The Sustainable Connections Team

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.

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.

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!

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.

Chelsea grew up in Whatcom County, spending most of her days playing outside, climbing trees, and biking around the neighborhood. Overtime, she developed a deep appreciation for nature and her love for trees and animals inspired her to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science at WWU, and taking on jobs in Environmental Education. Chelsea is excited to integrate her passion for the environment, along with her experience in Environmental Education and her other planning and organizational skills to help folks in her community reduce their environmental impact. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking with her husband and dog, tending to her garden, reading, or tackling house projects and baking new treats when the weather keeps her indoors.

Born and raised in Bellingham, Izzy has deep roots in the local community. After graduating high school, she ventured to Ithaca College in New York and later embraced a new adventure as an Au Pair in Spain. Even with these exciting experiences, Bellingham’s charm drew her back home. Izzy earned her Associate’s degree in Environmental Science from Whatcom Community College in 2023, where she discovered the AmeriCorps VISTA program through a friend.
Izzy is thrilled to be serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Sustainable Connections. She values the program’s unique opportunity to explore diverse aspects of sustainability and nonprofit management while making a meaningful impact in her community.
No matter where she is, Izzy’s creativity shines through in all aspects of her life. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, crafting, cooking yummy food, and soaking up all the sun she can get.

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 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.