Cyclist of the Month: Marty Cavalluzzi

Age: 49
Occupation: Vice President for Instruction, Edmonds Community College
Degrees: Associates of Arts degree (Orange Coast College, CA)
BS in Fisheries (Humboldt State University, CA)
MA in Marine Science (College of William and Mary, VA)
Ph.D. in Marine Science (College of William and Mary, VA)
Hometown: Bainbridge Island
Wheels: 1998 Specialized Rock Hopper

Marty Cavalluzzi takes instruction seriously. A graduate of the Seattle Century and RSVP, this community college executive instructs staff in the hallways and on the roadways.

Busy with a wife and two young children, Marty appreciates the daily workout of his commute from Bainbridge Island to Lynnwood. Four days per week, Marty drives to Kingston, where his nine mile roundtrip bike route starts. On the fifth day, Marty bikes the full distance from his home, adding 34 miles to his daily log. It may only be nini miles per day on most days, but it adds up if you ride every day, no matter what the conditions are.

While on the ferry, he does not have to deal with inattentive drivers on cell phones — he enjoys stretching, reading and relaxing prior to his day.

Marty’s paper route inspired him to start biking more in his teens. In fact, Marty has never stopped biking to work.

His favorite past commutes include a 22-mile trip along the California coast to Laguna Beach, and an eleven-mile commute out of Bellingham to the Northwest Indian College.

After he joined the Club, Marty read about RSVP in the Cascade Courier and started training to finish the 2008 event, which he said was fantastic and well-supported.

He presents a standing offer to friends: bike to work with me for a week and you’ll be hooked within a month.

“I’m hooked,“ reports Rachel Solemsaas, Vice President of Administrative Services for Bellevue Community College. Three years ago while working at Edmonds Community College, bike commuting intimidated Rachel. She thought it would be a hassle. Marty convinced her to try cycling to off-site meetings, and he chaperoned Rachel during her early commutes. Today, Rachel bikes the 25 mile round trip four days per week. And she rode this year’s RSVP and Seattle Century with her former co-workers. “She’s a role model for executive staff,” says Marty.

This past May, Edmonds Community College hosted its largest ever Bike To Work station, coordinated by Claudia Levi, a Business Management teacher. The table included a raffle for new College-branded bike jerseys, which Claudia’s class printed as a school project.

Two different project management classes worked on the jersey project for two quarters. The first class did the feasibility study and the second class executed the project. The class raised over $5,000 in sponsorships and jersey sales, which were sold for $20 to students and at cost to everyone else. The goal of the project was not only to produce Edmonds Community College bicycle jerseys, but to learn the skills, practices and documentation of project management. The classes unveiled the bicycle jerseys at a celebratory August BBQ, just in time for some riders to wear them on this year’s RSVP.

“Marty is a great guy and fun leader; we all respect him very much,” says Claudia.

Like many executives, Marty keeps a busy schedule, filled with meetings. The College provides staff lockers, showers, as well as bike lockers. Marty brings fresh folded shirts and ties daily, but keeps his dress shoes and sport coats at work.

Marty has even inspired a dozen staff & faculty to ride casually at lunch, often enjoying the nearby Interurban Trail.

Ed. Note: Edmonds Community College admissions have increased 32% to 12,000 students this fall. Forty-one percent of the students are seeking academic transfer degrees. Articulation agreements allow students to transfer to four-year colleges as Juniors. Another 30% of students seek professional/technical degrees and certificates for professional development and new careers. Another 19% complete their high school diplomas, take Adult Basic Education classes or take English as second Language classes. The others take continuing education classes.

Thirty-five percent of all math, science, engineering and technology majors in the state of WA begin at a WA state community college;41% of four-college graduates begin their degrees at a WA state community college;53%of all teachers begin their degrees at a WA state community college.

Scott Marlow was marketing director for Cascade Bicycle Club from 2001-2005. The Club record-holder for the shortest commute (under six seconds), Marlow works from his home office in West Seattle.

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