The Team
David Silvestri is a co-founder of the Millennium Development Ride and is one the Ride cyclists. Like fellow rider Nathan O’Brien, David is currently a student at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, where he is working toward both Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degrees. A native of Boston, MA, David has participated in or led numerous service or research-related trips to various African and Latin American nations, where his experiences have fueled a passion for the poor and an interest in global health and economic development. After graduating from Harvard College in 2007, David has continued to advance his understanding of the complex social and economic forces underlying poverty and health disparities, most recently leading investigations to enhance HIV screening programs in rural Zambia.
After bicycling across the continental United States in 2005 with Habitat for Humanity, David developed an appreciation for the ability of adventure cycling to intrigue public interest while exposing important humanitarian issues both domestically and abroad. Apart from cycling, David has also completed two marathons, a half-Ironman triathlon, and most recently an Ironman triathlon in Madison, WI.
Nathan O’Brien is a Millennium Development Ride co-founder and will provide primary logistical and managerial support from the United States during the 2011-2012 Ride. Like fellow Rider David Silvestri, Nathan is earning a Doctor of Medicine from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, TN, with the intention of employing medicine as a vehicle to confront ongoing problems in global health and development. After graduating from the University of Florida in 2006, he joined AmeriCorps in numerous service projects throughout the United States. A native of Orlando, FL, Nathan has volunteered extensively throughout Central America and Asia, most recently working in Mexico to identify risk factors leading to delayed HIV testing while working to improve regional antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS.
After bicycling across the continental United States in 2007 to raise funds and awareness for affordable housing, Nathan has developed a passion for cycling as well as an appreciation of the unique opportunity bicycle touring provides one to learn about new places, people, and cultures and relay this knowledge to distant communities. Nathan has also completed other self-supported bike tours and is an avid tennis player and rock climber.
Steven Seidel is a co-founder of the Millennium Development Ride. Although providing primary remote logistical support for the Ride, he will also join fellow Riders for much of the journey. Although providing primary remote logistical support for the Ride, he will also join fellow Riders Nathan O’Brien and David Silvestri for much of the journey. A native of central Florida, Steven is currently the head trader for the Asia-Pacific office of Madison Tyler Holdings, a leading electronic trading firm and market maker. He graduated in 2007 from Harvard College, where he developed a keen interest in global health and international development through coursework supplemental to his degree in Mechanical and Materials Science and Engineering. While spending the past three years innovating in the financial sector in the world’s most developed markets, he has maintained a global focus on serving the needs of the world’s impoverished people, both through independent study and through support of various international aid and development organizations.hon
A cyclist since youth, he fell in love with the road and with the power of cycling to capture the imagination of the public and intimately engage local communities during a 2005 bicycle tour across the United States benefiting and working closely with Habitat for Humanity. Steven has also competed numerous years as a swimmer and more recently on both Harvard’s heavyweight and varsity lightweight crew teams.
Brian Gillis is one of the Millennium Development Ride cyclists and chief organizers. Brian is currently a student at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, where he is earning his Master of Divinity degree focusing on interfaith relations. A native of Sonoma County, California, Brian has developed a passion for the poor and the role faith and religion play in inter-ethnic tension and unstable political relations, particularly those that contribute to poverty. Since graduating from Harvard College in 2008, Brian has advanced his understanding of the sociological, political and religious roots that institutionalize inter-ethnic conflict and systemic poverty. He has led or participated in numerous service and research-related trips to the Middle East, most recently in Israel and Palestine. Brian has also organized, led or sat on the executive board of several interfaith organizations, addressing poverty throughout the United States, including in New York City and Washington, DC.
After bicycling across the continental United States in 2006 with Habitat for Humanity, Brian developed an appreciation for the ability of adventure cycling to expose the world to the realities of people in humanitarian and political crisis and the diverse religious and political elements that feed systemic poverty. Brian was a varsity captain and five-sport scholar athlete in High School.
Site Designed & Developed by Dasha Titlebaum