Dr. Kim Arellano
Kim and her family moved to the Snoqualmie Valley in 1978 and where she attended Elementary, Middle and High School. After leaving to pursue a career, she returned to the Valley and completed her doctorate work in Organizational Transformation and Leadership. She has two children, a 2020 graduate of Mount Si as well as a son who is graduating from Mount Si this year. Her and her husband Mike live quietly on 5 acres in the woods in Snoqualmie, where they take care of their horses, dogs, cats and chickens. In addition, Kim loves to knit, garden and has hiked many of the mountains and trails around the valley and the Alpine Lake Wilderness.
She currently works as a Senior Principle for a large consulting firm and helps organizations develop long-term and human-centered leadership programs. She published her dissertation on the next generation of leadership and is passionate about paving positive paths for our local valley children to contribute and thrive in the next generation of work. Kim has volunteered and served for many different valley organizations and produced a radio program focused on non-profit and mission-driven organizations. She is thrilled to be a part of this amazing organization and is ready to serve in any capacity that will further the organization’s mission.
Baly Botten
Baly is a fourth generation resident of the Snoqualmie Valley and he feels blessed to call this place home! After graduating from Mount Si with an AA from Bellevue College, Baly began studying at the Bible Institute of Seattle in Fall City as a seminary student. He is pursuing a career in full-time ministry and is currently serving as the Youth Pastor at Snoqualmie Valley Alliance Church in Fall City. Besides this, Baly is also the Upper School PE Teacher for Summit Classical Christian School, an AVID Tutor for Snoqualmie Valley School District, and a leader with Snoqualmie Valley Young Life. Baly is passionate about uniting forces within the community and engaging, inspiring, and mentoring youth of the valley across all walks of life!
Allison Elbahouty
Allison has lived in the Valley (Duvall) since 2004 and has four children, three having graduated from CHS.
Allison has co-owned Zazynia Mediterranean Grill since 2006 and recognizes the importance of partnering within the community to create a thriving, ongoing network of support. She has been a Board Member with the Duvall Chamber of Commerce for the past three years, and is the current Board Secretary.
She is passionate about ending food insecurity in the Valley and volunteers locally at Hopelink. Allison also cares very deeply about supporting the Mental Health of our youth. In doing so, she believes it is critical to identify, support and celebrate the uniqueness of all.
Chris Hawkins
A resident of Carnation since 2016, Chris is husband to Adair Hawkins with whom he shares four sons in elementary and middle school, as well as two quarantine cats adopted in 2020. He assists with local BSA Troop 411 in Carnation and has coached the 3rd and 4th grade Cedarcrest Lacrosse Team as an assistant and head coach for the past 5 years.
Working for the Redmond Fire Department since 2007, Chris has seen the after-effects that both violence and addiction can have on young people, and he is excited to work with the Empower Youth Network to help foster safety and success for all the youth in the Valley.
Erica Healy
Erica has been living in North Bend for over 20 years and is a proud mother of three young adult children. Olivia, Gabe and Isabella all three graduated from the Snoqualmie Valley School District. As a child, Erica immigrated from Durban, South Africa with her family and has been living in Washington State since 1983. She became a US citizen in 2002. Erica is passionate about helping young people and their families, enjoyes being a bridge between students, home, school and community resources and works for the Snoqualmie Valley School District as a Behavioral Health Program Specialist. She has her master’s degree in social work and is excited to contribute her skills, experience and knowledge to EYN goals. Erica loves spending time with family and friends, being outside hiking, climbing mountains, backpacking, attending concerts, and traveling.
Karla Heath, Secretary
Karla is a registered nurse who did her undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Washington School of Nursing. She moved to Duvall in 2015 and in December 2020 became the RN Clinic Manager for EvergreenHealth Primary Care in Duvall. She loves living and working in Duvall and being a part of the community. Karla has served on the Core Team for Teen Reach Adventure Camps (TRAC) since 2011. TRAC provides two 3-day camps each year for teens who are in, or who have been in, the foster care system. Through challenge course activities, these youth are encouraged to new things. To be empowered and courageous, not powerless as many feel as a foster child. As the parent of two adult children and the grandparent of six, Karla is passionate about the health and wellness of our youth and working to create communities where they are empowered to participate and have a voice.
Molly Jensen
Molly and her husband relocated to Ames Lake in 1997 after living on their sailboat in Seattle. They have raised two biological daughters in the Snoqualmie Valley and have parented five exchange daughters over the years, including one that has made Washington state and the Jensen family her home. Molly has experience with several non-profit boards serving children and families over the past several decades, from the March of Dimes to the Cascade Valley Figure Skating Club. She was an earlier board member of EYN as it transitioned to its current nonprofit status. When she is not working with children and families through her private practice as pediatric occupational therapist, she enjoys traveling and supporting her international marathon running husband, Hiking on the tree farm with Shadow the wonder dog, keeping tabs on all her daughters (from Japan, Norway and Germany to Denver, CO!) and learning even more about how to support neurodivergent children and their families navigate neuro-affirming lives. She believes “connection comes before expectations.”
