Our Team
&.
It’s right there in the middle of our name. It’s also at the center of what we do and who we are.
At S&A, we’ve created a community of talented individuals. We work together to find the best solutions that fit the needs of our clients and the communities we serve.
Meet our amazing team:
Meet our amazing team:
Josh Stepherson, Founder & Principal
Get to Know Josh:
When he’s not at work, Josh goes off the grid to go snowboarding or backpacking with his family. But that time away hasn’t kept him from being connected to the pulse of our region: for nearly 20 years, he has engaged communities, key stakeholder groups, and civic leaders around high-profile—and sometimes controversial—issues and projects. His history of proactive project management results in first-rate public involvement outcomes, provided on time and within budget.
Born and raised in Seattle, he attended Garfield High School and Washington State University. He has a vested interest in the growth of our region and the impact that rapid development can have on communities. In his work, he understands the importance of informing and engaging the public and specific stakeholder groups, while at the same time keeping projects moving forward.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good and go for the great.” – Steve Prefontaine
If I weren’t so good at my job, I’d probably be …
Working in government to make a positive difference in the community.
If you could write your own job title that best describes what you do here, what would it be?
Curator of Creativity and Results
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone about conducting public engagement?
As public involvement specialists, we get the exciting opportunity to engage people from all walks of life in projects that benefit the community. Have fun, enjoy meeting new people, and look to build meaningful connections. Your work will be more enjoyable, and you’ll be amazed at what you’re able to accomplish.
Josh Stepherson
FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL
Kristin Anderson, Senior Associate
Get to Know Kristin:
Kristin’s public involvement expertise is vast, as is her appreciation for the great outdoors! Kristin’s deep knowledge of the parks and trails of the Northwest is matched only by her expertise in public involvement. This avid hiker and skier also holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from St. Norbert College and a master’s in recreational resources management from the University of Montana.
At S&A, Kristin has supported federal, state, and local clients to engage people in decisions about public services and projects throughout the Puget Sound region. As a senior project manager, she has led outreach efforts for many regional transportation, mass transit, land use, public utilities, and community development projects. With her 15-plus years of project management experience, Kristin has developed engagement strategies that keep groups focused and projects moving forward. Inspired by collaborative efforts that improve our communities, she is also an accomplished facilitator who helps participants identify common goals, build respectful working relationships, and reach consensus.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“Live well, learn plenty, laugh often, love much.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
If I weren’t so good at my job, I’d probably be …
Hiking in the mountains
If you could write your own job title that best describes what you do here, what would it be?
List-Maker and Detail-Tracker
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone about conducting public engagement?
Be open and flexible. People care strongly, and that’s a good thing.
Kristin Anderson
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
David Gitlin, Senior Associate
Get to Know David:
David’s a Northeasterner at heart, hailing from Upstate New York, where he dreamed of playing point guard for the New York Knicks but happily settled for a degree in journalism from Ithaca College. But when he came to the Pacific Northwest for a master’s from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, he stayed to help grow and build his adopted community.
At S&A, David uses his 15+ years of experience as a strategic, relationship-driven community engagement and communications manager to support a variety of projects in transportation, energy, and other sectors. David’s passion is creating a relational team dynamic to bring out and elevate the skills of all team members while championing intentional, equitable, and authentic communication and engagement strategies. He’s also an excellent writer and editor, making him an invaluable member of our internal quality control team.
Q & A:
What are the values that drive you?
Hope reminds us great things are possible,
Accountability ensures we know how to get there,
Patience reminds us the journey is as important as the destination.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?Spider-Man. All those superpowers, yet he still keeps a day job.
If you could write the job title that best describes what you do here, what would it be?
Guy Who Helps Make Things Happen
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone about conducting public engagement?
Go slow to go fast! Community members deserve space and time to consider changes to their neighborhoods, and when we work together, we achieve more.
David Gitlin
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Natalie Graves, Senior Associate
Get to Know Natalie:
Natalie and her husband first met on the RapidRide C line and bonded over their mutual interest in environmental studies—in fact, Natalie holds an undergraduate degree in environmental studies and a graduate degree in marine affairs from the University of Washington. Now, their dinner hours are filled with talk of wastewater, environmental policies, transportation, and cool nature facts.
