Our Team

We are an organization of cyclists, educators, and community leaders who believe we can make an unquestionable difference in the lives of children by opening their minds to new possibilities and arming them with greater self-esteem.

staff

Jon Pasquini

Executive Director

Jon has 30 years of experience working with youth as an educator and coach. He has more than 10 years of experience working in marketing and branding. Jon has been in Colorado for 12 years having moved here for the many outdoor activities, the weather and the laid-back, nice people. Riding his bike defined a lot of Jon’s childhood. His bike represented freedom, adventure, responsibility and fun. Jon’s skills and experience are complemented by his commitment to motivating youth to reach their full potential through outdoor education. Jon loves working with Lucky to Ride and sees how the organization enhances kids’ lives. He believes the bicycle is a magical tool for teaching life lessons.
jon@luckytoride.org

Trung Nguyen

Program Manager

Born in Vietnam and raised in Nebraska, Trung has more than 20 years of experience as an outdoor educator, guide, instructor, and trainer. Trung received his BS in Psychology/Biology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. With a good friend owning a bike shop, Trung got his first bike while in college and never looked back. He moved to Colorado knowing it would open up opportunities and sharpen his skills as an outdoor educator. Trung enjoys making a positive impact in the community and kids’ lives by encouraging people to get outside and get active. When he’s not leading rides, Trung can be found guiding or running rivers, climbing waterfalls and hiking 14ers with his wife, who also volunteers at Lucky to Ride.
trung@luckytoride.org

Megan Wayne

Development Manager

Megan moved to Denver in 2014 from Buffalo, NY and Indianapolis. Like so many, the outdoors and mountains kept calling her until she finally made the move to Colorado. Megan has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Dayton in Sports Management and has spent over 20 years working in nonprofit. She loves being a part of Lucky to Ride and seeing the long-term impact the organization’s programs have on its youth participants. She sees the power of biking and how learning to ride can change a young person’s life allowing for greater freedom and independence. When not at Lucky to Ride, Megan can be found trail running, hiking, volunteering or hanging out in the mountains.
megan@luckytoride.org

Fernando Ibarra

Bike Tech and Former Youth@Work Intern

Fernando is a Colorado native and grew up near Lucky Bikes Re-Cyclery. He started at Lucky Bikes Re-Cyclery through our Youth@Work program where he first developed his excellent bike mechanic skills. Fernando has excelled as a bike tech since joining the team and brings energy and a positive attitude to work every day. As a graduate of Youth@Work, Fernando realizes that he canbe an example for the new Youth@Work Interns that work in the shop. When he’s not at Lucky Bikes, Fernando is either on one of his bikes riding or hanging out at the shop.
fernando@luckytoride.org

Richard Tischler

Assistant Shop Manager, Lucky Bikes Re-Cyclery

Richard grew up vacationing in Colorado, visiting his family on the Western Slope. Although he grew-up and lived in Florida for many yearsthe Colorado mountains kept calling. So, in 2007, he finally made the move to Colorado to pursue a lifestyle centered around mountain biking. Richard has been working with Lucky Bikes since 2016 and is energized by teaching people the basics of a bicycle,how it should fit, styles, types, and riding disciplines. His passion and knowledge of different bikes and bike parts is unmatched, and customers will always leave having learned something new from Richard. When he’s not at Lucky Bikes, Richard is home with this wife and young son who keep him on his toes.
richard@luckytoride.org

Brandon Mendoza

Ride Leader and Learn-to-Earn Instructor

Brandon is a southwest Denver native and recent graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in International Relations and Affairs. Biking has always been a huge part of Brandon’s life. As a child, his bike allowed him to explore the city and fueled his passion for adventure. His work at Lucky to Ride allows him to work with people throughout the socio-economic spectrum. Being able to interact with different people and leave an impact on the community, brings him tremendous pride. When he’s not leading a ride, you can find him cycling through the city, skiing, camping, hiking 14ers or hanging out at a hot spring. He loves to learn about new cultures through his photography and his travels.
brandon@luckytoride.org

board

Tony Giarratano

Board Chair

A Denver native, Tony graduated from the University of Denver with a degree in Business Management. He is an EVP at FirstBank and has been with the company since 2007. Tony has been on the Board of Lucky to Ride since 2016. Tony dedicates much of his time to nonprofits serving on several boards and volunteering. As a kid, Tony’s aunt took him on his first mountain bike ride, and he was hooked! He’s grateful for the places his bike has taken him and wants to share that excitement and passion with others. At Lucky to Ride, he sees how the youth tap into a new source of confidence and knows this newfound confidence will carry over to other facets of their lives. Tony, his wife and three boys love hiking, camping, fishing, riding, and skiing in the Colorado mountains.

Ryan Amirault

Director

Ryan joined the Lucky to Ride board in 2018. Growing up in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Ryan earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 2004. Professionally, Ryan is an independent digital marketing consultant focused on marketing strategy, social media and e-commerce. Ryan has been mountain biking since the early ’90s and credits the bicycle for completely changing his life for the better. He 100% believes in the mission of Lucky to Ride. His motivation to join the board was to give back to the organization so more kids could experience the fun and freedom of biking and have a positive, life-changing experience like he had. You’ll find Ryan riding with his wife and daughter on trails or around Denver.

Andrew Goodwillie

Board Emeritus

Andrew grew up exploring the woods outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated from Miami University Ohio with a degree in Marketing. Andrew founded Trips for Kids Denver Metro in 2004 while teaching elementary school. While mentoring a student, he realized that his young friend’s troubles seem to melt away whenever he was hiking or biking out on a trail. This experience, and his desire to help underserved youth, inspired him to found the Denver chapter of Trips for Kids. The organization has expanded to include many different youth programs under the Lucky to Ride name. Andrew continues to support the mission as a board member, outreach ambassador, and enthusiastic cyclist. Andrew loves riding bikes and playing ball with his three adventurous, fun-loving boys.

Peter Robinson

Secretary

Peter hails from Wyoming, where he grew up road and mountain bike racing and working as a mechanic in local bike shops. He’s a graduate from the University of Wyoming and University of Virginia School of Law. After college, Peter spent a year teaching in Japan and served in AmeriCorps where he ran a bicycle recycling program for underserved youth. Peter and his wife moved to Colorado in 2007, where he worked at Bryan Cave Law before becoming Legal Counsel at Suncor Energy. Peter’s enthusiasm and excitement for bikes and giving back led him to Lucky to Ride. He spends as much of his free time as possible cycling and enjoying the Colorado mountains with his wife, daughter and two dogs.

Jodi Tompkins

Director

A Colorado native, Jodi grew up in Grand Junction. She graduated from Colorado State University and had a successful career in pharmaceutical sales. Now retired, Jodi focuses on nonprofit work with the Wild Animal Sanctuary, different political campaigns, and volunteering with Lucky to Ride. She notes how fortunate we are to live in Colorado with so many great places to ride. Jodi discovered Lucky to Ride years ago when she donated a bike at Lucky Bikes Re-Cyclery. She loves the organization’s mission and believes it goes well beyond a bike ride; it’s the freedom, the great outdoors, the friends and the healthy lifestyle. Jodi and her husband enjoy spending time with family—especially the two grandkids. They are often out cycling, traveling, and going on cycling adventures.