Our board and staff lead a dedicated group of volunteers to achieve the mission of the Edmonds Food Bank.
Casey began working at the Edmonds Food Bank in 2018. She uses her background in business and degrees from the College of William and Mary (BBA) and Johns Hopkins University (MAS) to support the journey toward food security in Edmonds. In 2022 she earned a Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University. Married for twenty-seven years, Casey and her husband Steve have two grown children. She is a member of the Edmonds Lions Club, Edmonds Chamber of Commerce, and Edmonds Petanque Club. She currently serves as the Chair of the Snohomish County Food Coalition and as a board member with Partnership to End Homelessness- Snohomish County and Washington Food Coalition.
Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Jeremy joined the Edmonds Food Bank in January, 2024 as the organization’s first Director of Development. Jeremy holds an MBA in Nonprofit Management from American Jewish University in Los Angeles and a BA in Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis. Jeremy has been raising funds for nonprofit organizations in the Pacific Northwest for the past twenty years, and his experience includes individual giving, special events, grants, and capital campaigns. Most recently, he has successfully raised funds for Snohomish County nonprofits including Compass Health and Imagine Children’s Museum. Jeremy’s passion is serving families and individuals facing hardship, and he is excited to share his passion with the Edmonds Food Bank to bolster fundraising efforts. When not raising funds at the Edmonds Food Bank, you’ll likely find Jeremy on the tennis court or spending time with his wife and their eleven-year-old son.
Lester is originally from the beautiful colonial city of Granada, Nicaragua. After over sixteen years of work with nonprofit organizations and community health programs around Central America, the past seven years of which he lived in Guatemala, Lester moved to Edmonds in May of 2021 with his wife Kim and their young son. Lester is also an English–Spanish medical interpreter, using skills cultivated throughout his years of work in the community clinic setting. In his free time, he corresponds with his seven-year-old daughter who lives in Denmark, trains Brazilian jiujitsu, goes hiking with his wife and son, cooks delicious Nicaraguan food, and reads both the news and Spanish novels of magical realism. Lester truly enjoys contributing to his community and helping people from different backgrounds, nationalities, and cultures. He is thrilled to be part of the team at the Edmonds Food Bank.
Karen is a California girl who has lived in the Pacific Northwest for 20 years. She graduated from San Jose State with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University. Karen spent years volunteering with her child’s PTA, including two years as PTA President. She ran her own business in Seattle until she switched gears and started a new career in nonprofit fundraising and development during the pandemic. In Karen’s spare time you can find her walking her dog Mr. Hugpaws, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Karen is passionate about making sure people in her community have enough food to eat and is thrilled to be a part of the Edmonds community.
Like many of us, Gabrielle first worked with the food bank as a volunteer. She began full-time employment in 2021, after the Edmonds Food Bank became a 501(c)3. Gabrielle grew up in Port Angeles, Washington, went to the University of Washington and earned a master’s degree in teaching from City University of Seattle. She taught for ten years and substituted at Maplewood K–8 for fifteen years while raising her two daughters who are now in college. She loves animals, is a lifelong learner and enjoys gardening, travel, and dance. Gabrielle says, “I want to give back in any way that I can, and my heart has always been dedicated to service and helping those facing challenges beyond what I have experienced. I feel fortunate every single day that I have been given the opportunity to help our local community take on food insecurity.”
McKenna Knight brings a deep commitment to addressing food insecurity and a strong background in nutrition-based programs, leadership, and community outreach. She has extensive experience working with food banks, having contributed her skills at both North Helpline and the Hunger Intervention Program.
McKenna’s passion for this work stems from recognizing the challenges that community members face in accessing nutritious food. She believes in the power of small, meaningful actions and strives to make a difference—one person at a time. “Whenever I find myself asking, ‘What can I do? It all feels so overwhelming,’ I remind myself that I can make one person’s life a little better,” she shares. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, McKenna loves spending time with her son and prioritizing physical health. She enjoys music, movies, working out, paddleboarding, kayaking, and biking.
Kellie joined our staff after working as a volunteer with the Edmonds Food Bank for two years. She holds a degree in Communication and a minor in Latin American Studies. Her work experience includes community organizing, event planning and advising high school and college students. Kellie enjoys spending time with her partner and two children, working on her Spanish language skills and nurturing community in her neighborhood.
Tracey and her family moved from Colorado to Edmonds, WA, in 2006. After raising her daughters, she became a paraeducator with the Edmonds School District working in the VOICE Program. It was during this time she saw food insecurity among families in the area. After completing a contract at Microsoft, she began volunteering at the Edmonds Food Bank in January 2023. Little did she know that would lead to her being hired! Tracey can be found at the EFB booth at Edmonds Summer Market every Saturday from May to October, as well as walking the waterfront with friends every chance she gets. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two daughters, playing with her two Great Pyrenees, quilting, cold plunging in the Puget Sound and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
Yuliia joined our team after working with Edmonds Community College’s food pantry. She initially volunteered for the food bank as a document translator (Ukrainian and Russian) and food sorter. Yuliia came to the United States from Ukraine in 2017. She has two daughters with whom she loves to spend time. They play board games, read children’s books, and love outdoor activities. Yuliia likes gardening and enjoys walking. She likes working with people and loves animals—her family has two cats that she brought here from Ukraine!