As one of S&A’s longest-serving team members, Natalie has more than 10 years of experience in community outreach and stakeholder engagement on local and regional projects. She excels at translating highly technical information into approachable and easy-to-understand content for the public. Always thinking ahead, Natalie has strong planning skills and attention to detail that have led to a multitude of successful community events, open houses, and stakeholder briefings. With a work background that spans multiple sectors, Natalie values the individual interactions with community members that our work requires.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller
What are the values that drive you?
Empathy, compassion, and family
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
- My Year with Eleanor, Noelle Hancock
- The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone about conducting public engagement?
It’s all about your relationships. Be authentic and genuine.
Natalie Graves
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Bob Derry, Senior Associate
Get to Know Bob:
Bob is an avid world traveler and incredible photographer. He’s most aptly described as the Rick Steves of the office—able to provide travel recommendations from New York to Uzbekistan.
Bob’s background in communications, his commitment to public participation, and his longtime interest in public infrastructure have helped power S&A since 2007. In his 20 years of experience in the field, beginning with the legendary Seattle Monorail Project, he has worked with multiple agencies and contractors conducting outreach and communications around high-profile, often controversial issues and infrastructure projects. He is especially proud of his work securing pedestrian-friendly, transit-oriented zoning changes and drafting and successfully advocating for an amendment to the Seattle Comprehensive Plan.
At S&A, Bob has managed construction communications for complex mega projects, such as the First Hill Streetcar, the Denny Substation Program, and the SR 520 Montlake Project.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.” – from Il Gattopardo, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
1. The Invention of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt’s New World, Andrea Wulf
2. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
3. Stay Tuned with Preet (WNYC podcast)
If I weren’t so good at my job, I’d probably be…
An itinerant portrait photographer
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone about conducting public engagement?
Talk less, listen more.
Bob Derry
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Andrea Johnson, Director of Business Development and Marketing
Get to Know Andrea:
Andrea’s high-octane and collaborative approach to her work makes her a natural inspirer. A Northwest native with a communications degree from the Edward R. Murrow College of Communications at Washington State University, she brings 20 years of experience designing and implementing successful communications, marketing and business development programs. Whether supporting arts, land use, health, housing or engagement organizations, she’s had her finger on the pulse, helping ensure thoughtful and successful growth. The fast pace she sets is balanced by spending time with her family fishing, crabbing and shrimping in the San Juans.
As part of S&A’s management and leadership team, Andrea leads our business development and marketing efforts. She radiates warmth and is passionate about aligning staff and firm values with goals and new growth opportunities.
Q & A:
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?
A member of The West Wing communications team.
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo
- Unlocking Us, Brené Brown (podcast)
- The West Wing Weekly, Radiotopia (podcast)
If you could write the job title that best describes what you do here, what would it be?
Cultivate growth.
What are the values that drive you?
Honesty and integrity, collaboration, generosity, and optimism.
Andrea Johnson
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING
Marjorie Skotheim, Chief Operations Director
Get to Know Marjorie:
Marjorie’s work on public infrastructure projects began nearly 20 years ago with the Seattle Monorail Project, where she capitalized on her background in communications, project administration, and community outreach in the public affairs arena. Since joining S&A in 2008, she has managed communications and public outreach on a host of transportation projects; directed editing efforts for large technical documents, both internal and public-facing; played a role in the development of messaging and materials for all our clients; and handled operational responsibilities as a member of the firm’s management team.
An accomplished writer, editor, and proofreader, Marjorie also leads S&A’s quality control team to ensure robust communications efforts and the delivery of accurate and effective materials.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
What are the values that drive you?
Connection, compassion, integrity, and excellence
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- The Argument (NYT podcast)
- Stay Tuned with Preet (WNYC podcast)
- To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone about conducting public engagement?
Start with humility.
Marjorie Skotheim
CHIEF OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Holly Wyrwich, Project Delivery Manager
Get to Know Holly:
Holly is a geek for grammar. If you want to talk spelling or syntax, she’s here for it. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and former copy editor for the Seattle Times, she went on to earn a master’s from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, where she focused on partnerships between the public and private sectors.
At S&A, Holly combines her past experiences writing and editing in newspaper journalism, partnering with community groups in the nonprofit sector, and managing projects for a government agency to ensure that our approach on projects is strategic, collaborative, and detail oriented. An experienced facilitator and project manager, Holly is dedicated to ensuring that community members have an opportunity to inform project priorities and decision-making.
