DRBC Board

Driftless Region Bicycle Coalition is governed by a Board of Directors that are elected from the membership. Board meetings are open to the public and members are encouraged to attend. You will the board and committee meetings posted on the DRBC calendar.

Current Board of Directors:

Aaron Ottesen (photo by Kelly Ottesen Photography)

Aaron Ottesen - President (La Crosse): I’m very passionate about better living and improving the community. When I’m passionate about something, I am very driven about taking action. Across the nation there needs to be a shift in how people think about transportation. I would like to see people first consider riding a bike over driving a car to accomplish daily activities. To do this, people need to feel safe, not feel inconvenienced, understand it is an easy way to healthier living, and realize that the time in transit really isn’t much different. This applies to more than just riding a bike, but biking is my primary choice of transportation, so I relate best to it. I’ve decided that La Crosse and the Driftless Region is where I want to invest my time towards influencing that improvement. I was born here; I’ve travelled around and seen many places, but I’m happy where I’m at. I want to see La Crosse become well known as a place where all modes of transportation are treated equal.I don’t want to lose perspective and think this is the single most important issue that our community faces, but this would go a long way in promoting safe, healthier and overall friendlier community. When we can foster that kind of atmosphere, it can pave the way for many other improvements in quality of life and ways of thinking.

Dan Novak

Dan Novak – Vice President (Onalaska): I have been riding and working on bicycles since I was a child. I started commuting by bike in college and have been doing so ever since. The first organized tour I did was the Coulee Classique in 1985 and have been enjoying doing them since. I have volunteered in bike events and organizations since the late 80′s. I am currently a director of the La Crosse Area Labor Day Bicycle Festival/bikelacrosse.com in addition to serving on the board of the DRBC. One of my main goals is help the different groups who want to support bicycling work together in a friendly and efficient manor.

Carrie Melin

Carrie Melin – Secretary (La Crosse): My dad taught me how to ride a bike when I was a child and I haven’t stopped biking yet! I enjoy riding my bike to work, on errands, on the trails, over the hills and of course to local ice cream parlors. I am thrilled to be a part of the DRBC board to work to get more people on bikes, more often.

Michael Barreyro

Michael Barreyro – Treasurer (La Crosse):

My priorities in life are 1) family and friends, 2) career, and 3) Freemasonry. Bicycling naturally fits in with these priorities because with family and friends, cycling enables my family to run errands and grocery, go to school and lessons, and socialize with friends on various social rides and events. Bicycling enables my career because my commute to work energizes me for the day, and also allows me to network with other professionals(both inside and outside of work) who share a common interest in bicycling. Bicycling also helps support Brotherly Love, one of the tenants of Freemasonry, by making it easier for me to interact with others that I would not be able to do in a car. It’s a wonderful feeling, on a bicycle ride, to be able to smile and greet strangers and have them return it.

I am an active member of the DRBC because I want bicycling to become a natural activity of people’s lives, no matter their priorities…everyday is “a nice day for a bicycle ride.”

Ed West

Ed West (La Crosse):

Ed is interested in promoting active commuting for both adults and children in the region. For this reason, he has been involved for the last few years in Bike To Work Week events in La Crosse. The Driftless Region Bicycle Coalition is the next step in the continued effort to get more people on bicycles more often. It is his belief that this region of the country has the most scenic and challenging, rural roads for bicycling in the country.

: Scott Hoffmann

Scott Hoffman - (La Crosse): I am a founding member of DRBC and have served on the board as the Secretary and now the Vice President. My bicycling interests are long distance touring, road riding, and commuting. I’ve been an active cyclist for 40+ years and have been a La Crosse resident for 30+ years.

Carolyn Dvorak – (Holmen)

Carolyn Dvorak grew up in Milwaukee in a family where recreational bicycling was a part of summer weekends. Today Carolyn works for the Wisconsin Bike Fed, educating all road users on their rights and responsibilities on the road. She is a board member of the Driftless Region Bicycle Coalition, a board member of the La Crosse Area Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, a member of the Ona Bike group, and a member of Holmen Safe Routes to School Committee. Carolyn has a LCI (League Certified Instructor) license from the League of American Cyclists. She works to bring people together to make bicyclists and pedestrians more comfortable as a part of traffic.