Meet Our Board

Steve comes to the Board with extensive experience as a business owner and manager, as a consultant who succeeded in solving problems and getting things done, and as a skilled systems thinker who is capable of finding and expressing key points and issues to help move processes forward. Active in support of several land conservation organizations in Colorado, where he lived for 25 years, Steve sought out the Jefferson Land Trust soon after arriving in Port Townsend, and he has been active in support of the Land Trust ever since—as a donor and as a member of the Conservation Projects Committee, and now as a board member.

While Steve is supportive of all facets of the mission of the Jefferson Land Trust, his particular passion is for the work the Land Trust has undertaken in support of the conservation of working lands for sustainable agriculture. A life-long “scratch” cook and a trained chef, Steve is very concerned about the quality of and preservation of our foodshed, and he feels that the Jefferson Land Trust is doing important and innovative work in that direction.

Raised on an Oregon wheat farm, David holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from University of Oregon, a commission in the U.S.C.G.R., and a M of aster of Architecture degreee from the University of Washington. His professional experience evolved from the traditional practice of architecture to a corporate career in design, facility management, and construction management for commercial banks. Bank projects took him throughout the western states, and he retired from U.S. Bank in 1999. Aboard their long-range trawler David and his wife Jerri dedicated four years to cruising the Pacific coast from Canada to Panama, and to Canada again on the Atlantic coast. They have resided in Port Ludlow since 2003. David has provided design work for Habitat for Humanity and Jerri is another active JLT volunteer.

Rodger has 33 years of professional experience in natural resource, park, and outdoor recreation management. He retired in 2003 as National Director of Recreation for the Bureau of Land Management.

Locally, Rodger serves as Vice-Chair of the Fort Worden State Park Advisory Committee, and until accepting this position, as VP of the Jefferson Land Trust board. He has served on the boards of the Public Lands Interpretive Association and the Pacific NW Advisory Board of Wilderness Inquiry. Rodger and his wife Jill have lived in Port Townsend since 2003.

Joanne began her career as a librarian who worked in a variety of professional settings, including a university, a government-funded education consortium, and a database firm in the private sector. She also worked as Senior Research Associate in a private firm engaged in educational research. During the 1980's, she spent several years in residential real estate. Since her retirement, she has devoted her time to co-initiating a web-based project to match patients with clinical trials (based at the University of California at San Francisco). More recently, she has involved herself in a variety of community organizations. She is a member of the Board of the Port Townsend Public Library Foundation, and a citizen representative on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee for Jefferson County. Joanne and her husband, Len, live in Port Townsend.

Kathryn was a public school German teacher from 1967-77. In 1977 she left teaching and was hired by IBM as a Systems Engineer where she worked until 1993. In 1993 she left IBM to join a small consulting company, Meetingworks, which develops software used for collaboration and decision making. In facilitated sessions, they help clients with strategic planning, problem solving, brainstorming, and many other group processes. Her clients have included many in the public sector (e.g., City of Kirkland, City of Puyallup, National Defense University, National Park Service) as well as many private companies (e.g., CareOregon, Disney, Microsoft, Mercer Consulting, etc.). We are thrilled to have Kathryn’s enthusiasm and facilitation expertise on our Board of Directors.

An active community member, Suzanne has been a volunteer for community organizations wherever she has lived. She has worked as a realtor and school teacher in the past. Since 1991 she has worked at Seacraft Classics, Inc., a firm started by she and her husband, Howard. Suzanne resides in Irondale with Howard, on property that has been in the Learned family for over 100 years. The property overlooks Chimacum Creek. They have two grown children (a son, Andrew, and a daughter, Synthia). She now enjoys being with her friends, hiking, boating, films, reading, and her new passion is gardening.

Bethany is a pension actuary with Mercer, consulting to governmental, not-for-profit, and corporate clients. She is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and an Enrolled Actuary. Bethany is also an avid hiker and has hiked the Pacific Crest and Continental Divide Trails. Bethany and her husband, Dean, live in Port Hadlock.

Glenda Hultman holds a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law, and maintained a private law practice in Port Townsend from 1980 to 1995. In 1993 she co-founded the software company Medifor with her husband, J. Peter Geerlofs, eventually leaving practice to join Medifor full-time. At Medifor she served as director and vice president for finance and administration.

Gary holds a BSC from Santa Clara University and a JD from Gonzaga University and currently is the CEO of Wescom Capital, Inc. An experienced director for many non-profits and for-profit companies, Gary brings a wealth of business and financial experience to Jefferson Land Trust. He serves as a member of the Finance Committee and the Investment Committee. Gary and his wife Susan, an artist, live in Port Townsend.

Bill grew up in Eastern Washington and graduated from Stanford University. After working in the maritime industry for five years, Bill attended Gonzaga University where he obtained his law degree and was on the law review. Bill and his wife Lynn, a physical therapist, lived in Seattle for 28 years before moving to Port Townsend near the end of 2010.

Bill and Lynn were introduced to the Jefferson Land Trust on their arrival in Port Townsend. They immediately saw the value of the Jefferson Land Trust and have gladly supported JLT’s mission.

Bill has served on various boards and advisory committees for non-profits, most recently as a board member for the foundation supporting Lutheran Social Services in the Northwest and on an advisory committee for Seattle University.