Staff
![Staff 1](https://assets.nationbuilder.com/atlbike/pages/14444/attachments/original/1771519846/Rebecca_Serna_Headshot1.png?1771519846")
Rebecca Serna has a Master’s degree from Georgia State's Andrew Young School of Policy Studies in Urban Policy in Planning and Nonprofit Management. Serna was a bike/ped intern with the Georgia DOT and draws on her experience as a Fulbright in Bogotá, Colombia, where she studied participatory planning practices and innovative public transportation projects.
Awards include the 2020 Advocate of the Year from the League of American Bicyclists, 2015 Woman of the Year from the Women in Transportation Seminar, 2013 Advocate of the Year from the Alliance for Biking and Walking, and the 2013 Longleaf Award from the Georgia Conservancy. She currently sits on the Moving Atlanta Forward Stakeholder Oversight Committee and Atlanta's Fatal Crash Review Commission. Serna lives in Southeast Atlanta with her family and loves to read, dance, and grow food. She looks forward to the day when biking to get places is unremarkable and everyone can move safely, easily, and sustainably throughout the city.
Sagirah Jones has a passion for serving others and creating positive change. She is especially committed to strengthening communities by connecting them to resources that can propel them towards their collective goals.
Sagirah joined Propel ATL as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Atlanta Streets Alive. She built on that experience and her background in developing community-based organizations to now manage engagement programs that are innovative in the way they connect people, interests, and action. She champions children being able to safely bicycle through the city and is an avid proponent of active transportation, equitable transit-oriented development, and democratic streets. Sagirah was appointed to represent Atlanta on the MARTA Board of Directors in 2023 and serves on the Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals' national task force on equity, diversity, and inclusion. When she does not have a book in her hands, Sagirah enjoys outdoor adventures and exploring the city via active transportation with her family.
Hannah Velcoff joins Propel ATL with a Master’s degree from Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from New York University where she majored in Media, Culture, and Communication with focuses in Interaction & Social Processes and Persuasion & Politics. Hannah’s nonprofit and communications experience has helped her to hone her skills for connecting with communities while driving change for good.
After growing up in a driving-centric community and moving to Manhattan before landing in Atlanta, she is inspired and driven to champion safe and inclusive transportation for the city. She enjoys exploring the city by foot and on bike, listening to her favorite public radio podcasts, and challenging her friends and family to a round of any game - tennis, trivia, scrabble, you name it!
Brian Desarro has over a decade of experience as a passionate team leader and LGBTQ+ community advocate. Brian leverages his multi-faceted professional and personal background to successfully drive initiatives, champion diversity, and lead with accountability. Through his work in economic development strategy and fundraising, union organizing, and digital media project management, he understands the nuances of guiding stakeholders at every level on how to effectively and efficiently cross the finish line. His personal motto – “To go far, go together.”
Currently, Brian continues his service in multiple capacities, including serving as Board Chair of Atlanta Pride, a Board Director and Diversity Committee member of Atlanta Federation of Musicians Local 148-462, and a member of the Georgia AFL-CIO Organizing and Advocacy Table. Brian holds a degree in Journalism from Auburn University. In his spare time, he enjoys time with his husband and pug, making stained glass, and enjoying everything the “city in a forest” has to offer.
Jeremiah Jones desires to improve communities by altering policy and infrastructure to create better outcomes for people across the socioeconomic spectrum. Equity and justice-centered practices are at the core of his work. It is his belief that communities are built best by listening, partnering, and liberating the capacities of its residents. Jeremiah is a 2022-2023 NACTO Transportation Justice Fellow.
Jeremiah is a military veteran with a background in urban studies and holds a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Community Development. His experience in various settings, from federal to nonprofit to ministry in urban cities, has developed him into a well-rounded professional. You can often find him at a park near you, experiencing the outdoors, or at a sporting event with family and friends.
Willow Rudden holds a Master’s degree in Development Practice and Sustainable Environment and Livelihoods from Emory University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Human Services & Social Justice from George Washington University.
