Our Team

Alyssa Pittman  Edible Garden Tour Lead (email Alyssa)

Alyssa (she/her) grew up in Washington state and has lived in Ballard since 2011. She started helping to plan the Edible Garden Tour in 2019 after learning that the original planning committee wanted to pass the torch on. She remembers gardening with her dad as a child (though not all the chores were welcome back then!) and still grows peas the way he taught her. While she can’t grow all of her own food, she can learn how to grow more, enjoy being outdoors, and show her children where food really comes from. When indoors, she enjoys cooking, reading books from the Golden Age of British Mystery, and re-learning how to crochet every winter.

Andrea Faste  Board Member (email Andrea)

Andrea (she/her) was born in Tacoma and came of age during the height of the hippie era. She grew up in Edmonds, attended Scripps College in CA, and did her graduate work in Chinese language and literature, including a year in Taiwan. Andrea married in 1975 and her daughter was born in 1983. The family moved to Ballard in 1985 and Andrea has been here ever since. She has participated quite a bit in the life of our community: PTA, gardening, helping to build neighborhood parks through Groundswell NW, serving 19 years on the board of Fremont Public Association (aka Solid Ground), and attended the founding meeting of Sustainable Ballard in 2004​. Andrea has been involved with strategy sessions, the festival, the Edible Garden Tour, and more! Andrea brings board experience, time, enthusiasm and an abiding faith that building sustainable activity strengthens community for the long haul.

Ashlee Norris  Game & Puzzle Exchange Lead (email Ashlee)

Ashlee (she/her) grew up in the Bay Area but proudly calls Washington home. She works in training and development for a Healthcare/Research facility. Ashlee brings creativity and curiosity to everything she does—whether she’s designing engaging learning experiences, diving into a strategy board game, or experimenting with watercolor painting and card making in her craft room. A lifelong learner and community enthusiast, she also enjoys reading and curating her Little Free Library. Ashlee has been the lead for the Board Game and Puzzle Swap since 2023.
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Brianna Widner  Board Member (email Brianna)

Brianna Widner (she/her) is originally from North Carolina. A life spent studying frogs and giant salamanders, building trails, and doing environmental education landed her in WA for a second stint in late 2023. She has been a member of Sustainable Ballard since early 2024; her birthday present from her mom each year is paying her membership dues! She was involved with the Tool Library for a few years but hung up that toolbelt to become an active Gleaner at the Farmers Market and member of the board. Brianna is happiest when she’s out somewhere in the woods on a sunny day searching for banana slugs and/or with a dog by her side. Her passion (and day job) is helping people form their own deep bond with this beautiful planet and empowering them with skills to coexist peacefully with wildlife. She’s grateful for this community where she can share this enthusiasm and work.

Bryn Bachman  Board Member & Meaningful Movies Lead (email Bryn)

Bryn (she/her) grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and earned a degree in Fine Arts and Design from The Ohio State University. She has built her career as a graphic designer and illustrator, with previous roles including brand manager for an America’s Cup team and senior graphic designer in the higher education, nonprofit, and retail sectors. Outside of work, Bryn is passionate about the outdoors and enjoys hiking, sailing, and volunteering. She served as a board member for the Washington, D.C., Surfrider Foundation, contributing to its plastic reduction campaign and advocating for beach accessibility and clean oceans. Currently, she volunteers as a librarian at the Ballard Tool Library.

David Cullmer Board Member (email David)

David (he/him) grew up in New England and now calls Washington home. He holds master’s degrees in Environmental Science and Public Affairs from Indiana University and currently works in sustainability consulting, where he helps organizations articulate their sustainability goals and navigate evolving regulatory requirements. His experience spans advancing circular economy principles, developing greenhouse gas reduction strategies, promoting sustainable water use, and supporting energy efficiency initiatives. Outside of work, David enjoys spending time with his family, reading too much science fiction (if that’s possible), and exploring the city by bike. 

Henrietta Cottingham   Ballard Knitters Lead (email Henrietta)

Henrietta (she/her) joined Sustainable Ballard in 2020 to support a Seattle community with a rich and deep heritage. On a rainy, cold, dark January, pre-covid, she walked into a local brewpub because she had been telling herself for years that she wanted to learn to knit. She walked up to a group of strangers and met the truly most incredible human being, Jody Grage, my knitting guru. Jody cast on for her and that was it. Good people using their humble talents to connect with and help others – it’s beautiful to be part of this group. “Everyone I have met is so full of talent, interest and experience. It is a very welcoming group of people who love to share knowledge and skills.”

Jackie Lindsey Board Member (email Jackie)

Jackie (she/her) grew up in Phoenix, AZ but was drawn to study the marine environment and moved to the Pacific Northwest for college. She earned degrees in marine ecology at UW and SJSU, before settling in Ballard in 2023 with her family. She’s spent more than a decade in the world of citizen science, and is happy to bring that expertise to support Sustainable Ballard. In between DIY house projects, Jackie loves to do pottery, bake, garden, backyard-bird, and visit the ocean.