When Kathy Hare attended Woodway High School (class of 1974!) her family would come to Edmonds Methodist Church and help package Thanksgiving dinner boxes. A few years later, Kathy and her husband moved to Edmonds. She knew that when she retired from her meaningful work as a hospital administrator that she wanted to find a way to give back to the community. After two years as a volunteer she joined the Edmonds Food Bank Board. In addition to her work at the food bank she is a doting Nana to seven grandchildren and wife to her husband of 42 years.
While originally from Michigan, Ashley Davis has made Washington her home for the past 15 years, many of which she has spent in the financial banking industry. She has fully embraced the Edmonds Community for over a dozen years, often volunteering for nonprofits such as the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce, YWCA, Run to Win Outreach, and others. She believes in making a difference where you can and feels honored to be a member of the Edmonds Food Bank Board.
Judge Whitney Rivera was appointed as the Edmonds Municipal Court Judge in November, 2020. Judge Rivera grew up in Edmonds and graduated from Edmonds Woodway High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and literature from the University of Washington. She earned her Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School, where she worked as a student attorney at the Boston College Defenders representing clients charged with criminal offenses in Dorchester District Court.
After law school, Judge Rivera worked as a law clerk for Judge Anita L. Farris in the Snohomish County Superior Court. She served as both a trial and appellate public defender, arguing cases at various levels. Later, she supervised the misdemeanor unit at the Snohomish County Public Defender Association and received multiple awards from the Washington Defender Association. She practiced law in Snohomish County for 13 years before her appointment to the bench.
Judge Rivera is an avid runner and lives in Edmonds with her long-time partner, Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Paul Thompson, and their three rescue dogs.
A Washington native, Chris grew up in Kirkland and went to Whitman College in Walla Walla and graduate school at Washington State University. He has been an engineer at Boeing for 28 years, currently working in new airplane product development.
An Edmonds resident since 1998, Chris was a volunteer coach for Sno King youth club for over 10 years and is passionate about giving back to the Edmonds community. He feels blessed to be a part of the EFB board, directly helping those who need it the most.
Ken Grant, a licensed real estate broker with Windermere (Alderwod/M2), hails from Perth, Western Australia. His extraordinary journey includes roles as a concert violist with the Melbourne Philharmonic, leadership consultant, concert pianist, composer, music teacher, TV reporter, radio personality, ad exec, copywriter, content developer, and author of the business book “Yoga In A Business Suit” and the novel, “When All The Clouds Collide.”
Ken is deeply invested in his community, serving on the boards of Edmonds Food Bank and the Rotary Club of Edmonds. His commitment to uplifting those around him reflects his dedication to collaboration and empathy.
Residing in Edmonds with his family, Ken is an adventurer at heart; he is passionate about sailing, exploring, gravel cycling, photography, and student piloting. His love for EDM, action movies/books, wine, and anything speed-related further enriches his vibrant Aussie personality.
Debbie Ryden moved to Washington state from beautiful Hawaii 45 years ago to attend college. Among her many careers, she worked in healthcare, real estate and leased a snackbar in a bingo hall. Debbie is now retired. Over 20 years ago, Debbie brought a relative to the food bank for food and met a passionate volunteer named Anne who warmly introduced her to the Director at that time, Peggy Kennedy. Debbie was deeply impacted by that interaction and since then has worn many hats over the last 20 years as an active volunteer at the Edmonds Food Bank.
Jennifer Higgins has been a dedicated volunteer with the Edmonds Food Bank for over 12 years and now serves on the Board of Directors. Originally from Spokane, Jennifer graduated from Gonzaga University and eventually retired from a fulfilling career in medical lab science. Her passion for helping others, specifically those experiencing food insecurity, started early as she grew up volunteering with her family at the food bank her mother helped start in Spokane. Jennifer loves giving back to the Edmonds community and has found a second family among the food bank’s team of volunteers.
Brad Shipley is an urban design and planning consultant with a deep passion for food systems and the built environment. Originally from Long Beach, CA, he lived in several cities across the U.S. before settling in Edmonds nearly 20 years ago. His travels throughout Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas (including a trip to Thailand where he helped rebuild a small fishing village after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami), have shaped his understanding of how people relate to food, land, and the spaces they inhabit. Brad studied at the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments and previously served as a senior planner for the City of Edmonds, following an early career in finance and real estate. He believes the way we design our communities profoundly influences how we connect with one another and the values we uphold. Outside of work, Brad enjoys photography, painting, gardening, and exploring the world with his wife, two teenage daughters, and their dog.
Since retiring, Pat Shields has been actively involved in numerous local non-profit organizations, including the Hazel Miller Foundation as chair, the Edmonds Rotary where he held various roles, including President, and a ten-year tenure as an elected Edmonds School Board Director. Pat has five grown children who all reside in the Seattle area. As Chair of the Board of Directors, Pat serves as a partner with the Executive Director in achieving EFB’s mission. He provides leadership to the Board of Directors, chairing Board meetings and encouraging the Board’s role in strategic planning. He plays a leading role in fundraising activities, monitors financial planning and reports, and formally evaluates the performance of the Executive Director and of the EFB in achieving its mission.
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