The Sustainable Connections Team
We are the music makers, we are the dreamers of dreams.Derek Long
(he/him/his)
Executive Director
Connector, family man, thought-leader, runner, visionary
360.647.7093 x 101
derek@sustainableconnections.org
Read Derek's Bio
Before his foray into the nonprofit world, he co-founded Viatru, an online Fair-Trade retail service, and also worked with the Federal Reserve Bank. Derek attended the University of Toledo, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with Honors. He has served on the boards of the Washington Business Alliance, Waterfront Advisory Group, Countywide Affordable Housing Task Force, Community Food Co-op, and Cloud Mountain Farm Center.
Rose Lathrop
(she/her/hers)
Program and Finance Director
Vivacious, party-bus, imagination, bright, skillful, determined
360.647.7093 x 107
rose@sustainableconnections.org
Read Rose's Bio
Pamela Jull
(she/her/hers)
Program Director
Enthusiastic, analytical, planner, listener, action-oriented
360.647.7093 x 120
pamelaj@sustainableconnections.org
Read Pamela's Bio
Read Delaney's Bio
Amy Vergillo
(she/her/hers)
Communications Director
Designer, creative, visualizer, idea generator, helper
360.647.7093 x 105
amy@sustainableconnections.org
Read Amy's Bio
Molly Bressers
(she/her/hers)
Business Engagement Specialist
Optimizer, water woman, loves to laugh, organized, determined
360-647-7093 x110
mollyb@sustainableconnections.org
Read Molly's Bio
Melissa Daniels
(she/her/hers)
Administrative Manager
Puzzle solver, bike rider, ice breaker, mood maker
360.647.7093 x 104
melissad@sustainableconnections.org
Read Melissa's Bio
Melissa’s career journey, driven by her passion for community building, has taken her across the landscapes of Colorado, New Jersey, Virginia, and Illinois. With a diverse background spanning data management, volunteer coordination, partner engagement, natural resource management, and ecology, she has spent time in small nonprofits and state and federal government agencies. In her free time, Melissa finds joy in skiing, cycling, hiking, sewing, and board games, each activity complementing her commitment to connection through shared delight.
Annika Sampson
(she/her/hers)
Communications & Events Coordinator
Storyteller, adventurer, curious, creative, islander, local food hypewoman
360.647.7093 x 116
annikas@sustainableconnections.org
Read Annika's Bio
Read Kaela's Bio
Jessica Gillis
(she/her/hers)
Food & Farming Program Manager
360.647.7093 x 115
jessicag@sustainableconnections.org
Read Jessica's Bio
Maressa Valliant
(she/her/hers)
Eat Local First Director
Details, connector, resourceful, nurturing, dance & music, kind
360.647.7093 x 103
maressa@sustainableconnections.org
Read Maressa's Bio
Jess Meyer
(she/her/hers)
Food & Farming
Outreach Coordinator
Enthusiastic, conscientious, food nerd, adventurer
360.647.7093 x 111
Read Jess's Bio
Jenna Deane
(she/her/hers)
Towards Zero Waste Manager
Outside adventures, family and friends, growing vegetables
360.647.7093 x 108
jennad@sustainableconnections.org
Read Jenna's Bio
Jenna has a B.A in Environmental Education from Western Washington University and has worked in residential outdoor education, school gardens, and for environmental education non-profits. She loves spending time outdoors and fills her free time gardening, running or hiking local trails, or in the bay paddling an outrigger canoe.
Brandi Hutton
(she/her/hers)
Toward Zero Waste Assistant Manager
Energetic, creative, plant nerd,
hiker, mom
360.647.7093 x 119
brandih@sustainableconnections.org
Read Brandi's Bio
Outside of work, Brandi enjoys participating in all of the unique and exciting community events in Bellingham, as well as hiking the hundreds of trails nearby with family.