Jeremy Johanson
Jeremy is a long time Snoqualmie Valley resident with deep ties to the community. In the Valley since 1985 he attended school in SVSD from elementary to high school. After high school Jeremy entered the work force and started a family. Eventually working in construction sales, helping build stone fabrication companies. In 2020 he started his own countertop company and operates from Fall City and Duvall.
In 2015 he had a unique opportunity to take his business knowledge and apply it to the early childhood education field at a local preschool owned and operated by his wife April. April and Jeremy saw the desperate need for childcare in the Snoqualmie Valley and worked to expand their services which currently serves more than 40 families annually.
Jeremy has always been involved with youth sports activities in the local community. As his children grew he looked for other ways to get involved. Raising, coaching and teaching children has come with a greater understanding of the unique experiences and needs our youth have.
Kim Johnson, Past President
Kim is the proud mom of 3 boys, Drew, Owen, & Tyler and has lived in Snoqualmie since 2012. She grew up in upstate NY & relocated here after spending a few years in Atlanta. Kim graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a BS in Hospitality Management. She worked for Walt Disney World and Enterprise Rent a Car before deciding to become a stay at home mom for the last 14 years. She is currently employed with the city of Snoqualmie and volunteers as a Crisis Counselor for the National Text Line. Kim is passionate about suicide prevention & mental health issues facing our youth. She is looking forward to making a positive impact for families & youth in our community and help the EYN continue to create lasting change. In her spare time Kim enjoys being with her family & friends, football, kickboxing & Netflix.
Rohana Joshi
Hi! My name is Rohana Joshi and I am a part of the Class of 24 at Cedarcrest High School. During my first year of high school, I took a wide range of courses in order to enhance my skills in the career I want to pursue, and organizations that I am a part of. Some of these courses include Law and Business Ethics, Marketing, and Public Speaking. Additionally to my academics, I am also part of several organizations such as DECA, FBLA, TSA, the National Association of Parliamentarians, a community non-profit called “EduBlock”, and my school’s ASB. As well as this, I am a tri-sport athlete in volleyball, track and field, and basketball. I joined EYN because I wanted to spark a change and allow every youth member in our community to have access to a good support system. I believe that every person can make a difference in somebody’s life, and by joining EYN I hope to do exactly that.
Lauren Kremer
My name is Lauren and I am a student at Mount Si High School. I have 3 sisters and I have lived in the valley since 2011. I am Class Board president, a part of Sports Med Club, Key Club, and National Honors Society. I also play volleyball and love to hike and ski. I joined Empower Youth Network to be more involved in the valley and advocate for issues in our area.
Dr. Susan Leach
Dr. Susan Leach relocated to the Snoqualmie Valley in 2022 when she was appointed as Superintendent of the Riverview School District. Prior to that, she held positions in Jeffco Public Schools in Golden, Colorado and Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Florida. She holds a doctorate in School Psychology as well as post-graduate training in School Leadership and School Finance. Prior to working in education administration, she worked as a therapist, behavior specialist and school psychologist serving the needs of youth. Dr. Leach was integral in establishing a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) System of Care, a multi-agency collaborative designed to serve youth with mental health needs in the Jacksonville, Florida area. Her research interests are related to issues impacting public school students, particularly those marginalized by race and socioeconomic status. She is the proud mother of one daughter and three sons. Dr. Leach’s hobbies include scuba diving, travel and pottery.
Alicia Messa
Alicia is a wife and proud mother of two adult children who are both living in the greater Seattle area. Her husband of 35 years is her best friend, and her family and close friends mean the world to her. Alicia strives to “pay it forward” every opportunity she gets. She believes in developing positive relationships with people and, ultimately, in building strong communities and giving back whenever possible. These beliefs flow into her business as the Owner/broker of The Messa Group Real Estate and, in turn, shape the experiences of her clients. Alicia’s true passions are to help all people realize that they are enough just as they are, that communication is key in any healthy relationship, and to help end bullying and teenage suicide. #BeKindSV
Mariam Mohammed
Mariam is a junior at Mount Si High School. Mariam is an only child who has lived in the valley for 14 years. She is part of the Snoqualmie Valley Interfaith, as well as president of the debate club and a DECA student at Mount Si High School, and a regional interfaith public speaker. Mariam joined the Network in order to be the voice of the misrepresented and unheard of the Valley, and beyond.