Holly helps us track and improve our performance on projects as our project delivery manager, and she helps keep our written products up to snuff as a member of our quality control team.
Q & A:
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?
The fifth Ghostbuster
My least favorite word in the English language is …
Late
What is your favorite quote?
“Slowly, I have come to see that asking and listening and accepting are a profound form of doing.” – Dr. Vincent J. Felitti
If I weren’t so good at my job, I’d probably be…
Producing and starring in a low-budget DIY home improvement show on YouTube
Holly Wyrwich
PROJECT DELIVERY MANAGER
Lynn Pasley, Senior Graphic Designer
Get to Know Lynn:
By way of Kansas, Indiana, Maryland, and upstate New York, Lynn landed in Seattle in 1989 and made it her home. She has been with S&A since fall 2016 and brings 40 years of design and production experience at creative studios, print shops, and corporate in-house creative departments. Her portfolio reflects in-depth experience producing print and web projects for clients ranging from small nonprofits to Fortune 100 companies.
Lynn has excellent design sensibilities and a discriminating eye for detail and typographic excellence. As the S&A senior graphic designer, Lynn is well-versed in the needs of community outreach for infrastructure projects, and creates attractive and easily understood infographics, websites, online open houses, mailers, posters, brochures, fact sheets, display boards, presentations, and maps.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“So whatever you want to do, just do it … Making a damn fool of yourself is absolutely essential.” – Gloria Steinem
What are the values that drive you?
Honesty, and attempting to live the change I want to see in the world.
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- To Be of Use, Marge Piercy
- The Museum of Extraordinary Things, Alice Hoffman
- A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’Engle
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone about conducting public engagement?
Another quote from Ms. Steinem: ”Empathy is the most radical of human emotions.”
Lynn Pasley
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Jasmin Jacobs, Controller
Get to Know Jasmin:
Jasmin brings 14 years of accounting experience to S&A. The word weakness is not in her vocabulary, and if you ever get the chance to work with her, you will immediately see why. She is the epitome of a strong, independent woman who knows how to get it done.
She oversees S&A’s operational accounting, leads the production of financial reports, maintains the accounting system, and manages cash flow. She also assists with contracting and subcontracting on projects and provides financial analysis and reporting. As part of the firm’s management and leadership team, she develops and implements financial strategic planning decisions and is responsible for preparing financial forecasts, ensuring the fiscal welfare of the firm.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“Everything will be OK in the end. If it’s not OK, it’s not the end.” –Unknown
What are the values that drive you?
Accountability, integrity and world domination
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k, Mark Manson
- Dialogue: The Art of Thinking Together, William Isaacs
- Mistborn, Brandon Sanderson
If I weren’t so good at my job, I’d probably be…
Lounging on the beach in the Caribbean
Jasmin Jacobs
CONTROLLER
Cayla Ravancho, Associate
Get to Know Cayla:
A former coxswain, Cayla has fine-tuned her leadership skills and love of organization into top-notch client management, strategic communications, community outreach, event planning, and social media management. A graduate of Washington State University (go Cougs!), Cayla has a background in organizational and intercultural communication and equity and social justice outreach, all of which contribute to her holistic approach to serving communities and clients.
At S&A, she specializes in bridge structure and utility work, and has worked on large multi-year projects such as the Denny Substation Program and the Northgate Ped/Bike Bridge project. Cayla keeps things on track with an unwavering dedication to maintaining positive relationships with clients and the public through collaborative problem-solving.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“To each their own.”
If you could write your own job title that best describes what you do here, what would it be?
DJ
If I weren’t so good at my job, I’d probably be…
The host of my own talk show
If I could be any fictional character, I’d be…
Michael Scott
Cayla Ravancho
ASSOCIATE
Harrison Price, Associate
Get to Know Harrison:
At age 10, Harrison won the top prize for the 10-and-under category at the International Accordion Championships in Leavenworth, WA. Ever since, he has prided himself on tackling big challenges, whether that’s climbing a mountain, biking up the steepest hill he can find, or taking on a 4-page recipe that means being in the kitchen all day. Born and raised on Whidbey Island and with a degree in environmental studies from Santa Clara University, Harrison enjoys bringing his can-do attitude to support projects that benefit the community he calls home.
