Ken Cheitlin, President
Ken joined the Board of the Friends of the Bourne Rail Trail in October 2016. An alumnus of Pitzer College and UCLA School of Law, Ken’s careers included practice as a real estate attorney, administrator of a K-8 independent school, and chief operating officer of a real estate investment, development, and management company, all in California. As an avid walker and cyclist, Ken is an enthusiastic supporter of the proposal for a new pedestrian and bicycle trail from the Canal to the existing Shining Sea Trail. Not only would it traverse some of the most beautiful parts of the Upper Cape (and leave the busy streets clear for motorists!), it would create a 26-mile uninterrupted trail from Sandwich all the way to Woods Hole, a major amenity for both local residents and visitors to this area. Ken and Betsey have their home on Patuisset Island in Bourne.
Nate Robinson
Nate was born and raised in Bourne and spent his early years biking along the Cape Cod Canal. While in high school, he spent summers building hiking trails in the American Southwest and Pacific Northwest, which helped inspire a career in urban planning and community development. Having grown up in Bourne, Nate is inspired by the potential that the Bourne Rail Trail has to become a true community asset and is proud of the strong support that the project has received from the community and across the region. Nate lives with his wife Mary Elise in Boston and works as an urban planner for the City of Quincy's Planning and Community Development Department.
Alice Howe
Alice retired from a 30 year career in education. Her experience as a counselor at elementary, middle, high school and college levels, has resulted in her expertise in training and facilitating groups. She created an Ambassador Program at the Grade Five School in the Barnstable Schools, then went on to develop an Ambassador Program at Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich. Today she leads the Ambassador Program for the Friends of the Bourne Rail Trail. As a lung cancer survivor, she realizes that health is everything. She is an avid pickle ball player, kayaker and cyclist. Her biking trips in Europe and the US have only increased her desire to see a safe and scenic multi-use path in Bourne, connecting its many beautiful villages.
Michael Finegold
If you don’t find Michael working on his bucket list of the ski slopes of New England then you will find him on a bicycle and boat trip on one of the many rivers and canals of Europe. Michael retired from an investment advisor career. He quickly got bored and saw that he could help out in filling in the missing link that hopefully will one day connect Falmouth, Bourne and Sandwich together in one unique and beautiful trail. As a Falmouth resident and a cyclist of European bike trails he brings an outsider’s perspective to the board. Michael has served as President of the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce, He is currently a board member of FCTV in Falmouth.
Mercedes Rodman
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Mercedes has lived in the USA since 1978. She is a certified Court Interpreter of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and worked in Worcester Juvenile Court for 10 years. In 2004, she became a founder-member of Venered, a Boston based Venezuelan Pro-Democracy group. In 2007, she became a Certified English Tutor for Immigrants. Mercedes moved to Bourne in 2009 and is currently pursuing her love of writing. Her first children’s book, My Blue Butterfly/Mi Mariposa Azul, was published in June 2012 and in 2013 received the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award Gold Medal in its category. A lover of nature, she finds peace and inspiration during her walks throughout the Cape. She believes deeply that the Bourne Rail Trail will give safe access to citizens of all ages to beautiful landscapes, improving the quality of life of the town and its surrounding communities. She feels privileged to be one of the Friends and work towards the realization of this valuable and wonderful project.
Karen Wilson
Karen joined the Friends of the Bourne Rail Trail board in July 2022. Karen has 23 years of experience in the transportation industry including analytical work in capital accounting and software development for the capital accounting and general accounting systems. When Karen met her husband Matt, he was an avid cyclist and helped her renew her love of cycling. In 1999 they moved to Bourne and over the years have cycled and rollerbladed with their two boys mostly on dedicated paths around the cape. Karen is excited about this project and looks forward to riding beyond the existing canal path and continuing on a dedicated trail along the beautiful Bourne shoreline.