Our Staff

Laura Istead

Executive Director

Laura spent most of her childhood moving around with her family across Western Canada and central Europe. One of her favourite memories of that time was when her Grade 5 class went on a week-long cycling expedition in the Swiss Alps, sleeping in a castle, a cave and a Swiss army bunker. She hold as BA of Geography and a MA in Environmental Education and Communications as well as Public Relations and Social Media Certificates from Mount Royal University. Laura is passionate about organizational culture, creativity and storytelling and is always looking for resources to support the TWV team and participants. She started at TWV in 2010 and continued her adventure as Executive Director in July 2017.

Pat Lennox

Director of Finance

Pat was born and raised in Calgary, where he grew up enjoying a wide variety of sports and outdoor pursuits. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the U of Alberta and a Chartered Professional Accountant designation. His professional experience includes time spent with a big 4 accounting firm, as well as managing the financial planning and analysis team with a publicly traded energy services company. In addition to his role at TWV, he teaches and develops educational content for the CPA West School of Business. Pat is an avid traveler, having visited close to 30 countries, with plans to do more (from the seat of a bike of course!) His cycling story began at 3 years old when he took off his training wheels and promptly knocked out a couple of teeth. Undeterred, Pat continued to love cycling and whether commuting or building community, he is a firm believer in using two wheels rather than four. 

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Kayla Grosfield

Development and Communications Coordinator

Kayla was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and made the return to Alberta 2 years ago after living in Halifax and Montreal for nearly a decade. She holds a Bachelors degree in Music, Diplomas in Psychology and Leadership and a Masters in Professional Education. Her background is primarily in the arts, namely as a performer and music teacher. Kayla strives to be outside as often as possible, whether that's walking, hiking, snowshoeing or just standing there. She has spent a copious amount of time biking the streets of Montreal and making frequent stops for bagels and cheese, and is looking forward to adopting a bike from Two Wheel View and exploring Alberta together. 

Molli Bennett

Community Programs Coordinator

Molli grew up spending time outdoors with her family and really values the experience of adventure at a young age. As a born and raised Calgarian, she is passionate about seeing her city and its young people thrive. She is a graduate of the Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership Degree program at Mount Royal University. Molli is a passionate cycling and a firm believer that bikes are a great tool for empowering youth and building community. She is currently a member of the Calgary Foundation's Stride program and recently joined the Bike Calgary Board of Directors. 

Hank Hansen

TWV Bike Shop Manager

Hank is a Canadian transplant and native Californian who moved to Calgary in January 2016. His first bike tour involved racks held on with duct tape, sleeping in roadside bushes and a very awkward ride in a police car. He was 18, and has been hooked on bike adventures ever since. 

Hank graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN with a degree in English/Creative Writing. It was there that he also began to learn the art of bike repair, thanks to the university's awesome campus bike co-op, MacBike. Since that time, Hank has been working almost exclusively in the bike industry as a mechanic and service writer, at different shops in Northern California and Calgary. His passion for bikes is perhaps best represented by the number of bikes in his house at any given time: typically 15-20, including his bikes, those belonging to his partner Shasta, and other bikes being refurbished for fun, fixed for friends or displayed as 'art' on the walls. Hank is equally at home commuting across town or bikepacking through the wilderness; he's stoked to get the opportunity to share his passion for riding and repairing bikes with the next generation of cyclists at Two Wheel View. 

Becky Giammarino

Full Cycle and Trips Coordinator

Becky was born and raised in Calgary and spending time in wild spaces has been a big part of her life since she was a child. Becky graduated from Mount Royal University with an Applied Bachelor's degree in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership. Since graduation, she has been guiding groups of all ages on hiking, backpacking and snowshoeing trips as well as creating outdoor experiences with youth in residential care. Becky has also been deeply involved with Ghost River Rediscovery, this connection has provided an opportunity to learn traditional ways of connecting with the land from local elders, as well as connecting with all youth in the backcountry. Becky is a recreational mountain biker and cycle commuter who is inspired by the power of nature and the mindfulness that can come from caring for and cruising on your trusty bicycle. Becky is the steward of our Full Cycle and Trips programs, co-facilitates the GAP program and generally does a million little things all the time that keep TWV running smoothly.

Thom Hoff

Education and Training Coordinator

Thom grew up in the foothills of the Rockies, chasing freedom on two wheels or two planks. He completed a BA in Sociology at the University of Victoria where he also came to know the bicycle as form or transportation and a way of life. Two wheels took him on many adventures across North America in pursuit of wild places. Bringing this passion back to Calgary, he became a certified bike mechanic and enjoyed the bliss of wrenching on bicycles in a small community shop for several years. Two Wheel View entered his life in 2016 when began working with the Beltline Bike Club in downtown Calgary. Since then he has been working at TWV full time and is the creator and co-facilitator of the GAP program.  He is excited about the expanding opportunities to use the bike to spread joy and empower youth.