A Closer Look: Jeremy Lewis - the Executive director at the Des Moines Bicycle Collective

Source: <a id="MainContent_MainColumnContentPlaceHolder_hlSource" href="http://www.businessrecord.com/Content/Transportation/Transportation/Article/A-Closer-Look--Jeremy-Lewis/175/837/61047" target="_blank">Business Record
Author: KYLE OPPENHUIZEN
Posted By: <a id="MainContent_MainColumnContentPlaceHolder_hlPostedBy" href="/Profile/bikeiowa">bikeiowa

KYLE OPPENHUIZEN
Mon November 25 2013
Posted Nov 25, 2013
10,624

We've met Jeremy Lewis and have been wanting to set down with him more and chat, but int he meantime, check out this great interview from Kyle OppenHuizen at the Business Record.

Jeremy Lewis was named the first executive director of the Des Moines Bicycle Collective in October. Since moving back to Iowa after stints in Seattle and Washington, D.C., Lewis has held director-level positions at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa, One Iowa and the 2012 presidential campaign of Barack Obama. He brings to the position a love of bicycling, and he joins a growing organization. The collective this year moved to the East Village and through October had already set organization records in number of bikes donated (250), bikes recycled (500) and B-cycle bike-share checkouts (2,796).

What interested you in the position of executive director?

I know people often say “Do what you love,” but I think you have to be really lucky in many cases to make a career out of what you love. So I feel incredibly lucky right now. It’s pretty simple, really. I love biking. To me, it means freedom, the outdoors and being active. I also love connecting with people and helping others.

How will your past experiences help you in this job?

I’ve spent the last eight years working in various community-minded organizations. I’ve done a lot of fundraising, which is important to nonprofit sustainability, but as is the case with most nonprofits, I’ve been actively involved with so many parts of the organizations.

What are your goals with the position?

My overall goal is to make Greater Des Moines a more bike-friendly community. Within that, three things interest me most: Getting kids more excited about biking, getting bikes in the hands of people who need them the most, and safety and education about biking.

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