Willow has committed her career to developing communication strategies for nonprofits and non-governmental organizations focusing on sustainability and humanitarian issues. She views communications and digital storytelling as a powerful tool for building community and inspiring collective action. After nearly five years of living car-free in Washington, DC, Willow moved to Atlanta inspired to advance more accessible, equitable, and safe ways of getting around the city. When not at work, Willow enjoys playing volleyball with her friends and trying coffees from around the world with her husband.
Kysha is a community-minded educator and bike safety advocate who combines her Harvard education background and Spelman training to build equitable, community-based bicycle safety programs for children and adults across Atlanta. A community-minded educator at heart, Kysha earned her Master’s degree in Education from the Harvard School of Education after receiving her undergraduate degree in sociology from Spelman College.
Kysha enjoys integrating her love of teaching with developing comprehensive bike safety classes for children and adults alike. An inaugural Westside Bike Champ program member, in 2016, Kysha worked with existing community-based organizations to encourage equitable bike share practices. In addition, she partnered with NPU-V neighbors to increase health and wellness initiatives and programming in the community. As a member of the 2017 cohort of champs, she worked to bring bike safety programming into local schools. Kysha continues collaborating with education professionals to create bicycle safety programs throughout her beloved city of Atlanta. In addition to her work with bicycle advocacy and community engagement, Kysha enjoys creating and collecting memories, exploring Atlanta's natural gems, listening to wind chimes, and spending time with friends and family.
Israel Negrete-Abreu grew up in Western North Carolina, where he developed a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This love of exploration followed him to Atlanta, where he earned a Business Administration degree from Emory University with a concentration in Organization & Management and a second major in International Studies.
Israel’s professional experiences in educational programming for Atlanta nonprofits serving refugee and immigrant communities shaped his commitment to fostering equitable opportunities and inclusive communities. His time studying in Austria and visiting family in Mexico deepened his understanding of how public transit supports accessible, sustainable cities and inspired his interest in improving mobility and transit options in Atlanta. Outside work, Israel enjoys running through Atlanta’s neighborhoods, hiking scenic trails, traveling, and discovering the city’s vibrant culinary scene.Board of Directors
Jason currently serves as Propel ATL's Board Chair.
Tito currently serves as Propel ATL's Board Vice Chair.
Jacob currently serves as Propel ATL's Board Treasurer.
Sharanya currently serves as Propel ATL's Board Secretary.
Mark has 35 years of experience as a corporate executive, management consultant, entrepreneur, and private investor. From 2006 to 2023, Mr. Balloun was the president and owner of Advanced Machine Tools, a provider of industrial cutting machinery and related services. Previously, Mr. Balloun was Vice President of Corporate Strategic Planning for Delta Air Lines, where he managed development of the airline’s strategy encompassing marketing, organization, mergers and acquisitions, and alliances. Prior to joining Delta, he was an Engagement Manager with McKinsey and Company, Director of Corporate Development at Equifax, Inc., and a Marketing Representative with IBM. Mr. Balloun is a general partner of Balloun Family Investments, LP, an angel investment fund, and a board member of Enzymatic Deinking Technologies, LLC. Mr. Balloun’s past board memberships include Park Pride, where he served as board chair and treasurer, Zoo Atlanta, YES!Atlanta, and Mr. Arlo, Inc. Mr. Balloun holds an M.B.A. degree from Harvard Business School and a B.S.E. in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University.
The first time, he woke up in the emergency room with a brain bleed. The second time, he was struck by a car making a right turn while he was near the Martin Luther King Jr. Branch during an Uber Eats delivery. The third crash happened at age 23, when a driver making a left turn at Piedmont Ave NE and Westminster Dr NE hit him during an Uber pickup.
Cary is a transportation planner and engineer who works to make streets safer and more accessible. Before her current role at the National Association of City Transportation Officials, she was the City of Atlanta's Chief Bicycle Officer. Cary lives her wife and son in West End where she enjoys biking her son to daycare, riding MARTA to the High, and rooting for the Atlanta Dream.
Dorian is a Member of Propel ATL's Board of Directors.
Jonathan is a Member of Propel ATL's Board of Directors.
