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 President, DEI Taskforce Lead (email Andrea)
Andrea (she/her) was born in Tacoma before the Baby Boom, and came of age during the height of the hippie era. She grew up in Edmonds in an idyllic setting, swimming in Puget Sound, skiing, taking part in clubs. As a student at Scripps College in southern California, Andrea rejoiced on days that it rained. Her graduate work in Chinese language and literature included a year in Taiwan. Andrea came back to UW at the time of the Kent State tragedy, and became involved in the anti-Vietnam War movement. Andrea married in 1975 to a fellow grad student and their 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 eventually ended up attending the founding meeting of Sustainable Ballard in 2004. Andrea has been involved with strategy sessions, the festival, the Edible Garden Tour, and is currently helping cook Sunday Dinners for those who need a hot meal. It’s all good. Andrea brings board experience, time, enthusiasm and an abiding faith that building sustainable activity strengthens community for the long haul.
Anya Kochel Meals with Neighbors Lead (email Anya)
Anya (she/her) moved to Seattle from Canada in 2017 after falling in love with the Pacific Northwest through researching lakes in the area as part of her graduate work. She previously studied fisheries biology and has worked in the Pacific Northwest, Yukon, Alaska, and Uganda on various water and fisheries conservation projects. She loves being outside and exploring her new home!
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Christine Ingersoll Bakery Gleaning Lead (email Chris)
Chris (she/her) was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and has lived in Ballard since 1987, where she and her husband Robert raised two sons. Chris retired from a full time social work practice eight years ago, but continues her social work by volunteering in her community. Chris currently serves as the Vice President on the Board of the National Association of Social Workers, WA State Chapter and as a Precinct Committee Officer in the 36th District. She has been active with Sustainable Ballard for over ten years. Besides volunteering at the Sustainable Ballard Festival, Chris has been active with the Rain Garden project, installed a Little Free Library along with her neighbor, has been knitting with Jody Grage for years, and has been on the Bakery Gleaning team and the Sprouts growing project since their inception. For Chris, being part of a community means participation.
Gillian Clowes Board Member (email Gillian)
Gillian (she/her) is a California Bay Area-native, who has made a new home in Seattle since 2017. She lives in Ballard with her partner Melissa and a very sassy mini dachshund named Suzy. Gillian has always been a tinkerer and maker of many things including jewelry, weavings, clothing, furniture, vegetarian food and pastries. Her love of making and sustainability led her to join and volunteer with the Ballard Tool Library, where she first got connected to Sustainable Ballard. In her professional life, Gillian works as a software Product Manager.
Jenny Heins Executive Director, RainWise Lead, Festival Organizer (email Jenny)
Jenny (she/her) has been practicing conservation since childhood in Ohio, but she only became an activist when she discovered Sustainable Ballard in 2004 and now is very “active.” Within Sustainable Ballard, she heads up a number of our activities, including the Annual Festival, our RainWise work, and the administrative work of our Board. Outside of Sustainable Ballard, she is an event planner, currently working with the NW EcoBuilding Guild to produce the NW Green Home Tour and the Northwest Green Building Slam + Summit. Jenny was Regional Director for the Seattle Green Festival for four years, and before that 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.
Jody Grage Board of Directors, Ballard Knitters for People Experiencing Homelessness 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 which is surrounded by vegetable garden. Jody has been a part of the Green Party at the national, state, and local levels since the 1980s. Other interests include knitting and other needlework, Norwegian folk costumes, voluntary simplicity, peacekeeping, vegetable gardening, winter, and community.
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.
Mackenzie Kroon Tool Library Manager (email Mack)
Mackenzie “Mack” (she/her) was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. After a 10 year stint on California’s Central Coast, she moved home to Seattle in 2018. When not working in the Tool Library, Mackenzie works as an Architect for a local Ballard firm where she specializes in sustainable residential design. Outside of architecture, Mackenzie is a Pinterest addict and loves a good DIY. Stop by the Tool Library to tell her all about your latest projects!
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Olivia Price Board Treasurer, Market Gleaning Lead (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.
Polly Freeman Idle Free Ballard Lead (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’s been a lead with the Farmers Market gleaning for several years and is excited about the “Idle Free Ballard” project’s successful first year.
Rain Gilman Marketing and Membership Manager (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. Rain loves Seattle & the abundant nature in our area and feels lucky to call Ballard home.
Stu Frothingham Board of Directors (email Stu)
Stu (he/him) has lived in Ballard since the early 90’s and inherited his parents’ interest in the environment, conserving energy and resources, recycling, and re-purposing. Stu has a degree in Clean Energy Technology, a Certificate in Sustainable Business Management and a BA in Communications. He’s worked in the solar industry as a marketer for a manufacturer and for an installer. He also has a background as a clinician and researcher. Stu installed his own solar PV system and drives an all-electric Nissan LEAF as part of his effort to reduce his carbon footprint. Stu is active with local solar organizations, Seattle Parks and spent many seasons coaching youth basketball. He’s motivated to help to save the planet for future generations and believes sustainability is something we can all embrace.