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Meet our board of directors
Jim Rothblatt
Jim's love for cycling began at the age of seven when he had his first bike ride on a neighbor's new bike. He cherished the freedom it offered and later received his own English road bike, which he rode extensively until he obtained his driver's permit. Throughout his life, Jim continued to embrace cycling, commuting to work and school, and upgrading his bikes. Currently riding a Trek Domane, he passionately advocates for safe cycling in the Coachella Valley through his blog and finds immense joy in cycling through the desert compared to long drives in a car.
Gary Brustin
Gary is a long-time cyclist who has upgraded his equipment over the years, now riding a custom Calfee with Campy Record. He turned his passion for cycling into a specialized law practice, exclusively handling over 1,000 bicycle cases. Additionally, he has proudly co-sponsored numerous events and teams. Two examples are the Tour de Palm Sprints and the Race Across America. In his spare time, he acts as a volunteer attorney for various bike organizations. Additionally, he is actively involved in bicycle advocacy, serving on the boards of various organizations and establishing the National Legal Affairs Committee for the League of American Bicyclists. He has a local office in Palm Springs and can be contacted at bicyclelawyer.com.
ERNIE SMITH
Ernie, who spent most of his life in the Pacific Northwest, moved to the Coachella Valley to retire in 2010. With a professional background as Controller of University Volkswagen Audi in Seattle, he retired after a 25-year career. Since retiring, Ernie rediscovered his passion for biking and was thrilled about the idea of a 50-mile car-free trail called CV/Link between Desert Hot Springs and the Salton Sea. He believes that supporting this project aligns with the future shift of tourism in the Coachella Valley towards more environmentally-friendly activities like biking, walking, hiking, and running, as well as the revitalization of the Salton Sea.
John joiner
John is a retired Marriott manager with over 30 years in hospitality and travel. Before Marriott, he owned two travel agencies. An active community member, he served two terms as Vice President of the Harvey Milk Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club in San Francisco and volunteered with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Milwaukee AIDS Project. In retirement, he has logged over 25,000 miles cycling, enjoying multi-day tours in Europe and the U.S. He now looks forward to sharing this passion with both locals and visitors.
Crystal Romero
Crystal Romero, from Thermal, graduated from Desert Mirage High School in 2023. A dedicated student, she excelled in AP and Honors courses, served as the Executive Board Director of Activities for ASB, and co-captained the school's dance team. Her commitment extended beyond academics, with over 150 hours of community service, including involvement in the 4th District Youth Advisory Council. Crystal gained work experience through a paid internship at DeAztlan Consulting in 2022 and employment with Eventscape during the 2023 Tennis Tournament as well as a dance instructor for CVUSD EXLP. Currently, a Psychology major at Cal State San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus, she is exploring future paths, contemplating Law School or pursuing a Master's Degree. Crystal's journey reflects a passion for learning, community service, and a dynamic approach to personal and professional growth.
Joel craig
Joel has been an avid cyclist for most of his life. Joel and his partner Ross are committed to using bicycle transportation for as much of their local transportation as possible. They put way more mileage on their bikes than their car and see cycling as not just as a way to reduce their air pollution emissions, but also to maintain their physical and mental health, as well as a great recreational activity.
Joel was eager to get involved with Friends of the CV Link because of the dangers of riding on normal surface streets. The CV Link provides a safe option to get to most of the Coachella Valley, limiting how much they have to ride next to cars. Joel’s hope is that by promoting the CV Link he will convince others to adopt a healthy bicycle habit.
Patrick Charlson
Patrick has been a serious cyclist for the last 20 years. He moved to the Coachella Valley in 2017 to escape the wet winters of far Northern California and to continue cycling year round. He retired from 30 years as a professional driver, working in public transportation. Patrick has served on one other board, the Little Lake Fire Protection District in Willits, California for 2 years. He rides the CVlink 3 to 4 days a week. He is married to Sally and has one adult daughter who lives in Northern California.