At S&A, Harrison manages teams and projects ranging from neighborhood multimodal transportation to major multi-year construction efforts. Harrison fosters collaborative partnerships with teams, developing and implementing engagement opportunities that connect people to projects in meaningful ways.
Q & A:
What are the values that drive you?
Understanding leads to better decisions
Appreciation brings out the best in people
Positivity is a constant choice
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- Salt Fat Acid Heat, Samin Nosrat
- How to Do Nothing, Jenny Odell
- Still Processing, with Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham
If I weren’t so darn good at my job, I’d probably be…
Learning everything there is to know about food and cooking.
My least favorite word in the English language is:
Pinch, as in pinch of salt. No one knows how much that is.
Harrison Price
ASSOCIATE
Anneka Olson, Associate
Get to Know Anneka:
Anneka has a love for all things urban and all things historic. With a degree in history from Bard College and a master’s in community planning from University of Washington Tacoma, she’s had the good fortune to combine these two interests in a range of community-based projects ranging from New Orleans to Denmark to the Pacific Northwest.
At S&A, Anneka brings her experience in active transportation advocacy, historic preservation, nonprofit strategic planning, and authentic public engagement to ensure that projects are accessible and equitable for communities. She facilitates the design of public involvement processes, creates outreach materials, and supports the analysis and reporting of public feedback. A bike commuter for almost 15 years, she has a particular passion for supporting the implementation of new active transportation infrastructure. As part of our internal quality control team, she also helps to review all written and graphic materials.
Q & A:
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
1. The Yellow House, Sarah M. Broom
2. Book of Ages: The Life and Times of Jane Franklin, Jill Lepore
3. Throughline (an amazing history podcast from NPR!)
If I weren’t so good at my job, I’d probably be…
A wedding singer
If I could be any fictional character, I’d be…
Maude, from Harold and Maude
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone about conducting public engagement?
If people don’t show up, it’s time to design things differently.
Anneka Olson
ASSOCIATE
Colleen Toomey, Associate
Get to Know Colleen:
Colleen’s childhood ambition was to win the National Geography Bee. Although she fell short of that dream, her ability to remember hilariously specific trivia helps to inform her outreach work and knowledge about our greater community. A graduate of Western Washington University’s journalism program and the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, she has 10 years of experience in executive communications and campaign planning for agencies, public institutions, and economic development organizations throughout Washington state.
At S&A, Colleen develops open houses, online open houses, and community surveys, as well as multilingual and multicultural outreach materials. Her dedication to succinct storytelling, demographic research, and data analysis creates meaningful public engagement opportunities and gives decision-makers the right information to achieve community buy-in. She is passionate about sustainable and beautiful urban design, multimodal travel, and using active voice in all writing endeavors.
Q & A:
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone about conducting public engagement?
It’s the unseen work that often makes the biggest difference.
What is your favorite quote?
“The only time I set the bar low is for limbo.” – Michael Scott
If I weren’t so good at my job, I’d probably be…
A foreign correspondent
My least favorite word in the English language is …
Literally
Colleen Toomey
ASSOCIATE
Kat Brand, Associate
Get to Know Kat:
Kat is a lifelong Seattlelite, except for a short stint in the Bay Area, where she received a degree in communications from Santa Clara University and worked in Silicon Valley for companies focused on sustainability. When she’s not working, you can find her skiing in the Cascades, surfing, or frequenting a dive bar.
At S&A, she applies nearly 10 years of experience in communications to support projects ranging in scale from neighborhood streetscape improvements to multi-year mega projects. Her experience includes conducting door-to-door outreach to residents and businesses, planning large community events for 1,000+ attendees, developing communications and marketing strategies, and writing compelling content.
Q & A:
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone about conducting public engagement?
Know the community.
If you could write your own job title that best describes what you do here, what would it be?
“Put Me in Coach” Enthusiast
What are your favorite books/podcasts?
1. The Monkey Wrench Gang, Edward Abbey
2. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot
3. 2 Dope Queens (WNYC podcast)
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?
