Meet Our Team

We are a diverse, passionate group of individuals working as a team and united by a shared commitment to equitable solutions to homelessness.

Staff

Katherine Bicknell

Communications Specialist

Katherine Bicknell manages communications efforts with a focus on digital/social media strategy.

Katherine.Bicknell@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 805-6118

Liza Burell

Managing Director of Programs

Liza Burell, MSW, oversees Building Changes' programmatic work in the areas of housing crisis, education, and health.

Liza.Burell@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 805-6143

Terra Chen

Director of Communications

Terra Chen oversees Building Changes' communications efforts and strategy.

Terra.Chen@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 805-6121

Katharina Deiter

Institutional Giving Officer

Kat Deiter manages fundraising efforts focused on institutional giving, including grant writing and proposal development.

Kat.Deiter@BuildingChanges.org

Atlas Fernandez

Manager, Community Capacity Building & Grantmaking

Atlas Fernandez manages grantmaking and capacity building within the organization's housing crisis and health areas of work.

Atlas.Fernandez@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 805-6123

Dimitri Groce

Strategic Advisor of Housing Initiatives

Dimitri Groce, MSW, leads lead the strategy and investments in innovative housing solutions with a focus on youth and young adults and advancing racial equity within the homeless response system.

Dimitri.Groce@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 805-6139

Joey Heilman

Senior Education Strategy Specialist

Joey Heilman, MSW, leads Building Changes’ work in education and student homelessness.

Joey.Heilman@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 805-6107

Samie Iverson

Senior Manager, Education Strategy

Samie Iverson, MSW, leads Building Changes' work in education and student homelessness.

Samie.Iverson@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 620-0879

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Kyle Lane

Development Associate

Kyle Lane supports efforts to raise funds in support of the organization's mission through both individual and institutional giving.

Kyle.Lane@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 803-4014

Betsy Naymon

Senior Research Associate

Betsy Naymon leads research, evaluation, and data analysis projects, with a focus on education systems and student homelessness.

Betsy.Naymon@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 805-6124

mandy park

Head of Operations

mandy park oversees internal operations and board relations, while also tracking Building Changes' programmatic workplans and strategic direction.

mandy.park@buildingchanges.org
(206) 805-6128

Jaclyn Pueyo

Controller

Jaclyn Pueyo oversees all accounting activities for Building Changes and also helps guide strategic financial decisions.

Jaclyn.Pueyo@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 805-6132

Bree Quatacker

Senior Contracts & Grants Manager

Bree Quatacker supports the organization's technical grantmaking strategy, leads administration of incoming and outgoing contracts and database management, and provides risk assessment and advisement.

Bree.Quatacker@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 805-6144

Joyce Saldanha

Senior Manager, Accounting

Joyce Saldanha manages essential accounting functions and supports account analysis, research, and process improvement.

Joyce.Saldanha@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 805-6120

Mehret Tekle-Awarun

Director of Practice Innovation

Mehret Tekle-Awarun oversees Building Changes' programmatic team, supporting and guiding implementation of grantmaking, technical assistance, and capacity-building work. She also leads efforts in education and student homelessness.

Mehret.Tekle@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 805-6155

Miranda Vargas

Senior Health Strategy Specialist

Miranda Vargas, MPH, leads Building Changes' work in health, focusing on developing strategies to meet the health and housing needs of children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness.

Miranda.Vargas@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 803-4120

Megan Veith

Director of Policy & Advocacy

Megan Veith, JD, oversees Building Changes' policy and advocacy work, including developing and advancing a state legislative agenda that supports the organization's strategic goals.

Megan.Veith@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 805-6163

MW

Manami Wakuta

Staff Accountant

Manami Wakuta maintains and supports internal controls associated with cash receipts, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and other accounting processes.

Manami.Wakuta@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 805-6145

Tasha West-Baker

Director of People & Culture

Tasha West-Baker oversees and guides Building Changes' employee relations and race equity initiatives.

Tasha.West-Baker@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 805-6134

KY

Kalyn Y.

Director of Research & Evaluation

Kalyn Y., MPH, oversees Research and Evaluation, including research, evaluation, and data analysis for housing and health projects, with a focus on the Washington Youth & Families Fund.


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Edith Yang

Assistant Director of Communications

Edith Yang leads media relations and helps develop and oversee the organization's communications strategy.

Edith.Yang@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 620-1875

Aaron Yared

Senior Housing Policy Specialist

Aaron Yared, MA, JD, manages Building Changes’ housing policy portfolio, including the Washington Youth and Families Fund, while helping to advance the organization’s legislative agenda and strategic goals.

Aaron.Yared@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 803-3839

Daniel Narváez Zavala

Executive Director

Daniel Narváez Zavala, JD, MA, oversees all aspects of Building Changes' operations and leads the organization's efforts to advance equitable responses to homelessness. Prior to assuming the role of executive director, Daniel served as director of policy and strategic communications.

Daniel.Zavala@BuildingChanges.org
(206) 805-6119

Board of Directors

J. Wesley Saint Clair

President

Retired, King County Superior Court Judge


T’wina Nobles

Vice President

President & CEO, Black Future Co-op Fund; Washington State Senator, 28th Legislative District

She/Her/Hers


David Wertheimer

Vice President

Retired, Director of Community & Civic Engagement, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

He/Him/His


Chad Swaney

Secretary

Head of Advertiser Support Performance, Amazon

He/Him/His


Chris Bruno

Treasurer

Fractional CFO and Co-Founder of Journey CxO

He/Him/His


Rogers Weed

Immediate Past President

Managing Director, Clobotics Corporation

He/Him/His


Michael Brown

Chief Architect of Civic Commons, The Seattle Foundation

He/Him/His


Rhonda Hauff

CEO, Yakima Neighborhood Health Services

She/Her/Hers


TH

Tracy Hilliard

Director, ORS Impact


Lupe Mares-Rojas

Executive Director, Communities In Schools of Benton-Franklin

She/Her/Ella


Lee Murdock

Director, Homeless Network of Yakima County

She/Her/Hers


Dilip Wagle

Senior Partner Emeritus and Senior Advisor, McKinsey & Company

He/Him/His


TW

Travis Walter

General Manager, Worldwide Retail Stores, Microsoft


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