MEET THE MOA FOUNDATION DIRECTORS
Tami Bakke, MOA Foundation Chair
Email: tbakke@bmwmoaf.org
Tami joined the MOA Foundation board as a director in January of 2023. A proud veteran of the US Army Reserves, where she worked in Civil Affairs, Tami has a Bachelor of Science in Business and has worked in banking and education.
Tami learned to ride a motorcycle at the age of 44 and has been a vocal advocate of professional training as a path to rider proficiency ever since. Shortly after becoming a member of the MOA, she began to volunteer with the foundation, using her background in business and experience in communications to further the mission and vision of the organization.
Tami is proud of the work that the MOA Foundation is doing to advance rider skills, education, and training, and encourages fellow motorcycle enthusiasts to develop a routine of skills development through professional instruction and practice. As a Safe Miles Champion, she hopes to inspire all members of the rider community to become regular donors to the MOA Foundation in support of rider safety and education.
Tami enjoys testing the limits of her BMW 1200GS on trails and unpaved back roads and finds that riding twisty mountain roads settles her soul.
She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband and favorite riding partner, Doug.
Donna Farrell, MOA Foundation Vice-Chair
Email: donna.farrell@bmwmoaf.org
Donna joined the MOA Foundation board as a director in January of 2025. She spent the last two decades in education, formerly serving as Dean of Technologies at a local college before resigning her position and returning to school. Donna is now a licensed massage and bodywork therapist in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. She also has a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership, Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.
Her passion for motorcycles began early - she received her first bike, a Honda 50 Mini Trail, from her dad for her 5th birthday. Over the years, she has enjoyed riding a variety of motorcycles and currently owns a BMW GS 1250, Harley-Davidson Street Glide, Beta 300RR, Suzuki 125L, and a Honda 50 Mini Trail. Donna became a MOA member in 2021, shortly after purchasing her first BMW.
Donna has been a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Coach and a Harley-Davidson Riding Academy Coach for ten years, driven by her passion for encouraging more women to pursue motorcycling. After purchasing her first BMW, a F 850 GSA, and attending several classes at the BMW Performance Center, she discovered a deep love for off-road riding. In October 2023, she competed in the GS Trophy Qualifier, further fueling her enthusiasm for the sport. Today, she is dedicated to inspiring more women to explore off-road riding while advocating for rider safety and the importance of continuous training.
Donna and her husband, Martin, live in Northeast Tennessee with their two dogs, Tully and Finn.
Bob Cohen, MOA Foundation Secretary
Email: bob.cohen@bmwmoaf.org
An MOA member since 2004, Bob joined the MOA foundation board as a director in January 2024. After retiring from his career as a veterinarian in early 2021, Bob joined his local MOA charter club and became a MOA Regional Coordinator in February 2022. In October 2023, while attending a Premier Training event in Greer, South Carolina, Bob met several foundation directors and was inspired to volunteer and get involved with the Foundation’s mission.
Bob has been riding motorcycles since his college days, when his best friend taught him to ride a Suzuki 185. There was no looking back after that, as there was almost always a motorcycle or two in the driveway or garage. He rode many Honda sport-touring machines through the 70’s and 80’s, purchasing his first BMW in 1988. Since then, there have been many BMW’s in his garage along with an occasional MV Agusta, Ducati, and an Aprilia.
Bob lives on the Downeast Coast of Maine with his wife, Bonnie, as well as a couple of four-legged critters. He currently owns a 2024 G310GS, a 2018 R1200GS, a 2016 R1200RT, a 2000 R1100S, a 1992 R100RS, and is restoring a 1986 R80.
jim nyffeler, MOA Foundation director
Email: james.nyffeler@bmwmoaf.org
Jim joined the MOA Foundation board as a director in January 2023 and serves on the Legacy Committee, which is charged with raising funds to support the foundation’s mission. As he entered retirement, Jim’s interest in volunteering for the foundation was sparked during a conversation with the late Chuck Manley, a former director on both the BMW MOA and the BMW MOA Foundation boards. Inspired by Chuck’s passion, Jim stepped forward as a volunteer and was soon invited to join the board of directors.
An endorsed motorcyclist since 1993, Jim’s first motorcycle was a Honda Pacific Coast. He currently rides a 2017 R1200RT and a G310GS and has owned several bikes over the years, including an R1150GS, F650 Dakar, F800GS, and R1150R. He is a member of the Knights of the Roundel #333.
