Chair

Sarah is no stranger to what outdoor education and youth work can do for the spirit. She has been in the Youth Development field for over 10 years and can’t imagine spending her working hours doing anything else. She is immensely grateful to all the youth she has worked with and the lessons and love they share with her.

Sarah was lucky enough while growing up to spend highly anticipated vacations visiting Yosemite National Park and Orcas Island, Washington. The love of the outdoors her parents have is reflected in her as well.

Sarah currently works for Whatcom Community College and is pursuing her Executive Masters in Public Administration and Governance from the University of Washington. Along with her husband and their growing toddler, any day they get outside, ride a bike and have a snack in the outdoors is a good one. Sarah is thrilled to support the incredible Wild Whatcom staff who provide opportunities for all youth in Whatcom County to explore the outdoors.

Board member since January 2021.

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Treasurer

Brandon grew up in Marysville, WA, spending his childhood outside playing with friends and cousins. He spent weekends skiing at Ski Acres and summers camping and exploring the PNW. A Thanksgiving trip to Juneau, AK during his last year of high school completely changed the direction he had planned to go.

While in Juneau at the University of Alaska Southeast, he was in the inaugural class and the first graduate of the Outdoor Skills and Leadership certificate and traversed the Juneau Icefield as the capstone project. After 2 years of school in Juneau and meeting his future wife, he headed to the University of Northern Colorado. Greeley lacked the mountains, the water, greenery, and rain that he was accustomed to and he headed back to WA after two semesters there. Brandon graduated from Western Washington University (WWU) with a degree in Outdoor Recreation.

A brief stint in cabinet making ignited his passion for woodworking but with the recession looming and work drying up, he found a job in banking to support his new wife in her nursing career. After 12.5 years in banking and not content being inside at a desk, he made the choice to quit and start his woodworking business. Then the pandemic came. Brandon transitioned to stay-at-home dad during the pandemic and woodworking when time allowed, which has included completely rebuilding a 1954 Shasta trailer.

Brandon has two young boys in Explorers Club and is excited to get involved in an organization that he wished he had when he was younger. After a long, winding road, he is ecstatic to finally get to volunteer with an organization like Wild Whatcom. He has now spent half of his life in Bellingham and cannot imagine raising his children anywhere else. Brandon enjoys camping, skiing, mountain biking, gardening, spending time outdoors and at the many breweries that are in the Sunnyland neighborhood.

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With over 35 years of facilitation experience in transformational leadership, outside and inside, Chris is excited to return to Wild Whatcom on the governance committee.

Chris was formerly a Program Manager for Wild Whatcom and currently owns a business that allows her to provide specialized support services to clients of developmental disabilities that improve quality of life.

In addition to serving adults, Chris is a child and family advocate in Whatcom County and behavior re-education specialist in public schools. Raising four strong daughters, flying solo as a parent, and finishing her graduate degree in education are Chris' current accomplishments and celebrations.

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Secretary

Courtney loves nature and stories-a combo that led her to get a doctoral degree in fisheries anthropology. Feel free to ask her about rural Alaska, fishing politics, and the time she ruined a scene they were filming for the Deadliest Catch.

These days she spends most of her time working from home, but Wild Whatcom programs provide an easy way to sneak back into nature.

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I'm inspired by and enjoy Wild Whatcom programs and all the nature Washington has to offer. I have a background in law enforcement, social services, and have been in the non-profit sector for decades. I believe together we can make a positive impact in the community. You can find me enjoying nature and spending time with my dogs.

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