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.
Meet our amazing team:
Meet our amazing team:
Josh Stepherson, Founder & Principal
Get to Know Josh (He/Him):
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
Andrea Johnson, Director of Business Development and Marketing
Get to Know Andrea (She/Her):
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 (She/Her):
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
Paige Barnes, Chief Financial Officer
Get to Know Paige (She/Her):
When it comes to financial controls, process and order is in the DNA of our Coast Guard Veteran, Paige Barnes. With her unflappable demeanor, Paige brings more than a decade of experience managing accounting and financial systems for multi-million-dollar companies, budgets and projects.
As CFO, Paige maintains internal control and safeguards for S&A’s financial accounting and reporting systems ensuring compliance with generally accepted accounting principles. She oversees all payroll, AR/AP, benefit coordination and contract management. Paige works closely with PMs on scopes and estimates, amendments, budget and spend reports, project invoices and facilitates contract adjustments. As part of S&A’s management and leadership team, Paige administers and reviews all financial plans, profit sharing and develops and implements strong and thoughtful financial strategic plans.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“ Well-behaved women seldom make history.” – Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- East of Eden, John Steinbeck
- Lore– Podcast
- Couldn’t Keep It to Myself, Wally Lamb
If I weren’t so damn good at my job, I’d probably be…
A bartender in Grand Caymen.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?
Hermione Granger, I need that purse.
Paige Barnes
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Alexander Stapnes, Associate
Get to Know Alex (He/Him):
In elementary school, you could always find Alex mediating conflict and solving problems on the playground and in the classroom. This early interest in facilitation led him to study participatory democracy throughout his academic career: he has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in public administration from the University of Washington. His academic background and his past work in community development and local government come in handy in his current work at S&A, where his attentive listening skills and political know-how make him a valuable member of our team.
At S&A, Alex has a can-do attitude about new projects and tasks. He supports projects by designing and reporting on surveys; managing correspondence; conducting door-to-door outreach; and developing materials.
Q & A:
If I weren’t so darn good at my job, I’d probably be…
A chauffeur for an important politician…I just like driving and I’m a good listener.
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- Cosmos by Carl Sagan
- A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?
Captain Picard of the USS Enterprise…who doesn’t want to travel the universe in a spaceship?!
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone about conducting public engagement?
The public and the government are teammates working toward a better society; treat each other like teammates.
Alexander Stapnes
ASSOCIATE
Aliah Marzolf, Associate
Get to Know Aliah (She/Her):
Aliah grew up exploring the outdoors in her home state of Florida (where she was no stranger to inadvertently swimming with alligators!). Her enthusiasm for the environment, both natural and built, led her eventually to pursue a Master’s in Urban Planning at the University of Washington. Today, fueled by her academic background and her experience as a math and science teacher, Aliah demonstrates a passion for communicating with the public on planning and environmental projects. She is committed to and skilled at communicating complex concepts in clear and easy-to-understand ways.
At S&A, Aliah supports a range of projects across transportation, water, and natural resource sectors by developing project communications and engagement materials, managing community correspondence, conducting on-the-ground outreach and coordinating project events.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“Not to spoil the ending for you, but everything’s going to be alright” – Alfie Deyes
What are the values that drive you?
Family, getting outside and compassion
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- Girls Gotta Eat, Rayna Greenberg and Ashley Hesseltine (podcast)
- Office Ladies, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey (podcast)
- Lab Girl, Hope Jahren
If I weren’t so darn good at my job, I’d probably be…
A wildlife/animal photographer
Aliah Marzolf
ASSOCIATE
Allan Vann, Associate
Get to Know Allan (He/Him):
Born in Tenino, Washington, Allan is a natural problem solver with a knack for interpreting construction lingo. With a background in Community, Environment, and Planning from the University of Washington, Allan helps communities understand projects and influence changes to the built environment.
An experienced communications and public involvement project manager, at S&A Allan specializes in construction outreach and engaging communities who haven’t always benefited from infrastructure improvements. He skillfully manages transit, corridor improvement and energy projects, ensuring communities are equitably and thoughtfully engaged.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“The journey is part of the experience — an expression of the seriousness of one’s intent. One doesn’t take the A train to Mecca.” – Anthony Bourdain
If you could write the job title that best describes what you do here, what would it be?
Community Problem Solver and Expert Construction Lingo Interpreter
If I weren’t so damn good at my job, I’d probably be…
Starting up my own home décor store. You can never have too many shops to buy candles from.
Allan Vann
ASSOCIATE
Artie Nelson, Associate
Get to Know Artie (She/Her):
To say Artie has a background in conflict resolution is putting it mildly. With a master’s degree in International Security from the University of Bristol in England, Artie knows a thing or two about bringing disparate parties together over high-stakes and complex issues. But it’s her drive to evoke change in her own backyard that fuels her passion for equitable community engagement. Originally from New Jersey, Artie has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the College of Charleston. She has more than eight years of experience in public involvement, political communications, government relations, public affairs, legislative policy, and digital engagement at local and state levels.
At S&A, Artie combines her extensive communications and engagement skills to reach and connect with communities of diverse backgrounds and cultures. She helps bring people together and navigate complex projects with a focus on engaging hard-to-reach audiences.