Jim encourages every rider to seek additional skills development at least annually and is honored to help hundreds of riders develop their skills with help from the Paul Bachorz Individual Training Rebate and the Clark Luster Group Training Grant.
Greg Beck, MOA Foundation Director
Email: greg.beck@bmwmoaf.org
Greg’s career was in agriculture, serving farmers by getting their crops to both domestic and international markets. One of the many benefits of his career, responsible for remote facilities, gave him the ability to ride to these locations across the country. He attended Purdue University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics.
One of the work committees he chaired was the safety committee, whereby he was tasked with changing the company safety culture. He began to understand how to dramatically improve workplace safety through training, observation, practice and behavior. He also chaired a Foundation for the Grain Industry, of which safety was a major emphasis. His interest in the benefits and importance of Foundation work was born. That began a curiosity in motorcycle safety which resulted in three courses at the BMW Performance Center. Motorcycle Safey and the MOA Foundation now just made sense to help others realize the benefits of training.
As a young kid, the Honda CT 70 was the start of his love of motorcycling, then a Honda CB350 for high school, cemented the passion. He loves all types of riding, but his favorite are the long trips, solo or with a buddy or two. His current rides and interests vary from new to old, a ’24 1250 GSA, ’25 900 GS, ’92 100 RT, an ’88 100GS (the Frankenbike) and a ’84 R80G/S.
Greg and his wife Pamela live just outside of New Orleans, in Covington, Louisiana.
Miriam Romais, MOA Foundation Director
Email: miriam.romais@bmwmoaf.org
Miriam is a nonprofit professional, consultant, and widely exhibited photographer whose work has been shown in galleries and museums across the United States.
Her fascination with motorcycling began in her early teens in Brazil, where many of her friends rode 125cc bikes. Years later—back in the U.S. and in college—she bought her first motorcycle and learned to ride.
An MSF course years later transformed her approach and set her on a lifelong safety-and-education path. Inspired, she became a Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor in 1995 to help others build skill, confidence, and sound judgment on two wheels. Soon after, she co-founded the Fairleigh Dickinson University Motorcycle Program in New Jersey. Miriam went on to become an MSF RiderCoach Trainer, contributed to curriculum development, and served on the New Jersey State Motorcycle Advisory Board. She’s logged thousands of miles to rallies, track days, and training events nationwide—always with a camera in hand—and has ridden in the Amazon and across northern Brazil.
An MOA member since the 1990s, Miriam is thrilled to return after a hiatus and join the MOA Foundation Board in 2026. Her background spans nonprofit leadership, documentary photography, journalism, and she holds an MBA with a focus on Marketing and Global Brand Management.
Her current quest is to ride to all U.S. National Parks—and eventually throughout the Americas. Miriam lives in upstate New York (often wondering why she puts up with a short riding season) with her R1200R, her partner Chris, and their deaf pittie, Ophelia.
Larry Terrell, MOA Foundation Director
Email: larry.terrell@bmwmoaf.org
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and raised on a farm in southwest Mississippi, Larry embodies the values of dedication, safety, and community service. After 45 years as the owner of a long-distance moving and storage company affiliated with a major van line, Larry retired in November 2025. Since then, he has devoted his time to family, his passion for motorcycling, and supporting causes and friendships that matter most to him.
Larry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Larry’s love for motorcycling began at age twelve on a 1972 Yamaha 90cc Enduro. After a brief hiatus during high school and college, he returned to riding in 2001 with a Harley-Davidson Road King. In 2004, he discovered BMW motorcycles, beginning a lifelong appreciation for the brand and its engineering excellence. A dedicated member of the BMW Motorcycles Owners of America since 2008, Larry currently rides a 2026 BMW R1300RT, reflecting his deep respect for German engineering.
An avid long-distance rider, Larry has traveled through all 50 U.S. states, many of them by motorcycle, and has toured extensively throughout Canada. He has completed multiple advanced safety training sessions at the BMW Performance Center, reinforcing his belief that safety is paramount, a value instilled in him by his father, a railroad worker.
Deeply committed to the mission of the MOA Foundation, Larry is passionate about expanding funding and outreach within the riding community to ensure safe riding practices remain accessible and widely promoted among enthusiasts of all experience levels.
In retirement, Larry enjoys life on the lake, fishing and boating, attending Auburn University Tigers football games, spending time with his three grandchildren, ages 9, 5, and 3, and caring for his stray dog, Muttreaux Jenkins. When he is not on the water or the open road, he can often be found enjoying the mountains of North Carolina.