The NoVA Team


    • Mike Doyle
      Founder & Executive Director
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      Mike is a crash survivor after the driver of an SUV crashed into Mike as he was walking in a crosswalk. Six months after being released from the hospital he founded Alexandria Families for Safe Streets (AFSS) in 2017, Arlington Families for Safe Street (Arl FSS – 2019) and Fairfax Families for Safe Streets (Ffx FSS – 2020). In 2022 the Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) entity was established as the not-for-profit 501.c3 umbrella organization for all three NoVA FSS chapters. All three chapters are dedicated to building an awareness of, and support for, safe streets in our community where all people can walk, cycle, and drive safely and seek to eliminate traffic-related pedestrian fatalities and injuries on our streets.

      Mike initiated the concept of a “Near Miss” survey application for people to report near miss incidents where they were almost crashed into by a driver of a vehicle and/or report a dangerous location on our streets. With the stories of crash survivors or families who lost a loved one to a crash combined with the crowd sourcing Near Miss data, NoVA FSS advocates for policymakers to invest in vulnerable road users’ safety on our roads.

      Mike had been an investment banker by trade. He worked at JP Morgan; Charterhouse, Inc.; BHF Bank in Frankfurt Germany and started his own firm, Novahill Advisors, in 2002. He retired from Novahill Advisors in 2025 to work full time on NoVA FSS matters. In addition, he served as a member of Alexandria City’s Housing Affordability Advisory Committee for 9 years .

      Mike graduated from Villanova University with a B.S. degree and received an MBA from New York University’s Stern Graduate School of Business.


    • Chris French
      President
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      Chris French is an IT professional and community activist who joined the board of Fairfax Families for Safe Streets in 2020. Chris has lived in Fairfax County for more than 40 years and has been a recreational and transportation cyclist in the county for more than 20 years. As an avid active transportation user, Chris finds himself outside of his car walking, running, or rolling as often as possible – and as the county’s infrastructure allows. Chris joined the board of Fairfax Families for Safe Streets in 2020.

      Professionally, Chris manages software development projects for a government contractor, SAIC, and is proud to have supported U. S. EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment for most of his career.

      Chris is married with two children, one bicycle, and many pairs of running shoes.


    • Lucas Henneman, Ph. D.
      Arl FSS representative
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      Lucas Henneman is a biker, runner, and walker in Arlington. In his professional life, he studies air pollution as a faculty member in environmental engineering at George Mason University. He is passionate about policies and street design that ensure safety for all travelers.


    • Phil Kemelor
      Secretary
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      Phil Kemelor has been a resident of Mason District for 22 years. He is on the board of Bailey’s Crossroads 7 Corners Revitalization Corporation, was a founding member of the Glover Park Alliance, and served on the board of Wesley Housing Development Corporation.

      Phil is an independent consultant with over 30 years of applied experience in marketing, analytics and digital transformation. He is an active hiker, cyclist and Green Springs Master Gardener.


    • Melissa McMahon
      Vice President
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      Melissa McMahon, AICP MPH, has worked for Arlington County Transportation for over a decade, first as a contractor and now as staff. She currently serves as manager of the parking and curbspace program. Her prior work includes overseeing transportation demand management (TDM) in new development projects, managing the County’s TDM research program, helping to run Capital Bikeshare, and leading major pilot programs and policy development for shared- and micro-mobility.
      Before coming to Arlington, Melissa worked as a land use and environmental planning consultant in California for four years. She serves on the City of Alexandria’s Planning and Transportation Commissions and is raising a “fantastic threenager” at home. Melissa is honored to serve on the board of Alexandria Families for Safe Streets.


    • Brian Shankman
      Treasurer
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      Brian Shankman lives in Old Town Alexandria. Brian spent most of his career in travel-related industries, has walked in all 50 US states and dozens of countries. Prior to moving to Alexandria, he resided in pedestrian-friendly cities, such as London, as well as several car-friendly cities in Texas. He is an avid walker.
      Brian holds a masters degree in mathematics from the University of Texas and an MBA from the University of Dallas. He enjoys playing and teaching piano along with traveling the world.