Puget Sound Bike Share hires its first Executive Director, welcomes REI to Board of Directors

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Puget Sound Bike Share  announced today the hiring of its first Executive Director, Holly Houser.

Formed in August, PSBS is a nonprofit partnership of public and private organizations working to bring bike sharing to King County.

In addition to hiring its first E.D., the organization also added REI to its Board of Directors, which already included representatives from agencies and institutions such as King County, the cities of Seattle, Redmond, and Kirkland, Sound Transit, the Puget Sound Regional Council, the  University of Washington, Seattle Children’s, Microsoft, and the Cascade Bicycle Club.

As the head of the organization, Houser will lead a private sector fundraising campaign, facilitate a “request for proposals” process with bike share vendor companies and collaborate with King County, the City of Seattle and others to receive federal, state and other grant funds for bike sharing.

"We need major sponsors to make bike sharing a reality in our region," said Ref Lindmark, president of the Puget Sound Bike Share Board, in a press release.  “Holly will help us channel interest in bike sharing and enthusiasm for improving communities into lasting partnerships that will launch and sustain the program.”

A native of Seattle, Houser has a strong background in project organization and management, as well as community relations.  Most recently, she served as Director of Operations for a local real estate development firm and in 2008, co-founded Rain City Rock Camp for Girls, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to building positive self-esteem in girls and encouraging creative expression through music.

“Bike sharing is a flexible alternative for connecting people to work, school, retail, transportation hubs and entertainment destinations,” said Houser in a statement. “It’s a great fit for our region and I’m thrilled to work with local companies, community groups, and supporters to bring bike sharing to our region.”

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