Dear NJBWC Community,
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Edward Goodell as the new Executive Director of the NJ Bike & Walk Coalition.
Ed comes to the NJBWC with an outstanding track record of successful non-profit and business ventures. He previously served as the Executive Director of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, having led that organization from 2001 through March of this year.
His previous positions include developing and/or managing a diverse array of region-wide, multi-party programs involving collaborations among professionals, volunteers and public/private partnerships and amounting to almost $30 million in federal, state and private funds. He has an undergraduate degree in biology, a master's degree in landscape architecture and broad experience in academic research and education.
In his eighteen years as Executive Director of the Trail Conference, Ed grew the TC's number of member organizations from 77 to 103, expanded the trail network from 1,300 miles to more than 2,165 miles, increased volunteer hours from 30,000 to 100,000 and added $10 million to the Trail Conference’s assets. Ed also led the award-winning restoration of the historic Darlington Schoolhouse, transforming it into the TC's headquarters, and was named the Champion of the Palisades by the Palisades Park Conservancy in 2017.
Prior to his tenure at the Trail Conference, Ed served as Acting Vice President and Project Manager of Social Venture Network, a membership organization for senior management and founders of businesses and organizations practicing social responsibility and advocacy. While at the SVN, Ed organized and developed a compendium of principles and standards of corporate responsibility that was later published by the SVN as a resource for companies looking to improve their social performance.
Ed's work history prior to the SVN includes Director of Federal Programs at the Louisiana Board of Regents, where he established the Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation; Fruition Program Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Food & Agriculture; Research Assistant at The New Alchemy Institute; and service as an electronics technician for the United States Navy.
Ed succeeds Cyndi Steiner, who had to step down in June due to challenging family medical circumstances. "I’ve been an admirer of Cyndi Steiner and the NJBWC Board who have accomplished so much over the past 7 years of her tenure. I am excited to build on that strong foundation and, with the help of our many stakeholders, I expect our organization
will make New Jersey a leader in accessible and safe biking and walking for everyone" remarked Ed upon his appointment.
We at the NJBWC were extraordinarily sad to lose Cyndi when her family health issues took her back to her home state of Maryland. Cyndi has been a force in bike and pedestrian advocacy and we could never thank her enough for her leadership in helping us execute on so many tremendous accomplishments. Having Ed Goodell come along to lead the organization into the future has been a bright spot in an otherwise bleak time for all of us, and we are honored to have someone with his talents and experience to represent pedestrians, bike riders, and ultimately, our quest for a more livable state.
Yours in advocacy,
Brian Stolar
NJBWC Board Chair
