In 2006, Portland's bike-fun organizers found themselves dealing with more and more bureaucracy and paperwork. Events like Carfree Day, the Multnomah County Bike Fair, and the World Naked Bike Ride were requiring insurance, alcohol permits, tax ID numbers, mailing addresses, and bookkeeping.
For years, the City Repair Project had generously provided these things for us. As events got bigger and involved more nudity and tall-bike jousting, we decided it was best for both groups to part ways. Those of us who found ourselves putting our contact info on noise variances, balancing budgets, and just generally trying to keep things legal got together and formed Umbrella in late 2006.
Ever since, we've been popping up to provide protection when needed and disappearing when not -- just like an umbrella.
BOARD (consider joining)
Ben Chaney, president
Pamela Hines, treasurer
Alex Steinberger, secretary
Matt Chmielewski
Matt Cleinman
Meghan Sinnott
Early Umbrella Board Members, 2007 Photo by Dat Nguyen
(Left-to-Right: Carl Larson, Steph Routh, Matt Picio, Heather Williams, Steven Kung, Micah Waldstein)
BOARD MEMBER BIOS
Ben Chaney (he/him) | ben.chaney@umbrellapdx.org | President | Joined 2017
Project Liaison for Better Block PDX and Disaster Relief Trials
Ben moved to Portland in 2012 to attend Portland State University where he studied Transportation Planning and Engineering. He co-founded Better Block PDX together with other folks interested in using tactical urbanism for active transportation advocacy and equitable placemaking. He can be found exploring Portland by ebike with his partner from a home base in the Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood.
Pamela Hines (she/her) | pamela.hines@umbrellapdx.org | Treasurer | Joined 2024
Upon moving to Portland in 2015, Pamela sold her car and eventually bought an ebike during the pandemic. This decision unexpectedly transformed her view on community, city infrastructure, and connection, sparking her passion for Portland’s vibrant bike culture. Pamela is deeply committed to organization, transparency, mobility accessibility, and fostering a sense of playfulness in her endeavors.
Alex Steinberger (he/him) | alex.steinberger@umbrellapdx.org | Secretary | Joined 2024
Project Liaison for Brentstock Incubators, Portland Bicycle Support Fund, and Revive Cycles
Alex moved, bike-less, from Los Angeles to Portland in 2010. It took only a few months for his new home to transform his perspective on transportation. In his work as an urban planning consultant, Alex has traveled across the country and has seen firsthand how bikes and bike culture can transform cities. This experience has taught him the importance of Portland’s unique and multifaceted bike scene. As a small business owner, Alex has an eye for in-the-weeds details and paperwork. When he’s not reviewing contracts and sending invoices, Alex enjoys biking around the City with his wife and daughter.
Matt Chmielewski (he/him) | matthew.chmielewski@umbrellapdx.org | Joined 2023
Project Liaison for Ladd's 500, Shift, and Juneteenth Cookout
Matt moved to Portland in 2011 in order to pursue a Ph.D. at Portland State University. Daily bike commuting grew into a love of bicycling as a way to experience the city, which only grew once he discovered the bike scene. After participating in numerous Pedalpalooza rides over the years, he began the annual Dungeons & Dragons & Derailleurs ride(s) in 2021. He currently splits his time between Portland and fieldwork in Panama as a research ecologist. He has started considering the Ladd’s 500 as the event that truly ushers in the Spring.
Matt Cleinman (he/him) | matt.cleinman@umbrellapdx.org | Joined 2023
Project Liaison for Breakfast on the Bridges, Northwest Skate Coalition, and St. Johns Bizarre
Matt Cleinman happily sold his car and hopped on a bike shortly after moving to Portland in 2007. Since then, he has co-founded a nerdy all-volunteer bar event and was part of the team behind Portland's first escape room. With a varied job history including non-profits, food carts, and politics, Matt currently works on digital privacy tools. He loves the simple joy of biking his dog to the park on a sunny day.
Meghan Sinnott (she/her) | meghan.sinnott@umbrellapdx.org | Joined 2018
Project Liaison for PDXWNBR and Bike Summer
Meghan moved to Portland in 2001 to attend Lewis & Clark College where she wrote her thesis about bicycle subcultures of Portland. She's been involved in the active transportation and bike fun worlds since, acting as Filmed by Bike's Cultural Liaison on their Marketing Advisory Board, organizing and promoting bicycle events (including Oregon Manifest, Pedalpalooza, the Midnight Mystery Ride, the Tweed Ride, and more), teaching the Share the Road Safety Class, and working for Nutcase Helmets as Global Marketing Director. She lives car-free in NE Portland, OR with her husband, two step-kids, and bicycle-loving co-pilot, Aster (a beautiful black lab/collie/heeler mutt).
FORMER BOARD MEMBERS
Adam Zucker
Sue Tsoi
Robin Cordo
LeeAnne Fergason
Ben Foote
Charley Gee
Steven Kung
Carl Larson
Kirk Paulsen
Matt Picio
Steph Routh
Lale Santelices
Lori Sills
Micah Waldstein
Heather Williams