BOSTON (BRAIN) — Race announcer, event promoter and journalist Richard Fries is set to become the new executive director of the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition, also known as MassBike.
"I've never been so excited about a professional opportunity before. From its compact urban centers and world-class transit system to its beautiful countryside, Massachusetts has all the ingredients we need to build a truly first-rate bicycle culture," said Fries. "Whether you're starting a new bike business, riding for the first time, or logging your thousandth mile, we can all work together to build a state where everyone has access to a safe, smooth ride."
For the past eight years Fries has served as the marketing director and later the cycling experience director for Best Buddies International, where he helped promote as many as four charity cycling events per year. He has also served as a development advisor for PeopleForBikes, where he helped launch Tim Johnson's Ride on Washington, and he spent two years as the director of the Bicycle Leadership Conference.
Fries is also co-founder of the Providence Cyclo-cross Festival (now known as the KMC Cyclo-cross Festival). He will remain director of that event.
"Richard comes to MassBike with the perfect blend of advocacy, leadership, and industry experience that, combined with his passion for cycling, will help us continue to make bicycling better in every corner of the state," said Jim Bradley, the president of MassBike's Board of Directors.
Fries will join MassBike on Jan. 15 and succeeds David Watson who held the post for eight years. "I am honored to be joining MassBike at such a critical time, and that excitement only grew when I dug into the details of how well David Watson ran this organization," said Fries. "I could not have received a better lead-out. This board, this staff, this membership, and many of our strategic partners have set Massachusetts up to become the gold standard for bicycling in the United States. "
