Our Team
We bring different perspectives to the table and we work in a shared leadership model. We’re united by a love for purposeful work, meaningful change and real connection.
Our Staff
Andrew Fling — Registrar, Logistics
Lety Hopper — Program Lead
Miles Harrison — Place Team Lead/Caretaker
Megan O'Driscoll — Housekeeping
Madisun Elizabeth — Operations Lead
Timothy Hull — Land Steward
Stacy Pulk Kitchen - Sous Chef
Eliza Magee Kitchen - Executive Chef
Jackson Martin - Kitchen Support
Nick Jackman - Housekeeping Lead
Larry Rohan - Forest Steward
Joe Sendek - Facilities Steward
Rose Woods — Executive Director
Cathy Buller — Donations Caretaker
Karina Bergen - Communications Steward
Taylor Sendek - Administrative Assistant
Snow Dragonwyck — Accountant
William Noble — Host
Individual Staff bios and photos in process…
Susan Balbas
Co-Chair-
Susan Balbas is a multi-racial community organizer, nonprofit leader, and philanthropic strategist who has played a pivotal role in advancing Indigenous-led philanthropy and community development across the Pacific Northwest. She is the founder of the Na’ah Illahee Fund, an Indigenous women-led organization established to support Native leadership, climate justice, and regenerative community economies.
Over her career, Balbas has helped launch and strengthen several influential Indigenous institutions, including the Potlatch Fund and the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) in Portland, where she previously served as Executive Director. She has also held leadership and advisory roles across the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors and has served on boards including the Sightline Institute and Washington Progress Alliance, contributing to regional conversations on sustainability, equity, and social justice. She was honored with the Native Action Network Enduring Spirit Award in 2022 for her contributions to Indigenous leadership and community empowerment.
Today, Balbas supports development and philanthropic partnerships for Salmon Returns, a bioregional initiative working across Pacific salmon watersheds to mobilize capital for Indigenous- and community-led ecological restoration, self-determination, and regenerative economies. Her work continues to center Indigenous leadership, cultural knowledge, and community-driven solutions in building regenerative futures across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Diana Sandoval
Co-Chair-
Coming Soon
Over her career, Balbas has helped launch and strengthen several influential Indigenous institutions, including the Potlatch Fund and the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) in Portland, where she previously served as Executive Director. She has also held leadership and advisory roles across the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors and has served on boards including the Sightline Institute and Washington Progress Alliance, contributing to regional conversations on sustainability, equity, and social justice. She was honored with the Native Action Network Enduring Spirit Award in 2022 for her contributions to Indigenous leadership and community empowerment.
Today, Balbas supports development and philanthropic partnerships for Salmon Returns, a bioregional initiative working across Pacific salmon watersheds to mobilize capital for Indigenous- and community-led ecological restoration, self-determination, and regenerative economies. Her work continues to center Indigenous leadership, cultural knowledge, and community-driven solutions in building regenerative futures across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Our Board
TreasurerKristin Albrecht
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Kristen Albrecht is an advocate for circular systems, local manufacturing, and mindful living. She is Co-Founder and COO of Ravel, a textile recycling company in Seattle, transforming blended textile waste into new raw materials. Previously, she co-founded Nube, a U.S.-made sustainable apparel brand collaborating with artists to create products from recycled materials, and earned an MBA in Sustainable Solutions from Presidio Graduate School. Kristen brings experience in supply chains, organizational systems, and mission-driven leadership to her board service. She lives on a small biodynamic family farm just down the road from the Whidbey Institute, where they care for pigs, chickens, and cows. She is deeply passionate about the circular economy, strengthening resilient local economies and communities, and living a life aligned with her values.
Over her career, Balbas has helped launch and strengthen several influential Indigenous institutions, including the Potlatch Fund and the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) in Portland, where she previously served as Executive Director. She has also held leadership and advisory roles across the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors and has served on boards including the Sightline Institute and Washington Progress Alliance, contributing to regional conversations on sustainability, equity, and social justice. She was honored with the Native Action Network Enduring Spirit Award in 2022 for her contributions to Indigenous leadership and community empowerment.
Today, Balbas supports development and philanthropic partnerships for Salmon Returns, a bioregional initiative working across Pacific salmon watersheds to mobilize capital for Indigenous- and community-led ecological restoration, self-determination, and regenerative economies. Her work continues to center Indigenous leadership, cultural knowledge, and community-driven solutions in building regenerative futures across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
TreasurerMatías Valenzuela
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Matías Valenzuela, PhD, is the Director of the Office of Equity and Community Partnerships for Public Health – Seattle & King County. Matias has worked at King County since 2000, including as a lead for Equity and Social Justice at its inception in 2008. Previously starting in 2015, he was the first director of the Office of Equity and Social Justice in King County, spearheading a countywide effort to address the root causes of inequities, especially racism, working with all county agencies and the community. In the COVID-19 response, he directed Community Mitigation and Recovery. He was also co-lead in the county’s team for the declaration of Racism as a Public Health Crisis in June 2020. Previously in his career, he was a print and broadcast journalist in the United States and abroad. He has been a Fulbright professor in Nicaragua, and he is an Affiliate Assistant Professor at the University of Washington's School of Public Health and Community Medicine. He currently serves on numerous local and national boards and advisory groups.
Over her career, Balbas has helped launch and strengthen several influential Indigenous institutions, including the Potlatch Fund and the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) in Portland, where she previously served as Executive Director. She has also held leadership and advisory roles across the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors and has served on boards including the Sightline Institute and Washington Progress Alliance, contributing to regional conversations on sustainability, equity, and social justice. She was honored with the Native Action Network Enduring Spirit Award in 2022 for her contributions to Indigenous leadership and community empowerment.
