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Northwest Neighbors Network Board

NNN has 10 Board members, an Advisory Council, a staff Director and Manager, and many other volunteers working hard to enhance our model as we celebrate our 5th anniversary since launching. Meet your Board Members below:
(Prior to hiring our Director in 2022, all of the work of running the nonprofit was run completely by volunteers, with five to seven Board Members and many volunteers behind the scenes. In 2023, NNN had ten Board members.)

Board President: Suzy Chandler

Background: Suzy led analysis teams and technology product delivery teams, and has held positions of responsibility for process improvement, communications and outreach in large corporate organizations in the mighty Pacific Northwest. When not volunteering with NNN, it's all about family, friends, fishing, and adventuring.

Work with NNN: Board President 2022 - 2024. Primary lead for Strategic Planning and for community relationships. Previously led communications (newsletters, Facebook); wrote grant for King Co. VSHSL; primary contact with consulting groups; backup support leader of Community Outreach and Fundraising Committee.

Board Vice President: Mahyar Rahbarrad

Background: Mahyar has held a variety of senior level engineering and information technology leadership positions. He has extensive experience in strategic planning and execution, organization development, and a strong entrepreneurial spirit focused on team building and rapid problem solving.

Work with NNN: Started volunteering in early 2023 with primary focus on providing technical services to the community as well as picking up a few assembly and repair requests. Beginning his board position in November 2023 focusing on long-range strategic planning and operational standards, Mahyar is Vice President as of July 2024.

Board Treasurer: Rick Canning

Background: Rick has an extensive background as a collaborative leader, with an emphasis on a systematic team approach to financial planning, problem solving, planning, and process improvement. He is a senior level healthcare professional leader with 20+ years of extensive experience in financial and operational management areas and a former CPA.

Work with NNN: Rick has been a board member since November 2023 and is the Board Treasurer. He maintains the financial records, is Chair of the Finance & Admin Board Committee, and volunteers providing individual services to members and also helping to staff the service coordination function.

Board Secretary: Lee Gresko

Background: Lee brings her Midwest roots, where she grew up on a small farm and decided to be a nurse someday. After high school, she headed off to Chicago with a hope to fulfill her plan. After graduating from a 3-year nursing program, the "Inner City" called to her, where she worked with Visiting Nurse Association of Chicago. Meeting the patients in their wide range of socio-economic circumstances always made her feel privileged to meet them in their own space. Eventually, she came to the PNW and had interesting work experiences in psychiatric nursing, the field of alcohol-drug treatment and counseling, Juvenile detention, and finally, a community Senior wellness program which helped her prepare for retirement -- learning from her peers!

Work with NNN: Once learning of the Board position, I believed I could contribute. It is a privilege to be a member of an organization that makes it possible for aging adults and others, to remain in their homes, for whatever reasons, as long as possible as we share concerns for the welfare of our community. Lee joined the Board at the December 2023 meeting, elected to serve as Board Secretary in 2024.

Director: C Call

Background: C spent the last of her career working in large corporations, leading process improvement, project management, business architecture and the integration of people and technology. Her earliest volunteer work was with the Campfire Girls, which later segued, as it does, into the telecommunications industry. Before getting involved with technology, C spent 10 years as the national/international sales manager for a toy company.

Work with NNN: Joined NNN Board in October 2022, works on projects behind the scenes, and is a member of the Social Committee efforts to define and support activities to help reduce social isolation.

Board Director: Lyn Ching

Background: Lyn has over 20 years experience in sales and marketing, with clear results and achievements (awards, cruises, etc.) showing her success in meeting and exceeding sales goals.

Work with NNN: Joined NNN in August of 2022 as a volunteer as a service provider and service coordinator. With her insights and services work behind the scenes, she was elected to the Board in November of 2023, and is a key member of the Member and Volunteer Committee.

