Gabe Klein, Mobility Expert, Joins Coaster Cycles Strategic Advisory Board

Gabe Klein, Mobility Expert, Joins Coaster Cycles Strategic Advisory Board

November 15
04:16 2019
Former Commissioner of the Chicago and Washington DC Depts of Transportation, Klein Currently Serves as Co-founder of Cityfi & Venture Partner at Fontinalis Partners!

Boston, MA – Today, Coaster Cycles, a builder and operator of mobility products for the last mile, announced that Gabe Klein, former Commissioner of the Chicago and Washington DC Depts of Transportation and Venture Partner at Fontinalis Partners on their $100m fund II and recent $150m fund III, joined the Coaster Advisory Board. Prior to these roles, Gabe honed his expertise and love for cycling as Vice President of Zipcar and National Director of Stores at Bikes USA.

“What an honor to have a Gabe join the Coaster family,” said Ben Morris, Founder & CEO.  “His experience, passion for transportation, and expertise helps put Coaster in the best position for the future.”

Coaster builds and operates eco-friendly mobility products that provide transportation, delivery, and branding services. Built in the USA, Coaster manufactures all models at the Company’s 24,000 sq. ft. facility near Missoula, MT.  Enabled by technology and supported by ads, Coaster’s rental fleet provides customers a new way to ride, drive, and connect. 

“As cities look to solve challenges in congestion, health, and resilience, Coaster provides innovative solutions,’ said Gabe Klein, Coaster Advisor. “On-demand access to mobility services and product delivery will only continue to scale, and Coaster is positioned to take advantage of this trend, while cutting environmental damage vs adding to it.”

Coaster’s portfolio boasts a robust mix of public and private sector clients including Aramark, Nestle, Pepsi, University of Montana, Lime, UPS, and Uber. Coaster Cycles are offered in two size options. Models can be configured to service a variety of functions such as delivering food and packages, pouring coffee or beer, and servicing scooter and bike-share operations.  Coaster Cycles operate in the bike lane, can access areas cars cannot, do not require a driver’s license, and can be outfitted with a variety of integrated technology features like e-assist.

Gabe is joined by Andrew and Thomas Parkinson, Co-Founders of Peapod, Katherine Allen, Angel Investor, and Harlan Platt, Professor at Northeastern University. The new advisors are pioneers, thought leaders, and executives in business, technology, sustainability, education, and transportation. Coaster is excited to welcome our new advisors to the team to help achieve its mission to inspire communities and brands to move, connect, and deliver with the world around them.

Gabe Klein: Co-Founder at Cityfi & Venture Partner at Fontinalis Partners, LLC

Gabe Klein is a life-long entrepreneur, author of Start-Up City (Island Press, 2015) and the former Commissioner of the Chicago and Washington DC Departments of Transportation. In both cities, he revamped technology platforms and government processes while focusing on putting people first vs. automobiles on city streets. This included launching two of the first and largest bikeshare systems in the U.S. and building protected bike lanes and better pedestrian infrastructure for vulnerable citizens citywide, as well as facilitating private services like carshare and rideshare that could help each city’s mobility goals.  

Gabe honed his creativity and leadership skills at companies including Zipcar, where he served as Vice President, Bikes USA as national Director of Stores and his own electric powered, organic food truck chain, On The Fly.

Post-government, and after an enriching fellowship with the Urban Land Institute in 2014, Gabe joined Fontinalis Partners as a Special Venture Partner on their $100 million 2nd fund. Gabe also co-founded Cityfi in 2016, a national boutique innovation consultancy that advises governments and companies worldwide on innovation in cities including Singapore where Gabe has been a visiting fellow for the Centre For Livable Cities, working on creating a “car-lite” city-state. 

Katherine Kennedy Allen: Marketing Advisor and Angel Investor

Katherine has served a variety of leadership roles prior to joining Coaster Cycles as an Advisory Board Member.  Kate is currently finishing her doctorate in Leadership and Organizational Learning at Vanderbilt University and is an active angel investor.

Katherine previously consulted as a marketing advisor to Pacify who recently was acquired by Advantia in 2019. Prior to her work with Pacify, Katherine served as Director of Communications for Rally Health/Audax Health which was acquired by Optum in 2015.  In addition to her experience in Health Tech, Katherine also has served in leadership positions as the chairwoman of the KBPK Foundation, principal at the Availor Capital, board member for the Prevent Cancer Foundation and received leadership recognition as a Dell #Inspire100, World Economic Forum Young Global Shaper, Bisnow 30 under 30 and the United Nations Foundation. 

Andrew Parkinson: Co-founder of Peapod, ItemMaster, & Sifter 

Andrew is a serial founder of some of the country’s most innovative startups including Peapod, ItemMaster and his current company, Sifter.  Andrew is currently Managing Partner at Sifter, a company that enables shoppers to find products that fit their diet and lifestyle.

As co-founder and CEO of Peapod, an online grocery shopping and delivery service, Andrew had overall responsibility for running the Company. He and his brother Thomas founded Peapod in 1989, took the company public in 1997, and sold it to Ahold in 2001. Peapod is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Ahold. Peapod currently has revenues of approximately $1 billion and over 5,000 associates (commonly referred to as Podsters).

Thomas Parkinson: Entrepreneur in Residence, Northwestern University and Co-founder, Peapod  

Thomas co-founded Peapod with his brother, Andrew, in 1989 when he was 29 with $50,000 in seed money from friends and family. Delivering groceries via the computer, Peapod is the pioneer of e-commerce, being the oldest e-commerce company in the world. It maintains its leadership as the largest e-grocer in the country serving the Midwest and the East coast.

As Chief Technology Officer and Head of Product, Thomas was responsible for Peapod’s web and mobile product development, IT infrastructure, supply chain and transportation systems, and R&D. He has a passion for creating unique on-line experiences and delivering superior customer service. Thomas retired from Peapod earlier this year and is now an Entrepreneur in Residence at Northwestern University.

Harlan Platt: Professor of Finance, Northeastern University

The company’s first advisor, Harlan is currently a Professor of Finance at Northeastern University’s D’amore-Mckim School of Business.

Asides from his position as a professor, Harlan serves on the Board of Directors of Prospect Street High Income Portfolio, Inc., listed on the NYSE, and VSI Enterprises, Inc. on the NASDAQ and the Chairman of the John Hancock, CI Trust.

About Coaster:

Coaster inspires communities and brands to move, connect, and deliver with the world around them. Coaster builds and operates eco- friendly mobility products that provide transportation, delivery, and branding services for a range of clients, including Fortune 500s, governments, universities, events, and retailers.  All Coaster models are proudly made in the USA at the Company’s 24,000 sq. ft. facility near Missoula, MT. The Company also operates fleets in Boston, New York, and San Francisco and activates ad campaigns nationally.

To learn more, visit www.coastercycles.com

Follow us on Social Media –

Instagram: @Coastercycles 

Facebook: @Coastercycles 

Twitter: @Coastercycles

Media Contact
Company Name: Coaster Cycles
Contact Person: John Walker Baus
Email: Send Email
Phone: 5049206416
City: Boston
State: Massachusetts
Country: United States
Website: https://www.coastercycles.com/

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