About Us

Ken Grimes, Executive Director
kgrimes@walksandiego.org
Ken Grimes has worked throughout his career in the public and nonprofit sectors to strengthen local communities and improve the quality of life, particularly for low income residents. He has extensive experience helping neighborhood groups work in partnership with local government and increasing community participation in decision making. As Executive Director of one of the largest community based nonprofits in Wiltshire, England he led a team of community development specialists delivering social, economic and environmental programs funded by European, regional and local government agencies. In this capacity he served on the boards of a number of regional and national organizations in the UK, and worked with nonprofits and public sector agencies in Russia, Japan and Brazil. A former housing planner at the San Diego Housing Commission, he played a leading role in developing and implementing the Housing Trust Fund, and the citywide inclusionary housing program. He has co-authored a number of articles on housing and community development which have appeared in the Journal of the American Planning Association and other planning publications. He received his Masters degree in City Planning from San Diego State University and holds an undergraduate degree in sociology from the University of Bath.

Kristin Mueller, Program Manager
kmueller@walksandiego.org
Kristin Mueller is WALKSanDiego's first full-time Program Manager and runs our Next Steps Initiative in Chula Vista to conduct community outreach and engagement among low-income, predominately Spanish-speaking residents to create a more walkable Chula Vista. Kristin received her Master of Public Health degree from San Diego State University. She worked on various research and community projects with SDSU and UCSD with a focus on the promotion of physical activity and nutrition. Kristin joined WalkSanDiego after completing a year abroad as a Fulbright Scholar where she conducted HIV prevention and research activities in Oaxaca, México, a truly walkable city!

Cynthia Offenhauer, Administrator
coffenhauer@walksandiego.org
Cynthia has had extensive experience working in organizations in administrative and bookkeeping support roles. She prefers living in urban areas, living in both in Boston and San Diego while raising a family. Most days she walks, cycles or use mass transit for both commuting and pleasure. She and her husband are active in sustainable living pursuits and enjoy the beach and sailing in their spare time. Mayor Jerry Sanders recently recognized them as "Urban Environmentalists" and featured their native plant garden in a press conference he held at their home. She is a graduate of Saint Louis University with a degree in Social Work and attended the Advanced Study for Business Program at Radcliffe College in Cambridge, MA.

Andy Hamilton, President
Communications Committee Chair
ahamilton@walksandiego.org
Andy Hamilton has worked on transportation, land use, and air quality issues at the San Diego Air Pollution Control District since 1994. His work includes promoting alternatives to motor vehicles, including walking. From 1986-1993, he did similar work as a staff scientist at the Conservation Law Foundation in Boston. Andy holds a bachelors degree in Biology from the University of Kansas, a masters degree in Ecology from UC Davis, and a masters degree in Urban & Environmental Policy from Tufts University in Boston. Andy is the author of the District's publication, Tools for Reducing Vehicle Trips Through Land Use Design and WALKSanDiego's SlowDown! Taming Neighborhood Traffic.

Dave Schumacher, Chair
dschumacher@walksandiego.org
Dave Schumacher has worked on public transportation and land use planning issues for nearly 25 years, first with the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board and now with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) where he oversees the transit planning section. He is a strong believer the role walking and public transit can play in creating a more sustainable transportation system; he practices what he preaches by walking to work twice a week and taking transit the other days. He recently served as chair of committee on High Occupancy Vehicle Systems for the Transportation Research Board. Dave holds a Bachelors degree in Geography from San Diego State University and a Master in City and Regional Planning from the JFK School of Government at Harvard.

Susan Tinsky, Vice Chair
Susan Riggs Tinsky is an attorney with Best, Best, & Krieger in San Diego, specializing in the areas of Municipal and Redevelopment law. In addition, she serves as adjunct faculty at San Diego State University in the Master of City Planning program. Prior to joining Best Best & Krieger, Tinsky was Vice President of Government Affairs at the San Diego Association of Realtors. She also held positions at the San Diego Housing Commission, Trammel Crow Company, and CB Richard Ellis. In addition to her participation on the Walk San Diego board of directors, she is on the board of directors for Citizens for Century Coordinate 3 and is a graduate of LEAD San Diego. Tinsky received her law degree magna cum laude from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. She received a masters degree in city planning from San Diego State University, where she was named "Outstanding Graduate of the Year." Tinsky also holds an undergraduate degree from University of Georgia.

Chad Spoon, Secretary
cspoon@walksandiego.org
Chad Spoon is a Research Coordinator for Active Living Research. He received his master of regional planning degree with a specialization in transportation and land use management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to joining Active Living Research, Chad worked with Active Living by Design in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he assisted with their community partnerships. His interest in active living stems from his pedestrian and bicycle planning background. Chad helps manage the grant review process and offers ongoing technical assistance and training to grantees.

