Wednesday, September 17, 2008
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Posted by: Sally Grimes
OIWC is excited to recognize two bike industry women who have shown true leadership, Deborah Hubsmith and Ellen Hall, with the Pioneering Woman and First Ascent Awards.
Pioneering Woman Award Deborah Hubsmith, director of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, is being recognized for her leadership with the third annual Pioneering Woman Award for the bike industry.
Deb is the founding director of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) National Partnership and provides oversight and direction for all programs, policies and staff. Hubsmith has worked on SRTS program implementation and legislative development for more than 10 years. She helped lead the successful Marin County SRTS pilot program, and then took the results to the national level where she worked extensively to secure the $612 million in federal funds for SRTS that were approved by Congress in 2005 as part of the federal transportation bill SAFETEA-LU. Hubsmith serves as an energetic spokesperson for SRTS and has presented on the program at numerous conferences. She hasn't owned a car since 1996 and uses a bicycle as her primary means of transportation.
OIWC created the Pioneering Woman Award to honor women who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to mentoring female colleagues. In 2006, the first OIWC Pioneering Woman Award for the bicycle industry went to Ashley Korenblat, owner and proprietor of Western Spirit Cycling. Last year’s winner was Ariadne Delon Scott, director of advocacy and the environment for Specialized.
First Ascent Award Ellen Hall, marketing manager for CatEye North America, will accept the bike industry’s second annual First Ascent Award.
Ellen is currently the marketing manager of CatEye North America. She has been with CatEye for three years, starting out as a customer service representative and quickly moving up to overseeing office operations as well as all marketing projects. Her cycling career began in a Burley trailer, then to the back of her dad's tandem, then mom's tandem, before rolling solo. As the oldest of five children in a family that enjoyed bicycle touring together she gained a lot of experience organizing people (and water bottles). She went on to compete in nearly every cycling discipline, as well as Indiana University's Little 500 on which the movie Breaking Away is based. Hall has never owned a car, opting to live in areas that support bike commuting.
The First Ascent award recognizes a woman new to the industry who demonstrates strong potential for leadership. This award increases visibility of talented young women at lower levels in an organization, thereby facilitating and nurturing their leadership skills. The inaugural First Ascent Award for the Bicycle Industry was presented last year to Sabine Dukes, creator of Velo Bella, a women’s cycling club of more than 300 members.
The winners of both awards will receive a $1,000 scholarship to be applied towards a national leadership program that supports their goals and ambitions.
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