Sustainable Connections Board & Staff

Board of Directors:

Andrea Clay, Owner Pioneer Ford & the Clay Foundation

John D'Onofrio
John owned Northwest Computer, which he founded with his wife Susan in 1990.  He joined the board of Sustainable Connections in 2007 after being a passionate supporter of the paradigm-shifting work of the organization since its inception.  He also serves on the board of directors of the Bellingham Bay Foundation.  In his “spare” time he puts his fine arts degree from Rutgers University to good use as a photographer and painter, exhibiting his artwork on both the east and west coasts.  He writes on wilderness travel for a variety of publications, has hosted wildly eclectic radio shows in the Pacific Northwest and San Francisco Bay area and is also a founding member of the iconoclastic world music group, The Monkey Puzzle Orchestra.

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.

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 spent nearly two decades conducting biomedical research at Seattle’s Immunex Corporation (later Amgen), a pioneer in the discovery and development of protein therapeutics to treat cancer, infection, and autoimmune disorders. After moving to Bellingham with his lovely wife Heidi in 2004, Charlie shifted his career focus to environmental issues. He was attracted to Sustainable Connections’ capacity for community-building, due in large part to the strong sustainability ethic that the organization fosters amongst local businesses.  Charlie also proudly serves on the boards of RE Sources and Futurewise-Whatcom.   In his “spare” time, Charlie loves to hike, bike, ski, play music, read, hang out with family and friends, and laugh for no good reason.

Allen Matsumoto, Owner, Planet A, Inc.

Elie Samuel, Owner, Samuel's Furniture
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, on a walk with his bride, Kirsten, or on his bicycle.

Alexandrea Spaulding, Co-owner, The Playful World; Owner, Alexandrea Consults
Alexandrea is a co-owner of The Playful World, which designs and distributes unique handmade toys and children’s gifts sourced from around the world. Alexandrea has spent the duration of her professional life working in communications and marketing in a variety of capacities. Prior to moving to Bellingham 5 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. Alexandrea also serves on the board of directors for the Mount Baker Kidney Center.

Cheryl Thornton, Co-owner, Cloud Mountain Farm

Ex-Officio: Terry Bornemann, Bellingham, City Council Liason

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
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

Advisory Council:

Mark Asmundson, Director, Northwest Clean Air Agency

Craig Cole, CEO, Brown & Cole Real Estate Investment

Pete Kremen, Whatcom County Executive

Kelli Linville, State Representative, WA State

Dan Pike, Mayor of Bellingham