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.
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.
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.
Nicholas believes that teaching bicycle mechanics is a potent means of self empowerment, and an invaluable contribution to sustainable transportation. Nicholas brings 10 years of Finance experience in technology, retail and consumer goods, healthcare, banking, and mining sectors––most recently he has been in charge of implementing new business models at a major ride hailing company and has founded his own fledgling bicycle brand. Nicholas is excited to apply his experience in the private sector to Waterside Workshops!
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.
Erik Edgren
Street Level Cycles Bike Production and Donation Manager
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Erik’s love of cycling started with family bike rides both on and off road. From there, he was taken in by a gang of bicycle tourists and vintage bike enthusiasts. Erik found that his love of cycling is best expressed by restoring old bikes and teaching others how to work on and maintain their own cherished rides.
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.
Danny has worked in the bicycle industry for 15+ years and at Waterside since 2015. He enjoys bicycling of all kinds, from mountain bike and mixed terrain racing to commuting, grocery shopping, and hauling a trailer. He feels very fortunate to be working in a shop that is built around reuse, education and community. He enjoys sharing his passion for cycling and the outdoors and is honored to contribute to Waterside’s job training and youth support programs.
Cleo is a former intern and youth mechanic. They grew up riding around the East Bay. While getting their B.A. from UC Santa Cruz, they were deeply involved in the Bike Co-op where they ran the open shop and grew their appreciation for affordable repair and education aimed at building self-reliance. Cleo is glad to be back at Waterside and excited about the focus on youth mentorship.
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 traditional bike shops, she was drawn to Waterside because it intersects bikes with her other passions including adventure event planning, equitable youth education, and socially sustainable waste reduction. As a League Certified Instructor she is excited to expand outdoor programs and spread the organization’s mission.
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.
Born in New Jersey, Ramess found his passion for bikes just before moving to California. A former patron, he learned bicycle maintenance in the open shop and further developed his skills at the UCSC Bike Co-op. Having spent time working on e-bikes and delivering food to housebound seniors, he came to Waterside to help provide accessible bike maintenance (e-bikes included) to the community.
Born in San Francisco, Jonathan grew up on Treasure Island and on a U.S. Navy base Sasebo, Japan. In Japan, he spent his free time learning music, and wandering the agrarian valleys and rocky coastlines of the Nagasaki prefecture, which fueled his love for the outdoors and his passion for travel. He returned to the Bay Area in 2005 and has been playing drums and bass guitar while traveling with bands, backpacking the Sierras, working in agriculture, and wrenching on bikes. Jonathan joined Waterside in 2022.
Pete got into BMX bikes at the age of 12 from having some dirt jumps down the block from his home in Long Island, New York. Within the next 2 years he was working at the bike shop a mile down the street and ten years after that found himself living in Queens and working at different shops as a full time mechanic throughout NYC where he found a passion for bicycles as real transportation as well as the greatest pass time and therapy.
Pete relocated to the Bay Area about 8 years ago and has worked in commuter and eBike shops since while making time to get out and explore on his road and BMX bikes and making incredible new friends along the way. He feels incredibly lucky to live a life behind (handle)bars and help every person who’s driven to lead a bicycle oriented lifestyle.
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.
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.
