We are cyclists, mentors, friends, parents, and people who believe that bikes can change the world! Learn more about our staff and our shared goal to change kids’ lives by introducing them to the Illinois NICA Community.
More and more studies are highlighting the dangers of a screen-based childhood. NICA’s programs eschew virtual for reality: we get kids off screens, outside, active, and connected – to each other and to their own mind, body, and confidence. Plus, our programs provide the unique and undeniable benefits of sunshine, fresh air, and time in nature:
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Where many sports struggle to include every young person, NICA is built to welcome and engage all. Inclusivity isn’t an afterthought—it’s a core value that sits at the heart of everything we do. Guided by leading sports research, our programs give kids age-appropriate, fun, and supportive experiences that build community, confidence, and a lifelong love of riding.
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From supportive parent volunteers to coaches who ride along with teams, NICA welcomes the entire family to participate in ways that are unrivalled by other youth sports. The result: relationship building, positive culture, and a cycling community that can't be beat.
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NICA’s model rejects the “up or out” approach common in many youth sports. We don’t push kids toward burnout or make them feel they have to chase elite performance to belong. Instead, we meet every rider where they are, listen to their goals, and help them discover the joy of riding—so they build a lifelong love of cycling and staying active.
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Team Development & Outreach
Coaching Director & Outreach
Development & Outreach
Coach Support
Coach Support & Volunteer Coordinator
Operations & Communications
Programs & Outreach
Grants & Fundraising
Grants & Fundraising
I’ve been kicking around on a bike since 6. I love the sense of freedom bikes provide, the community they can build & the functionality of these machines. I’ve spent the last 15 years learning how to race bikes & have found my cycling passion is in the off road disciplines. I’ve had a blast helping bring new women into cycling & am very stoked to build a local NICA chapter to help bring younger folks into mtb.
Brandon is the Executive Director and co-founder of Chicago United, Chicago’s most diverse cycling team whose mission is to help make the cycling scene more inclusive. Brandon brings an extensive background in the cycling industry to our NICA team, having worked at both bike shops and for other cycling related business including SRAM. Brandon is also a tireless advocate for community building and can’t wait to help kids across Illinois have fun on bikes!
As a business operations manager, inside and outside of the bicycle industry, NICA feels like the best place to give back to a sport that has given so much to me. Helping organize teams, events, and even races have been rewarding endeavors, so I am excited to use my skillset to our chapter leadership team, to get more kids on mountain bikes.
Cycling has been a refuge for Jean since he was in 5th grade back in a small town in Philippines. When he moved to Chicago as a teenager, the first thing he did was get an old MTB from a friend that he went on to ride every day after school and on weekends all around Chicago. Jean also brings a professional background in IT and coaching to our NICA team, becoming certified by USAC in 2015 and successfully coaching cyclists into podium results.
Maria Larkin is a three time Irish National Cyclocross Champion 2020-2023. She was the also the first woman to represent Ireland in the Elite World Championships in Valkenburg in 2018.
Maria has been mountain biking for several years and has competed at UCI, WORS and CAMBR events since 2015. She has coached with the Blackstone youth cyclocross program and has been the leader of the Junior Girls Cyclocross clinic at Trek CX Cup for 10 years. she currently holds a UCI Cat 1 license for mtb and cyclocross.
DJ Fish got into riding and working on bikes when he realized that the parts from his dissembled MTB would not fit on the 1965 Italian Road Frame he had saved from the dumpster. After a few years, DJ found a way to combine his interests in a role as Youth Service Coordinator and Head Instructor at Blackstone Bicycle Works, a youth earn-a-bike and mechanic training program that also had a race team. DJ oversaw the Blackstone Race Team secure multiple State Championships in CX and Track.
Matt is former NICA coach, with ten years of experience as core staff in the Wisconsin NICA League before fate brought him to Chicago. Matt is a Bicycle industry professional and lifelong cyclist who not only understands how a great NICA league functions, he’s willing to answer countless questions and share thoughtful perspectives.
Not only has Matt been a great resource for helping our Illinois team better understand NICA, he’s been an advocate for all of the kids who want something beyond stick and ball sports.
Whether running a bike shop in Chicago and expanding its community outreach programs, teaching social studies in a public high school, and working with students, parents, and other stakeholders in the non-profit world, Micah has always looked for ways to bring people together to have a good time doing meaningful and valuable things. And as anyone who has ever benefitted from cycling knows, there is nothing that can bring people together and help them grow more than seeing the joy, freedom, confidence, and so much more that can come from spending time on the bike!
Micah brings a wealth of experience in formal and informal education, fundraising, community building, race organizing, and leadership that will ensure that NICA hits the ground running in Illinois!
In every role he’s taken on, Micah’s real passion is for people- helping them live their values, overcome the obstacles in front of them, find joy in new challenges, and find comfort in community. He couldn’t possibly be more excited about leveraging his experience and relationships, and getting to work with a wonderful and committed group of people to bring NICA to the country’s fifth largest state!
Marie has been hosting bike events that benefit youth cycling, expand health access, and empower community connectedness for over 15 years. Though she’s hung up her racing jersey, Marie still finds a rush in exploring the quiet parts of Big Marsh.
Marie is a Chicago-based educator and community organizer who is deeply committed to building power through liberatory design. She is an architect of progressive policies for Chicago City Council and oversees participatory budgeting in the 26th Ward.
