The Livable Communities University Faculty Team
About Charlie Gandy
Charlie Gandy is a nationally recognized expert in community design, trail planning and design, and bicycle and pedestrian advocacy. He is a popular consultant, speaker and lecturer on the leading edge of both the active living and livability conversations. Gandy currently serves on the board of the California Bicycle Coalition, and in 2011 was chosen as Host Chair for the Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Long Beach in September of 2012. Read more.
About Rock Miller
Rock Miller is a registered Traffic and Civil Engineer in the State of California and has more than thirty years of transportation planning, design, and operations experience. He has formerly served as City Traffic Engineer for Costa Mesa and staff traffic engineer with the County of Orange. He is thoroughly familiar with the latest capabilities and requirements available and expected from cities and municipal governments. Read more.
About Ryan Synder
Ryan Snyder has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from UCLA. Snyder is one of seven people certified by the California Department of Health Services to conduct Walk Audits for communities to develop pedestrian plans. He has lectured on transportation planning at the UCLA Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning, in the UCLA Geography Department, and in the UCLA Extension. Read More.
About Alexis Lantz
Alexis holds an M.A. in Urban Planning from UCLA. Her interest in transportation stems from a belief that bicycling, walking, and mass transit are integral components for ensuring equitable and sustainable communities with thriving local economies. While at UCLA she initiated a student-led course on bicycle and pedestrian planning that continues today. Read More.
About Allan Crawford
Allan Crawford has a background in geology and he holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin. He has worked in the areas of knowledge management, research, strategic planning and education for over twenty-five years. He is currently the Bicycle Coordinator for the City of Long Beach and sits on the board of the bicycle advocacy organization Bikeable Communities. Read more.
About Ron Milam
Ron Milam is a Certified Professional Facililator. He works to transform Southern California into a sustainable region by developing the leadership of community-based organizations. Ron has led over 150 retreats, planning sessions, community meetings and focus groups. Ron launched the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition in 1998 and served as its first Executive Director. Read more.
About Melissa Balmer
Adept at finding the right "story telling" angle and relationship building to successfully connect with audiences to galvanize special events and causes, Balmer has placed stories with Los Angeles Magazine, MTV, KCET, the Orange County Register and more. Balmer is the Facilitator for the Pro Walk/Pro Bike Host Committee and the Project Director for Women on Bikes. Read more.
About John Case
John Case is a visionary entrepreneur who founded the bicycle advocacy non profit Bikeable Communities and Bikestation, the first public bike commuter facility in the United States. Bikestation first opened in downtown Long Beach in 1996. Bikeable Communities was formed in 1998 to promote urban bike transportation issues around the concept of the Bikestation.