Panelist: Donnie Seals

Donnie Seals, 71, pedaled the bike 386 miles in four days with legs that had been used for spare parts in three surgeries on his crummy heart. He rode that 386 miles from St. Louis to Chicago even though a doctor once said to him, “Why are you still alive?”

The man did this epic bike ride, a preposterous bike ride given his heart history, after four years of getting his heart in shape. It was the same heart that stopped beating on an operating room table.

Seals was 69 years old when he made the long ride over Labor Day in 2021. His son, Eric, a filmmaker, rode with him. His son, Donnie, Jr., was part of the crew for the trip.

They turned it into a documentary, Bike Vessel. The film is screening in major cities. I encourage you to check out the film's dynamic website.

Donnie Seals, Sr., is the star of the film because he confronted himself...and won.

(excerpt from Geezer Jock News)

Panelist: Christie Holland

Christie Holland, founder of Gutted Fitness LLC and seasoned transportation planner, believes movement is fundamental to life and wellbeing. Committed to crafting seamless, safe, and convenient transportation systems, she works on and advocates for projects and programs that prioritize holistic wellbeing and community connection. Beyond nerding out on transportation and fitness, Christie enjoys local art and tech events, savoring a brew at Catalyst Coffee or Omen, being outdoors, and spending quality time with family. Let's collaborate to create a healthier, more resilient community and propel our city forward.

Panelist: Harlan Hodge

Harlan is committed to the health and well-being of St. Louis' most vulnerable populations. He is the founder of Black Health Matters, a movement to reclaim the health of Black People by creating safe spaces for recreation and social connection.  Harlan co-founded NoCo Runners, also known as PPP, Black Men Run, Black Girls Run, Team Movement, and North County's most committed outdoor running group.  He also co-founded "Black People Bike" a social riding club that emerged out of the COVID-19 Pandemic. To date, the club has over 100 regular participants and nearly 1,000 followers on their Facebook Group.  Harlan serves as the Director of The Office of Belonging, Culture, and Leadership at The University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis.  He is a two-time ultra-marathoner, Trailnet super-fan, and a better than average Chess Player.

More About Margie

Margie is a Lindenwood University graduate with a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Teaching, Business Education, a Master of Science of Business Administration (MBA) (Management), a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and from ITT Technical Institute an Associates of Applied Science/Electronic Engineer Technology.

Other cycling affiliations include Black Girls Do Bike (BGDB), Black People Bike (BPB), The Monthly Cycle Community, Maryland Plaza Riders (MPR), WC2Women's Cycling Community St. Louis, Missouri, and a walking advocacy for GirlTREK of St. Louis, Missouri “…largest health movement and nonprofit organization for Black women and girls in the U.S.”

Mission Statement for her business: MDO Services strives to compliment and help clients achieve their goals with excellence, wisdom and character from a visual point of view. We build trust, confidence; and achieve objectives through respect, courtesy, ownership and integrity.

Faith Statement for herself: Believe, Hope, Trust…with God all things are possible. (Matt 19:26)

Moderator: Margie D. Shackelford-Oliver

Margie is married and a proud mother of one child. She is the Business Owner of MDO Services, an independently owned consulting company providing contract services to a variety of clients, photography, and financial consultant services. Margie’s main forte and passion is photography, where she offers quality photographs at affordable prices.

Margie is a Project and Office Manager with Dolan Realty Advisors, LLC; a Cellular Site Acquisition & Tower Development Services, building communication towers in the Midwest states. She has over twenty years of experience in mortgage loan originations, business and an operations analyst for two (2) major mortgage companies before pursuing her career as an entrepreneur. She is, also, a very actively supportive parent at Crossroads College Preparatory School and Blossom Wood Day School.

Margie is currently an active Board Member of Trailnet, City of St. Louis, Missouri; a volunteer advocacy to work for better walking & biking in the communities, and an active Board Member of the Parks and Recreation in the City of Hazelwood, Missouri.

She currently serves as President of the O’Fallon Technical High School Alumni Association in St. Louis, Missouri; a member of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, St. Louis, Missouri and a member of Regulator Cycling Club.

Prior to 2018, Margie was a Charter Member of the Gateway Optimist Club of St Louis, a Member of Saint Louis Financial Services Coalition where she volunteered to teach high school students “The ABC’s of Money Management”. She was a member and awarded Professional Organization of Women, Inc. St. Louis Chapter (POW)’s Hatchling Award in 2006, and in 2007 served as co-chair of the 10th Annual Professional Forum held at the Donald Danforth Science Center in St. Louis, MO. Margie taught as a Substitute Teacher in the Hazelwood School

District.Margie spends most of her time working to make life better for others through community outreach, mentoring, and leadership training. She brings proven leadership skills and strong social sensitivity to every task that she takes on. Margie is known as an effective communicator with political savvy and an executive presence when it comes to obtaining results. She possesses in-depth industry knowledge, and the ability to manage concurrent deadlines and multiple priorities to achieve objectives.