Q & A:
If you could write the job title that best describes what you do here, what would it be?
“Community Bridge Connector” The purpose behind the work that I do is to serve as a bridge between stakeholders and the communities in which they serve.
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- All the Kings Men, Robert Penn Warren
- Devil in the White City, Erik Larson
- Slow Burn, Podcast
If I weren’t so darn good at my job, I’d probably be…
A talent scout at an independent record label.
Artie Nelson
ASSOCIATE
Bob Derry, Associate
Get to Know Bob (He/Him):
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
ASSOCIATE
Colleen Henn, Associate
Get to Know Colleen (She/Her):
Having spent her summers floating in the waters of Long Island, New York, Colleen developed a passion for sustainability. When she had the opportunity to study tropical plants and animals in the Galapagos Islands, she jumped! With a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Santa Clara University, Colleen combines her expertise in water quality science with years of experience communicating and collaborating with stakeholders, agencies, elected officials, and the public to create upstream solutions to protect our water resources.
At S&A, Colleen brings communities together to improve our wastewater and green infrastructure systems. Her engagement work in water, land use, environmental, and natural resource sectors increases accessibility and excitement around public projects through strategies to maximize benefits, minimize health impacts, and reduce inequities.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“Do small things with great love.” – Mother Teresa
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone about conducting public engagement?
Don’t underestimate the power of showing up. By being a part of public processes, you can make impactful and lasting change in your community.
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- A Field Guide to Getting Lost, Rebecca Solnit
- We Can Do Hard Things, Glennon Doyle (podcast)
- The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
If I weren’t so darn good at my job, I’d probably be…
Surfing tropical blue waters.
Colleen Henn
ASSOCIATE
Colleen Toomey, Associate
Get to Know Colleen (She/Her):
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
Consuelo Davis, Associate
Get to Know Consuelo (She/Her):
Consuelo is a member of the Nooksack Indian Tribe whose ancestral homeland is in the northwest corner of Washington. Raised on Bainbridge Island among a strong Indipino (Native American and Filipino) community, Consuelo is passionate about community and creating environments that are inclusive and welcoming. Insightful, strategic, and cool under pressure, Consuelo has 20 years of experience in communications, public relations, contracting, and workforce development where she developed and managed programs that focused on workforce equity and inclusion.
At S&A, Consuelo brings people together through thoughtful and equitable engagement. She designs and implements the participation of disadvantaged businesses on complex and high-profile projects – from environmental cleanup efforts to large scale infrastructure programs.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“Don’t judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” – Nelson Mandela
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
1. The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus (podcast)
2. Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam (podcast)
3. How to Write Better Joshua Fields Millburn (podcast)
If I weren’t so good at my job, I’d probably be…
Traveling the tropical coastlines saving turtles tangled in fishing line and covered in barnacles
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone about conducting public engagement?
Listen more.
Consuelo Davis
ASSOCIATE
Darcy Edmunds, Associate
Get to Know Darcy (She/Her):
In architecture school, Darcy quickly learned that it doesn’t matter how great an idea is if you can’t effectively communicate it to others. That insight led her to pursue communications and outreach work, first with nonprofits and later as a public involvement consultant for agencies throughout the Pacific Northwest. A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Darcy also holds certificates from the International Association of Public Participation and has been planning and implementing community engagement and communications programs for over 10 years.
At S&A, Darcy is a skilled and enthusiastic project manager, keeping projects running smoothly and clients and team members happy. She has a passion for infrastructure, handles tough community conversations with ease, and approaches every fire with a sense of calm and focused action. No matter the project, she prioritizes building trust with communities through transparency, authentic relationship-building, and meaningful opportunities to make a difference.
Q & A:
What’s your favorite quote?
“Connection, not perfection.”
What are the values that drive you?
Curiosity, integrity, grit and humor
My least favorite word in the English language is:
Should
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?
Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager
Darcy Edmunds
ASSOCIATE
Frana Milan, Senior Associate
Get to Know Frana (She/Her):
Frana is a natural-born policy wonk who also happens to be an accidental polyglot and project manager. Hailing from Pittsburgh, Frana has made western Washington her home for more than two decades. An eternal learner, she has Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and French from The Ohio State University, as well as a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Washington. Frana managed communications, engagement, partnerships, and grantwriting at King County Parks for more than 14 years, and worked in community organizing and fund development at environmental non-profit organizations prior to that.
As a Senior Associate at S&A, Frana designs and implements comprehensive communications and equitable engagement programs for parks, land use, environmental, climate change, and other infrastructure projects to help ensure our public spaces are welcoming, accessible and resilient. A skilled communicator and facilitator, Frana expertly navigates complex situations involving government, private sector, and community stakeholders to build coalitions and bring people together for the common good.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“If you’ve come here to help me, you’re wasting your time. If you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” Lilia Watson, Indigenous Australian, UN Decade of Women Conference, 1985
If I weren’t so damn good at my job, I’d probably be…
Writing the New York Times Spelling Bee.
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone about conducting public engagement?