Cindy Musser, CPA, Treasurer
cmusser@walksandiego.org
As Treasurer, Cindy Chairs the Finance Committee and holds responsibility for overseeing and monitoring budgets and financial controls. She joined Gatto, Pope & Walwick, a San Diego firm of Certified Public Accountants in 2003. Her financial experience as an Audit Supervisor includes compilations, reviews and audits, general business advisory services and computerized accounting system consulting; her tax experience includes income tax planning and preparation for individuals and corporations. She is a firm believer in active lifestyles and the importance of making walking a safe and viable option for all San Diegans. A native Californian, Cindy grew up in Visalia, CA and is a graduate of CSU, Fresno, Class of 1995. Cindy enjoys traveling, walking, running and reading and also serves as Treasurer on the Board of Trustees of Coastlands Church.

Amanda Wilson
awilson@walksandiego.org
Amanda Wilson is a research coordinator for Active Living Research (ALR). Amanda received her Master of Science degree from the University of Florida. Before moving to San Diego, she was the assistant event director for Bike Florida, an annual, weeklong bicycle and tent camping tour. With an undergraduate degree in Health and Exercise Sciences from Gettysburg College, her main interest is in how recreation administrators, health organizations and advocacy groups, like WALKSanDiego, can work together to promote policies that support safe, accessible, places for walking, bicycling and physical activity.

Leah Ostenberg
lostenberg@walksandiego.org
Leah is a Community Planner for RBF Consulting's Urban Design Studio, where she works on projects ranging from community outreach to homeless and housing needs assessments to detailed urban design plans. Before moving to San Diego, Leah was an Independent Consultant for the City of East St. Louis, where she worked directly with the Mayor and City Manager in their City-Wide Clean-Up projects. In this role, Leah coordinated and organized volunteer efforts, and created a database containing illegal dumping locations, among other tasks. Leah holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Principia College and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

Tina Zenzola
tzenzola@walksandiego.org
Tina Zenzola is owner and director of Safe & Healthy Communities Consulting (SHCC), a firm dedicated to creating healthy community environments and re-introducing public health as a priority in land use and transportation planning decisions. For over a decade, Tina has helped local governments link with public health partners and bring the health message to their Smart Growth and community design efforts. Tina is a nationally recognized leader in the healthy built environments movement. She authored key national reports on public health and community design and serves as a consultant to national, state and local level planning and public health agencies. On the local front, Tina helped develop the City of San Diego's Pedestrian Master Plan and is a consultant to the LISC "Neighborhoods First" project. Tina served as WALKSanDiego's first Executive Director and has been a board member for over five years. Tina also served on a number of city and regional committees, including the SANDAG Bike/Pedestrian Working Group and Walkable Communities Advisory Committee. Tina has a Master of Public Health degree from the UCLA School of Public Health.

Laura Cote
lcote@walksandiego.org
Laura Coté is the Human Resources Manager at the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) where she is responsible for leading the agency's human resources function, and in partnership with its executive team serves as a catalyst for building and increasing organizational capacity and effectiveness. Prior to her role at SANDAG she was the Managing Partner of the Coté Group, a strategic human resources consulting agency with offices in Salem, MA and San Diego, CA. She holds a BA from the University of California, Riverside, a paralegal certificate from the University of San Diego and several professional distinctions within the psychometrics field. Laura grew up in Germany where walking was a way of life - to school, to the market, to the park. She currently enjoys sailing, traveling, hiking and yoga.

Nico Calavita, Ph.D.
Professor - Public Administration, City Planning Graduate Program, San Diego State University
Nico Calavita has taught at SDSU since 1980, including courses in the History of Urban Planning, Urban Design and Planning Implementation. He is also an adjunct professor in the Urban Studies and Planning Program at UCSD, where he teaches a course in land use planning. He has written extensively about urban growth and affordable housing. His articles on the politics of growth, inclusionary housing, and housing trust funds have appeared in the Journal of the American Planning Association, Housing Policy Debate and the Journal of the Associate Schools of Planning. He writes regular commentaries in the San Diego Union and Los Angeles Times on growth and housing issues. He is Co-chair of SALUD (Scholars for Active Living through Urban Design).

