For the past three years, Minnie Phan has given CalBike a huge boost as a passionate member of our development team. As Development Associate, Minnie has brought her positivity and energy to everything from helping the California Dream Ride succeed to taking the lead on donor appreciation. When she leaves at the end of June, we will miss her effervescent spirit and the abundance of talent she has brought to the Development Associate role. Minnie is a devoted bicycle rider, who can count the number of times she’s driven a car on her fingers and toes, so she’s been a natural at connecting with CalBike’s supporters.

Throughout her time with CalBike, Minnie has continued to work on her central passion: illustration. She is a graduate of California College of the Arts (where she recently delivered a commencement speech for her old department). She has built a thriving business as a freelance illustrator and she is now ready to dive into her arts career full-time.

Before she left, Minnie shared her artistic talents with CalBike, creating the fabulous Cal the Cat mascots you may have seen on our social media. Minnie has created comic books, graphic novels, and children’s books, as well as illustrations for a range of organizations and publications. You can view her whole portfolio at her website.

“I’m really grateful to have been able to contribute to an organization that is making a difference,” Minnie said of her time at CalBike. But she won’t be leaving activism behind as she pursues her artistic ambitions. She has created an illustrated book about the roots of her Vietnamese immigrant family. “My vision for the future is to be an inspired, passionate artist-illustrator, making books,” Minnie said. “And I want to keep riding my bike.”

While we are sad to lose her, we look forward to following Minnie’s artistic career. And, though she is irreplaceable, we are looking for a new development associate.