Tim Young Departs as Friends of Pathways’ Executive Director
JACKSON, Wyoming. October 5, 2011 — Friends of Pathways (FOP) today announced to their membership and partners that Tim Young will step down as FOP’s Executive Director, after five years of leading the community, non-motorized advocacy organization. Young plans to look to new adventures in advocacy and public service.
Tim will help FOP through a transition period, will advise the organization as an independent consultant on key projects, and provide guidance and support in his new role as honorary Trustee Emeritus. Friends of Pathways Stewardship Director Mike Welch has been named Acting Executive Director.
Since Young joined FOP, he has been a key player and shepherd to tens of millions of dollars in local infrastructure investments in the community’s public trails, pathways, and improved streets, which benefit residents and visitors alike. Over the past five years he has successfully garnered political and financial support for the government’s construction of more than 25-miles of new shared-use pathways and dozens of miles of improved front-country trails.
“I am very grateful for the support of so many people in the community, especially the members that have donated time and money to support pathways, trails and education programs,” Young said. “I am also proud of the progress being made by local, state, and federal agencies to complete Jackson’s pathways and make our streets safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. We have seen a true paradigm shift in recognition of the many benefits of bicycling and walking for transportation, recreation, healthy lifestyles and fun. Today, Jackson, Wyoming has a world-class pathway and trails system, and is nationally recognized as a Gold Bicycle Friendly Community. While I feel some sadness moving on, I am excited to continue to help support Friends of Pathways and the Jackson community in new ways,” Young said.
Young has been a pivotal leader in FOP’s history, having helped to increase FOP’s membership to 1,200, more than triple its budget, increase its staff, and improve its financial reserves. Tim has been a highly successful leader in developing public/private relationships to achieve numerous multi-modal transportation and recreation enhancements benefiting the community, State of Wyoming, and Grand Teton National Park. Today, with Tim’s help, Jackson boasts sixty miles of shared-use pathways and over 110 miles of front-country trails that do everything from safely helping children get to and from schools to opening up safe and healthy family recreational experiences in one of the world’s crown jewels, Grand Teton National Park. The pathways network has been a source of construction jobs in our community and now underpins a growing and enduring component of our recreation-based economy.
While at FOP, Young also introduced a number of successful nonprofit-led programs to the community, such as Wyoming’s top Safe Routes to School program, an innovative Pathway Stewardship program, and a new Shared Roads safety initiative with the Teton County Sheriff and Town Police Chief. Tim nurtured and developed an award-winning partnership with the Bridger-Teton National Forest that includes a talented 8-person FOP/FS Trail Crew, the unique Teton Pass Ambassador program, and education efforts like the Respect and Responsibility campaign.
“Tim’s passion for the mission of Friends of Pathways and his work ethic in furthering FOP’s goals has been amazing. His list of accomplishments in Jackson and Teton County is huge,” says FOP Chair Maggie Gibson. “All of us on the board know he will continue to be an influential advocate for non-motorized transportation, and his recognition at the state and national levels attests to his abilities. Teton County has been fortunate to have him working on our behalf to realize a more livable and sustainable community.”
For more information, visit: http://www.friendsofpathways.org/