Hon. Mary Sessom
Mayor, City of Lemon Grove
Mary Sessom resides in Lemon Grove with her husband, Steve, and her two teenage children, Jared and Anna. Prior to being elected to the Lemon Grove City Council in 1994, she was active in her community serving as PTA president and Vice President of the Lemon Grove Education Foundation. Outside of the city, and based on her 20 years as a lawyer, Ms. Sessom served as a Judge Pro Tem of the Superior Court (1990-1991), Past President of the Foothills Bar Association (1995) and was appointed by San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob to the Board of Trustees for the San Diego County Law Library (1995-1996). Ms. Sessom was elected Mayor of Lemon Grove in 1996, and was re-elected in March 2000. Not only is she the city's first directly-elected mayor, but also its first female mayor. When not working at City Hall, she teaches at Cuyamaca Community College. She serves as a director for SANDAG and is a member of the Salvation Army Ad Hoc Committee for the Kroc Community Center. Ms. Sessom has been a Soroptimist since 1993. For recreation, she studies Tai Chi and holds a red belt and an honorary black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Michael J. Stepner, FAIA, FAICP, FIUD
Principal, Stepner Design Group
Michael Stepner has over 30 years of experience in leading, managing, and participating in comprehensive planning programs and the development of public policy. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and a Fellow of the Institute for Urban Design. Currently, Mr. Stepner serves as Director of Land Use and Housing for the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation. Previously, he was the City Architect for the City of San Diego and has served as an advisor to the cities of Washington, DC; Seattle, Washington; Orlando, Florida; Kingman, Arizona; Coronado, California; National City, California; Liverpool, England; and others. He is internationally recognized for his leadership and innovation in community planning, public participation, visioning and, particularly, for his reliable follow-through to implementation. He served as the Dean of the New School of Architecture & Design and continues that association as an adjunct professor in addition to lecturing at various colleges and universities throughout the country. Mr. Stepner has received numerous awards from community and professional organizations for his accomplishments in the planning field and is listed in Who's Who in America.

James Sallis, Ph.D.
Professor - Psychology, San Diego State University
James Sallis is a professor in the Department of Psychology at San Diego State University, where he has taught since 1992. He is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UCSD. He has taught courses on "Physical Activity and Public Health" and "Risk, Risk-Taking, and Lifestyle Change." Dr. Sallis is a member of the International Advisory Board for Physical Activity, Sport and Health Policy Research Centre of the Flemish Government in Belgium; the Board of Advisors for Kalsugan Community Services and Filipino-American Wellness Center in San Diego; and the Scientific Advisory Council of the Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, Colorado. He has written extensively on health and physical activity issues for families, children, students and patients. He currently heads the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Active Living Research project aimed at understanding neighborhood design components that promote routine physical activity.

Linda Scott
LKS & Associates
Linda Scott was the 2003 President of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter of the American Public Works Association, and past recipient of that organization's award for Outstanding Service in the Private Sector. Linda has an avid interest in making communities work better. She is a past chair and current member of the Scripps Ranch Planning Group and a recipient of the Scripps Ranch Civic Association's Community Service Award. She works as a Project Manager for McGill Martin Self, Inc., specializing in the implementation and financing of public infrastructure. She was a member of the SANDAG Walkable Communities Advisory Committee.

Kathleen A. Garcia, ASLA
Director, Wallace Roberts & Todd LLC
Kathleen Garcia, a registered Landscape Architect, practices planning, landscape architecture, and urban design throughout the country. She is a Principal in the nationally recognized firm of Wallace Roberts & Todd LLC, where she is the director of the San Diego office. Ms. Garcia holds a mayoral appointment in San Diego as a Planning Commissioner, the sole landscape architect to have served in that capacity. Ms. Garcia was the former chair of the Citizens Committee on Urban Form & Environment for the Strategic Plan 2020 (City of Villages) and has continued with its direction as a Planning Commissioner. In addition to her citywide appointment, Ms. Garcia also serves on the Board of Directors for the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC). A native Californian, Ms. Garcia is a graduate of UC Berkeley and Harvard University's Graduate School of Design.

Mark D. Rohrlick
Principal, Westmark Development, Southern California
Mark has been involved in real estate in Southern California for more than 20 years. Mark is responsible for managing planning efforts for large community acquisitions for Westmark Development. Previously, Mark managed Lennar Communities' development activities in San Diego County, including The Bressi Ranch, a unique, walkable community in the City of Carlsbad. Mark is a member of the Board of Directors for the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, a member of the North County Board of Directors for the Building Industry Association (BIA) of San Diego County, and is also a member of the Presidents Council of the BIA. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University (1982), and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. Mark also holds a private pilot's license and a California State General Engineering Contractors License.

Monica Zech
Media Chair
Native San Diegan Monica Zech spent 29 years in broadcasting, the last 18 years as an award-winning traffic reporter for radio and television. She now works as the Public Information Officer and Safety Educator for the City of El Cajon Fire Dept. She has spent endless hours as an injury prevention speaker and researcher, delivering weekly safety lectures to schools, local groups and military bases. Monica is professionally and personally aware of pedestrian safety issues in San Diego. The pedestrian safety issue became especially important, and personal, when Monica's own father was killed as a pedestrian on June 5, 1992, in the city of La Mesa. For many years, Monica has been delivering pedestrian safety lectures to senior groups, company safety meetings, and local schools. Those interested in a safety talk can contact Monica through her web site at www.monicazech.com.