The Sustainable Connections Team

Derek has a long record of entrepreneurism and program development in government, for-profit, and nonprofit sectors. He co-founded Sustainable Connections in 2002 and became Executive Director of Cloud Mountain Farm Center prior to an anticipated merger with Sustainable Connections at the end of 2018. Derek was also the first co-National Coordinator of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) in 2002. He is deeply committed to creating a community that works well for all people, and believes our region is rich with the potential to do so.

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.

With over ten years of experience working in non-profit and government sectors, Delaney is eager to identify strategies to best garner support for Sustainable Connections’ programs. Delaney has a B.A. in Art History from Lewis & Clark College, an M.A. in English Education, and is a veritable word nerd who loves reading, writing, and crossword puzzles. Delaney’s background includes advising students as a vocational counselor, teaching ski lessons at Mt. Baker, managing a workforce training program for low-income individuals, and fighting fires in the woods of Colorado. As someone who grew up in a tight-knit community in the PNW, Delaney values the sense of belonging and connectedness that communities foster and is honored to work for a non-profit that places inclusion, collaboration, and community at its 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.

Suzi relocated to the lower 48 from Fairbanks, Alaska, driven by the desire to play in the mountains without the -40° temperatures. Given her outgoing and overtly communicative nature, it’s no surprise she holds a B.S. in Public Communication and a B.A. in Public Affairs. With a career spanning higher education and the nonprofit sector, Suzi has always enjoyed working with organizations that give back to their communities.

A lover of nature, Suzi enjoys everything from through-hiking to ice climbing and skiing. You’ll find her in the mountains or exploring her community with her raccoon-hound, Java—don’t hesitate to say hi if you spot them out and about (Suzi loves sharing her tales of life in Fairbanks, Alaska)!

Annika came to Sustainable Connections in 2021 with a deep love of community, food, justice, and sustainability. She gathered these interests as a student at Macalester College, an educator with nonprofits and public schools, a Fulbright Scholar in India, and an engaged public citizen in Bellingham. Annika is excited to facilitate meaningful connections that inspire people to create positive change not just in their lives, but in the lives of those around them. Outside of work, she spends her time hiking, biking, cooking, and reading.

Born and raised in Bellingham, Molly grew up alongside her mom’s family-run restaurant, and earned her sustainability chops through a Masters of Urban Studies in Sustainable Development, and subsequent professional roles at Portland State University. A systems-thinker, Molly loves process improvement and making connections between people to increase collaboration and maximize our collective potential. She knows that local businesses are an integral part of a thriving, sustainable community, and is passionate about supporting businesses while also promoting actions that honor and respect all members of our shared ecosystem. Molly joined the Sustainable Connections team in 2022. Outside of work, Molly loves being on the water in her kayak, bird-watching, family bike rides, yoga, and enjoying good, local food. (Ella habla español.)

Scott was born and raised in the PNW and has lived in Bellingham since the late 1990s. He considers Bellingham to be magical and loves building community here. He received his MA in Political Science from WWU, where he learned that politics were his first love. He wants to use it to build a stronger, more engaged and vibrant community.

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.

Jessica has been involved with Sustainable Connections since its inception. As a business member and supporter through her business Ciao Thyme, she has witnessed the impact of Sustainable Connections in the community. These two organizations began at a similar time and developed together, sharing a mission of growing awareness about local food. Jessica and her husband, Mataio, spent 20 years building relationships with local farmers, producers and food artisans in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. They educated their customers about seasonal cooking by highlighting the best the seasons had to offer through their menus for special events, cooking classes, restaurant lunches and CT2GO meals. In the early days you would often see her at SC events, serving up delicious meals! Jessica brings her many years of event planning experience and her passion for local food to Sustainable Connections and the Food and Farming program. She hopes to expand the networks of chefs and farmers and encourage more local restaurants to incorporate the incredible food grown in Whatcom County. She holds a degree in Environmental Education from Huxley College at Western Washington University.

Jess has a diverse background in the food industry. She’s been a cook, farmer, waitress, bartender, and food educator and spends a lot of her free time talking, reading, and writing about food. She is a firm believer that if we improve our relationship with our food, we can improve our relationships with each other. Since moving to Bellingham in 2018, she has been an active participant in our vibrant community and has loved connecting with local growers, restaurant owners, and food producers in this place we’re so lucky to call home. Jess joined Sustainable Connections at the start of 2022 and is excited to help connect food industry partners and members of the community through the relationship building power of food!

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, Connor is a passionate environmental steward dedicated to sustainability and community resilience. Having graduated from Whittier College in 2023 with a B.A. in Environmental Science, he has a strong academic background in conservation, ecology, and environmental policy. Whether hiking, camping, biking, or kayaking, Connor loves spending time outdoors and connecting with nature. With his experience in food waste management and plastic pollution research, Connor is committed to building a circuliar economy. He is thrilled to join the Towards Zero Waste Program, where he can support local communities and businesses while positively impacting the environment.

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?!”).

​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.

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.