Board of Directors

 

Bike Walk Coral Gables is governed by an all volunteer Board of Directors. From a diverse range of backgrounds, the Board of Directors contribute greatly to BWCG’s success and ensures the on-going commitment to the safety and well-being of Coral Gables residents and visitors who bike and walk.

 
 
 

Debbie Swain | Chair

Ms. Swain is the Vice President and Principal of Financial and Management Consulting Services for Milian, Swain & Associates, Inc. Ms. Swain serves on the Coral Gables Transportation Advisory Board, and the Miami-Dade County Transportation Aesthetic Review Committee.

 Ms. Swain is a native Floridian, lives in Coral Gables with her husband, John, and has two grown sons, Michael and Adam. Her paternal grandmother was one of six students in the first graduating class of the University of Miami.

 
 
 

Jessica Keller | Vice Chair

Jessica Keller has over two decades of experience in public and private sector policy, engineering & planning, administration, and operations. She is a transportation and sustainability professional with extensive experience interacting with non-profits, community organizations, private industry executives, state legislators, state and federal agencies, municipal governments, and industry associations. During her time as the City of Coral Gables’ Assistant Director, with the Sustainable Public Infrastructure Division, Public Works Department she directed the City’s transportation planning & engineering, sustainability, and facilities sections responsible for the development and implementation of the strategic and comprehensive, long- term multi-modal transportation plan and sustainability plans.

 
 
 

John Swain | Treasurer

Mr. Swain has a BBA in Accounting from Florida International University. Mr. Swain spent most of his career at Royal Caribbean Cruise Line where he was responsible for Budgeting and Systems Development for the Shipboard Hotel Operations Department. Mr. Swain started The Wedding Experience with several partners, as the Director of Finance and Accounting where they grew to become the largest cruise line wedding service company in the world. Since then, he has assisted various non-profits with accounting, budgeting and finance.

 Born in Coral Gables and raised in Coconut Grove, Mr. Swain has been an avid walker and bike rider all his life.

 
 
 

David Henderson | Secretary

David Henderson was the Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator for the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) from 1999 to 2019. He has degrees in Economics and Urban and Regional Planning and is a member of the American Planning Association and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals.

 
 

Board Members

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Maria Fleites

Maria spent most of her professional career in Texas working for IBM in Sales and Sales Management. After moving to Coral Gables Maria became involved working for the City of Coral Gables as a Specialized Fitness Coordinator.

Currently, Maria is pursuing her passion teaching fitness classes to help older adults become the best version that they can be in order to enhance and extend a healthy, and active quality of life.

Maria was born in Cuba and emigrated to the US as a small child.

 
 

Kenneth Garcia

Kenneth is an urban designer at Dover, Kohl & Partners, where he helps to create visions that guide the future of neighborhoods, cities and regions with a focus on smart growth and sustainability. He worked closely with Victor Dover and John Massengale on the publication of Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns, contributing research, drawings and photos. Kenneth graduated with a Master of Architecture from Andrews University and subsequently moved to Coral Gables in 2007 where he has lived since with his wife, Jennifer. He lives car-free, relying instead on biking, transit and walking to get around the City Beautiful.

 
 

Tom Snook

An avid bicyclist, Tom has pedaled up and down every street in the city – a distance he estimates at nearly 500 miles. This has deepened his appreciation of the character and charm of the Gables. “This is a city of trees, of shade. It’s green,” he says. “Cycling, especially during the pandemic, is a wonderful way to get out of the house. Riding through the neighborhoods gives me a peaceful feeling. It’s comforting.”

 
 

Chris Rupp

Christine Rupp is the Director of Dade Heritage Trust. She joined the organization in November of 2015 and has made public awareness and education a priority.  In addition to integrating new educational programs and a heritage tour program, she has developed a relationship with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to assist with preservation issues in Miami. Prior to joining Dade Heritage Trust, Ms. Rupp was the Director of the Coral Gables Museum, which opened to the public in October 2011 after more than 10 years in the making. Under her leadership, the Coral Gables Museum became a beacon of cultural excellence in Coral Gables and Greater Miami.  

Chris is an avid cyclist, who works tirelessly to promote the benefits of bicycling as a means to get to work and for pleasure.  She leads the Dade Heritage Trust bike tours each month and continues her work with Bike Walk Coral Gables and the City of Coral Gables to program bike-friendly events.

 
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Rick Smit

Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1953. Rick Smit has lived in South Florida most of his life and has been a Coral Gables resident since 1983. Rick attended Miami Senior High and Florida Atlantic University ( Boca Raton, FL), and is General Manager of Medley Steel & Supply, Inc. since 1993.

Rick has been a member of the Everglades Bicycle Club and currently serve as a board member. He is an avid cyclist and runner.