn King

Rashawn King is the first-ever program manager for TriangleTrails, a collaboration between government, business, anchor institutions and civic leaders to make the Research Triangle Region of North Carolina a national leader in greenways and trails.

In this role, King will work alongside the TriangleTrails board, regional and local governments and private sector interests to market and promote a regional greenway trails system throughout the 15 county Research Triangle region of North Carolina. He is responsible for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic plan of the initiative, while assisting with fundraising, marketing and community outreach.

The East Coast Greenway Alliance serves as the fiscal sponsor of the TriangleTrails Initiative.

King joins TriangeTrails from North Carolina State University’s College of Natural Resources where he serves as a recreational consultant for the Recreation Resources Service. In this role, he provided grant administration for local governments across the state of North Carolina that need assistance with development and land acquisition projects, including the development of greenways and trails.

King earned his master’s degree from NC State in parks, recreation, tourism and management and received his bachelor’s recreation administration from North Carolina Central University. He serves on the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation, and Greenway Advisory Board.

Email: rashawn@greenway.org
Patrick Sabol
Strategic Consultant

Patrick Sabol

Patrick Sabol
Strategic Consultant

Patrick Sabol

Bringing 15 years of diverse experience in the nonprofit and government sectors, Patrick Sabol has joined the East Coast Greenway Alliance as a strategic consultant.

Based in Washington, D.C., Sabol most recently served as the senior advisor for program development and partnerships at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Infrastructure (ARPA-I), a new organization focused on accelerating the development and deployment of transformational transportation technologies.

Prior to his work with USDOT, Sabol led the Infrastructure Investment Prioritization Initiative at the National Academies and co-founded United for Infrastructure, a 500-member coalition focused on revitalizing America’s aging transportation systems. Earlier in his career, he served as senior researcher at the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program and as an associate at a cleantech-focused venture capital firm.

Sabol holds an undergraduate degree from Colgate University and a masters in public policy from Duke University.

Sabol previously supported the Alliance as a key volunteer at the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Greenways & Trails Summit in Philadelphia.

Email: patrick@greenway.org

Board of Trustees

The East Coast Greenway Alliance Board of Trustees is composed of leaders from a range of professional fields who provide strategic insight and expertise in support of the Alliance’s mission.

Regina Yan headshot
Chair – Virginia, 2026

Regina Yan

Regina Yan headshot
Chair – Virginia, 2026

Regina Yan

Regina Yan (Arlington, Va.) is a web designer, fiber artist and avid cyclist based in metro Washington, D.C. Inspired to begin cycling during the pandemic, Regina biked the entire East Coast Greenway in October 2021 in a then-record 29 days. She produced a video of her ride, “Not So Scary After All – Biking the East Coast Greenway,” which has been viewed more than 67,000 times on YouTube. Regina’s experiences on the Greenway inspired her to become more involved with biking accessibility and outreach. She volunteers with local nonprofit bike organizations with a focus on getting people, especially young people of color, outside.
Spencer Finch Headshot
Vice Chair – North Carolina, 2028

Spencer Finch

Spencer Finch Headshot
Vice Chair – North Carolina, 2028

Spencer Finch

Spencer Finch (Chapel Hill, N.C.), currently a principal with Alta Planning + Design, is an engineering leader with 23 years of experience. As director of sustainable development at the Pennsylvania Environmental Council from 2006-13, Spencer led the effort to evaluate, prioritize and complete key gaps in the proposed 60 miles of the Greenway route in Pennsylvania. In 2009, he secured a $23 million U.S. Department of Transportation TIGER grant to construct a marquee segment of the Schuylkill River Trail and help create the Circuit in Philadelphia, the first such funding for the East Coast Greenway. As a project manager at Langan Engineering, Spencer completed design and construction of several Greenway segments, including Bartram’s Mile and Cobbs Creek Trail Segment B in Philadelphia.
Lori Bush Headshot
Secretary – North Carolina, 2028

Lori Bush

Lori Bush Headshot
Secretary – North Carolina, 2028

Lori Bush

Lori Bush lives in Cary, N.C., where she serves as a town council member. An avid cyclist, she has participated in a number of BikeMS rides and serves on a number of nonprofit boards, including the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Eastern North Carolina, National Institute of Urban Search and Rescue, and National Cyber Security Alliance. Bush works in education technology for Cisco Systems.
Joe Impellizeri Headshot
Treasurer – Massachusetts, 2027

Joseph Impellizeri

Joe Impellizeri Headshot
Treasurer – Massachusetts, 2027

Joseph Impellizeri

Joe is a chief financial officer consultant with more than 30 years of experience. He is a principal at Richwood Associates in Boston, where he provides financial leadership and oversight for a variety of companies. He earned an MBA from Columbia Business School and has served as CFO and vice president of finance for a number of organizations. In recent years he has volunteered on the Alliance’s Audit and Finance Committees and served as the board’s treasurer from 2019-23. In 2016, Joe joined the Greenway’s Week a Year Tour, an annual ride of donors making their way south along the route since 2010.
Benjamin Dalley Headshot with helmet on
Washington, D.C., 2027

