OUR STORY
Velo Kids is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2017 by a group of kid-loving, health-promoting, bike lovers in Holland, Michigan. The Velo Kids rides started with 25 kids that quickly turned into 250 little cyclists cruising through the woods. Our programming has expanded from free bi-weekly rides to club teams and summer camps.
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OUR MISSION AT VELO KIDS IS TO GET ALL KIDS ON BIKES!
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To promote and cultivate healthy, active, outdoor lifestyles
while teaching bike skills, safety, and stewardship.
MEET THE TEAM
Jenny White
Executive Director
A Holland native, Jenny White and her husband, Brad, returned to Holland after 6 years in Colorado. With degrees in Business and Spanish, experience in business development with government contractor Lockheed Martin, Jenny and her husband wanted to bring their love for cycling and community to Holland, Michigan. In 2013 they became owners of Velo City Cycles and in 2017 they (along with other kid-loving, health-promoting friends) started Velo Kids, now serving, teaching and empowering over 300 kids in our community. Brad and Jenny have 3 kids, Macen, Molly & Emma…who also love to bike.
Chris DenHerder
Board Member
A West Michigan native, Chris spends his time outdoors with his family of 4, always on 2 wheels. Riding since 2003, his love of cycling has taken him all over the state and country where he ended up at Colorado State University, racing for the Mountain & Road Cycling teams. Always looking for the next adventure on 2 wheels, he can be found throughout the summer on Ottawa Country trails or chasing the Junior Velo riders every Thursday in the summer.
Aaron likes to bike on anything that has wheels. He spent many years racing and riding as fast as he can. He now likes to just kick back and enjoy riding his fat bike or cruiser with friends and family. When he’s not riding his bike he spends the day as an industrial engineer at a packaging company designing and building machinery. He grew up in Adrian, Michigan and moved to the west side of Michigan to attend GVSU. He now lives in Holland with his wife Kate, daughter Lyla, son Charley, and dog Chillie.
Aaron Dowling
Board Member
Kate is an outdoorsy sort and enjoys the trails or roads less traveled. Especially when it comes to bikes. She’s at her happiest when she can be outside, whether with the family, friends or just by herself. During the day she helps make things look better at BISSELL as a CMF Designer. The other hours of the day she can be found hanging with the family, watching life swiftly roll by.
Kate Dowling
Board Member
As a lifelong resident of West Michigan, David loves getting out and exploring his community on two wheels, never afraid to mix together roads, gravel, trails and beaches. Even when bike commuting across Holland in the summers, he always finds time for a few detours. A life-long athlete, David has played and coached a number of sports at a variety of levels. He now loves sharing his knowledge with young people and has brought that enthusiasm to coaching Velo Kids and Junior Velo. Most of all, David loves sharing outdoor adventures with his Velo kiddos James and Ellie and his wife Betsy.
David Fleming
Board Member
Being raised in Boyne City helped Travis develop his passion for two wheels and snow. Riding bikes has always been a family activity growing up, and now with his own two children. Moving to the Holland area in 2013 to work at DISHER, has provided the opportunity to get involved with the West Michigan cycling community, something he is excited to grow with Velo Kids!
Travis Gibbs
Board Treasurer
Abby rides bikes because it’s the best excuse to spend time outdoors with her family. She enjoys mountain biking or cruising around town with the chariot with her husband Martin and one year old son Charlie. If Abby isn’t spending time on bikes with those two, she’s probably either hiking at a local park or teaching second grade at Waukazoo Elementary. Abby loves Velo Kids because it combines all of her favorite things: family, parks, community, and bikes!
Abby Harris
Board Vice President
Martin strives to spend quality time outdoors every day. Any kind of bike, terrain, weather, or intensity is fair game as long as it affords an opportunity to soak up some vitamin N. He is also an amateur photographer, and loves capturing the adventure at Velo Kids rides and events. Martin fell in love with cycling while studying engineering at the University of Michigan. He now works in product development at Herman Miller, and spends most of his free time hiking, biking, or skiing with his wife, Abby, and upcoming Velo Kid, Charlie.
Martin Harris
Board Member
Natalie started riding bikes with her husband, Ben, after their kids, Sullivan and Grant, were born. They enjoy biking to get away for a date night, have fun with great friends, meet new friends, and improve their fitness at the same time. They love riding as a family on the trails, the city streets, or in their yard. Natalie grew up in northern Indiana. She is a nurse by training but recently changed her career path drastically to IT. She works at Holland Hospital, and is so thankful to work for an organization that supports the family, community, and good health!
Natalie Hirdes
Board Member
Nate bikes for fitness, fun and that sweet feeling of freedom. Nate spends most of his time cycling on the road solo, with his family or groups of friends. He enjoys getting out in the woods the most as well as racing cyclocross, mountain and gravel. Nate has been around bikes his whole life and has a passion for anything bikes. Nate Joined Velo Kids to help bring the adventure, joy and freedom of bikes to kids from all walks of life. Nate lives Downtown Zeeland with his wife Kara and daughters Elle, Eimy and Luci.
Nate Koster
Board Member
Phil Rozema
Board President
Phil loves to ride for fitness & being a part of the cycling community in the Holland area. He also loves going on bike adventures on the local trails & around town with his three sons, Tennessee, Sawyer, & Sutton. By day, Phil leads the fulfilment team at BuhlerPrince, Inc., where he has served for over 14 years. Phil grew up on the southeast side of Grand Rapids, but now resides in the Maplewood area on the southside (the best side) of Holland.
Mark enjoys biking of all types for fitness, competition, and fellowship. He mainly enjoys riding tandem with his wife on a mountain bike trail or gravel road. When not on the bike, he is out skiing both downhill and cross country. During the week, you can find him selling used cars at Barber Ford and helping people find the right vehicle to get them to the trailhead. Mark grew up in Holland and then settled down in Zeeland with his wife Shaina and dog Tango.
Mark Strikwerda
Board Member
Shaina bikes for the adventure with friends, time in the woods, challenge in fitness, and life lessons learned. When she’s not on the tandem with her husband, Mark, she enjoys time on her mountain bike at local or Northern trails with her favorites including Upper Mac and Arcadia. During the day, she is privileged to work alongside riders and horses as a Recreation Therapist at Renew Therapeutic Riding Center in Holland.
Shaina Strikwerda
Board Secretary
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Aaron loves to bike in every season and for every reason. Trail riding is his favorite because it is a time to connect with nature, and get a little dirty doing it. The best part of raising his two daughters on bikes is helping them grow in their confidence and push their limits while enjoying life. Bikes are a way for us to connect with each other and learn more about ourselves. Aaron was born in Grand Rapids, and now lives in Holland and works as a pastor with the Fearless Family of Churches.
Aaron Westhouse
Board Member