Most of Mary Frances’s career has been spent launching and growing tech startups—shaping go-to-market strategies, driving fundraising, and leading growth across a range of sectors. She’s a firestarter who thrives on turning complex ideas into compelling stories and rallying support around new possibilities.
Her experience building an alternative transportation startup sparked a deep commitment to sustainable transit and more livable cities—places where accessibility, environmental stewardship, and human-scale design intersect. In addition to her work in tech, she partners with mission-driven nonprofits to develop advocacy programs that advance healthier, more connected urban communities.
Ann currently leads her family office, 1731 MGMT, an Atlanta-based venture partner that helps emerging CPG brands led by diverse founders seeking to scale. Additionally, Ann provides strategic and product advisory services to both start-ups and established global brands.
Jared Guyer is the Executive Director of the Carl E. Sanders YMCA at Buckhead, part of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. With over a decade of nonprofit leadership experience across Georgia, Florida, and Virginia, Jared has built a career focused on advancing youth development, health equity, and workforce readiness. He has led organizational growth efforts throughout his career and, most recently, developed regional strategies to expand community impact through partnerships across metro Atlanta.
Brad Henn has worked in the transit industry for the past 20 years, with a focus on payment solutions and data analytics. Throughout his career, he has advocated for simplifying access and advancing equity for all users. He has served his community in various roles, including on the EACA Transportation Committee and the South Moreland Working Group, helping to improve safety and mobility. Brad currently works for Glydways, advancing alternative mobility solutions by combining technology and light infrastructure to deliver quick-build projects for the future.
Jacob is extremely excited about making Atlanta streets safer, more sustainable, and connected.
Connie brings decades of experience in commercial manufacturing and government contracting companies, with expert skills in operations, program management, and technology, to the Propel ATL Governing Board. As the COO of CANA LLC, a small company based in Virginia, Connie excels in a virtual work environment and advocates for the work-life balance it offers. Connie is passionate about Propel ATL's mission of creating an Atlanta where everyone moves safely, easily, and sustainably throughout the city. As a grandmother, she is particularly invested in building a better, more accessible Atlanta for future generations. Her operational acumen and dedication to improving urban mobility make her a valuable addition to the board, eager to help advance Propel ATL's vital work in the community.
Hamid is a management consultant with a background in aerospace and industrial engineering and experience in the automotive and EV sectors among others. He’s passionate about safe, sustainable transit and believes Atlanta is on the cusp of becoming a truly vibrant, people-centered city and just needs the right push.
Adam is a native Atlantan and communications professional, previously working at CNN and at MARTA. He is currently the principal at AS3 Storytelling. As a fourth generation Atlantan, Adam and his family have lived for many years without a car. MARTA has taken Adam to every important life event -- from his wedding to the day his daughter was born. Adam also serves in a leadership role at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) as the vice chair of the APTA Marketing, Communications, & Customer Experience Committee.
DeJon is a Georgia Native having lived in multiple spots around the metro area before building permanent roots in Atlanta. He has a passion for lively, safe and multimodal rich urban spaces that encourage community and local small businesses. He is involved with neighborhood and NPU level organizations, supporting the arts and Atlanta sports.
Creative Director & Managing Partner @ Never Without, Former Board Chair @ Propel ATL, Infrastructure Committee @ Candler Park Neighborhood Organization, Mobility Committee @ L5PA.
Matt is a Member of Propel ATL's Board of Directors.
Soohuey is the Principal at Tempo, a mission-driven consultancy focused on improving data management and use within organizations. With certifications in Change Management, Enterprise Architecture, Knowledge Management, and Agile Value Management, she drives lasting transformation by aligning strategy with organizational culture and systems. She founded the Transit Data Governance Roundtable, contributed to national transit data initiatives through the Transportation Research Board, and previously led enterprise data governance and performance management at MARTA. Earlier, in Malaysia, she served as a State Assembly Member advocating for inclusive building accessibility, walking, cycling and transit infrastructure. She holds Master's degrees from Georgia Tech in City and Regional Planning, and Geographic Information Science and Technology.