Jenny Kallista, PBMA Board of Directors

In her own words...
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I am an educator, and have a strong passion for it. Having been an educator since 2003, I feel pretty confident as an authority on techniques, curriculum, and methodology. So with the PBMA, one of my services is towards education and helping with the development of those programs.

My first love in life was a bicycle, and even more than a specific bicycle, it was the feeling of riding one. I had a very vivid, unforgettable dream when I was 4 years old, of me gleefully riding a bike despite the fact I had never actually ridden one. My older sister had just gotten her first bike, and I wanted desperately (subconsciously, apparently!) to ride it, too. Well once I awoke with that incredible feeling of elation, it was sheer determination to learn. And I've been hooked ever since. 

I was asked to be part of the PBMA! And honored at that. I've had lots of thoughts and ideas about mechanic work as a vocation, and all the inherent struggles for a long time. Being a bicycle mechanic has been the longest-standing work I've done in my life, and it's something I deeply love and enjoy. Being a part of this nascent group of strongly motivated fellow mechanics has been an experience I appreciate wholly, and hope to turn our ideas of improving our lot as mechanics into reality. 

I am an optimist (most of the time, anyway!), and so regard the future of our industry as a realm of huge opportunity. With the incredibly advanced developments that continue to occur within the technical aspects of bicycles, we are assured employment... but that also will demand much more skill. Being a prideful bunch of people (generally), mechanics, I believe, will be chomping hard at the bit for advancing and educating ourselves to keep up. We're seeing societal and infrastructural shifts towards more bicycle use, and that bodes well for all aspects of the industry.

​I think the future looks bright!