Small team, big hearts, hard work. Our staff works to care for this organization, its spaces and programs, and its future every day. We love what we do, and bring our fullest selves to work for you and for our shared future.
Thomas Arthur
Resident Caretaker
Thomas lives onsite and works with the team to ensure all participants and visitors find a welcoming home at the Institute. He supports the land and facilities, helping to create an environment that facilitates the life-affirming work happening here. As a photographer, filmmaker, contemplative juggler, and teacher of movement awareness, Thomas seeks to inspire a sense of wonder and delight in our relations with Earth and Other.
Lynne Carlson
Housekeeping Manager
Lynne oversees our housekeeping team and helps tend our lodging and communal spaces onsite. Horses and horse rescue have a special place in her heart. She enjoys spending time with her human and animal family, being physically active, and drinking gigantic smoothies.
Jessica Fuller
Housekeeping Assistant
Jessica is a member of our housekeeping team. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, painting, and baking. Jessica also loves gardening, spending time with family, working out, hiking, and enjoying her dog and birds.
Photo © Heather Ramirez
Amber Hamley
Housekeeping and Land Care Assistant
Amber assists with housekeeping, land stewardship projects, and flower bed maintenance. When not at work, this mother of two devotes her energy to gardening and family.
Holly Harlan
Development Lead
Holly is a mission oriented, passionate, and experienced business strategist. Her academic and professional expertise ranges from industrial engineering, manufacturing, and marketing to economic development, business development, and grassroots network development.
Amber Herman
Housekeeping Assistant
Amber works in housekeeping. She is a dedicated mother of four, and enjoys time with her family, knitting, and jewelry-making.
Kimi Hoover
Facilities and Group Logistics Coordinator
Kimi comes from a background in biology, teaching, and environmental science. With B.S. and Master’s degrees in Biology, she has had careers as a chef, biologist, and educator. She is an enthusiastic explorer of the outdoors. When not hiking, birdwatching, or kayaking, Kim might be in the kitchen: originally trained in the French culinary tradition, she now honors both her palate and the planet by preparing vegan foods and teaching others about plant-based nutrition.
Marnie Jackson
Communications Manager
Marnie came to the Whidbey Institute with a background in non-profit communications and journalism with attention to animal issues, organic agriculture, the environment, and food sustainability. She’s a passionate animal rights advocate and coordinates the Interspecies & Intersectional Justice program. When she’s not at the Whidbey Institute, you can find her playing outside with her three daughters and three dogs, working on home improvement projects, or waxing poetic about her beloved hoofbeasts—Fenway and Arrietty the mules, Missy the goat, and Dahlia the cow.
Heather Johnson
Executive Director
Heather is passionate about ongoing adult development and growing organizations that are committed to positive change. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, is a graduate of Pacific Integral’s Generating Transformative Change leadership program, and has held previous roles with Sustainable Connections in Bellingham (as founding staff), Sustainable Seattle (as Interim Director), Excellence Northwest (as Interim Director), and Blue Marble Biomaterials (as Director of Finance and Accounting).
Beno Kennedy
Facilities Manager
Beno lives according to a simple philosophy: “if you take care of what’s in front of you, close by, then by extension you’re helping to take care of the world.” Beno has been involved for decades as a volunteer and for several years as a staff member, serving as a handyman/go-to-guy with extensive skills, a creative outlook, and a contagious attitude of honesty, service, and dedication.
Robert Mellinger
Land Steward
Robert’s academic and professional background includes experience in holistic science, wilderness ecology and education, transformative learning for sustainable living, permaculture design and landscaping, and ecological literacy. In addition to stewarding the land. Robert engages in collaborative organizational strategy, community engagement, and land-based education.
Marta Mulholland
Volunteer Coordinator
Marta is a part-time Volunteer Coordinator for the Whidbey Institute as well as Power of Hope Camp Manager, landscaper, and board member of Sister Island Project and South Whidbey Youth Soccer Club. Her past experience includes co-founding and coordinating volunteers for Calyx School, volunteering with the Peace Corps, teaching English in Guangzhou, China, and working as volunteer coordinator at the Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services. She is active in local arts and theater and is a nationally certified Sign Language interpreter.
Brit Schneider
Westgarden Steward
Brit Schneider has a passion for plants and people as well as a great breadth of experience in medicinal herbs, vegetable farming, volunteer mentorship, and garden education. Brit grew up in this area, but spent time abroad and in Northern California as a young adult. Most recently, she moved from Sacramento, California, where she engaged in farming education and outreach at Soil Born Farms and worked in urban schools teaching garden education.
Madisun Stern
Database and Office Administrator
When she’s not at the Whidbey Insistute keeping our office in order, Madisun runs her own brand of community merrymaking as a freelance events coordinator and operates a non-profit program under the Whidbey Island Arts Council. In her free time, she can be found on a historic pumpkin farm, living as a steward of the Reserve with her husband, a rescued street-to-farm dog, and four hilarious ducks.