Dr. Stephanie Pickering
Stephanie was raised on her family’s dairy farm in Duvall, where the Pickering Family has lived since 1884. She left the valley for college and eventually became a Clinical Psychologist at Seattle Children’s. She and her husband moved back to the family farm in Duvall in 2010, after realizing there is no better spot to raise a family. Both of her children are in the Riverview School District. After 14 years at Seattle Children’s, she started her own private practice, Mountain Valley Psychological Services, in Carnation. She specializes in working with neurodiverse individuals, treating anxiety, depression, and OCD. She is thrilled to join EYN’s board and combine her passions for the local community, neurodiversity, and youth mental health. In her free time, Dr. Pickering enjoys spending time on her farm with her spouse, two kids, and two dogs. She also enjoys biking, running, cooking, and reading a good book.
Mike Pusich, Treasurer
Mike and his wife Shannon were born and raised in Juneau, Alaska and have made Snoqualmie their home for the last 20 years. Mike recently retired from a two-decade career in sales with Cisco Systems and has a strong desire to give back to the community. Mike is excited to contribute his time and talents to the mission of the EYN to promote and inspire youth to lead safe, healthy, and successful lives. Mike has been a past youth advisor, parish council member, Little League/All-Star girls softball coach and recently led a career day with student leaders for a high school in the area. He is currently serving as a mentor in EYN’s Youth Success Mentoring program. Mike loves spending time with family, attending sporting events and concerts with friends, and exploring the beauty of the northwest on the trails and slopes.
Mi
chael Tenney, President Elect
Michael Tenney has been a resident of the Snoqualmie Valley for 19 years and it is a very special place for him. He has two sons and two daughters and wants the valley to manage growth but be sustainable for future generations. He wants the youth of the valley to have the resources they need to be successful, respect the environment, and make good choices. Michael has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Puget Sound and works in client development for a Research and Analytics firm. Michael spends his time with his wife Theresa and kids exploring the valley and forging connections that last a lifetime.
Larry T. White, President
Larry has lived in the Snoqualmie Valley his entire life and has been married to the love of his life, Kathy, since 1983. Together they have raised three amazing kids, Matt, Abbey and Emily. While raising their family in Fall City, there were many ways to get involved in working with kids. You could often find the Whites coaching a Softball, Basketball, or Baseball team or working with the youth at their church. That is where the passion to work with kids began.
Larry has worked for the City of Snoqualmie for 20 years as the Parks Superintendent and he also served as the Head Softball Coach at Mount Si School for 15 seasons, where he took full advantage of every teachable moment; the Life Lessons were a much bigger part of his program than the wins or loses.
Building relationships with student athletes, their parents, teachers and other coaches was a huge part of the many successes over his coaching career. This was recognized when his team was voted to receive the Sportsmanship Award (9) times during his coaching career. His passion for serving in the community that he grew up in and loves has never been more evident than by his commitment to be a part of something that is bigger than himself.
You will often hear him say “How you show up makes a difference”
Jolene Williams
Wi?aac (Hello) I am, Jolene Williams, A council member on the Snoqualmie Tribal Council. I am the daughter of Caroline M. Enick Glendale of Snoqualmie and Eugene R Jack (RIP) of Yakama Nation, granddaughter of James Enick of Sauk Suiattle Tribe and Evelyn M. (Keenum) Enick of Snoqualmie Tribe also my paternal grandparents Ella Olney and Raymond Jack(RIP) both from Yakama Nation and Great Grand daughter of Chief Jerry Keenum & Jenny (Hern) Keenum of Snoqualmie Tribe. My practice and teachings has always been to introduce oneself and your family ties so those who are listening can understand the connections to why you are present.
I served as an Alternate Tribal Council member of Snoqualmie Indian Tribe and in August 2020 re-elected as a Council member for a second-4 year term (2020-2024). I currently have a Master’s degree in Managerial Communications, a Bachelors in Business completed through an online program from Bellevue University of Nebraska. I have 25 years of gaming (Casino) experience.
I am a wife to a wonderful man named Steve L Williams, Sr going on 21 years come February.
I am a proud parent of 5 beautiful children 3 boys and 2 girls and a grandparent to 7 great beings who steal my heart every moment I see them. I currently reside in Marysville WA. Yes, I commute every day to work for my people in the Snoqualmie Valley area. My grandparents did the same commute when I was growing up. I have many memories at the Tolt Mac Donald Park. My family still picnics there annually to keep our ancestors stories and practices alive. I am in hopes to add my knowledge, experience and my tribes attributions to the success of the Empower Youth Network Board.
We have to share who we are after we know who we are! Respect the grounds we walk because our ancestors laid the foundation of our existence to be who we have become now!
