Brandon Douglass honored for 10 years of East Coast Greenway dedication

Outgoing East Coast Greenway Alliance Board of Trustees Chair Brandon Douglass was honored for 10 years of dedicated service at the nonprofit’s final board meeting of 2024, held Dec. 7 in Miami. 

In an organization that often celebrates the magic of biking, Douglass brought a runner’s perspective to the team—and not just any runner. He competes in Spartan races, tackling grueling obstacles across the country with determination and grit.

Executive Director Dennis Markatos-Soriano honored Douglass's decade of dedication with a commemorative plaque and a replica Spartan helmet. The helmet symbolizes his unofficial title of "Spartan Champion of the Greenway," reflecting both his remarkable achievements in Spartan racing and his enduring contributions to the organization.

During Douglass’ tenure on the Board, the Greenway flourished, doubling the size of the Alliance staff and revenue over that time. More than 200 miles of new Greenway segments have been designated during that time frame, and the Alliance has attracted over $1.5 billion in public infrastructure investment to develop more of our route. Our estimate of visitation to the East Coast Greenway has more than doubled over the past decade.

“Brandon’s strong attention to detail and positive attitude were a perfect mix in Board meetings, as we moved the East Coast Greenway Alliance forward. He brought confidence and determination to steward the growth and development of our organization,” said Markatos-Soriano.

Douglass will be succeeded in January 2025 by Regina Yan (Arlington, Virginia/San Francisco, California), who was elected as chair. The other Board leaders will remain the same: Atiba Mbiwan (Atlanta, Georgia) as vice chair, Spencer Finch (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) as treasurer and Lori Bush (Cary, North Carolina) as secretary.

Benjamin Dalley (Washington, D.C.) was elected to join the board as a new member, effective Jan. 1, 2025. He is a marketing leader with more than 15 years in marketing strategy, operations and organizational leadership and co-founder of Bike to the Beach, a charity cycling event with 2,000-plus participants annually.

“I greatly appreciate Brandon and everything he has brought to our transformational project,” Markatos-Soriano said. “I look forward to continuing that momentum in partnership with Regina and an amazing group of Trustees.”

Also at the December meeting, the Board unanimously approved the Alliance’s 2025 budget that invests in the development of a strategic plan to guide the organization from 2025-29 and a website redesign of greenway.org. 

The weekend in South Florida also presented an opportunity for Alliance staff and volunteer leaders to connect with key partners in the region. Miami-Dade TPO Executive Director Aileen Bouclé and staff members hosted the Alliance team for an impactful peer exchange, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss shared goals, explore potential collaboration opportunities and showcase local initiatives that have significantly advanced the development of greenways and trails in Miami-Dade County.

Alliance staff and trustees also enjoyed a walking tour of The Underline in Miami from Marketing Manager Jamal Wilson. Collaborations with these key partners will continue East Coast Greenway momentum in South Florida in the years ahead.