Angela Parrotta - President
While living and working as a graphic designer in New York City, Angela biked across the country in 2008 and 2010 with the non-profit, Bike & Build, to raise money and awareness for affordable housing. This led to a career change and a move to Washington, D.C. to work in bicycle advocacy. While in D.C., she rebranded one of the DMV's oldest independent bike shops, Spokes Etc, designed cycling kits for many of the local race teams and clubs, and was the women's director for an elite race team. Angela started road racing in 2014 and in her last 4 years of competing has stepped on over 25 podiums.
Over the last several years, Angela would visit Naples often to see family and escape winters in D.C. The stars finally aligned in 2020 and now she calls Naples home. The cycling community here has always welcomed her and now she's eager to finally give back.
While living and working as a graphic designer in New York City, Angela biked across the country in 2008 and 2010 with the non-profit, Bike & Build, to raise money and awareness for affordable housing. This led to a career change and a move to Washington, D.C. to work in bicycle advocacy. While in D.C., she rebranded one of the DMV's oldest independent bike shops, Spokes Etc, designed cycling kits for many of the local race teams and clubs, and was the women's director for an elite race team. Angela started road racing in 2014 and in her last 4 years of competing has stepped on over 25 podiums.
Over the last several years, Angela would visit Naples often to see family and escape winters in D.C. The stars finally aligned in 2020 and now she calls Naples home. The cycling community here has always welcomed her and now she's eager to finally give back.
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Leigh Masimore - Vice President
After 36 years in the corporate world, Leigh and his wife Maggie started their part time relationship with Naples in 2012. Eventually making it their fulltime residence in 2017. For the last 5 years Leigh has organized and led moderate pace rides in East Naples. He is an FBA Ride Leader/Ride Marshall for club and charity rides. Leigh has recently served as Safety Liaison for Naples Velo making cycling safety presentations to cycling clubs and homeowner associations. |
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Art DeMonte - Secretary
Art grew up in NYC. Lived in Ann Arbor, MI, and now resides in Naples. After a career in the corporate world, he joined academia instructing business and entrepreneurship courses, most recently at FGCU. He enjoys running and swimming, but gained a passion for cycling after entering his first triathlon in 2006. He enjoys exploring new routes and believes Naples is lucky to have such a wide variety of cyclists. Whether you're a beginner enjoying short distance rides or a threshold athlete challenged by a double century, it’s all about safe fun with friends! |
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Jim Tirabassi - Treasurer
Jim has been a member of Naples Velo since September of 2014. An avid cyclist, he has raced in the past and has completed 225 miles in a single day. He is a Certified Public Accountant in WI and splits his time between WI and FL. |
Bill Percival - Past President
Bill grew up on the coast of Maine and purchased his first road bike in 1971 which he rode extensively for the next ten years through college and commuting 40 miles every day to his summer job. In 1991 Bill moved from Manhattan to Naples to continue his career in finance and raise his family with his wife, Allison. He resumed road cycling in 2000 and joined Naples Velo in 2004 when he discovered the challenge and camaraderie of group riding and training. Bill is a committed believer in the individual health and societal benefits of cycling.
He hopes that more areas throughout the US increasingly commit to cycling’s success as a core component of their transportation systems.
Bill grew up on the coast of Maine and purchased his first road bike in 1971 which he rode extensively for the next ten years through college and commuting 40 miles every day to his summer job. In 1991 Bill moved from Manhattan to Naples to continue his career in finance and raise his family with his wife, Allison. He resumed road cycling in 2000 and joined Naples Velo in 2004 when he discovered the challenge and camaraderie of group riding and training. Bill is a committed believer in the individual health and societal benefits of cycling.
He hopes that more areas throughout the US increasingly commit to cycling’s success as a core component of their transportation systems.
