BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lorena Collins-Ramirez. Board Chair
Lorena has dedicated her life to serving communities in need, starting from frontline work and advancing to executive leadership roles in both Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. She is passionate about creating strategic visions that prioritize measurable outcomes, and she brings a wealth of experience in developing programs and enhancing organizational practices. Her dedication to empowering team members with the skills to navigate challenging client interactions with empathy and professionalism is especially valuable to our work at Good Karma Bikes.
Lorena is excited to lead us as we continue to build on our successes, and she is eager to connect with our community. Among her goals is helping Good Karma Bikes secure a permanent location, a crucial step in strengthening our ability to serve those who rely on us.
Please join us in warmly welcoming Lorena as our new Board Chair.
Dennis Cunningham
After receiving degrees in accounting and finance Dennis contributed to several tech companies in various financial management roles for more than 40 years. He has contributed to his community and neighborhood by volunteering and serving his downtown San Jose neighborhood on the association Board. Dennis also enjoys restoring his old home, working on bicycles, hiking, backpacking, and cycling. Dennis looks forward to lending his financial skills to Good Karma Bikes as they move their transportation and cycling mission forward.
Taurean Dyer
Taurean holds a graduate degree in Mechanical engineering towards energy technology and robotics from Stony Brook University. He is a Sr. Product Manager at NVIDIA. Beyond a passion for fixing things and helping people with innovative technologies, he takes his system level decomposition ability to combine business and people’s needs and capabilities beneficially together as amazingly functional teams. He also mentors historically disenfranchised community members around the world in with skills to succeed, especially around innovation and AI. He currently lives in San Jose.
Dr. James Gardner, Ph.D. (Founder, CEO Good Karma Bikes)
Dr. James T. Gardner is the founder and executive director of Good Karma Bikes (GKB), the largest nonprofit bicycle community center in the United States. Since founding GKB in July 2009, Dr. Gardner has transformed what began as an effort to provide reliable transportation to homeless and low-wage workers into a comprehensive program that builds self-esteem and provides valuable job skills in bicycle repair, maintenance, eCommerce, and retail.
Education and Professional Background
Dr. Gardner holds a PhD in Solid State Physics with a specialization in Optoelectronics from the University of Southern California, where he also earned his bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees in engineering. His academic career included an internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he worked on space radiation effects.
In 1995, Dr. Gardner moved to the Bay Area to work at Applied Materials, launching a career that spans multiple high-tech industries including flat panel displays, 3D monitors, nanoparticle synthesis, water and energy conservation, and environmental protection.
Founding Good Karma Bikes
After experiencing setbacks with four startups, Dr. Gardner had a moment of clarity when he encountered a homeless individual riding an unsafe bicycle. What began as informal bicycle repairs in a local park evolved into Good Karma Bikes, a registered nonprofit organization that has served over 51,000 clients and provided $4.1 million in community aid.
To better serve his mission, Dr. Gardner obtained a certificate in nonprofit executive management from Georgetown University and a business certificate from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
Technical Expertise
Dr. Gardner’s passion for cycling began in his youth along the Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach, California. He is a graduate of the United Bicycle Institute and holds certifications as a Bicycle Suspension Technician and DT Swiss Wheel Builder. He has taught over 200 students in Park Tool School
Personal Life
Dr. Gardner lives in Willow Glen with his wife of thirty years, Laura, whom he met at USC in 1989. Together they have rescued numerous animals and currently share their home with three rescue cats. Beyond cycling, his interests include mathematics, traveling, art, and classical music. Since founding GKB, he has read over 200,000 pages of history, biography, and philosophy.
Chelsea Tercero
Chelsea is a dedicated leader with over a decade of experience supporting individuals experiencing homelessness through shelter operations, staffing, and program development. A skilled grant writer, she has successfully secured funding to expand critical services for at-risk communities. Her expertise in community engagement, financial sustainability, and innovative program growth aligns with Good Karma Bikes’ mission. With a Master of Public Health, bilingual abilities, and a background in the Peace Corps, she brings a strong commitment to public policy, health equity, and cross-cultural collaboration. Her strategic mindset, adaptability, and leadership make her a valuable asset to the board.
Michael Murray
Mike has a degree in Mathematics from Wake Forest University. He is retired now, having spent over 22 years as a software engineer working for Intel Corporation including field sales consulting, product development engineering and IT engineering, often involving extensive travel across the world. He has over 20 years experience working with non-profits, most prominently Sacred Heart Community Service, where he has been a lead volunteer and advocate in their food pantry. It was at Sacred Heart when he realized that for many of the customers being served, their main need was not food, or clothing, but transportation. This was an unexpected discovery that led Mike to becoming interested in a somewhat neglected area of need and one many people take for granted, transportation. As Sacred Heart and Good Karma Bikes have a longtime relationship, he became involved at Good Karma Bikes. He looks forward to providing impactful solutions for those needing transportation assistance, in addition to wellness and environmental benefits. He enjoys reading, music, travel, baseball, and basketball.
Mario Wijtman
Mario is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience, specializing in laboratory and healthcare facility construction. Currently semi-retired, he leads Mario Wijtman Construction Advisors in Portola Valley, CA, offering senior-level consulting and board advisory services. Previously, he served as COO at XL Construction (1998-2017) and VP of Operations at Rudolph & Sletten (1983-1998). A Cal Poly San Luis Obispograduate, Mario is known for his client-focused approach, strategic leadership, and mentorship. He is also a member of the Cal Poly School of Architecture Dean’s Leadership Council and ISPE. Mario resides in Portola Valley and enjoys traveling and biking.
