Meet the Idaho Walk Bike Alliance Team

Molly O’Reilly | President | Sandpoint, ID

Molly is a founding member and president of the Idaho Walk Bike Alliance. She founded and chaired the City of Sandpoint Pedestrian Advisory Committee and served on Idaho’s Safe Routes to School Committee. Molly is past vice president of America Walks and served on their board for nine years.

In addition, Molly was a founding member of Sensible Transportation Options for People in Portland, Oregon, whose mission was to stop a proposed freeway and advocate for light rail, bikes, smart growth and pedestrians. She served as a Citizen Member for the Portland Metro Region Transportation Policy Alternatives Committee, and she was Executive Director of Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon.

Molly has an extensive background in sales, market research and management. She has a B.A. from Reed College and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University.

Molly sailed the South Pacific with her husband for four years in the 1990’s, walking many towns and cities from Ecuador to Adelaide between times at sea.

Ted Hallisey | Executive Director

He is passionate about IWBA and our mission to promote healthy, safe and reliable active transportation throughout Idaho, and to Educate, Advocate and Celebrate the creation and expansion of safe pathways to walk, bike and roll in Idaho communities. He is an avid walker and bicycle enthusiast and hikes and walks daily with his two miniature labradoodles. Ted earned a Master of Education degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication.

Also known as Cowboy Ted – He has hosted school wellness programs for over 275,000 kids and hosts a weekly online video show for rural kids and families at www.cowboyted.com. Ted previously served as Executive Director for three non-profit programs. He served as an educator too – serving as an elementary school PE teacher, high school coach and college communication instructor. He has also served as a media personality for radio stations in California, Missouri and Utah and served as a rodeo announcer, journalist and radio host for over 20 years and has covered the National Finals Rodeo and Pro Bull Riders Finals. Advocacy for healthy and inclusive communities is a lifelong passion. He was the National spokesperson for the Tobacco Free Rodeo program and is proud to have helped persuade the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to drop tobacco sponsorship in 2010. Ted called Utah home for 27 years before moving to Idaho in 2025.

Mark Pemble | Secretary | Caldwell, ID

Mark Pemble is a native Idahoan and has explored almost every city in Idaho on his skateboard and bicycle.

Mark serves as the president of the Friends of the Caldwell Library, Co-President of the Caldwell Young Professionals, Secretary of the Caldwell Train Depot, and is on the board of MING studios.

Mark has guided regional bicycle and pedestrian path planning for nearly 15 years. Mark also holds the record as the first person to bike the entire Boise River Greenbelt system from start to finish in one day.

John Bengtson

John is an educator and community organizer who has worked as a teacher and guide, leading students of all ages on the wild rivers and public lands in Maine, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Chile, and Idaho. He moved to Cascade in 2016 to teach high school English, and has lived in Boise since 2022. He currently works with Conservation Voters for Idaho helping make government more accessible to conservation champions across the state.

John is passionate about the role that transportation plays in creating strong communities and healthy environments. His skills and professional experience revolve around helping people better understand and participate in complex systems, and is excited to support IWBA’s educational programming and advocacy efforts.

Chris Staley | Idaho Falls, ID

“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” So said H. G. Wells. While Chris may not totally share H.G.’s optimism, he is passionate about cycling – any kind! If it has two (or three) wheels and two pedals it’s all good. His bucket list is made up of roads and trails he’s yet to ride. Chris wants to inspire and enable others to re-discover the freedom and joy of cycling, and maybe in the process, save a little of the planet.

Chris was fortunate enough to attend college in one of the premier bicycle-friendly campuses and towns – University of California, Davis. At the time, he didn’t appreciate how far ahead of its time Davis was. The campus was large and closed to cars, so bicycling was a necessity – the campus was laced with multi-use paths and even had roundabouts! It was during those years he got his first decent road bike and became a serious road cyclist. Since then, cycling – all kinds – has been his favorite sport and hobby.

Chris realizes how much work needs to be done to improve active transportation; hence his involvement in pedestrian/bike advocacy. In 2007, he was part of a small group who formed a non-profit called Idaho Falls Community Pathways. Today Idaho Falls is making significant progress in addressing infrastructure needs. Though this group certainly can’t take full credit for their city’s awakening, they most certainly had some impact in nudging the city forward.

Joe Groberg | Idaho Falls, ID

Joseph H Groberg lives in Idaho Falls, where he has emphasized the importance of walkable, bikeable urban pathways, the extension and improvement of the city’s green belt along the Snake River, and non-motorized access to public spaces throughout the city and surrounding areas.  He supports the development of safe pathways throughout the state.

Joe received a BA from Brigham Young University in economics. JD from the University of Chicago, Master of Arts and Liberal Studies from Dartmouth College.  He is a member of the Colorado and Idaho state bars, and served on the Idaho Falls city council for 14 years.