Meet our Board of Directors
Sustainable Connections Board
Board of Directors:
Jim Ashby, General Manager, Community Food Co-op
Jim Ashby has been involved in worker and community-owned natural food businesses in the northwest since 1975. Since 1985 when he became general manager of Bellingham’s Community Food Co-op he’s been active in the promotion and development of sustainable agriculture in Whatcom County and the greater northwest. Under his leadership the Food Co-op has initiated innovative programs to support new and established farmers to expand their reach into the marketplace and grown to be a cornerstone of our vibrant local economy. Jim has also been active since its inception in the development of the National Cooperative Grocers Association, an association of 120 food co-ops whose aim is to leverage the combined financial strength of cooperatives while helping them preserve their unique identities in their individual communities.
Andrea Clay, Owner Pioneer Ford & the Clay Foundation
Shawn Kemp
After many years driving online innovation, Shawn stepped away from the corporate world and Seattle in 2006. With the idea of focus on trying to live a slightly more sustainable life and helping sparking social change in the world. Change that will ensure a better future for ourselves, our communities, and the planet. He currently spends much of his time with ONE/Northwest a non-profit started by Paul Brainerd 12 years ago to bring technology to the environmental movement. Where he is helping non-profits around the country to get better at utilizing the engagement potential of the internet. Shawn is also an active angel investor with a focus on making local and triple bottom line businesses a viable investment option and powerful economic lever. That interest guides his involvement as a member of the screening committee for the Bellingham Angel Group. Having chosen Bellingham for many reasons Shawn, his wife Misty, their foster daughter, and fluffy white dog can be seen walking, hiking, and riding bikes through our wonderful town and the surrounding area.
Janet Lightner, Manager, Boundary Bay Brewery
Charlie Maliszewski
Charlie brings to the Sustainable Connections board a science-based perspective and a firm belief that work without fun is just…….work. An immunologist by training, he enjoyed a fulfilling career at biopharmaceutical pioneer Immunex, involved in the discovery and development of protein therapeutics to treat cancer, infection, and autoimmune disorders. He now spends most of his “professional” time working with local environmental and sustainability oriented non-profits. Charlie also loves to hike, bike, ski, play music, grow food, read, hang out with family and friends, and laugh for no good reason.
Allen Matsumoto, Partner, UI Architects, Inc.
Allen is a senior partner and human factors engineer in UI Architects, a consultancy helping companies that design products and services to create things that delight by virtue of simplicity. In professional and private life, Allen works to support and design systems that serve people, rather than needing to be served by them. Sustainable Connections' focus on change through enlightened business practices was a perfect fit and a natural draw for him when he arrived in Bellingham from Bainbridge Island in 2004. Allen led a grassroots effort that led to the master planning of Bellingham's second designated urban village development area along Samish way. Allen has served as Sehome neighborhood association president and member of the Bellingham Planning Commission, as well as assistant coach for Boys and Girls Club football. When Allen isn't making things easier to use, planning remodels, or landscaping at his home with his wife Chris, he's dreaming of the day when he has nothing to do in his spare time but fly fish.
Neil McCarthy, Project Architect, RMC Architects
Neil McCarthy has been a licensed architect in Bellingham since 1992. He currently serves as a Project Architect at RMC Architects. His interest in Sustainable Design dates back to Huxley classes taken at WWU prior to entering the architecture program at Dalhousie University. At WWU he was introduced to Trombe Walls, earth structures and passive solar design. Since then his expertise in Sustainable Design has broadened and he is currently a LEED Accredited Professional. Neil’s career path led him to the east coast of Canada and to Vancouver BC, prior to returning to the Whatcom County area. He and his wife, Lisa decided that Bellingham would be a great place to settle and raise their son, Jack. After attending the BALLE conference in Bellingham last year, Neil developed an interest in sustainable economics which has now led to a board position with Sustainable Connections.
Amy McIlvaine
Amy has been a Certified Financial Planner in Bellingham for the past five years. She specialized in sustainable and responsible investing, and developed a personal passion for community investing. She recently left the financial planning world to concentrate on facilitating the flow of community capital to local organizations. She greatly admires the Sustainable Connections organization for the numerous successful programs they have implemented in Whatcom County and she is honored to serve as a strategic partner on the board. Amy hopes to assist the organization with its continuing efforts to build a just and sustainable local economy.
Elie, the founder and owner of Samuel’s Furniture, is deeply committed to the mission of Sustainable Connections. Elie received his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia in 1990 and moved to Whatcom County shortly thereafter to open Samuel’s Furniture in Ferndale. Elie comes from a long line of furniture store owners (or at least one generation of furniture store owners) and proudly carries on his family tradition, while seeking to incorporate the triple bottom line of social, environmental, and economic sustainability into his business. Most recently, Elie has implemented the Toward Zero Waste campaign at Samuel’s Furniture, learning much in the process about our waste stream. Elie also serves on the board of the Ferndale Boys and Girls Club and has done so since 2001. When not busy selling furniture or zero wasting, he can most likely be found at Mallard Ice Cream or on his bicycle.
Alexandrea Spaulding, Owner, Alexandrea Consults
Alexandrea is an independent communications and marketing consultant. She has worked in a variety of capacities here in Whatcom County-- from fair trade toys to pandemic flu community planning. Prior to moving to Bellingham 8 years ago for love, she worked in corporate communications for multi national technology companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since parking cars at the first Imagine This Home and Landscape Tour in the summer of 2003, Alexandrea has been smitten with Sustainable Connections and its great work.
Cheryl Thornton, Cloud Mountain Farm Center
With nearly 30 years’ experience farming, Cheryl is passionate about sharing her knowledge with beginning farmers and connecting with community members. Already well-known for offering workshops and other educational programs, she now serves as the Program/Finance Director and Board Member for Cloud Mountain Farm Center – a new nonprofit whose mission is to build experience, knowledge and community to expand dynamic local food systems.
Ex-Officio: Michael Lilliquist, Bellingham, City Council Liaison
Special thanks to the years of service we enjoyed from the following former board members:
Fred Berman, Owner, Pastazza; Small Farm & Direct Marketing Coordinator, WSDA
Ken Bothman, Owner, La Fiamma & Fiamma Burger
John D'Onofrio, Owner, D'Onofrio & Editor, NW Business Monthly
Rick Dubrow, Owner, A-1 Builders
Todd Elsworth, Director, Bellingham Traverse
Dean Fearing, Associate Director, Kulshan Community Land Trust
Mauri Ingram, CEO Whatcom Community Foundation
Duane Jager, Executive Director ReUse Works
Leanne Kramer
Cindi Landreth, Co-Owner, A-1 Builders
Scott Mauermann, Owner Laurel Landscaping
Janet Ott, Owner, Ott & Associates
Chuck Robinson, Owner Village Books & Paper Dreams
Steve Roguski, Owner, Fairhaven Runners
Terese Roles-Meier
Christopher Webb, Owner, Chris Webb & Associates Inc
Ken Wilcox
Kathie Wilson, Owner, Child life Montessori Schools
Rose Lathrop, Project Coordinator, Aiki Homes
