OUR TEAM REFLECTS THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.

Barbra was born and raised in eastern Washington before heading to the Los Angeles-area for college and a career working in non-profits focused on community development, youth development, homelessness and housing, and older adults. She is a connector with a commitment to observing and learning then working alongside others to catalyze change through program services and community transformation. Barbra has navigated roles from Housing Matcher to Director and has refined a skill set in data analysis, social sustainability, active listening, clinical case management and social work, and creative problem-solving.

Barbra received her BS in Urban Planning in 1999 from University of Southern California and MSW in 2017 from Azusa Pacific University and obtained her License in Clinical Social Work in California in 2023.

Barbra is returning to her roots, at this time, to be closer to family who all live in Washington State so that she can spend time with her 7-year old niece, watch her nephew play basketball for the Idaho State Bengals, get outdoors to snowshoe, hike, kayak, and backpack as much as possible. Some of Barbra’s hobbies including connecting with her close friends in So Cal, creating art, traveling to new places, and immersing in languages and cultures whenever possible.

As a community leader and advocate for creating spaces and places for people to thrive and connect, Leroy brings nearly 30 years of visionary expertise working collaboratively with communities, local government and the public and private sectors to drive change. In his role as EHF’s Vice President of Programs, he is passionate about supporting the Foundation’s work to direct power and resources into the hands of those communities in our region most impacted by historical injustice and inequities. Leroy’s professional fingerprints can be found throughout our region. Notably, he spent 25 years as the City of Spokane Parks and Recreation and Planning Director, guiding development of our many amazing public outdoor spaces including miles of walking trails and the renovation of Riverfront Park. Leroy served as Executive Director of Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Coalition in Portland from 2020-2021 before moving back to the Inland Northwest to assume the helm as Executive Director of Spokane Housing Ventures and then Vice President of Development and Asset Management for Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington where he supported affordable housing development in our region’s rural and urban communities. Leroy grew up on the Colville Indian Reservation, where he graduated from Okanogan High School. He holds a Bachelor’s in Urban & Regional Planning degree from Eastern Washington University. A self-professed outdoor enthusiast, Leroy spends his summers logging miles on his bike and backpacking rugged mountain trails, and cross-country skiing and snowboarding once the snow flies.

Kaitlin has 7 years of project management and grants compliance experience honed in the local government arena. As EHF’s Grant and Compliance Manager, she works closely with our program and finance teams to develop grants and contracts for community partners, while overseeing proper compliance and grant management. She previously worked for Spokane County in administrative roles within the Superior Court Administration department and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Kaitlin holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Eastern Washington University. She enjoys spending quality time outdoors with family and friends. She loves hiking, biking, skiing, and enjoying leisurely time at nearby lakes with her husband, son, and dogs.

A fourth-generation Spokanite and active community member, Lu has over 20 years of experience supporting the intersection of people and systems working together for change in the nonprofit, philanthropic, and small business sectors. As EHF’s Community Engagement & Strategy Director, she is responsible for holding space, centering care and supporting connections that lead to a more just community, where those closest to community realities are the ones providing the guidance. Lu’s expansive career includes 8 years with Boys & Girls Clubs in Las Vegas, Oregon and Spokane, a prior stint with EHF as a Senior Program Associate, and 4 years in the cannabis industry where she implemented best practices in management, finance, and manufacturing. Lu currently serves as founding board president of Spectrum S2LGBTQIA+ Center, along with serving on the boards of Inland Northwest Business Alliance (INBA), Spokane Neighborhood Action Program (SNAP), SNAP Financial Access, and Northeast Youth & Family Services. Lu obtained her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Eastern Washington University and a Master of Business Administration from University of the People. Lu enjoys spending time with her wife and sons, reading, connecting with friends & family, attending live music events, and cuddling up with her fur babies.

On staff since 2016, Kelly puts her skills in project management, event planning and organization to work supporting the program team and the foundation’s community partners. She brings over 20 years of experience working in various administrative roles in the non-profit and for-profit sectors. Although Kelly went to school with intentions of becoming a chemical engineer, she has found she most enjoys philanthropy, foundation, and community work. Kelly and her family make volunteering within the community a priority, and value giving back to and supporting their neighbors.

