Meet Our Staff
Marnie Jackson
Executive Director
Marnie Jackson (she/her) first started organizing with WEAN in the 1990s, founding South Whidbey High School's first Ecology Club and leading a student effort to stop a proposed McDonalds at Bayview Corner. She has worked in the nonprofit sector since 2007, working most recently with Showing Up for Racial Justice as a senior donor organizer. She has also worked as a teacher, farmer, and journalist. Marnie has a bachelor's degree in English from Suffolk University, is pursuing a Masters in Environmental, Climate, and Energy Law from Lewis & Clark Law School, and is an elected member of the South Whidbey School District Board of Directors. She also serves on the Washington State Habitat Strategic Initiative Advisory Team and the Washington State School Directors Association Trust Lands Advisory Committee. Marnie loves hiking, motorcycling, gardening, and exploring with her daughters, husband, dogs, donkey, and mule.
Amanda Bullis
Engagement Director
Amanda Bullis (she/her) is a communicator with over a decade of experience in nonprofit work, business writing, and digital storytelling. While at Rutgers University, Amanda participated in developing groundbreaking filmmaking pedagogy utilizing narrative storytelling to amplify critical scientific research. Amanda was a member of the documentary team for Atlantic Crossing: A Robot’s Daring Mission, a feature-length science documentary chronicling the course of an ocean glider sampling data across the Atlantic Ocean. Amanda is excited to engage and educate the public around key environmental issues that impact the lives of Island County residents and their animal, plant, and organism neighbors. In her free time, Amanda enjoys writing, baking, hiking, reading, exploring (both her backyard and beyond), and spending time with friends and family.
Violet Bluemer
Environmental Data Administrator
Violet Bluemer is a passionate undergraduate student at the University of Washington, studying Environmental Science and Resource Management. Her love for the environment began in childhood. As an avid equestrian, she spent countless hours exploring the outdoors on horseback. During her time at UW, she has deepened her understanding of environmental science, especially through her work in a research lab focused on the health of Seattle-Tacoma’s urban carnivores. When she's not in the lab, working, or studying, you’ll either find her tucked away in a coffee shop reading a good book or out at the barn enjoying some quiet time with the horses.
Reilly McVay
Environmental Policy Administrator
Reilly McVay (he/him) is a writer and researcher who is passionate about progressive public policy, advocacy, and ethical relations across government and non-profit groups. At Whitman College, Reilly delved into diverse political theories, conversations, and readings, analyzing complex questions and topics through a critical lens. Through working for Walla Walla County Community Development, Reilly gained insights into the mechanisms of planning and observed how trade-offs and challenges in balancing growth, environmental concerns, and equity in local government. Reilly's passion for preserving the environment comes from growing up on Whidbey Island, playing in the woods, and always being surrounded by lush trees and rocky beaches.
In his free time, Reilly enjoys reading, cooking, and taking his dog for long walks and hikes.
Meet Our Board
Andréa Linton
Board Chair
Andréa Linton grew up in a family that gardened, composted, and made their own bread. Outings were always visits to Washington’s parks and seashores. After her parents moved to Whidbey in the mid 1970’s they became involved with South Whidbey Tilth, Friends of the Freeland Library, Earth Day events, Audubon, and Beach Watchers, passing along to Andréa the struggles of a rural island community to retain its character. Andréa attended Western Washington University and holds a BA in Museum Studies, a Masters in Ancient Greek History, and a post-Master’s degree in Historic Preservation. She is retired, having worked for a national seafood company for 25 years, where she initiated and guided the company’s sustainability program while gaining Non-GMO Project verification for their products. Andréa is an avid gardener, seamstress, and jam maker.