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Justin Bolde
Justin is originally a Naples native with an 8 year hiatus out West in Phoenix, Arizona where he was an avid motocross racer and skateboarder. It was an easy transition from the bike to cycling. Riding with Naples Velo, he was able to build relationships within the cycling community and eventually gain the skills needed to start racing. Justin holds a USAC category 1 license and is currently racing in the fastest criteriums in North America. Justin stays very busy balancing his two loves cycling and family. |
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Griffin Van Nest
Being born & raised in Toledo, Ohio it was ice hockey I played my whole life and it was 16 years ago that my wife & I began doing "travel therapy" where I discovered mountain biking while on a stint in the Pacific NW. Soon after I bought my first (mountain) bike when we lived in Brandon, FL and I got plenty of miles on that bike for a few years. However, it was my love for the Miami Dolphins that had me buying my second (road) bike so I could participate in DCC II back in 2011. The Dolphins Challenge Cancer is their yearly fundraiser the benefits the University of Miami Sylvester Cancer Center and their feature ride is a 100 mile route around the Miami area. So while the Dolphins introduced me to cycling it was Naples that introduced me to group rides and ever since coming to the area 6 years ago I've been a regular attendee on most weekends as well as riding a few weekday nights either solo or with an impromptu group that forms on Tuesdays & Thursdays. Once I became comfortable with group rides, I focused on riding faster with the occasional attempt at racing thrown in for good measure. I love the group dynamic and I've always been a fan of "the more the merrier" hence always extending a warm welcome to any new faces I may see. My goal is to promote increased safety awareness for all cyclists as well as helping in any ever way possible, which lately has been taking pictures for our social media accounts. I will also lend my assistance to planning & organizing any one of our future off-the-bike social events. |
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Greg Pelican
Greg is a 20 year veteran of the bicycle industry. Greg owned and managed his own store Bethel Cycle in CT for 16 years and currently is the Marketing Manager for Trek Bicycle Stores of Florida. Before buying Bethel Cycle, Greg held the role of Marketing Manager for both Fuji Photo Film and then Eastman Kodak. Greg is a passionate cyclist with results that include two Bronze Medals in the ITU Duathlon World Championships, 2X USAT Duathlon National Champion, and 3X CT USAT State Champion (bike racing and cyclocross). |
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Nick Athanassiadia
Born and raised in Greece on and around commercial boats. Spent the first half of my career running ship owning companies before the computer bug hit me in the 1980’s and I started working with Information Technology. I spent time working in Greece, Norway, Canada, Czech Republic and USA with both private and public companies. Criss crossed the USA from Miami to Upstate NY, to Los Angeles, back to Miami till I settled in Naples last year. I have been cycling since I was a kid, but it was not until 2004 that I got a bicycle in the US. I tore my ACL snow skiing and I had an operation in 2010. I tried going back with straight handlebars in 2012 but I just could not do it. A call from my doctor in 2018 changed everything. I had to lose weight and start exercising. I started slowly, came across two Cycling Groups in Miami (Hammerheads and EBC) and my first goal was to train to join the 14-16 Group. In October of 2018, I bought my drop bike and started pushing. I recall one day hearing “ON YOUR LEFT” as I was pedaling South on 62nd avenue and the 14-16 EBC Group “zoomed" by. My first Group ride was to Deering Estates a 20 mile round trip. It was all kind of blurry and I recall I tried to stay close to the ride leader the whole way. Fast forward to today some of my favorite moments over the past 4 years include getting certified as a Ride Marshall and Group Leader, joining the DCC team, and helping others embrace cycling. My proud moments have been supporting charity events like Patches and Tour de Force and above all participating with the Special Compass at Escape to Miami pulling with my bicycle a chariot with a differently abled athlete. I love cooking, photography, reading, and cycling. I am a computer nerd, tech savvy, immature for my mature age, and like joking all the time. It brings up smiles. I am married, have 2 sons, a Granddaughter, and I live full time in North Naples. |
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Marshall Evans
Marshall is originally from Colorado and has the Colorado climbing legs to show for it. When he isn’t riding on gravel or the road, he enjoys spending time with his lovely wife Laura, his pups and family. |