Jenny Heins  Executive Director, RainWise Lead, Ballard Sprouts Lead (email Jenny)

Jenny (she/her) has been practicing conservation since childhood in Ohio, and became an activist when she discovered Sustainable Ballard in 2004. Now she is very “active.”  Within Sustainable Ballard, she heads up a number of our activities, including the Annual Festival, our RainWise work, and as Executive Director oversees the administrative work of the organization. She worked for many years as an event planner, working with the NW EcoBuilding Guild to produce the NW Green Home Tour and the Northwest Green Building Slam + Summit, and as Regional Director for the Seattle Green Festival. Before that she had a nursery business, Small Wonder Farm, growing gourmet vegetable and herb starts and educating neighbors how to grow their own food. Jenny has been a Ballard resident since 1991. In her spare(?) time, she gardens and sails.

Jody Grage  Ballard Menders Lead (email Jody)

Jody (she/her) was part of both the original Sustainable Seattle and Sustainable Ballard organizers.  She is a retired special education teacher who owns and lives in the oldest house in Ballard – surrounded by a vegetable garden.  Jody’s other interests include repair cafes and fix-it fairs, knitting and other needlework, Norwegian folk costumes, voluntary simplicity, peacekeeping,  winter, and community.
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Judy Tangen Board Secretary (email Judy)

Judy (she/her) moved to Seattle in 1967 to finish her degree at the University of Washington.  She grew up on the Washington Coast just north of Hoquiam. She still remembers being so impressed with Seattle and a little intimidated. Coming from a logging community to a progressive city like Seattle was exciting. Judy still loves Seattle. She is glad to live in a growing city that attracts people globally. And she thinks Ballard is becoming more vibrant as Seattle grows. Judy has volunteered with the Associated Recreation Council (ARC) for the last 30 years as an advisory council member at the Loyal Heights Community Center. Volunteering with Seattle Parks through ARC has been rewarding in every way. It has helped connect her to neighbors all over Seattle.  She hopes to bring that experience to Sustainable Ballard. Judy retired from a 47 year career at locally owned Alaskan Copper.  She now has the opportunity to build a career as an advocate for diversity and social equity. She wants her granddaughters to grow up in a neighborhood that accepts all people.

Kaitlin Gillespie Tool Library Manager (email Manager)

Kaitlin (she/her) was born and raised in Washington, and moved to Ballard in 2020. She is a full-time labor organizer and part-time tool wrangler at the Ballard Tool Library. Kaitlin spent nearly a decade as a professional journalist, reporting on crime, education, local governments and social justice movements in Spokane, Portland and, briefly, Northern California. Kaitlin and her partner live in Ballard with their dog, Xena, and cat, Lucy. They enjoy hiking, exploring Ballard’s restaurants and playing far too many board games.
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Lesya Chopivsky Market Gleaning Lead (email Lesya)

Lesya (she/her) grew up in Virginia and moved to Seattle for nursing school at UW. She fell in love with the PNW and now calls Ballard home. Lesya started volunteering with the Farmer’s Market Gleaning team in 2023 and is excited to take on a bigger role with Sustainable Ballard as the Market Gleaning Lead. She believes in the impact of grassroots sustainability efforts and loves the community that SB fosters. In her spare time, Lesya loves working in her own garden, throwing bowls and mugs at the pottery studio, reading, thrifting, and cooking.

Lynda Emel Board Member(email Lynda)

Lynda (she/her) grew up in Portland, Oregon, moved to Seattle in 1980 to attend graduate school at the UW, and just never left. She retired after 35 years working in cancer and HIV prevention clinical trials at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Lynda and her husband have lived in Ballard since 1999. She loves the Ballard Farmers Market, attending each Sunday, and has enjoyed being a volunteer with the Farmers Market Gleaning team since 2019.  She is pleased that Sustainable Ballard provides her with ways to participate in community and advocate for the environment, sustainability, and equity. She also loves ambling through Ballard’s many alleys, live music, and participating in community science projects. Lynda and her husband live in central Ballard with their two tabby cats, Sarah and Winnifred.

Lynn Livesley Bakery Gleaning Lead (email Lynn)

Lynn was born in Seattle, and raised two (now grown) children in Ballard. She worked for decades in the K-12, non-profit and public sectors with a focus on education, immigrant rights and human services. Now happily retired, Lynn is fully enjoying all the PNW has to offer (hiking! biking! kayaking!) and is thrilled to have more time to volunteer, read, and spend time with friends and family. She has volunteered with the Farmers Market Gleaning team since 2018, been part of the Bakery Gleaning team for the last two years, and is grateful to be part of a community of caring, engaged people here on the left coast. 