Linda LaMar
Board Vice Chair
Linda LaMar grew up in Michigan and received a BA from the University of Michigan before migrating to Washington by way of Colorado and California. In California she made her career at Apple, Inc, where she was last Sr. Director of Mac Hardware Programs. Linda’s non profit experience includes research and writing for Food Empowerment Project (a vegan, food justice advocacy group), three years as Board Chair of Pasado’s Safe Haven (a rescue for animals who suffer cruelty and neglect), and most recently Communications Specialist for Mary’s Place in Seattle (serving homeless families). Linda sees WEAN as an organization that promotes values and actions that consider the interdependence of humans, animals, and the environment in a balanced, ethical way. She is committed to representing these values across Island County and Washington State.
Belinda Griswold
Board Secretary
Belinda Griswold (she/her) is an attorney, communications strategist, facilitator, mediator, and mom living in Snohomish/Tulalip Tribes lands on South Whidbey. With expertise in communications strategy and a deep commitment to justice-focused sustainability, Belinda has worked in politics and advocacy for 30 years. Belinda graduated from UC Berkeley Summa cum Laude with a degree in Political Economy, and was awarded a JD from Northeastern University. She specializes in racial justice work for historically-white-led conservation organizations and is passionate about building organizational, personal, and community resilience toward a just transition. Belinda and her family adore pit bulls, horses, and taking care of the land they call home.
Jackie Lasater
Board Member
Jackie Lasater has spent most of her life on the West Coast. She received her Master’s degree and a minor in Native American Studies from Cal Poly Humboldt. She served as the Assistant Superintendent of Special Education for a County in the Sierra Nevada foothills, advocating for social justice, equity, and equality in the public school system. After retiring, Jackie’s lifelong love of animals, open spaces, and protecting the environment logically led her to service in environmental conservation and advocacy. Jackie served on the board of a chapter of the California Native Plant Society, during which time she co-founded a non-profit restoration program that included both a wholesale and a retail native plant nursery. Jackie is also the Conservation Chair for Whidbey Audubon and co-founder of Citizens for Safe and Humane Fireworks.
Kim Drury
Board Member
Kim Drury is a native Washingtonian, who dreamed of becoming a farmer but instead spent her career in public policy and environmental advocacy. Her work included managing energy efficiency programs at the WA State Energy Office, directing Seattle's water conservation office, helping launch Seattle's Office of Sustainability and Environment and developing the city's first climate action plan. She also advocated for clean and affordable energy as a policy analyst and lobbyist for the nonprofit NW Energy Coalition. Kim has lived on Whidbey for 30 years, is active in local progressive politics and spends as much time in her garden as her energy and decent weather allow.
Neil O'Sidhe
Board Member
Neil O'Sidhe grew up exploring the woodlands of the northern Midwest. He is a passionate explorer of nature and advocates for interdependence and intimacy with nature. Neil is an IT professional and supports WEAN with its systems and technology. Outside of work, he enjoys harvesting and preparing foraged foods, practicing traditional crafts, and exploring Whidbey Island's open spaces with his wife and their two dogs.
Gabbi Korrow
Incoming Board Member
Gabbi Korrow grew up radically unschooled in the hills of Appalachia. She has called Whidbey home for the past 15 years. Gabbi works as a flower farmer and is pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. On any given day, you can find her driving a tractor, volunteering in her community, or cooking for her loved ones. Gabbi is passionate about affordable housing, community organizing, queerness, compassion cultivation, and being an auntie to the nieces and nephews of her chosen family. She lives with her partner and their two cats in a home that she built herself.
Andrea Tresler
Incoming Board Member
Andrea Trisler (she/her) is Ohio-born and bred, and left in search of mountains and water. Having found both in Washington state, she and her husband have called the PNW home now for almost 20 years, and Whidbey Island for 10 years. She and her family love spending time outside hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, skiing, trail running, and dipping in the cold waters of the Salish Sea. Andrea graduated from University of Cincinnati’s DAAP program in Interior Design and is the principal designer and owner of Moonswell Designs.
Meet Our Founders
Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson founded WEAN with a passionate group of environmental activists and have protected thousands of acres of land through land use policy advocacy and strategic litigation since in the 1980s.