The Ohio City Bicycle Co-op (OCBC) is a non-profit bicycle education center with a small professional staff and many skilled volunteers.  In our well-equipped 12,000 square foot bicycle mechanic shop, OCBC upcycles donated bicycles to make them safe and reliable for community members. We teach classes on bike riding and repair skills and lead community programs such as fix-athons, bike valet parking, and group bike rides. On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, OCBC also runs a “bicycle thrift store” for refurbished bikes, as well as new and used bicycle parts, clothing, and accessories. Through work-trade and our Pay What You Can programs, we provide free and affordable bicycles, repairs, and accessories (such as helmets and locks) to cyclists facing financial difficulties.

Our Organizational Focus:

As a 501(c)(3) organization and responsible community partner in Greater Cleveland, we strive to maintain organizational focus to best serve our clients – culminating in our Mission, Vision and Values statement.

The OCBC Staff and Board of Directors collaborate on this statement in a 3-year cycle, along with the organization’s strategic plan, in order to improve and expand our work with the needs of the community. We publish this document to the public for transparency, and you can read our 2023 Mission, Vision and Values here.

Click here to view our Form 1023
Click here to view our 2024 annual report
Click here to view our 2023 annual report
Click Here to view our Non-discrimination policy
Click Here to view our Code of Conduct/Safe spaces policy

Our Board of Directors

We’re currently looking for new board members! If you’re interested in joining, please reach out to us at board@ohiocitycycles.org. Our areas of greatest need are accounting and legal.

Joe Bashover – President

Joe is an engineer by day and a part-time basement bike mechanic by night. Over the years, he has scavenged parts, built new and used equipment, ridden for fun and transport, and aided friends and family with repair and maintenance. For many years, it was just a side-interest. Then, in 2018 he was in an accident that made standing and walking difficult. The recovery was relatively quick, and he is very lucky to be as healthy as he is, but the experience pushed him to work hard to be mobile. He remembers the first thing he did after he was able to move around with crutches was to teeter precariously in the garage and build up a suitable road-bike. Soon, he was back in the saddle and able to enjoy the freedom that he had craved so much. The experience rejuvenated his passion for cycling, but more importantly, forced him to see the value it can bring to everyone on two wheels. A bike is not only a way to get around: it’s a road to recovery, a means of self-expression, and ultimately, it’s independence.

Blake Yoho – Treasurer

Blake was one of the first new volunteers at OCBC during the pandemic, hoping to learn more about how to maintain his first “real” bike while finding community through a passion for cycling. He quickly realized the supportive and inclusive community at the Co-op, and he served as the Volunteer Coordinator the following summer to become more involved in getting folks access to reliable transportation. With a deep interest in nonprofits, Blake has been excited to support the board in helping OCBC reach even more folks in a sustainable way. Blake has a degree in Business Management from Boston College, a Master’s in Education from John Carroll University, and a never-ending desire to learn more about and contribute to the Cleveland community. He’s grateful to be a part of the Co-op, which brings together all sorts of folks for a shared purpose – to find joy in and access to reliable bicycles.

Andrew Kinnen

A life long cyclist, Andrew retired after 30+ years at Sherwin-WIlliams and is now spending his time volunteering with a variety of community organizations. At SW Andrew leveraged his Business Management degree from Ohio State and progressed through a diverse series of roles in Sales, Sales Management, Marketing, New Product Development and retired as a Senior Director of Marketing.  Strictly a road biker, Andrew is glad to get more involved with the cycling community in NE Ohio. 

 

Marcia Mauter

Marcia has a strong background in outdoor experiential learning and nonprofit leadership in NEO.  She is also a lifelong globetrotter and combines her keen interest in people, cultures, and adventure at every turn. Even though she got sent home from New Zealand in March 2020 due to Covid — and then again from Hawaii in 2022 due to a fall and big ouch — she hopes to get it right next time! Marcia is pleased to roll up her sleeves and advance, together with other board and staff, the mission and good work of OCBC in our community.  Marcia also serves on a second board, Council of International Fellowships/USA. You can find her on her fold up touring bike, stepping out on some remote waterway, high altitude trail, open road, freezing tundra or scorching desert, visiting her far flung kids/grandkids, or ‘Facilitating through Story”, her next entrepreneurial venture.

Connor O’Brien

Connor began his journey with OCBC in 2022 as a volunteer salvaging parts, eventually taking the tune-up class, building his own touring bike, becoming a volunteer mechanic, and joining the Co-op’s board of directors. OCBC’s commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and community is what drives Connor to volunteer with the Co-op. With a Master’s in nonprofit administration and Bachelor’s in communications from John Carroll University, over five years of experience in the nonprofit sector in Northeast Ohio, and a love for riding and fixing bicycles, Connor is excited to lend his skills to OCBC.

 

 

Nick Barbuto

Nick’s first interaction with OCBC was taking the tune-up class in 2024, and he knew almost immediately that he wanted to be more involved with this inclusive and community-driven organization. In his career, Nick leads a data engineering and business intelligence team at a local bank and has professional experience in process improvement, product development, and IT. He hopes to use these skills to amplify OCBC’s mission. You can find Nick riding around Cleveland’s streets, Metroparks, mountain bike trails, and indoor bike parks.

Chris Littman

Chris Littman serves as the Executive Director of Professional Programs at the Case School of Engineering. He oversees a diverse portfolio that includes 17 master’s degree programs, 13
PhD programs, and 5 online degrees, managing key areas such as marketing, recruitment, and career placement for over 800 graduate students. Previously, Chris was the Second Vice
President at Citi, where he managed $150 million in assets and provided institutional clients with cash management solutions. He holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the Weatherhead
School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and a BA in History and Economics from Bucknell University.