Laura has over 30 years of strategic development and marketing and communications consulting experience working with organizations representing the private and public sectors in Washington and Oregon. She joined the EHF team in 2011 to launch the foundation’s first strategic initiative aimed at supporting local school districts in transitioning their school meal programs to scratch-based menus. In her role as Vice President of Operations, she provides strategic guidance for the Foundation while managing daily operations including marketing/communications, human resources, information technology, facilities and community engagement. Laura grew up in small communities in the Columbia River Gorge and Central Washington where she learned about the power of a community coming together to face challenges and drive change. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Western Washington University in Bellingham. An avid outdoors enthusiast, Laura loves exploring new hiking trails, traveling, listening to live music, and cheering on the Cougs with her husband and two adult sons.

Kellie grew up on a wheat farm in south Spokane County, where she raised/showed animals and harvested crops. Growing up in a small farming community taught her early on the value and meaning of hard work and strong communities. She has nearly 20 years of human resources and finance experience including 19 years in corporate banking. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two young kids on their 10 acres, raising her family in the rural community she was raised in herself.

Kevin is a committed Native professional who has dedicated his career to supporting the health and wellness of Tribal communities across Indian Country. As a Program Officer for Empire Health Foundation, he is the community support for the Tribal Leadership Alliance and the Integrative Cultural Healing Model. He brings experience in the contract management sector of work and has supported various clients with project management and support across private, Tribal, state, and federal levels. This field of work has allowed him to build an awareness and understanding of the intricate components and inner workings of government-to-government relationships and the often-systemic inefficiencies that occur. Kevin brings a wealth of lived experience in addition to the professional experience, training, and education. He is a committed ongoing learner who takes pride in his commitment to growing knowledge and contributions for the betterment of the organization and communities he serves. He studied Indigenous American Indian Studies at Haskell Indian Nations University. Kevin is a member of the Menominee and Oneida Nations of Wisconsin and was born and raised on his tribal homelands in Keshena, Wisconsin. Outside of work, Kevin loves to camp and spend time on the water with family. He also loves to golf when he has time but finds that yard work is his true therapy.

Janae grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and has lived in the Northwest for over a decade. Before joining EHF, Janae worked in the healthcare industry for 25 years, most recently for Heritage Health in Coeur d’Alene.

Janae is excited about working in philanthropy and being able to directly witness the impact of her work in the community. She’s especially interested in how EHF can support the community through impact investments.

Outside of work at EHF, Janae runs a barbecue catering company, RJ’s So Southern Barbecue, with her husband in between shuttling their two young sons between sporting events.

Jeri has nearly 10 years of experience supporting non-profit organizations in rural, Tribal, and urban communities. On staff since 2015, she has led some of the Foundation’s earliest work focused on improving health outcomes and quality of life for older adults in eastern Washington. Born and raised in Spokane, Jeri is committed to work that creates pathways to a healthy and thriving community. She holds a Master’s in Public Health and a BA in English Literature from Eastern Washington University, along with a Certificate of Health Services Administration. In 2022, Jeri was named a Grantmakers in Health Terrance Keenan Institute Fellow, an honor and opportunity for emerging leaders in Health Philanthropy. She currently serves on the board of Spokane Tribal Network and is the Chair for the City of Spokane Housing and Human Services Board. Jeri enjoys the simple pleasures of life, including a good cup of coffee in the morning, hiking, camping and taking her two kids to the library.

Growing up in a military family Terrie moved around a lot, but spent most of her youth in Omaha, Nebraska. Terrie served 4 years in the Marine Corps as a radio repair technician. After her military contract ended, Terrie came back to the Northwest where her family is from.