Today, Balbas supports development and philanthropic partnerships for Salmon Returns, a bioregional initiative working across Pacific salmon watersheds to mobilize capital for Indigenous- and community-led ecological restoration, self-determination, and regenerative economies. Her work continues to center Indigenous leadership, cultural knowledge, and community-driven solutions in building regenerative futures across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
MemberRon Milam
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Ron Milam first came to the Whidbey Institute in 2021 as a participant in Fritz Hull’s Hilltop Retreats and has returned multiple times since, drawn by the Institute’s grounding in place, reflection, and community. These experiences continue to inform his personal practice and his professional work supporting leaders and organizations navigating complexity and change.
Ron is an organization development consultant with more than two decades of experience working with nonprofits, philanthropic networks, and collaborative initiatives, including The Funders Network. He is a co-founder of Pacific Pattern, a cooperative network dedicated to cultivating equitable, resilient, and regenerative bioregional communities along the Pacific Coast. Ron lives in Seattle with his family and serves on the Board of the Lakewood Seward Park Community Association, which provides space in its historic clubhouse for events, educational courses, community meetings and gatherings.
MemberAllyssa Jomei
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Matías Valenzuela, PhD, is the Director of the Office of Equity and Community Partnerships for Public Health – Seattle & King County. Matias has worked at King County since 2000, including as a lead for Equity and Social Justice at its inception in 2008. Previously starting in 2015, he was the first director of the Office of Equity and Social Justice in King County, spearheading a countywide effort to address the root causes of inequities, especially racism, working with all county agencies and the community. In the COVID-19 response, he directed Community Mitigation and Recovery. He was also co-lead in the county’s team for the declaration of Racism as a Public Health Crisis in June 2020. Previously in his career, he was a print and broadcast journalist in the United States and abroad. He has been a Fulbright professor in Nicaragua, and he is an Affiliate Assistant Professor at the University of Washington's School of Public Health and Community Medicine. He currently serves on numerous local and national boards and advisory groups.
Over her career, Balbas has helped launch and strengthen several influential Indigenous institutions, including the Potlatch Fund and the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) in Portland, where she previously served as Executive Director. She has also held leadership and advisory roles across the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors and has served on boards including the Sightline Institute and Washington Progress Alliance, contributing to regional conversations on sustainability, equity, and social justice. She was honored with the Native Action Network Enduring Spirit Award in 2022 for her contributions to Indigenous leadership and community empowerment.
Today, Balbas supports development and philanthropic partnerships for Salmon Returns, a bioregional initiative working across Pacific salmon watersheds to mobilize capital for Indigenous- and community-led ecological restoration, self-determination, and regenerative economies. Her work continues to center Indigenous leadership, cultural knowledge, and community-driven solutions in building regenerative futures across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
MemberNjeri Macharia
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Ron Milam first came to the Whidbey Institute in 2021 as a participant in Fritz Hull’s Hilltop Retreats and has returned multiple times since, drawn by the Institute’s grounding in place, reflection, and community. These experiences continue to inform his personal practice and his professional work supporting leaders and organizations navigating complexity and change.
Ron is an organization development consultant with more than two decades of experience working with nonprofits, philanthropic networks, and collaborative initiatives, including The Funders Network. He is a co-founder of Pacific Pattern, a cooperative network dedicated to cultivating equitable, resilient, and regenerative bioregional communities along the Pacific Coast. Ron lives in Seattle with his family and serves on the Board of the Lakewood Seward Park Community Association, which provides space in its historic clubhouse for events, educational courses, community meetings and gatherings.
MemberTony Back
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Anthony Back, MD, is Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle, and researcher at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center. Dr. Back was educated at Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. He practiced medical oncology for 30 years and practices now as a board certified physician in Palliative Medicine. His research into patient-oncologist communication, funded by the National Cancer Institute and numerous other foundations, led to founding of VitalTalk, a 501c3 with the mission of disseminating communication skill training to doctors and nurses who care for patients with a serious illness and their families. VitalTalk is one of the most successful non-profit startups in medical education and has trained >800 faculty who teach workshops that have reached >300,000 clinicians. This work was recognized by the American Cancer Society with the first Pathfinder in Palliative Care Award, and by the American Society of Clinical Oncology with the first Walther Cancer Foundation Palliative and Supportive Care Award.
His current research focuses on psychedelic therapies, including a randomized study of psilocybin therapy for doctors and nurses published in JAMA Network Open in December 2024, and a study of Group Retreat Psilocybin Therapy for People Living with Metastatic Cancer that was conducted at the Whidbey Institute. He is a long time Zen practitioner and has been ordained in the lineage of Roshi Joan Halifax.Over her career, Balbas has helped launch and strengthen several influential Indigenous institutions, including the Potlatch Fund and the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) in Portland, where she previously served as Executive Director. She has also held leadership and advisory roles across the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors and has served on boards including the Sightline Institute and Washington Progress Alliance, contributing to regional conversations on sustainability, equity, and social justice. She was honored with the Native Action Network Enduring Spirit Award in 2022 for her contributions to Indigenous leadership and community empowerment.
Today, Balbas supports development and philanthropic partnerships for Salmon Returns, a bioregional initiative working across Pacific salmon watersheds to mobilize capital for Indigenous- and community-led ecological restoration, self-determination, and regenerative economies. Her work continues to center Indigenous leadership, cultural knowledge, and community-driven solutions in building regenerative futures across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.