Riannon Bardsley, Executive Director, began working with youth and at-risk populations at age 12. During her adolescence, Riannon volunteered with the Special Olympics training team in Seattle Washington, where she was born and raised. This led to work on the Teen Link Line at the Crisis Clinic at age 14. This 8 year experience inspired her to continue working with people who were struggling and in need of support, kindness and opportunities. Riannon continued to work and volunteer in program development and direct service work with women and children in a Domestic Violence Shelter, Group Homes for runway youth and teenage girls in foster care, a Seattle downtown shelter working with vulnerable populations of people experiencing homelessness, as well as a housing program in down town Seattle for mentally ill and fragile homeless adults. Once completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Non-Profit Business at Evergreen College, Riannon worked in a Juvenile Prison as a counselor for mental health, maximum-security females (12-19 years old).
Throughout all of these experiences her dedication to her community and to people who were asking for help never wavered. In 2006, Riannon moved to Bellingham, WA where she began working at NWYS in the Whatcom Transitional Living Program. This is also when Riannon took on one of her biggest challenges to-date; parenting. In 2007, Riannon and her partner became foster parents and have invited many loving and needy children from Whatcom County into their home.
The newest challenge in Riannon’s life is as Executive Director of NWYS. Riannon is excited about this opportunity to continue to offer and provide support, direction and hope to those in her community that are less fortunate.
Hannah Smith,
Whatcom County Programs Coordinator, has been working for NWYS since 2007. She graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 2007 with a Bachelors degree in Social Work. She is currently pursuing her Master degree in Social Work from Eastern Washington University. In 2003, Hannah started working with at-risk youth in detention centers and has continued to work with youth in various settings.
Cori LeClair,
Whatcom County Supportive Housing Case Manger, graduated from the Human Services Program at Western Washington University in 2006. She has been with Northwest Youth Services since July 2008.
Cori loves her job and is dedicated everyday to make progress towards the goal of ending homelessness in Whatcom County. Cori woudl like to conitnue her educaiton to obtain her Masters Degree in Social Work. Often her time is spent reading, with her husband, and playing with puppy-dog, Bella.
Jen Jorgensen graduated from Western Washington University in 2005 with an undergraduate degree in psychology. As of autumn 2009, she has gone back to school at theUniversity of Washington to obtain a Masters degree in social work. Jen has worked in a variety of capacities at NWYS, including: foster care, safe home, counseling, and she is currently the full-time case manager in the Whatcom Transitional Living program.
Jen is very busy with working full-time and going to school. Because of this, she doesn’t have a lot of free time. When she does, she enjoys baking, bowling, reading, and finding yummy local restaurants to eat at. She also spends a lot of time every day walking and entertaining her “child,” a 12 pound yorkie-bichon dog named Peeka.
Claire Mannino, Just Us Program Coordinator, earned a Bacholors Degree in Psychology, and a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling. In addition to working with the Just Us LGBTQQ youth program at Northwest Youth Services, she plays drums and sings in an all-girl, all-queer garage band, spends lots of time with her 7 year old daughter playing and learning new things, enjoying all kinds of art and music, and reads a lot. She loves working towards making Whatcom and Skagit Counties a more inclusive and exciting place to be for everyone, especially adolescents.
Cathy Beaty, Program Coordinator Youth Accountability Program, earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Iowa State University and has been a resident of Bellingham for 35 years. Cathy and her husband have three grown children and three grandchildren.
She enjoys reading, walking the dog and family time. Cathy has been at Northwest Youth Services for almost 14 years of which the past 9 have been spent coordinating the Teen Court program. “Working at NWYS has given me the opportunity to meet and work with so many dedicated professionals. They all share a common passion and concern for the youth in our community. It is truly heartwarming to come to work everyday with such caring individuals.”
Ken Bronstein, Finance Director, has over 25 years of experience in financial and operations management in both the non-profit and for-profit worlds. Prior to coming to NWYS, he worked for various local non-profit and governmental organizations, and managed a small business. In addition to his work with NWYS, Ken is a member of the accounting department faculty at Western Washington University, and also serves on the Boards of Directors of local non-profit organizations “Re-Sources for Sustainable Communities” and “The SOAP Box Players.” He holds an M.B.A. in management from St. Mary’s College of California. Ken is also a musician, playing oboe as a member of the Whatcom Symphony, and local klezmer bands “Millie and the Mentshn” and “What the Chelm.” He also tries to find time to spend with his very supportive wife Marla, and their children Zoe and Caleb.
Christopher “Kip” Zwolenski,
Whatcom County Supportive Program Case Manager and Site Monitor for the Transitional Living Program, has been working with NWYS since the spring of 2008. He graduated from Goddard College in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Education with a focus in Early Childhood Education, Leadership Studies, and Dual-Language Instruction. He is currently pursuing a M.Ed. in Continuing and College Education with a specialization in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Western Washington University.
He moved to Bellingham ten years ago after growing up in Tampa, Florida. While he sometimes severely misses the swamps of his childhood home, Kip is for the most part content to explore the waters and mountains of northwest Washington. Kip and his wife Brook are avid D.I.Y.ers (do it yourself) and you can often find them fermenting vegetables from their garden or building some new structure in their yard. He also likes to wrestle with his dog Burlington.
Having taken some time off from teaching, Kip is excited to be working in his new capacity at NWYS with a team of equally passionate individuals. His role allows him to take part in informal educational experiences with youth that adds a new skill-set to his teaching repertoire.
Amy O’Connor, Skagit County Program Coordinator has worked for NWYS since May 2008. She graduated High School in 2002 and attended Everett Community College where she earned her Transfer Degree with an emphasis in Criminal Justice. From there she attended Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) in Tacoma, Washington and graduated in 2007 with a degree in Social Work and minor in Sociology. Most of her High School and College life was spent volunteering and working with youth in many different environments, including: Youth Group Leader, Basketball Coach, Juvenile Detention Teacher’s Aide, Victim/Witness Advocate, Juvenile Court Case Aide, and Juvenile Court Diversion Intern. She thoroughly enjoys working with youth and is so pleased and thankful to be a part of NWYS.
Maggie May is NWYS’s puppy. Maggie is an English Mastiff and was born on March 18th 2009. Maggie comes to work three days a week and enjoys barking and playing with anyone who comes into the office. Maggie enjoys long trail walks during the day, visiting Chris for treats, and going into Riannon’s office to play.