Reggie Rocket
Kat Brand
ASSOCIATE
Sophie Turnbull-Appell, Associate
Get to Know Sophie:
Sophie was born and raised in Seattle. Having grown up on Capitol Hill, she witnessed firsthand the thrills, opportunities, and disparities of a rapidly growing city. As a true Pacific Northwesterner, she balances her free time between iconic concert venues like the Neptune or Showbox and mountaintops in the Cascades and Olympics.
Sophie has an undergraduate degree in environmental studies, a graduate degree in urban and regional planning, and more than six years of experience in climate change research, active transportation planning, community engagement, and mapping using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software. She brings these skills to S&A, where she is especially adept at conducting outreach to diverse populations and reporting community input to improve decision-making and policy development.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“I want to be a healer, and love all things that grow and are not barren.” –J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
1. The Green Mile, Stephen King
2. Little Fires Everywhere, Celeste Ng
3. The Secret History, Donna Tartt
What are the values that drive you?
Commitment to social justice and equity, sustainability, conservation, and mindfulness
If I weren’t so good at my job, I’d probably be …
A park ranger
Sophie Turnbull-Appell
ASSOCIATE
Shelley Morgan, Associate
Get to Know Shelley:
A third-generation Seattleite, Shelley knows the city well. Name any park in the city or ask her how a neighborhood has changed, and she’ll run through a brief oral history. Before she joined S&A, Shelley got her bachelor’s in sociology from Western Washington University, which led to a career working for nonprofits on child welfare issues.
At S&A, she keeps everyone on track and keeps things running smoothly. A logistical wizard, she supports a range of projects with her event-planning, public outreach, and coordination skills. She also manages our staff volunteer programs, partnering with nonprofits such as Plymouth Housing and Food Lifeline. Thanks to Shelley’s efforts, S&A is on track to prepare and/or serve thousands of meals to low-income folks in our community by the end of 2020.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“I intend to live forever. So far, so good.” – Steven Wright
If you could write your own job title that best describes what you do here, what would it be?
Cruise Director
If I weren’t so good at my job, I’d probably be …
A personal chef
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?
Thelma
Shelley Morgan
ASSOCIATE
Nicole Phaysith, Associate
Get to Know Nicole:
In fourth grade, Nicole was awarded the superlative “most thorough,” while fellow classmates received decidedly more fun awards. Yet today, Nicole’s thoughtful ability to look at problems from many different angles is her superpower. Nicole grew up in Seattle and holds a bachelor’s in communications from Washington State University, and she honed her communication skills at nonprofits working to end youth homelessness.
At S&A, Nicole is a highly collaborative teammate who brings out the best in everyone. She develops materials and coordinates events that educate, inspire, and bring people together around projects affecting their communities, with a particular focus on the most marginalized. She also supports direct communication with community members, coordinates translation and interpretation, develops compelling content, and manages social media campaigns.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
What are the values that drive you?
Authenticity, creativity, equity, and shared purpose
My least favorite word in the English language is:
Worcestershire sauce. I struggle every time I have to say it.
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone about conducting public engagement?
Help people see the “big picture” of what we’re trying to do while honoring people’s individual stories and experience.
Nicole Phaysith
ASSOCIATE
Yasmeen Elkordy, Project Coordinator
Get to Know Yasmeen:
If there’s one thing to know about Yasmeen, it’s that she loves to go deep—she’s a certified Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver with over 70 dives under her belt! Hailing from the greater Seattle area, she holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington with a major in Communications (and another in Medical Anthropology & Global Health). While in college, she put her communication and planning skills to good use on a trip to visit family in Egypt: recognizing that local residents lacked easy access to fresh produce, she developed and successfully implemented a plan for a centrally located farmers market.
At S&A, Yasmeen helps keep things running smoothly with her knack for organization and attention to detail. Committed to a holistic and inclusive approach to community engagement, she supports projects by managing correspondence; conducting door-to-door outreach; planning, staffing and reporting on events; developing materials; and ensuring that her teams are on track and having fun.
Q & A:
What are the values that drive you?
Equity and social justice, creativity, hard work, passion, and doing everything with love.
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
- The Four Agreements, Noelle Hancock
- Crime Junkie (podcast)
If I weren’t so darn good at my job, I’d probably be…
A horseback rider!
What’s your favorite quote?
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller
Yasmeen Elkordy
PROJECT COORDINATOR