Petrina is a Corporate Real Estate Project Analyst at Clorox. Previously, Petrina spent over twenty years at Oakland Unified School District at the secondary level supporting special needs students with an emphasis on transition planning. During that time she managed the WorkAbility and CaPROMISE programs, and referred many Oakland youth to Waterside’s programs. She lives in East Oakland and is deeply involved in her local community.
Lauren has fifteen years of experience working in the nonprofit sector, where she has progressed from front-line program delivery and teaching to program impact assessment and learning. Currently an independent consultant, she most recently worked in impact measurement strategy at REDF, a venture philanthropy organization that supports employment social enterprises like Waterside Workshops. Her personal and professional passion revolves around providing opportunities to those who have been inequitably excluded.
Helder brings extensive knowledge of history, anthropology, maritime history and skills to Waterside. He founded Waterside’s boat program as a way of both reviving the Berkeley Aquatic Park and building an environment that fostered the merger of craftsmanship as a method of youth development and ultimately community enrichment.
Heike has worked in BioTech for over 20 years and currently works as Sr. Director at Bayer Berkeley. Heike has a passion for biking and outdoor activities and feels strongly about mentoring others by using her outdoor and corporate skills as a National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) mountain bike coach, previously as a Board member for Bay Area Kinderstube (BAKS) German school programs and now as Waterside Workshops Board Member.
Rich brings a background of management and planning from his career as a laboratory technical director for the Environmental Protection Agency. He is a lifelong cyclist and outdoor enthusiast, which led him to the Street Level Cycles public open shop, and, ultimately, to become an open shop volunteer. After several years of observing the dedicated Waterside staff working with youth interns and the public, Rich decided he had the desire to offer more, and joined the Waterside Board.
Both in his research and community building work, Charles focuses on how learning occurs in informal settings and in organizations. He currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana where he started an educational bicycle shop for children in 1988. He has advised educational and community bicycle shops around the country.
Chris Santiago is an avid cyclist and dedicated member of the Berkeley community with a strong commitment to supporting and empowering youth. He brings over five years of executive-level nonprofit leadership and over 10 years of construction management experience, with a background in board governance and the successful delivery of complex community-focused initiatives. Chris is known for spearheading projects that combine operational excellence, strategic planning, and long-term impact. His work bridges hands-on building, organizational leadership, and creative media production to help amplify mission-driven stories and expand community engagement.
Erika brings years of experience in Public Policy regarding Foster Care and Youth Services. Her professional experience includes extensive research and evaluation of outcomes from the Child Welfare System, and her personal life is reflective of her passion for making sure children of all backgrounds have access to their basic needs. She is a professor at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy.
Ben was born in the shadow of the great Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges of the Pacific Northwest. It was here that fueled his passion for the outdoors, bicycles, mechanics and youth mentoring. He has 17 plus years of mechanics experience and has worked in prominent bike shops coast to coast. He was drawn to Waterside workshops because he believes in community and youth opportunity.
Conor Estes
Youth Job Trainer and Bicycle Mechanic, Street Level Cycles
Conor has been a bike mechanic for over 10 years and worked on the road as a bike messenger in San Francisco during much of that time. Urban riding, in all its forms, is his passion, as well as advocating and organizing for the cycling community. He’s excited to support Street Level Cycles and its commitment to keep old bikes on the road, reduce waste, and engage youth, helping give back to the community and produce the next generation of cycling enthusiasts.
Rebecca became Waterside’s Executive Director in June 2023. Rebecca oversees the management and operations of Waterside, ensuring that the organization engages youth and the community through hands-on learning in bicycle mechanics, wooden boatbuilding, and outdoor education. She is responsible for visioning, strategic planning, goal-setting and measurement.
Hannah found her way to living and breathing all things bikes via the local bike shop in her hometown of Chicago. After 12 years in the bike industry, she was drawn to Waterside because it intersects bikes with her other passions including equitable youth education and socially sustainable waste reduction. She is excited to contribute to the mission of Street Level Cycles creating a transformative space for youth and the community.
Helder brings extensive knowledge of history, anthropology, maritime history and skills to Waterside. He founded Waterside’s boat program as a way of both reviving the Berkeley Aquatic Park and building an environment that fostered the merger of craftsmanship as a method of youth development and ultimately community enrichment.
Nick believes that, like other forms of experiential learning, wooden boat building can foster social and emotional development, allowing students to build resiliency and confidence in a way that can enrich their lives. Prior to joining Waterside in 2017, Nick worked at the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory, primarily building Whitehalls. In a previous life, he was a nonprofit environmental attorney. When not working or parenting, he can be found in the water surfing.
Terry is a poet and Berkeley City Councilmember representing District 2, West and Southwest Berkeley. A mobility and environmental justice activist, Terry has led on housing, green transportation, and fights for a climate resilient future. As a West Berkeley native, Terry envisions a future where West Berkeley is at the center of an economically vibrant, innovative, and sustainable East Bay.
Benji
Youth Training and Retail Manager, Street Level Cycles
Benji is a longtime educator and bike mechanic and is a new addition to the Waterside Workshops team in 2026. He holds a MEd from the University of Minnesota and worked with unhoused and street-involved youth and young adults for 13 years before becoming more focused on using bicycles as a means of providing crucial transportation access and educational opportunities. He enjoys bike touring and camping and car-free adventures into the wilderness.
Interested in joining our team?
We’re always looking for individuals who are passionate about youth development, vocational training, bicycle mechanics, woodworking, outdoor recreation, nonprofit administration, and sustainability.
