WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Disguised as a Bike Shop
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Disguised as a Bike Shop
MEET OUR LEADERS
Jireth
Jireth: The Girl With Many Hats
Brightview Entertainment Director — bringing music, games, Q&A sessions, and flower arranging to brighten the days of senior citizens.
The Tire Queen — one of the fastest elementary school mechanics in the shop when it comes to fixing 16” and 20” tires.
The Violin Pioneer — the first Zummo student to receive a donated violin from her mentor Avery, take lessons in the shop, stick with it through third and fourth grade, and earn a spot in her middle school orchestra.
Future Drivetrain Specialist — currently getting dangerous with shifting and cable adjustments.
Rotary’s Floral Designer — just a few hours before our Rotary presentation, we showed up a couple buckets of fresh flowers, Ball jars, and enough creativity to build fourteen beautiful centerpieces for the luncheon tables.
That’s Jireth.
She doesn’t wait to be told what to do. She looks around, finds something that would make the day a little better, and quietly gets to work.
Elijah
Showed up with his brother to receive his perfect attendance bike award at our “Covid Shop” in 2021. The fellow could talk and knew a lil about bikes. He was hired on the spot.
He helped engineer two yard sales and was the builder / leader of our workforce development model that’s disguised as a bike shop.
Pallo & Matteo
Pallo & Matteo
Our Havertown twins! Pallo chased me about a used bike he wanted to purchase in the worst way. After close to half dozen conversations with this persistent teen, he showed up with his brother and PhD Temple music professor dad We hired this tag team right ASAP. Why… Inate persistence plus the injection of a great dad!
Eduardo
Pallo & Matteo
He was recruited at one of our bike award events honoring Norristown students who were making a difference in their communities.
He knew just enough about bicycles to be dangerous—and that was exactly what we needed. Throughout the event, he figured out how to get things done.
Afterward, he told me about the SE bike he had purchased with money he earned by buying and reselling sneakers. I asked him, “Where do you park a SE bike so it does not get stolen at school?” He said one of his teachers had given him the remote to her car. Every morning, he unlocked her vehicle, placed his bike safely inside, locked it back up, and at the end of the school day took it back out and rode home.
That wasn’t just a clever solution—it showed resourcefulness. We pretty much so hired him on the spot.
Today, he’s one of our senior mechanics and leaders, known for his calm demeanor, thoughtful approach, and willingness to help anyone who needs it.
Gilberto
Gilberto arrived one Saturday morning with his mom as a third grader who had earned a Perfect Attendance bike through Hancock Elementary. He picked out a beautiful 24-inch Trek and took it for a test ride. When he returned, we said, “Let’s put the bike on the repair stand and look under the hood.”
To our amazement, he approached the inspection like a surgeon—shifting through every gear, adjusting the seat, carefully checking the brakes, and making sure everything was just right. We handed him a screwdriver and a pair of pliers, and he went right to work. Elijah watched the whole thing, turned to us, and said, “Let’s hire this fellow!”
Today, Gilberto is one of our rising mechanics and leaders. He’s also a striker in the Norristown soccer leagues who told us years ago that one day he’ll play in the World Cup.
Knowing Gill…we wouldn’t bet against him.
Joan
Joan showed up in our first home, Zummo Hardware in Norristown, Pennsylvania with his dad who was looking for a bike to ride. This kid had such enthusiasm, he went home with a bike as well.
In the spring of 2021, he moved close to our Covid bike shop, learned under Faisl & Bo. Seven years later he a leader who knows every facet of the bike business - even carries a key and opens the shop. As a result of his presence, he landed a rowing scholarship from one of our Zummo dads where brings his work ethic to every practice and competition.
Ben
Charles
Charles
Ben joined ZummoBike in the summer of 2025, bringing with him a growing knowledge of bicycles—and an entrepreneurial dad, Kenny, who has a knack for seeing how things can be made better. That combination has already had a real impact on our shop.
Ben has quietly become a young pioneer at Zummo, collecting a number of “firsts” along the way.
The first mechanic to bring his own toolbox to work. His professionalism is setting a new standard, and before long we expect bringing your own tools will simply be part of being a Zummo mechanic.
The first mechanic to secure a bike donation during one of our neighborhood bike drives. He showed that mechanics don’t just fix bikes—they help build the future of the shop.
The first young mechanic to build a gravel bike. Ben enjoys tackling new challenges and isn’t afraid to learn something he’s never done before.
Our first fifth-grade mechanic to regularly teach younger contributors. Even at a young age, he understands that leadership isn’t about being the oldest—it’s about helping someone else succeed.
Charles
Charles
Charles
Charles – Discovering a New Direction
When Charles first walked into Zummo about 18 months ago, he was convinced he wanted to become a doctor. And if he chooses that path, he’ll make an outstanding one. He’s thoughtful, confident, communicates exceptionally well, and has a natural ability to connect with people.
But something interesting has happened.
As Charles has grown at Zummo, spending time learning from mentors like Eduardo and Elijah, he’s discovered that he really enjoys solving mechanical problems. Every bike he diagnoses and repairs has built another layer of confidence. He’s learned that engineering isn’t just something other people do—it’s something he might be very good at.
Today, Charles isn’t just thinking about medicine anymore. He’s seriously considering engineering, and that possibility grew out of turning wrenches, asking questions, making mistakes, and discovering that he can figure out how things work.
Charles has also become one of our best storytellers. He’s a talented videographer and has helped capture the Zummo experience through photos and video. At Wednesday’s Rotary presentation, he’ll be running the computer, smoothly advancing the presentation as each speaker takes the stage. He’ll also be behind the camera, recording both the presentation and the questions from Rotary members afterward.
It’s a role that requires calm under pressure, attention to detail, and confidence—and Charles is exactly the kind of young leader you want in that hot seat.
Whether his future leads to medicine, engineering, or somewhere in between, one thing is already clear: Charles has learned that he can tackle difficult problems, communicate with confidence, and contribute in meaningful ways. That’s exactly the kind of discovery Zummo hopes every young person makes.