Board of Directors

The Cycles for Change is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a dedicated Board of Directors. Nonprofit organizations exist to serve a vital function within their community, and our Board is therefore comprised of a diverse set of Cycles for Change's community members. In addition to the Board, our organization runs on the efforts of paid staff, core volunteers, and informal advisors.

Our operational model is a consensus-based collective, where all board members have a say in the vision and priorities of the organization. Through this model, we are able to keep the focus on our mission, identifing worthy projects and programs and working toward desired outcomes. Combined with the board, our staff and task teams of staff and volunteers (targeting areas such as technology, finance, operations, and fundraising) ensure that many voices are actively leading the organization.

Meet the Board:

Brian Cihacek |Board Member since March 2011: Brian comes to Cycles for Change with a wide range of experience in communications, organizing, and politics.  Brian currently works as the Director of Communications and Community Relations with All God's Children MCC where he directs organzational communication and develops community and social justice programs.  He has worked as a field organizer in the 6th district in both 2008 and 2010 and had even ran for mayor of Saint Joseph. Brian currently sits on the Communications Commitee of the Citizen's League.  In June, Brian celebrated his 9th year of service with the Minnesota National Guard working in operations and logistics. He served in Al Taqqadum, Iraq from March 2006-July 2007 and his awards include the Army Commendation Medal and Meritous Unit Citation.  Brian holds a bachelors degree in Psychology from Saint John's University and has conducted graduate work with Saint John's School of Theoloy.

Devon Drosdeck | President | Board Member since May 2011: Devon has been a bicycle enthusiast and commuter for the past eight years. Devon grew up in Cleveland and moved to the Twin Cities in the summer of 2010. Devon received a Liberal Arts degree in History from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR in 2006. Since he has taught in a variety of public school Special Education programs. He currently works at Washburn High School in South Minneapolis.

Devon first became involved with Cycles for Change participating in a Complete Overhaul class in Fall of 2010. Throughout Winter he became increasingly involved; first as a volunteer, then assisting with classes, next as a member of the Operations Team and most recently by joining the Board of Directors. He is excited to be a part of an organization rooted so deeply in education, empowerment, building community relations and bicycling!

Louis Haut-Prokop | HR Coordinator & Secretary | Board Member since January 2011: Louis brings to Cycles for Change a deep appreciation for alternative, sustainable transportation, as well as experience in nonprofit administrative management.  Louis was born and raised in the Twin Cities.  He graduated in 2006 from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with an emphasis on poetry.  After living in Iowa City and Eugene, Oregon for about five years, Louis decided in 2007 that Minnesota could be more than just a place to grow up.  He was raised in a pacifist family, has been involved with progressive politics since childhood, has protested against war, and proudly marched with Paul and Sheila Wellstone.  Louis is a proud Hamline Midway resident, dedicated to commuting by bike year-round.

Chad Sylvain | Board Member since 2011: Chad is the father of two kids who is conducting an ongoing experiment on exactly how much he can use a bike for transportation and leisure while having two kids. He has demonstrated a capacity to stick around by working as a communications and marketing specialist for the same employer, Itasca Consulting Group, Inc. for sixteen years, and has lived in Minneapolis for the same amount of time. He has a BA from Stanford and an MFA from UCSD. If you've never met someone who is actually from Las Vegas, or if you've never met a trained dramaturg, you could knock either off your bucket list by introducing yourself to him. 

Julia Wells | Treasurer | Board Member since December 2009: Julia joined Cycles for Change's board in the role of Treasurer at the end of 2009.  After discovering Cycles for Change through a bike maintenance class at the shop in 2008, Julia began volunteering on the Fundraising & Grantwriting Team, as well as the Finance Team.  As Treasurer, Julia provides financial leadership, manages financial procedures, and works to strengthen organizational financial policies.  While not at Cycles for Change, Julia works for Great River Greening--a community-based organization focusing on environmental restoration and conservation work., and is in graduate school working towards a Masters in Nonprofit Management.