Debra Kagan, Executive Director
Debra is an experienced leader and advocate in areas of active transportation, bicycle and pedestrian safety, access to natural spaces, and social and environmental justice issues. She comes to the Executive Director position after serving as Director of Programs for NJBWC, including producing the 2020 NJ Bike & Walk Summit.
As Director of Policy and Programs for BlueWaveNJ, she organized state and local election campaigns and led outreach programs on issues of economic and social equity. She also has worked for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference as Trail Manager for the Lenape Trail, leading the effort to revitalize and publicize a unique resource that affords access to natural spaces. Previously, she worked for over 20 years in the education field in both the nonprofit and corporate sectors. As Director of Partnerships and Programs for the Pearson Foundation, she led strategic planning and managed a large portfolio of partners and grants, helping nonprofits develop programs to provide communities with much needed educational resources. As Director of Business Development for the Learning Network, she oversaw the development of public-private partnerships and content development for the expansive online educational portal.
She has an extensive background in digital and video production, having produced numerous websites and videos for programs she led throughout her career. Until recently, she served as President of Bike&Walk Montclair, where she expanded the board and volunteer base and led a renewed focus on advocacy for the Montclair Streets are For Everyone (SAFE) Plan, as well as collaborating with business owners and community organizations to produce local based projects, including the iconic Tour De Montclair, and the parklet project, “The Porch on Walnut”. She currently serves as a member of the Bike&Walk Montclair Board and the September 11th National Memorial Trail Board.
Tiffany Robinson, Trails Network Manager
Tiffany Robinson brings over 19 years of invaluable planning experience to the team. As a seasoned professional in both the public and private sectors, she has dedicated her career to shaping communities through transportation planning and community outreach. Having worked on projects both domestically and internationally, Tiffany’s insights are truly global.
Recently returning to the U.S. after nearly six years in Auckland, New Zealand, Tiffany’s passion extends beyond city limits. She served as a Committee member for Women in Urbanism Aotearoa, advocating for safe and inclusive environments for women. Her commitment to empowering others is unwavering.
Tiffany holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Public Policy from Boston University, a foundation that has fueled her drive for positive change. But it’s not just about policy and plans—Tiffany’s spirit thrives when she’s walking or cycling (on three wheels), defying norms and embracing life’s lessons. Her motto? “You live and you learn…and then you learn how to live.”
As the new Trails Network Manager of the NJ Bike and Walk Coalition, Tiffany is eager to channel her expertise and passion into developing and enhancing trail systems. Her vision is to create accessible, safe, and enjoyable trails that connect communities and promote active transportation.
Paul Mickiewicz, Program Manager
His preferred method for getting around town is by bike. A lifelong bike adventurer, year round bike commuter and around town rider, every ride is a personal affirmation of values he holds dear. Riding a bike is fun, healthy, environmentally friendly, economical and soothes the mind. Every ride feels like an act of advocacy in support of equitable transportation!
Paul’s formal bike advocacy life started in 2007 when he joined the leadership team of Bike Montclair. He started the Bike Education program in 2008 focused on the “Learn to Ride” program, teaching people of all ages how to balance and pedal a bike. After becoming a League Cycling Instructor, (LCI), through the League of American Bicyclists in 2010 the program expanded to include a variety of Smart Cycling classes. In 2020 Paul and his wife Andrea Silk, (also an LCI), got certified as Cycling Savvy instructors which includes additional teaching materials and nuanced approaches to conveying key street savvy cycling strategies. Over the last 10 years they have taught thousands of people of all ages how to balance and ride a bike. They also have been leading Street Savvy Cycling workshops and online classrooms all around the state.
A long time member of the Bike&Walk Montclair Board of Directors and current President, Paul is a staunch advocate for safe streets for micro mobility and believes creating bike and walk friendly communities is a critical part of the solution to many of the challenges facing society today.
After a long career with the YMCA building healthy communities, in 2021 Paul joined the NJBWC as Program Manager. Now he works to support, inspire and educate fellow safe streets advocates working to build bike and walk friendly communities around the state. Initiatives include promoting the Safe Passing Law, expanding the Streets Are For Everyone, (SAFE) Network which builds the capacity of fellow advocates through educational webinars, strategy sessions, curated resources and promoting Street Savvy Cycling riding behavior.
Emmanuelle Morgen, Communications Associate
Emmanuelle Morgen is NJBWC’s part-time Communications Associate as well as the Executive Director of Hudson County Complete Streets and a trustee of Bike JC. She became an advocate for safe, equitable, sustainable transportation infrastructure in 2021, after learning that the U.S. transportation system is responsible for both 45,000 traffic deaths annually and 33% of U.S. carbon emissions, making it the largest contributor to climate change.
Emmanuelle has been biking for transportation and recreation since 2015. She co-founded HudCoStreets after realizing that many bike lanes and even sidewalks end at municipal boundaries even though roadways continue. Emmanuelle previously lived in Oregon, France, Italy, and New York–experiencing a wide variety of transportation systems–and has lived in New Jersey since 2009. Prior to joining NJBWC and HudCoStreets, she served on the board of Bike Hoboken and the Fund for a Better Waterfront.
Johan Andrade, Technology Specialist
Born in Ecuador and a lifelong Hudson County, New Jersey resident since the age of 5, Johan became passionate about urban streets and active transportation during a vacation to The Netherlands where his aunt resides.
Johan graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology with a degree in Computer Engineering and has worked in the tech industry for various sectors and corporations with a recent focus on improving IT systems for nonprofits.
Johan is co-founder and serves on the board of Hudson County Complete Streets and leads a local community group Bike North Bergen where he lives. | LinkedIn
Liz Brady, Let’s Walk Program Coordinator
Liz is the organizer of The “Let’s Walk” Program in New Jersey, focusing on exercise and safety. Prior to that, Liz collaborated with the Partners for Health Foundation and Bike&Walk Montclair, focusing on promoting health through movement and positive social engagement across communities.
She believes walking groups offer support that helps you achieve your fitness goals and promotes lots of connections and friendships with others. Walking with a group encourages you to be social, provides motivation, accountability, and safety. She enjoys making connections with people and feels blessed to have the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people.
She always welcomes suggestions on where and when to walk and partnering with other organizations.
Liz’s academic and professional training are in the areas of nutrition, health and policy. She holds a BS in Nutrition & Dietetics and an MA in Public Health; she continues to build on her knowledge by continuing her education and attending seminars.
She has lived in Essex County for over 30 years and currently resides in West Orange.
To see where she is currently walking go to visit the Let’s Walk Meetup Group.