Nick Cusick
(he/him/his)
Energy & Green Building
Program Manager
Strategic, people person, rooted, kind, amateur sourdough baker
360.647.7093 x 113
nickc@sustainableconnections.org
Read Nick's Bio
Nick’s been everywhere. Having grown up in a military family, he’s lived in areas as far-flung as Alaska and Thailand, but finds his roots in the great PNW. His career has been just as wide ranging, focused on data analytics, water quality, climate resiliency, renewable energy, wildfire, and program development. Nick’s “thrive zone” is working with others to fit the right resources in place at the right time to make good work happen. When not sitting behind a desk, you’ll most often find him at a coffee shop, on the trail, or in the kitchen cranking out sourdough loaves. He’s also well known as a committed sandal wearer, rain or shine (“aren’t your feet cold?!”).
Jordan Olson
(he/him/his)
Commercial Energy Advisor
Analytical, reader, questioner, builder, outdoor athlete
360.647.7093 x 117
jordano@sustainableconnections.org
Read Jordan's Bio
Jordan grew up in Seattle and put down roots in Bellingham in 2023 after living in San Luis Obispo, Portland, Salt Lake City, Pittsburgh, and Sacramento. His work on the Energy & Green Building team is informed by his previous experience working as a mechanical engineer, energy analyst, and sustainability consultant on commercial, multifamily, education, tech, government, and healthcare projects. He spent several years working in a Living Building and strongly believes that the technology exists today to create a sustainable and resilient built environment. He’s excited to be focused on reducing barriers and increasing access to energy conservation measures.
Jordan holds a BS in mechanical engineering from Cal Poly, a BA in philosophy from the University of Washington, and a MA in the history and philosophy of science from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Washington and has also worked as a professional bike mechanic.
In his free time Jordan enjoys rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, reading science fiction novels, and chilling with his cats.
Elizabeth Vaughn
(she/her/hers)
Energy and Green Building Program Assistant
Solution Minded, Analytical, Granola, Adventurous, Dog Obsessed
360.647.7093 x 123
elizabethv@sustainableconnections.org
Read Elizabeth's Bio
Elizabeth Vaughn is an Oregonian who made her way up the coast, to find the perfect home in Bellingham in 2021. Elizabeth is a graduate of Western Washington University’s Business and Sustainability B.A. program with a minor in Economics where she took great interest in sustainable energy systems and their potential environmental and economic impacts. She is excited to dive deeper into her interests in expanding access to energy efficient technology access to equitably serve local communities after working on a project examining the connection between legislature and energy efficiency in buildings.
Elizabeth loves spending time outside with her dog on forgotten trails and logging roads or paddle boarding. When the weather takes a turn, she enjoys the challenge of cooking new things and reading voraciously.
Scott Pelton
(he/him/his)
Housing & Smart Growth Manager
Energetic, Pioneer, Systems, Dynamic, Community-Builder
360-303-1430 (text welcome)
scottp@sustainableconnections.org
Read Scott's Bio
He has managed local political campaigns; sat on the boards of some of your favorite local nonprofits; worked at prominent local businesses; co-founded a popular local business. He has developed a deep understanding of what and who makes Bellingham tick and what we need to support its growth.
He spent a few years working remotely in the corporate and startup world, leading national and international sales teams, with a brief foray in the global tech-mobility industry. He then chose work that put him back in touch with his community and was reminded how good it felt to build something of value.
Clara Colton Symmes
(she/her/hers)
Events and Outreach Coordinator
List-maker, magnetic poetry enthusiast, karaoke singer, snacker, trip planner
360-647-7093 x102
claracs@sustainableconnections.org
Read Clara's Bio
Born and raised in New Hampshire, Clara’s drive to connect has taken her to non-profits in South Africa and Sri Lanka, abandoned fishing towns in Newfoundland, and across the Atlantic on a cargo ship!
She graduated from Goucher College in 2019, inspired to motivate environmental stewardship through community and storytelling. Shortly after relocating to Washington in 2020, Clara began working on public relations efforts for water research projects across the Global South. Eager to connect more with the PNW, she refocused on sustainability efforts closer to home.
If you were looking for Clara at a party, you would probably find her next to the recycling bins, asking friends to dispose of their waste properly, so she is so excited to be a part of Sustainable Connections as an Events Coordinator!