Alice Tibbetts
Winner: Friend of Commuter Alternatives (video)
Ms. Tibbetts’ personal mission is focused around transportation options other than driving alone. In her most recent role, she has developed a Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) strategic plan for the City of Minneapolis. She is the authoritative source in the Twin Cities about SRTS and has been advocating for communities to take this approach to a balanced transportation network for nearly a decade. She is a volunteer member and chair of the St. Paul Bicycle Advisory Board.

Anu Kamath
Mr. Kamath works at Boston Scientific and donates personal time to improving the commuter benefits at his worksite. He developed a Google Earth application that allows his co-workers to find potential carpool partners in the Maple Grove office. He also is active in creating and managing internal websites that encourage employees to try transportation options other than driving alone. 

Benita Warns
Winner: Lifetime Achievement (video)
Ms. Warns has worked for the US Postal Service Minneapolis Bulk Mail Center for more than 15 years and has been a strong advocate for commuter benefits. She convinced managers to give up their parking spaces to be used for preferential carpool parking. This allowed registered carpools to increase from two to 20. She serves on several boards, including the Minnesota Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Committee. Recently, she and her husband founded Mr. Michael Recycles Bicycles, a shop that gives free bicycles to those in need.

Carol Hanson
With Ms. Hanson’s leadership, Best Buy was able to create a robust vanpooling program at its corporate headquarters. She continually advocates for ridesharing, bicycling and transit as the commute benefit coordinator at Best Buy. Recently, she became a member of the 35W Solutions Alliance Board and is an expert about the travel demand management issues in her community.

Charlie Stark
Winner: Commuter of the Year (video)
Mr. Stark is an enthusiastic vanpooling advocate who drives a bio-diesel vanpool from Northfield to St. Paul every work day. Beyond his advocacy at his employer, Travelers Insurance Inc., he also helps host commuter fairs near his home in Northfield. He is active in his community by volunteering at RENew Northfield and chairs its Transportation committee. He also maintains a blog about vanpooling and other green alternatives to driving alone.

Marsha Kurka
Ms. Kurka has become a regular bicycle commuter, regularly traveling from Shoreview to St. Paul. She is a member of the Ramsey County Bicycle Commuters Club and the Active Living Ramsey County Biking Committee. She is a strong advocate for bicycling and has convinced her employer, Ramsey County, to provide additional bike lockers.

Mary Brauer
Ms. Brauer is the commuter benefits coordinator at Ramsey County and works to make it easier for employees to increase their use of alternative transportation modes. She is a regular bicycle commuter and was integral in creating the Ramsey County Bike Commuters Club this past year.

Mike Gilman
Mr. Gilman is often heard at his company – Thermo King – and in his community speaking about transportation options, specifically ridesharing. He has been featured in his community’s newsletter sharing his personal experiences with carpooling. He is a friendly face at his employer’s commuter fairs, encouraging his co-workers to try another transportation option. He also serves on his company’s Green Team.

Tom Priebe
Mr. Priebe promotes alternatives to driving alone at his Boston Scientific worksite in Maple Grove. He led a team that developed a website where employees can find others that may be interested in sharing a ride to work. With his leadership, Boston Scientific was able to form 26 carpools and one vanpool. He also regularly engages in discussion with Maple Grove Transit to determine what bus routes would be helpful for him and his co-workers.