Director: Rita Gunderson

Background: Rita manages projects in right of way, obtaining rights to use land for transportation, utility, or other infrastructure projects. Previously was designated by the FAA to inspect and certify twin-aisle airplanes, and also found time to become a paralegal. She has a passion for volunteering and has been a Snohomish County Ombudsman, Senior Peer Counselor with Homage, taking on tasks with Catholic Community Services and managed numerous youth sports teams over the years.

Work with NNN: Rita has a passion for seeing a need and helping to fill the gap. She has taken on several opportunities behind the scenes; birthday cards, research projects, phone outreach, and helps support the social committee planning and news you can use. She has recently joined the Board to share ideas, become part of the solution, and to ensure sustainability of NNN.

Director: Kristine McFadden

Background: Kristine is a graduate of Central Washington University and has over thirty-five years’ experience in executive management. She has spent the last seventeen years as a leader in the Senior Living industry and is passionate about serving seniors.

Work with NNN: Joined the NNN Board October 2022, and is looking forward to growing the village through her expertise as a senior advocate. She is also looking forward to volunteering.

Director: Jerry Carriveau

Background: Jerry has been an active member of many community organizations and an advocate for supporting people with disabilities throughout the region. Past Board member with the North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA).

Work with NNN: Founding member (with NNN since 2015); previously Board President.

Board Members at our January 2024 Board Meeting:

Cathy Webb, Lee Gresko, Suzy Chandler, Mahyar Rahbarrad, Jerry Carriveau, Rick Canning, Rita Gunderson, Jerry Patterson, C Call

(not in photo: Lyn Ching & Kristine McFadden)

Board Members at our February 2024 5 Year Anniversary Board Meeting:

Rita Gunderson, Cee Call, Lee Gresko, Jerry Carriveau, Rick Canning, Mahyar Rahbarrad, Kristine McFadden, Cathy Webb, Lyn Ching, Suzy Chandler, Jerry Patterson

(not pictured: cupcakes)

Our Community Impact

Full Board - October 2022

Our Community Impact: Behind the Scenes with the Board

When NNN launched, we had a great team of passionate people ready to support the mission of NNN. With extensive amounts of expertise in our careers, and a few years of discovery to learn about the model of vetted volunteers helping Seniors age well in their own homes, we were ready to reach out to the cities in our community and begin slowly expanding. Little did we know we would have just one year under our belts before a global pandemic would change how we could offer volunteer services and help our community Seniors. But we did it!

Thanks to committed volunteers and funding from the King County VSHSL levy and donations and dues, we put in place a model to allow us to continue serving our members. Our volunteers leaned in, especially as we saw the increased need for transportation to crucial medical appointments and friendly phone/porch visits to combat social isolation. We added Zoom meetings and more local weekly walking events. Board members rolled up their sleeves, and with our amazing volunteer team and community connections, quietly doubled in size in 2021, and again in 2022. We learned a lot in the past two years, and are thrilled that we are well recognized in our community to have the ability to fulfill our mission to help Seniors age well in their own homes, thanks to our amazing core of volunteers.

2022 Picnic

Impact: Strategic Growth

At the end of 2019, we had 33 people involved in NNN (members + volunteers), and our Steering Committee projected we could be at 50 or 60 by the end of 2020. If we followed the typical growth trends of similar models across the nation (based on the “Senior Virtual Village” model launched at Beacon Hill village in Boston in 2002), this was right on track. We originally projected to be at 100 by the end of 2021 and 150 by the end of 2022. This slow growth plan would allow us time to put in place and enhance nonprofit systems, procedures, technology, training, and best practices.

Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, strong foundation, ability to talk with other community groups across the nation, and funding, we were able to accelerate our sustainability model more quickly to meet the needs of our community of Seniors aging well in their own homes. In 2021, we had 150 people involved, and hired a Program Manager at the end of the year. In 2022, we already have over 250 people involved. This direct interaction between volunteers and members– providing a unique, neighbor to neighbor model of support–means we get to support our members in their own homes and communities. Our volunteers provide over 300 services and 500 hours of service to our members each month. As we continue to put in place our sustainable growth, we look forward to helping the community all support one another in aging well in their own homes.