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, serving on the Whidbey Institute team for nearly a decade in communications and executive director roles and working more 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, volunteers with Solidarity Over Supremacy Whidbey, and serves on the South Whidbey School Board and the Whidbey Community Foundation's Affordable Housing Fund Advisory Committee. Marnie loves hiking, motorcycling, gardening, and exploring with her daughters, partner, dogs, and mule.
Amanda Bullis
Engagement Director
Amanda Bullis (she/her) is a communicator and storyteller with over a decade of experience working in arts nonprofits, 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 chartering the course of an ocean glider sampling data across the Atlantic Ocean and created her own digital series, Assisted Living, with a team of independent artists in NYC. 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 likes to write, bake, hike, read, explore (her backyard and beyond) and spend time with friends and family.
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 has worked for a national canned seafood company for twenty-three years, initiating and guiding 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.
Leslie Athey
Board Treasurer
Leslie Athey is a researcher, strategist and senior team leader with a lifelong interest in the natural world. She holds degrees in biology, environmental sciences and biostatistics and began her working life as a quantitative ecologist in eastern Washington. During her career, she became an expert in survey research examining environmental, health, economic and social issues. She is committed to finding data-based solutions that balance the needs of people, animals and the environment. A seasoned project manager, Leslie supports the Board and staff in being excellent stewards of WEAN's financial resources.
Neil O'Sidhe
Board Secretary
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.
Skip Demuth
Board Member (Incoming)
Harlan "Skip" Demuth moved to Langley on Whidbey Island in 1972 where he worked as a real estate appraiser for over twenty years. Skip received his BA from the University of California Davis and his masters from the University of Washington in American Politics. Skip was elected and served as a director for the South Whidbey School District from 1984 to 1987. Skip's personal pursuits include fitness, investigative journalism, photography, and event promotion.
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.
Belinda Griswold
Board Member
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 spent most of her life in Northern California. She received a BA degree with a minor in Native American Studies, as well her Master’s degree, from Cal Poly Humboldt; earning credentials in School Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, and School Administration. Before retiring she was the Assistant Superintendent of Special Education for a County in the Sierra Neveda foothills. Advocating for social justice, equity and equality in the public school system was her calling. 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 for a chapter of the California Native Plant Society, during which time she co-founded a non-profit restoration program; which included both a wholesale and retail native plant nursery. The non-profit provided wild-collected seeds and native plants to land conservancies, the US Forest Service, botanical gardens, conservation districts, and the public.
Jackie is also the Conservation Chair for Whidbey Audubon and co-founder of Citizens for Safe and Humane Fireworks.
Joaquín Swett-Fosmo
Board Member
Joaquín Swett-Fosmo was born on Whidbey Island, and grew up in Bend, Oregon and Montezuma, Costa Rica. He has been passionate about protecting the environment since his childhood in the mountains of Central Oregon and the jungles of Costa Rica. While studying Biology at the University of Costa Rica, he gained a strong interest in ecology and environmental advocacy. He has worked as a high school teacher and as Development Director at the Karen Mogensen Reserve, and is now the Executive Director at the Whidbey Audubon Society, where he hopes to use his experience to connect people with the wildlife and environment of Whidbey Island and the surrounding waters.
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.