Staff Spotlight: Gabriel Olvera

We all found our way to Active through different avenues, but Gabriel found his way here completely by chance (and ended up becoming our youngest staff member)! He works in the BEC helping out with all things bicycles and was the 2018 recipient of the Brian Velez Memorial Award for his outstanding work as a volunteer! Thanks for everything you do Gabriel! We love having you as part of our team!

1. How did you get started working at ActiveSGV?
I met Monica Curiel in Baldwin Park while she was passing out bike lights. She and I got to talking and I told her how much I love working on bikes. She asked if I had ever visited the BEC in El Monte (I had not!) and that I should go check it out. When I finally went to check it out, I met Ernest, who was working there at the time and he told me I could volunteer there on the weekends. I thought it was super cool so I i started volunteering on Saturday’s… and then the next Saturday…. And then the next! Until I ended up going every weekend for a year! 
After that year, Ernest told me that I was getting an award for all the help I had done at the BEC! I was honored and the awards ceremony was really fun. That day, they offered me a job at the BEC and, of course, I said yes! I’ve  been a part of the ActiveSGV family ever since! 
2. What do you like most about ActiveSGV?
I like all the projects and ways that ActiveSGV helps out within the community. I know they work very hard  and I’m very happy to be a part of it all. 
3. Favorite and/or memorable ActiveSGV experience
One of my favorite Active SGV experiences was the day we where we participated in the LA County Fair Parade for 626 Golden Streets!
4. If a friend from out of town were to visit, which place in the SGV would you take them to and why?
I would take them to the Santa Fe Dam to ride the bike routes. Then I would take up the the beautiful mountains to see the beautiful views of San Gabriel Valley!
5. What you're listening to/ reading/ watching/ digging right now:
At the moment I’m listening to corrdios and I am watching Disenchantment (which is on Netflix).

Catch Gabriel on Instagram: @gabriel_5637 and Snapchat: @golvera503!