Everyone has something valuable to contribute; it’s your job to unlock and open the door to welcome in their participation.
Frana Milan
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Gillian Haviland, Associate
Get to Know Gillian (She/Her):
Gillian hails from Leonardtown in southern Maryland – famous for their national oyster-shucking championship. She combined her love for communications and interest in sustainability to study journalism, public relations and the environment at the University of South Carolina. She brings a depth of experience designing and implementing strategic communications and public relations programs, developing marketing and event outreach activities, and implementing social media strategies.
At S&A, Gillian supports a range of planning, design and construction projects. She provides strategic communications, key message development, outreach materials, and coordinates online and in-person events.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?
Leslie Knope, Parks and Recreation
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- Braiding Sweetgrass , Robin Wall Kimmerer
- A Wild Sheep Chase, Haruki Murakami
- She Who Became the Sun, Shelley Parker-Chan
If I weren’t so darn good at my job, I’d probably be…
A traveling food and style writer
Gillian Haviland
ASSOCIATE
Harrison Price, Associate
Get to Know Harrison (He/Him):
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
Kai Howe, Marketing & Proposal Coordinator
Get to Know Kai (She/Her):
If you’re seeking a thrilling and scenic river tour in Washington, Kai’s your guide! Raised in Sun Valley, Idaho, Kai developed a passion for being outdoors. It’s no wonder she’s also a professional whitewater rafting guide. In 2015 Kai swapped the snow for rain when she moved to Seattle to pursue her degree in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Seattle.
With a background in marketing, print and digital design, Kai supports the business development and marketing team at S&A. She provides copywriting, visual communications and coordinates the development and preparation proposals, qualifications and marketing materials.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein
What are the values that drive you?
Compassion, honesty, respect and connection
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- Maintenance Phase, Aubrey Gordon & Michael Hobbes (podcast)
- The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz
- The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk
If I weren’t so darn good at my job, I’d probably be…
A full-time traveler
Kai Howe
MARKETING & PROPOSAL COORDINATOR
Kristin Anderson, Senior Associate
Get to Know Kristin (She/Her):
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
Lynn Pasley, Senior Graphic Designer
Get to Know Lynn (She/Her):
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
Maddie McCort, Associate
Get to Know Maddie (She/Her):
If there’s one thing Maddie loves more than backpacking, beer and coffee – it’s her plants. Originally from Boulder, Colorado the Pacific Northwest was a natural fit for her to study Community, Environment and Planning at the University of Washington. Her love of the outdoors and water translates into a passion for green stormwater infrastructure.
At S&A, Maddie supports equitable engagement through direct communication with community members, manages project correspondence, drafts engagement materials and reports on public feedback.
Q & A:
What is your favorite quote?
“Enjoyment appears at the boundary between boredom and anxiety, when the challenges are just balanced with the person’s capacity to act.” – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
What are the values that drive you?
Creativity, honesty, compassion and connection.
Unbeknownst
Maddie McCort
ASSOCIATE
Natalie Graves, Senior Associate
Get to Know Natalie (She/Her):
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
Roslyn Hower, Associate
Get to Know Roslyn (She/Her):
Roslyn says her favorite thing about our work is that enables us to build connections with community members. A former sociology major, she’s focused on the relationships we build between projects and people! With a bachelor’s degree from Scripps College and a master’s in public administration from the University of Washington, Roslyn combines her academic background, people skills, and experience working in the nonprofit and public sectors to bring a unique perspective to each project.
At S&A, Roslyn develops materials and surveys, coordinates events, and reports on community feedback. She also supports direct communication with community members and manages social media campaigns.
Q & A:
What’s your favorite quote?
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” – Anais Nin
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- Hunger, Roxanne Gay
- Circe, Madeline Miller
- Code Switch, NPR (podcast)
If I weren’t so damn good at my job, I’d probably be…
A pastry chef
My least favorite word in the English language is:
Utilize—just say ‘use’!
Roslyn Hower
ASSOCIATE
Shelley Morgan, Associate
Get to Know Shelley (She/Her):
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
Tyler Vasquez, Associate
Get to Know Tyler (He/Him):
As an endurance athlete who competes in Ironman and ultramarathon events, Tyler knows a thing or two about what makes for a good running shoe. Hailing from San Diego, CA, Tyler has bachelor’s degrees in Race and Ethnic Studies and Business Management from the University of Redlands, and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington.
Tyler’s central ethos is to elevate the voices of marginalized communities. At S&A, Tyler centers the needs of marginalized communities through equitable communication practices, conducting equity and social justice assessments, and working to improve transit mobility and transportation access for displaced BIPOC communities.
Q & A:
What’s your favorite quote?“Monta la ola!” (“Ride the wave!”)
What are the values that drive you?
Equity, loyalty, and consistency.
What are your top 3 books/podcasts?
- The Rich Roll Podcast, Rich Roll (podcast)
- The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett
- Let My People Go Surfing, Yvon Chouinard
My least favorite word in the English language is:
Pernicious
Tyler Vasquez
ASSOCIATE
Yasmeen Elkordy, Associate
Get to Know Yasmeen (She/Her):
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
ASSOCIATE