Marcia Coté Board President (email Marcia)

Born in Seattle, Marcia Coté (she/her) did not see the light and move to Ballard until 1975 and is proud to have the same “Ballard” phone number since then. Marcia believes in a grassroots approach to world change, and feels Sustainable Ballard is the perfect organization to participate in. She enjoys working with the SB Knitting (and dog jacket project) for the Unhoused, Bakery Gleaning, Ballard Tool Library, has a front yard rain garden and shares a Little Library with her extremely active SB next door neighbor. As an almost retired RN, Marcia works for Harborview Medical Center’s Medical Respite Program which is a medical shelter for the unhoused. 

Olivia Price Board Treasurer (email Olivia)

Olivia (she/her) was born and raised in Sunset Hill and grew up playing at Webster Park and learning more about her Scandinavian roots at the Nordic Heritage Museum. After stints in the University District and Capitol Hill she is excited to call Ballard home again, and lives in West Woodland with her partner, grandparents, and rescue pup Stellaluna. Olivia is a strong supporter of local food systems, and still remembers attending opening day of the Ballard Sunday Market with her family in 2000. She was introduced to Sustainable Ballard’s work through the market gleaning program and is excited to support more of the organization’s initiatives as a board member. Olivia is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Administration at the University of Washington.

Paula Jenson Free Letters Home Lead (email Paula)

Years ago, Paula (she/her) clearly remembers being jazzed by the first mention of Sustainable Ballard’s formation, by which time she and her husband had been in Ballard for 25+ years, watching two kids grow up and moving into the community. She’s always been a gardener, and has been involved locally with SB’s urban crop circle, gardening guild, community cooking and gardening projects and the Edible Garden Tour. In 2025, she took over leading our Free Letters Home project. Paula proudly shares a great variety of books in her Little Free Library; she lives in Loyal Heights and is actively involved in grandparenting, writing, Buddhism and gardening.

Polly Freeman Board Member (email Polly)

Polly (she/her) was born and raised on the East Coast but has lived in Seattle for more than 30 years, most of those on Phinney. She is a lifelong greenie with many signature-gathering, poster-carrying, Congress-writing hours in her past (and present). She worked in outreach and communications for non-profits and local government for many years and is currently a free-lance copyeditor and writer. Polly and her husband Jim have two teenagers and one nutty dog; she loves walking, biking, hiking, and yoga, and is an avid vegetable gardener. She was a lead with the Farmers Market gleaning for several years and established “Idle Free Ballard” project.

Rain Gilman  Marketing & Membership Manager, Volunteer Coordinator (email Rain)

Rain (she/her) was born in Seattle and raised in Fremont/Ballard. She raced flat water sprint kayaks on the local waters of Green Lake and learned how to swim at Golden Gardens & Rattlesnake Lake. Rain attended UCSC where she learned to surf and obtained a BA in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican History. In addition to catching waves and attending classes she worked as a sea kayak Naturalist in Monterey Bay paddling daily with sea otters and pelicans. After returning to the PNW she worked in the paddling department of REI flagship store, for Kenmore Air at Lake Union & Lake Washington seaplane bases, the Swedish Club, and was an Interpretive Guide at Ballard’s Chittenden Locks for five Salmon seasons. Now she works on Tilth Alliance’s finance team helping organic and regenerative growers/farmers/green thumbs thrive. Rain loves Seattle & the abundant nature in our area and feels lucky to call Ballard home.

Scott Radford  Board Member (email Scott)

Scott Radford (he/him) has spent 30 years in Ballard championing sustainability and occasionally explaining rain gardens to strangers. A landscape architect and green‑infrastructure expert, he’s designed everything from permeable pavements to stormwater systems that behave better than most teenagers. When he’s not busy greening the world, Scott leads an 11‑piece blues and funk band, throws pottery, and organizes annual neighborhood cider‑pressing events—most recently at Sustainable Ballard’s Fall Fest. He’s also known to help folks hunt down obscure tools at the Ballard Tool Library. He, his wife, and their two kids are proud longtime Ballardians—by choice, it’s the home of Sustainable Ballard! When it comes to stormwater, Scott never feels overwhelmed—he prefers to go with the flow.

Susan Ridgley  Board Member (email Susan)

Susan (she/her) came out from Boston to go to college at WWU and immediately fell in love with the natural beauty of the PNW.  Ever since, she has been reveling in that beauty by skiing, kayaking, backpacking, sailing, birding, river running, and doing pretty much anything outdoors.  Now retired, she spent her professional career life as an environmental staff person and attorney. Having always loved to dig in the dirt, she has created gardens wherever she lived, and continued to do so when she moved to her house in West Woodland, where she’s been dirt-digging for nearly 30 years.  She discovered the Edible Garden Tour when she was solicited to be a garden host, and has been volunteering with Sustainable Ballard ever since.  She believes that building community among neighbors and working together towards a common purpose is the foundation of a healthy society.