Our Team
Scott has been led by his passion for all things bikes since he was 4 years old when the training wheels first came off. After graduating from University of Vermont with a business degree, the mountains called and he put down roots in Jackson Hole, WY where he opened a one-man repair shop that turned into a Top 50 US bike shop. A stint as Mayor of Victor, ID, Executive Director of a local entrepreneur supporting non-profit, and a member of the faculty at Thaden School in Bentonville, AR are among the experiences that enrich his entrepreneur DNA and passion for change making. Just like a well adjusted headset, Scott keeps the Pedal Kids team steering in the right direction.
Jannine has been in the bike industry since the turn of the century but don’t let that fool you. Her stoke on and off the bike is higher than ever! Although her experience in bicycle shop inventory management is legendary, day to day Jannine helps coordinate and synchronize all the Pedal Kids moving pieces across both the programming and product aspects of the business. We call her the Crank because her energy really helps power the team!
Mickey is pretty new to the world of biking, but she absolutely loves the rush of adrenaline and endorphins after a good ride! Originally from Atlanta, GA, Mickey moved to NWA shortly after completing her education there. After graduating with both her B.A. and M.A. in Sociology from Oglethorpe University and Emory University, respectively, Mickey knew she wanted to use her knowledge and understanding of culture and inequality to be connected with the community to create real positive change. We call Mickey The Hub because she keeps the wheels of Pedal Kids’ programming moving smoothly, and is always working hard with coaches, community partners, and kids & parents to provide our community an opportunity to find a love for biking.
Ben was born and raised in Northwest New Jersey, but has lived in Northwest Arkansas now since he was in High School. He has a strong passion for being on two wheels- both bikes and motorcycles- and has been riding since he was four years old. After nearly a decade of food service and working his way through his B.A. in Communication and Sociology as a first-generation student, he attended graduate school in Communication at the University of Arkansas. Having experience in communications, Ben is well-equipped to tell the incredible stories of accomplishment and STOKE we see every day at here Pedal Kids! We call Ben the Geometry because he’s largely responsible for crafting the look, feel and design of much of our communication.
Carson is a Master Certified Mechanic and the go-to bike repair expert for friends, family, and riders of all levels. With decades of hands-on experience, his background spans shop management, customer solutions, and even creative direction, bringing a unique blend of technical expertise and innovative thinking to the team.
His journey with bikes began at his first BMX race in Kansas City, MO, sparking a lifelong passion for cycling and the outdoors. Whether it’s mountain biking, rock climbing, or hiking, Carson thrives on adventure and the community that comes with it.
What truly sets Carson apart is his commitment to our mission. As he puts it, “In this role, I feel I have the ability to truly make a difference and work towards helping champion that for our entire community and eventually the country.” This is how Carson got his nickname ‘The Handlebar’. Through his dedication, he is helping lead Buddy Pegs into the future.
Roger Donham is a certified professional powerhouse bringing 21 years of elite AR/AP management experience gained from his tenure at Corporate Walmart. His expertise is focused on ensuring compliance and financial transparency, with a passion for using meticulous data analysis to accurately tell the business’s story. This rigorous approach makes him indispensable to our financial health and operational efficiency.
A mission-driven leader, Roger is committed to leveraging his financial skills to support a company that is deeply passionate about helping kids and serving the community. When not managing our accounts, Roger enjoys downtime watching a favorite movie or exploring the trails around Tanyard Creek with his partner and dog.
Roger serves as our Office Manager, a role where he has quickly become an absolutely essential component of our operation, earning him the nickname: “The Chain.”
Martina Platte leads our family experience, making sure every interaction with Pedal Kids USA is exceptional, consistent, and inclusive. She’s driven by a passion for connecting with people and guiding their personal journeys. This expertise comes from years spent in the cycling world, where she was a Senior Copywriter at Trek Bicycles and a Customer Service/Copywriter at Competitive Cyclist. She loved telling stories that celebrated the freedom of two wheels, and now she uses that energy to help our families feel seen, supported, and stoked about riding. Martina’s role is critical: she’s the central point of contact and champions our commitment to Equity, Inclusion & Representation, working to expand biking adventures for all families.
When she’s not focused on making our programs better or turning family feedback into actionable data, Martina is a lifelong dirt lover. You can find her happiest picking her way through rocky trails, foraging for mushrooms in the woods, or expressing her creativity by throwing clay in the pottery studio. She’s the vital connection that ensures every family’s journey reflects our mission of creating a kinder, more connected world by getting more people on bikes. Martina is known as ‘The Chainlink’ because she connects families and Pedal Kids USA.
