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
Mary Tully
(she/her/hers)
Administrative Manager
Spreadsheet spelunker, homesteader, researcher, patient, generous
360.647.7093 x 104
maryt@sustainableconnections.org
Read Mary's Bio
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
Planner, Gardener, Relationships, Trails, Laughter
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 Coordinator
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.
Katy Tiernan
(she/her/hers
they/them/theirs)
Toward Zero Waste Assistant
Ambitious, Creative, Latina, Earthy, Gatherer
360-647-7093 x106
katyt@sustainableconnections.org
Read Katy's Bio
With her bicultural background and Spanish fluency, Katy aims to serve as a positive resource for minority groups, especially the Latinx community, and bridge communication gaps to increase equal access to local resources and events. As an advocate for sustainability, she is committed to increasing community involvement towards local, sustainable systems through shared education and by forming healthy relationships between businesses and residents.
Food is her love language, and therefore, she is enthusiastic to work with the Food Recovery Program in expanding equitable food systems. Her cultural upbringing taught her how to observe the world through shared food and stories. When she is not in the office, you may see her guiding children through a forest trail, whispering prayers to her tamales, throwing clay on a wheel, or weaving baskets when it rains. Her gratitude can be felt through her smile.
Emily Larson Kubiak
(she/her/hers)
Energy & Green Building
Program Manager
Proactive, geek-out, efficiency fiend, adventure, coordinator, laughter
360.647.7093 x 113
emily@sustainableconnections.org
Read Emily's Bio
Elodie Cerauskis
(she/her/hers)
Energy & Green Building
Program Assistant
Curious, energetic, kind, tea connoisseur, CD enthusiast
360.647.7093 x 123
elodiec@sustainableconnections.org
Read Elodie's Bio
Elodie came to Bellingham in 2017 from California, to pursue her education at Western Washington University. Inspired by her previous community service educating youth about the environment and farming local foods, she decided to pursue an Interdisciplinary Concentration at Fairhaven College. Where she wrote her own concentration titled, “Global Energy, Policy and Food Systems”. Elodie also completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French (her native language) and minored in Environmental Justice. During her educational journey she decided to pursue her culinary passion and has successfully worked as a cook at several local restaurants in Bellingham over the years. Her senior year, Elodie also began volunteering for several food recovery and distribution programs in town. This led to her year of service as an AmeriCorps Vista for the Food Recovery Program at Sustainable Connections. Once Elodie finished her term she joined the Energy & Green Building team as a Program Assistant. Elodie is excited to expand her knowledge on renewable energy and efficiency and continue her fight against climate change.
Her hobbies outside of work include motorcycle rides, carpentry, cooking, laying in the sun, and community service.
Katy Coleman
(she/her/hers)
Energy & Green Building Coordinator
Nature enthusiast, Artist, adventurer, powder seeker, coffee lover
360.647.7093 x 114
katyc@sustainableconnections.org
Read Katy's Bio
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 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!
Audrey Madison
(she/her/hers)
Food Recovery Program Americorps Vista
Active, Driven, Resourceful, Compassionate, Entrepreneurial
360.647.7093 x 118
frpvista@sustainableconnections.org
Read Audrey's Bio
Audrey has always had an affinity towards the environment and helping others. Naturally, she dedicates most of her free time outside, enjoying time with her dogs and loved ones.
Her deep-seated passion for the environment drove her pursuit of her degree in Business and Sustainability from Western Washington University. After graduating in 2021, Audrey completed an internship blogging about food sustainability in which she developed her understanding of what sustainable food systems look like. On the other hand, Audrey spent most of her working life in the restaurant industry. Her first-hand experience in restaurants, coupled with a fresh perspective on the food industry inspired her to get involved in food sustainability. Audrey is elated to do purposeful work at Sustainable Connections expanding the capacity of their Food Recovery Program. Ultimately, she hopes to leverage her unique lens of sustainability to establish a more equitable and sustainable food system.