Board of Directors
Beth Doglio
President Elected January 2021 |
Beth Doglio is a State Representative, community organizer and mother of two. Throughout her career, Beth has worked for a thriving, sustainable, just and compassionate future for all.
Serving in the Legislature from 2017 - 2020 and being recently elected again in 2022, Beth has led on the environment, housing, gun safety, and issues facing working families. She helped lead the passage of groundbreaking legislation to empower workers through higher wages and improved protections; to make Washington a leader in the fight against climate change; and to provide more resources to address homelessness. As Vice Chair of the Capital Budget committee, she secured millions in funding for infrastructure projects, land preservation and recreation, housing, and clean energy. She was a member of the LGBTQ Caucus serving on Transportation, Energy and Environment, Labor and Workforce Standards and the Technology and Economic Development Committees. After graduating from Indiana University with a degree in Political Science and Telecommunications, Beth moved to Washington state in 1987. Beth’s environmental leadership in our state began three decades ago as the founding Executive Director of Washington Conservation Voters (WCV). Following her time at WCV she worked for the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL), Audubon Washington, the City of Seattle and Climate Solutions. She also volunteered at the Noel House Homeless shelter and served on the Board of Directors of Solid Ground, giving her keen insight into the homelessness and affordability challenges facing our region today. Currently she serves as a consultant focused on climate, housing and community projects. Beth is a current Board Member of Win With Women, the YMCA, Victory Fund and serves as the President of the PARC Foundation. She loves back country skiing, backpacking, canoeing, yoga, good food, and laughter. |
Lonnie Spikes Jr.
Vice President Elected July 2020 |
Retiring after 22 years in the military, Lonnie has been living in the Pacific NorthWest since 2006. Lonnie has over twenty years of leadership as a Senior Advisor to Commanders, Directors, and Executive Management. In the Army, Lonnie has held positions ranging from Squad leader, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant and Task Force Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC).
Lonnie currently works as the Human Resource Director of a large agency. Lonnie holds as Master of Science in Human Resource Management, a Graduate Certificate in Organizational Leadership and Change Management. Lonnie has worked in HR for over 14 years, as a Leave and Worker’s Compensation Consultant, Safety, Wellness, Diversity Coordinator, and now the Human Resource Director. Lonnie’s successes in HR include achieving “back to back” Governor’s Employer of the Year Award for Disability for 2015 and 2016. Lonnie has received recognition for his work with veterans in 2016 and receiving the YesVets 2017 Award for employing the most veterans in the five county area. Lonnie helped to found and was elected by his peers to lead the 2015-2016 Washington State Veteran Employee Resource Group (VERG). This was recognized by Governor Inslee. Lonnie was also twice elected by both private and public sector peers as the 2011 and 2013 Society of Human resource Management (SHRM) Olympia Chapter President provided leadership and facilitation to over 170 chapter members. During this time, the chapter hosted the first Washington State Disability Conference (2010) and achieved SHRM’s highest levels of national awards for excellence. Lonnie also founded and is one of the leader’s on Washington State’s Blacks United In Leadership and Diversity (BUILD), an employee resource group for Washington State employees. |
Brendan VanderVelde
Treasurer Elected January 2018 |
As VP of Operations at Hemphill-O’Neill Company Brendan manages and directs the planning, budgeting and operations for all forestland activities in close collaboration with other members of the executive management team. Prior to that, Brendan served as the Budget Director for the State of Washington’s Attorney General’s office, overseeing the AG’s budget development, expenditure projection and reporting, as well as billing and cash flow management. Brendan received a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Accounting from the University of Ottawa, and an MBA from the University of Washington. He is keen to serve the local community and explore and implement thoughtful and effective solutions to present day issues. He lives in Rochester, Washington, with his wife Erin, and their 4 young children.
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Arin Mower
Secretary Elected April 2019 |
Hi, my name is Arin Mower. To better understand why I chose to be a part of the Quixote Communities board, you have to know a little bit about my story. In 2012, I lost everything due to a house fire. I found myself homeless and lost in my addiction. I came across a tent city called Camp Quixote. Four months later, it transitioned into permanent housing call Quixote Village in Olympia, Washington. There I was able to get my life back together. I got clean off drugs. I addressed my mental health issues. My anxiety and paranoia subsided. I became a leader for my community. I was one of the original residents and lived at Quixote Village for the next four years. QV changed and saved my life! Having affordable stable housing is exactly what I needed to better my life and bring me to a point of stability. In 2017, I left my tiny home and moved on, giving someone else a chance to get off the streets. I have a passion for the homelessness and people who are still stuck in their addiction. I have overcome the challenges of my mental health issues and addiction. I took care of my mom as her caregiver for the last 4 years of her life. I got married September 2022. Today I work for Providence Medical Group as an outreach worker. I bring healthcare and other resources to people, helping them overcome their own barriers. Outside of work, I enjoy gardening, photography, hanging out with my husband, nature hikes, volunteering, and working a program of recovery.
