NCBC Announces Kara Vernor as Executive Director
As the Napa County Bicycle Coalition (NCBC) approaches our 15th anniversary of serving as the lead advocate for those who ride a bike in Napa County, we are proud to announce Kara Vernor as our next Executive Director. Kara will take the helm as our current ED, Patrick Band, steps down after a successful 7 years of leading the organization in order to pursue educational opportunities.
“I am honored and excited to step into this role,” said Vernor.
“Over the past two years, we have seen an explosion in the number of people taking up bicycling, whether for the health benefits of a more active lifestyle, or simply as a way to get around. NCBC has a long track record of working closely with policymakers, local businesses, and residents to advance the needs of those who walk and bike, and I’m excited about what we can accomplish together.”
NCBC is the leading organization in Napa County working to align our transportation infrastructure with the needs of bicyclists and other active transportation users. Together with our public agency partners, NCBC leads the Napa County Safe Routes to School program, which aims to ensure that every child can safely walk or bike to their local school. NCBC also hosts events that engage thousands of local residents, including valet bike parking, Bike to Wherever Day, Kidical Mass rides, and much more.
In taking on the role of Executive Director, Kara brings tremendous depth and breadth of experience with nonprofit organizations and public agencies across the North Bay. She has spent more than 15 years working as a nonprofit director, fundraiser, and advocate. Since 2019, she has served as Grants Officer for a nationally recognized legal defense nonprofit, and previously served as Director of Program & Organizational Development for a community service agency based in Marin County.
Kara has seen first-hand the power of cycling to transform lives for the better. Inspired by her mother, who did not consider herself athletic until taking up cycling in her 50s, Kara commuted to work by bike in Columbus, Ohio, finding a community with other cyclists there. She became more fit while training for the Wine Country Century in Sonoma County, and she has seen the world by touring in Germany and Alaska with her mother and friends and throughout the United Arab Emirates with 125 women from 17 countries. She cannot wait to help spread the joy of cycling in Napa County.