Ciara is our Communications Coordinator; she is instrumental in shaping our digital presence. She manages our social media channels, captures and edit engaging photo and video content, supports our blog and app storytelling, and oversees email campaigns and engagement tracking.
With decades of experience in the non-profit and education sectors, Ciara brings a deep understanding of community building and impact-driven communication. Many know her from her time managing local trail-building organizations, Bikeboom, community outreach and her work with All Bikes Welcome, all of which reflect her passion for creating inclusive and diverse cycling communities.
Affectionately known as “The Tread” for her remarkable ability to adapt and overcome any terrain, Ciara embodies the spirit of resilience and connection. She’s a powerhouse in outdoor recreation advocacy and an avid adventurer, whether she’s cycling, rock climbing, kayaking, or camping. Her expertise in trail sustainability, design, and maintenance, combined with her talent for community outreach and volunteer leadership, make her a perfect fit to help us grow and amplify our mission to spark a movement of connection and wellness through cycling for everybody.
Casey joins Pedal Kids USA after eight years as a high school business teacher and tennis coach (B.A., University of Houston). He moved to NWA, drawn by a passion for learning and connecting with nature, and quickly fell in love with the area’s trails, his favorite type of riding. Casey is the suspension fork, representing the stability and support he provides. Much like the fork absorbs impact and keeps the ride smooth, his coaching background helps absorb the variables of learning, so riders can confidently progress.
His decision to join the team was immediate after seeing the coaches’ impressive work at the Slaughter Pen Skills Park. Casey is excited to utilize his experience to support the program, contribute to its mission, and meet everyone in the Pedal Kids USA community.
Our Founders, Scott and Jannine Fitzgerald, have a passion for steep adventure. Their adventures started on bikes, skis, and snowboards, but these days their ‘steep adventure’ is found in parenting and making the world a better place through cycling.
Steep adventure is all about trying something new, pushing beyond your comfort zone, and realizing the rewards of taking reasonable risks in life. It’s also about having positive impact.
2002: Scott and Jannine started a one-man bicycle repair shop in Jackson Hole, WY, and grew it into a Top 50 US bicycle retailer. While running Fitzgerald’s Bicycles, they saw the positive impacts bicycles have on people of all ages, and communities as a whole.
2014: Scott and Jannine write their first children’s book called B is for Bicycles which was successfully funded on Kickstarter. Buddy Pegs was born! From that launch pad, Scott and Jannine began creating a world of original story telling podcasts for kids from their personal experiences running a local bike shop and raising a family. Have you heard the World of Buddy Pegs?
2015: They sold their bicycle shop to embark on a new steep adventure to inspire families across the country to adopt cycling as their favorite family activity and focus on Buddy Pegs full-time!
2017: Scott and Jannine write their second picture book Taking The Lead, also successfully funded on Kickstarter. By creating adventurous stories and experiences for kids, and their parents, Scott and Jannine introduce families to how the bicycle really can be a simple solution to the world’s most complex problems. And a lot of fun!
Out of the stories came something even bigger – insight into what else parents need to help their kids fall in love with bicycles. After meeting thousands of parents at book shows, bike races, and children’s festivals, it became clear that bicycling was lacking what every other sport has: a framework of coaching.
Why can preschool kids join a baseball team but not a bike team? Why is it so easy for parents to sign their kids up for soccer but not for bike riding? The truth is, the way we teach kids how to ride a bike has not evolved and the steady decline in participation proves it.
2018-2019: Scott, Jannine, and their 8 year old son, move into a 24′ RV and travel the country pulling a trailer full of kids bikes, ramps, cones, and stuffed animals. The goal: develop the first comprehensive model for youth cycling education starting at 2 years old. The couple worked diretly with hundreds of families across the country.
2019: The Fitzgerald family relocates to Bentonville, AR to contribute to incredible effort being put forth to create the world’s first model cycling community. Buddy Pegs launches year round programming for Preschool and Elementary age kids across NW Arkansas.
2022: Buddy Pegs expands into Kansas City as the first expansion market.
2023: Buddy Pegs continues to expand programming in Arkansas and Kansas City while laying the ground work for online classes and the next market, Dallas-Ft Worth, TX.
2024: Buddy Pegs has evolved into Pedal Kids USA, a name better suited to contain all the incredible momentum the entire Buddy Pegs team has generated over the last many year. Onward!
Buddy Pegs Family Bike Shop sells Bikes, Helmets, Gloves, Pads, Tools, and everything you need to begin your kiddo’s biking career! We carry the top kid’s oriented biking brands across the United States to help your kiddo get from never ever to shredder in no time! Begin shopping more than 100’s of products below!