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Lourdes (Alfie) Alvarado Ramos
Elected November 2023 |
Lourdes “Alfie” Alvarado Ramos, served 22 years in the Army retiring in 1993 as the Madigan and Medical Brigade Command Sergeant Major. Following her retirement, she worked for 30 years with the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, serving her last 10 years as director. Her focus in both careers was on improving the quality of life of those she served through the provision of VA benefits, housing, employment and emotional health services. Alfie is a founding and active member of the Madigan Foundation, co-chairs the JBLM Military Retiree Council and is a member of the VA Secretary’s Advisory Council on Veterans, Families, Caregivers and Survivors Advisory Committee. She continues to serve her military community and veterans without homes, advocates for suicide prevention and assists immigrants in realizing their citizenship dream through One America. On her “permanent vacation”, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and RV camping with San Juanita, her spouse, Lulu and Leo, her two dogs and Andy the rabbit. They own 5 acres and seven chickens, which keep them extremely busy.
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Ekaterina Henyan
Elected January 2023 |
Ekaterina Henyan immigrated from Minsk, Belarus and has lived in the Pacific Northwest for the last 25 years. She earned her BA degree in Business Management with a concentration in International Business from Western Washington University. She enjoys personal and professional development in mental health through psycho-spiritual integration, social purpose business development, and fundraising.
Ekaterina is the visionary owner and operator of Soul Retreat SPC, A Social Purpose Company. Its purpose is to provide events, retreats, products and services with intention of sharing and enabling vitality through naturopathy, psychosynthesis and many other modalities practiced in fostering optimal health. She is also an avid entrepreneur and holds a steak in other ventures. Ekaterina has been supporting Quixote Communities since March 2022 on the Partnership & Development Committee and collaborating on the Mental Health Program at the Olympia's Quixote Village. She spends much of her time with family and friends enjoying the outdoors, biking, hiking, kayaking, gardening, cooking and traveling. She considers herself a spiritually-centered global citizen with an attitude of servitude to humanity. |
Darcy Huffman
Elected April 2021 |
Darcy has made her home here in Olympia for the last 25 years. While she has lived in a number of places throughout her life, she has always known that Washington was “her dirt.” She has more than 25 years of experience in banking, finance, and risk management and for almost 10 years she was the Communication and Resource Director for The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd in Olympia. It was through Good Shepherd that she first became involved with Quixote Village.
Through her faith community, Darcy has spent almost 20 years advocating for those experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, and a lack of quality healthcare. In 2021 Darcy was elected to the Olympia School Board as a representative of District 3. In her spare time she loves to garden, read, and travel with her husband, Trevor. |
Denis Leverich
Elected January 2022 |
Denis is retired from the military after serving 28 years as an electrical Engineer and Leadership Instructor, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, 1st Sergeant, and Battalion Motor Sergeant. He has advanced leadership skills and has served all over the world in a variety of units.
After Denis’s time in the military, he retired after 22 years with the State Department of Corrections. He has performed duties as a Master Weapons Instructor for advanced SWAT team tactics, Emergency Response Teams Tactics, and Train the trainer, Correctional Officers Academy Instructor, Facility In-Service Instructor, a facility Shift Sergeant, Correctional Lieutenant and State Extradition Lieutenant. Denis was selected as a Correctional Officer of the Year awarded by the Governor. Denis earned his BS in Criminal Psychology from the Evergreen State College and BS in Criminal Justice from Kaplan University, and AA in Architectural Engineering. After retirement Denis devotes much of his time volunteering with a variety of nonprofit organizations such as Skookum Rotary Club, Mason County Veterans Advisory Board, Crossroads Housing for homeless families, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, 40-8, and Mason County Forest Festival and restoring his 1936 Lasalle Automobile. Denis has a large background in team building, leadership development, envisioning, diversity leadership and a passion for homelessness and youth development. At the present time Denis is the Youth Protection Officer for his Rotary club and has served as the Club President, Youth Services Director, and the club scholarship director for two Rotary clubs in Shelton. He also is the scholarship director for Mason County Forest Festival and a past Vice President for Crossroads Housing. |
Shelby Payne Shier
Elected July 2020 |
Shelby is a longtime resident of Olympia whose passion for Thurston County continues to grow abundantly. She graduated from Western Washington University in 2017 with a BA in Sociology, a minor in Geography, and a minor in Communication Studies-- complete with a large dream of changing the world through human connection, sustainable development, and a community founded on robust services for everyone. Promptly after graduating, she found herself back in Olympia to work in local politics and pursue a career in the social services sector. Currently, Shelby is the Village Coordinator at Hope Village, a transitional tiny house village in Olympia. With the help of her husband, Zack, they built their very own tiny house which they have lived in for the last year and a half. Together, they love to garden + raise chickens, explore on skis, bikes, surfboards, cook delicious food, and spend time with their wonderful community. When she is not having fun with Zack or working with Hope Village, she is a wedding + portrait Photographer and runs a small-scale pottery business.
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