Hans was the board chair at the League for a while during my tenure there, and we respected each other and yet clashed a few times over board/staff issues. I respected his efforts to build a strategic plan, and disagreed with him on some other things. So, when I resigned from the League and Hans invited me out to lunch, I was prepared for him to talk to me about how I might have handled things better.

Not. Even. Close. Hans came to DC from his home in Pennsylvania, took me to a super fancy restaurant for lunch, and said, “you are a leader. you are a born leader. find a mentor, find many mentors, choose your next job carefully.” I was … blown away. I was surprised and flattered and really pleased.

Hans’ daughter, Michelle, myself and Hans at the lovely Third Place Books in Seattle.

Fast forward to my very short tenure at Bike New York. When it ended so ignominiously, Hans once again took a train from Pennsylvania, this time to NY, and took me out to lunch. He listened to my (whining and) woes, and then said: Go home today, and reach out to your network. You are better than this. I did, and Jim Sayer, the executive director of Adventure Cycling, forwarded me the job description for Cascade.

That night, reading the job description in our house in New York City, I titled a Word document with notes I was making about why I was qualified for the job at Cascade, “Cascade is MINE!” It was part keep-my-chin-up, part hubris, and part real recognition and hope that my skill set was a good match for what the board was looking for.

When I (quite joyously — gleefully even) received the Cascade offer and we moved to Seattle, Hans was once again there for me. His daughter lives in the Seattle area, and I took them out for a drink while he was visiting. We reminisced, and laughed, and talked about the future here.

Today, at an absolutely astounding, inspiring, humbling and hopeful strategic plan meeting for Cascade’s next five years, I mentally raised my glass to Hans. His lessons about the importance of strategic plans, his deep and true belief in me, and his support of me over this past year are all things that leave me deeply in his debt. Thank you, Hans.