Terrie graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a B.S. in Accounting and moved to Spokane soon after. Terrie has been a Certified Public Accountant for over 30 years. Terrie started her career as an auditor in the Healthcare Dept of LeMaster & Daniels (now part of Clifton Larson Allen), then moved to the private sector and worked as a Controller in various industries including construction, non-profit, manufacturing and software.

When she’s not crunching numbers at work, Terrie enjoys traveling, camping and hiking, hanging out with friends, attending concerts and sporting events, and chilling at home with her wife and their fur babies.

Carl comes to Empire Health Foundation from a career in community journalism across the Western United States. He worked as an editor and writer at High Country News magazine and the local cooperative newsroom RANGE Media. He has also worked locally for the food hub cooperative LINC Foods, which seeks to grow an equitable food economy in the Inland Northwest. In his role at EHF, Carl will be working with staff and community partners to build awareness around EHF and EHCAF’s work to build a healthier and more equitable community. Carl grew up in a small town in Northern California and has lived in the Inland Northwest for most of the last decade. He has a bachelor’s degree in Conservation and Resource Studies from University of California Berkeley and a master’s degree in Journalism from University of Oregon. In his free time, Carl enjoys spending time with his infant daughter Marlee, tending his garden with his wife Emily and getting outdoors.

Zeke joined EHF in 2020 after 30 years working and living in Portland, Oregon. Over that period, he built a career focused on strategic planning, community engagement and social justice, supported by a strong commitment to equity.  Zeke’s career includes tenure as Vice President of Programs for FoodCorps, a national nonprofit dedicated to connecting kids to healthy food in schools; Chief Impact Officer of the United Way of the Columbia Willamette, leading the effort to address childhood poverty and systemic inequities across the Portland, Oregon metropolitan region; and having served as Chief of Staff of Portland Public Schools, a district of almost 50,000 students, supporting strategies that led to an increase in graduation rates and a decrease in achievement gaps for students of color. Additionally, in a volunteer capacity, Zeke was on the Governor-appointed Oregon Health Policy Board for seven years (five as Chair) an oversight body for the Oregon Health Authority and the statewide healthcare system. Across each of these experiences, as well as through years of working with local community-based nonprofits, Zeke has been focused on improving the systems that support individuals, families, and communities, particularly focusing on the needs of those whom these systems least often address. Zeke currently serves on the boards of the Native American Youth and Family Center, Family Impact Network, Spokane Teaching Health Center, Willamette Falls Trust, Progress Alliance of Washington and Better Health Together. Zeke earned his bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. He is proud of his Dutch, Indonesian, Oneida, and Osage heritage and lives with his partner, Mari, with whom he has two adult daughters.

Jonathan has 20 years of experience leading values-based racial, social equity, environmental, and economic change campaigns for candidates and organizations across electoral, non-profit, government and private sectors. As Policy Director for Empire Health Foundation and the Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund, Jonathan drives the Foundation’s policy programming and government affairs strategies in supporting power shifts and political and systems change within BIPOC, LGBTQ2IAS+ and rural underserved communities in the Inland Northwest. A native Washingtonian, he earned an MBA in Sustainable Business Systems and degrees in conservation biology, ecology, and Spanish from the University of Idaho, while competing as a member of the U of I football team. Jonathan enjoys cultivating his connection to nature and outdoor recreation as an avid fisherman and hunter.

Rocío brings a rich array of experience providing culturally-responsive grantmaking and planning support to communities. In her role as EHF’s Senior Program Associate, she has led a variety of initiatives that have resulted in development of new tools and processes for community partners and the Foundation offering pathways for connection, learning and technical assistance. Rocío developed a passion for the nonprofit sector through her management work with organizations that impact vulnerable communities, such as Radio Creativa in Guatemala, Padre Machado Hospital in Venezuela, and the Permanent Mission of Guatemala at the United Nations HQ in New York. She has also previously worked in collaboration with the Italian Cooperation to develop business plans for rural entrepreneurships. Rocío earned her Master of Public Service and Administration with a focus on Nonprofit Management from The Bush School of Government at Texas A&M University. Rocío enjoys reading and writing, as well as spending quality time with family and friends in Guatemala.