Benjamin Dalley

Benjamin Dalley Headshot with helmet on
Washington, D.C., 2027

Benjamin Dalley

Based in Washington, D.C., Benjamin Dalley is a marketing leader with more than 15 years in marketing strategy, operations and organizational leadership. Currently, he is the director of operations and marketing at The ADD Impact Network where he leads marketing and development efforts across a network of 70-plus nonprofit organizations, driving strategic initiatives to increase social impact and visibility within the disability and education sectors. An avid cyclist, Benjamin is the co-founder and former operations, marketing and development director of Bike to the Beach, a charity cycling event with 2,000-plus participants annually.
Claire Grega Headshot
Pennsylvania, 2026

Claire Grega

Claire Grega Headshot
Pennsylvania, 2026

Claire Grega

Based in Philadelphia, Claire Grega is an environmental attorney with demonstrated involvement in civic affairs. Currently, she works as an associate in the environmental law practice group of Langsam Stevens Silver & Hollaender LLP, where she specializes in complex environmental litigation matters and regulatory enforcement actions. An avid cyclist, runner and hiker, Claire has volunteered with John Carroll University’s Veterans Club and ROTC, as well as the Special Olympics.
Atiba Mbiwan headshot
Georgia, 2028

Atiba Mbiwan

Atiba Mbiwan headshot
Georgia, 2028

Atiba Mbiwan

Atiba Mbiwan is the executive director of the Atlanta-based Zeist Foundation, which embraces a holistic approach to address the needs of underserved children in the areas of human services, education and arts & culture. He attended Brown University and graduated with a B.A. degree in economics and urban studies, including a semester at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. He is also an alumnus of the Education Policy Fellowship Program managed by the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. He dedicates much of his civic time to the BRAG Dream Team, a statewide youth cycling program in Georgia.
Becky Smith Headshot
Washington, D.C., 2027

Becky Smith

Becky Smith Headshot
Washington, D.C., 2027

Becky Smith

Based in Washington, D.C., Becky Smith is REI’s regional director for the Northeast region. Prior to shifting to that role in 2018, Smith was the general manager for the REI Washington DC Flagship Store and a store manager for REI in the Greater Atlanta market. Smith holds a master’s of education from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University.

Advisory Board

Members of the East Coast Greenway Alliance Advisory Board bring diverse expertise and professional experience to support and advance the Alliance’s mission.

  • Patricia King, MA, Chair
  • Dr. J. Herman Blake, SC
  • Ryan Chao, DC
  • Ashley Cooper-Heath, GA
  • Devin Cowens, GA
  • Nedra Deadwyler, GA
  • Azish Filabi, NY
  • Paul Freestone, SC
  • Olivia Glenn, NJ
  • Sarah Hancock, MA
  • Karen Harley, NC
  • Eleanor Horne, NJ
  • Patty Huff, FL
  • Diane Jenks, OH
  • Dr. Stanley Katz, NJ
  • Sen. Natalie Murdock, NC
  • Bill Nesper, DC
  • Michael Oppenheimer, NY
  • Shaunak Patel, NC
  • John Pucher, NC
  • Hannah Quimby, ME
  • David Read, MA
  • Mathieu Roy, CAN
  • Mitchell Silver, NC
  • Vignesh Swaminathan, CA
  • Pablo Torres, NC
  • Karen Votava, RI
  • Kenneth Withrow, NC

Greenway Council Members

Our national body sets route standards and reviews new Greenway segments to ensure they meet those standards.

  • Robert Barto, Italy
  • Jeff Behm, NY
  • Scott Bogle, NH
  • Leonard Bonarek, DE
  • John Boyle, NJ
  • Eric Brenner, DC
  • Caila Brown, GA
  • Andy  Clarke, VA
  • Dave Connelly , NC
  • Tavel Cowan, GA
  • Kim Delaney, FL
  • Rob Dexter, CT
  • Heather Dunigan, DE
  • Spencer Finch, NC
  • Kathleen Gannon, RI
  • Emily Goldstein, PA
  • Martina Haggerty, RI
  • Jack Keene, MD
  • Terry Landreth, GA
  • Shawn Megill Legendre, PA
  • David Loutzenheiser, MA
  • Melissa Miklus, MD
  • Steve Mitchell, CT
  • Colin Moore, FL
  • Dave  Read, MA
  • Phil Riggan, VA
  • Tiffany Robinson, NJ
  • Mary Roth, DE
  • Sarah Sanford, Germany
  • Boaz ‘Buzz’ Shattan, NY
  • Robert Weidknecht, MA
  • Becky Yiu, DC