Board of Directors

Free Bikes 4 Kidz Maryland is led by a passionate and engaged board of directors. Find out more about them below.

Ted Cochran is a Howard County native and a bicycling enthusiast (he’s logged over 38,000 miles since 2011, 19,000 of them since returning to Howard County in 2017) and a retired R&D Director of Engineering. He was a year-round bike commuter in Minneapolis (Brrrr!) and an 8-year volunteer for Free Bikes 4 Kidz there. Ted is Chair of the Howard County Multimodal Transportation Board and Vice Chair of the Howard County Bicycle Advisory Group. He’s President of Free Bikes 4 Kidz Maryland.

Elizabeth Schultz is a bicycling enthusiast (there’s a pattern here) who’s ridden all over the United States. She’s also a runner, a triathlete, and an 20-year teacher for Howard County Public School Systems where she’s chair of the Howard County Public School System Bicycle Safety Program. She’s Vice President of Free Bikes 4 Kidz Maryland.

Chris Tsien is a bicycling enthusiast as well. He’s a former member of the Board of Directors of Bike HoCo , the Bicycling Advocates of Howard County, and has served on several cycling advisory groups. Chris is also League of American Bicyclists Certified Cycling Instructor. He’s Secretary/Treasurer of Free Bikes 4 Kidz Maryland.

Tom Lewis has volunteered for a wide variety of cycling events in Maryland including Ironman Maryland, Columbia Triathlon, Columbia Metric Marathon, and Tri2BeMore Events. He has participated in endurance cycling events, cyclocross races and triathlons.

Marc Tolson has loved the trails and pathways of Columbia and Howard County since 1971. He started bike commuting to the Oakland Mills cluster of schools as a six year old and continues to ride to work at Stevens Forest Elementary, The Oakland Mills Community Association, and the Howard County Library System (and at Bike with a Cop events, as shown here!). He’s a retired United States Air Force Officer, and wholeheartedly agrees with the Robin Williams quote: “Cycling is the closest you can get to Flying”!

Pat Piet is an avid recreational cyclist like the rest of us. He’s a charter member of the FB4K Maryland volunteer squad, and our procurer of silly hats. He has also coordinated many of our bike giveaways in Baltimore City.

Rick Hatfield, a Howard County resident since 1987, is a lifelong cyclist who continues to cruise the roads of Howard County while also completing several endurance running and cycling events over the years. A retired engineer, Rick has volunteered with Free Bikes For Kidz Maryland, collecting, repairing and matching bikes with kids since 2020.