“We come from such diverse backgrounds: environmentalists, the tribes, entrepreneurs.... We each bring a unique point of view, and we're all bonded around a positive vision for a clean and safe waterfront that’s publicly owned and returns the maximum benefit to the community."
— Mitch Friedman, President of the Bellingham Bay Foundation
— Mitch Friedman, President of the Bellingham Bay Foundation
Frances Badgett
Served since 2006
Frances Badgett grew up in Lexington, Virginia. Her father is an art historian and her mother is a community activist who focuses on assistance to the poor. Frances has a bachelors degree from Hollins University and a masters degree from Vermont College. She is a writer, an editor (Hunger Mountain and Contrary Magazine), and an active volunteer with many community organizations. She’s an accomplished cellist and is fluent in German and French. She lives in the Columbia neighborhood. Like the rest of the board members, she possesses a profound love of Whatcom County and wants nothing but the best for its citizens.
Served since 2006
Frances Badgett grew up in Lexington, Virginia. Her father is an art historian and her mother is a community activist who focuses on assistance to the poor. Frances has a bachelors degree from Hollins University and a masters degree from Vermont College. She is a writer, an editor (Hunger Mountain and Contrary Magazine), and an active volunteer with many community organizations. She’s an accomplished cellist and is fluent in German and French. She lives in the Columbia neighborhood. Like the rest of the board members, she possesses a profound love of Whatcom County and wants nothing but the best for its citizens.
Elizabeth Britt
Served from 2004 to March 2007
Elisabeth Britt is a former employee of both Georgia-Pacific and the Port of Bellingham. Mom and local business owner who lives in Bellingham. Educated as a Political Scientist at Western Washington University, she served as a legislative aide in the Washington State Legislature where she specialized in water resource issues. Elisabeth has served on a number of local, state, and federal government boards and committees, including the WA State Department of Ecology's Water Resources Advisory Committee and the Whatcom County WRIA 1 Watershed Management Planning Unit. In her spare time, Elisabeth manages Polaris Financial Services, a local residential mortgage company. She is also currently pursuing a Master's degree in Environmental Management from Harvard University.
Served from 2004 to March 2007
Elisabeth Britt is a former employee of both Georgia-Pacific and the Port of Bellingham. Mom and local business owner who lives in Bellingham. Educated as a Political Scientist at Western Washington University, she served as a legislative aide in the Washington State Legislature where she specialized in water resource issues. Elisabeth has served on a number of local, state, and federal government boards and committees, including the WA State Department of Ecology's Water Resources Advisory Committee and the Whatcom County WRIA 1 Watershed Management Planning Unit. In her spare time, Elisabeth manages Polaris Financial Services, a local residential mortgage company. She is also currently pursuing a Master's degree in Environmental Management from Harvard University.
Mitch Friedman – Founder
Served since 2004
Mitch Friedman is the Director of Conservation Northwest, a position he has held since 1989. He founded the Bellingham Bay Foundation in 2005. Mitch has a degree in Zoology from the University of Washington and is the father of two daughters. He has received conservation awards from Sunset Magazine, Society for Conservation Biology, The Wilderness Society, Washington Environmental Council, Northwest Jewish Environmental Project, and in 2003 tricked Washington Law and Politics Magazine into naming him as one of the “25 smartest people in Washington.”
Served since 2004
Mitch Friedman is the Director of Conservation Northwest, a position he has held since 1989. He founded the Bellingham Bay Foundation in 2005. Mitch has a degree in Zoology from the University of Washington and is the father of two daughters. He has received conservation awards from Sunset Magazine, Society for Conservation Biology, The Wilderness Society, Washington Environmental Council, Northwest Jewish Environmental Project, and in 2003 tricked Washington Law and Politics Magazine into naming him as one of the “25 smartest people in Washington.”
Board of Directors (alphabetical order)
Darrell Hillaire
Served since 2006
Darrell Hillaire is a member of the Lummi Nation Council and former chairman of the Lummi Nation. He has served as a member of the Waterfront Futures Group, the Bellingham Bay Pilot Work Group, the Coast Millennium Trail Planning Committee, among many other local and state organizations. He is a leader both locally and regionally in tribal issues.
Served since 2006
Darrell Hillaire is a member of the Lummi Nation Council and former chairman of the Lummi Nation. He has served as a member of the Waterfront Futures Group, the Bellingham Bay Pilot Work Group, the Coast Millennium Trail Planning Committee, among many other local and state organizations. He is a leader both locally and regionally in tribal issues.
Lenny Dixon
Served since 2004
Lenny Dixon is an enrolled member of the Lummi Nation and a US Navy and Persian Gulf War Veteran. He is employed as the Assistant Planning Director for the Lummi Nation Planning Department. Lenny has an AAS in Tribal Environmental and Natural Resource Management from Northwest Indian College, a BA in Environmental Planning and Policy from Huxley College at Western Washington University, and has completed one year of graduate studies in Public Administration at The Evergreen State College.
Served since 2004
Lenny Dixon is an enrolled member of the Lummi Nation and a US Navy and Persian Gulf War Veteran. He is employed as the Assistant Planning Director for the Lummi Nation Planning Department. Lenny has an AAS in Tribal Environmental and Natural Resource Management from Northwest Indian College, a BA in Environmental Planning and Policy from Huxley College at Western Washington University, and has completed one year of graduate studies in Public Administration at The Evergreen State College.
Lenny also serves on the Lummi CEDAR Project Board of Directors, Lummi Ventures Board of Directors, Lummi Development Authority Board of Directors, Lummi Bellingham Bay Strategy Team, American Legion Lummi Post #33 as an Officer, Democratic Precinct Committee Officer for Lummi Reservation South, Tribal Liaison to the 42nd Legislative District Executive Board, Harvard University’s Project on American Indian Economic Development Initiative on Tribal Constitutional Reform Planning and Steering Committee(s), and Ambassador and Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Tlingit Aani Kwaan Nation of Southeast Alaska. He’s recently slowed down a little bit and has time to meet new people and make new friends.
George Dyson
Served since 2004
George Dyson is a boat builder, designer, and historian of technology who has lived in Bellingham for 18 years. He purchased the former Dick's Tavern property at Holly and Central Avenues at the mouth of Whatcom Creek in 1989, and has been an active proponent of waterfront redevelopment ever since.
A dual citizen of Canada and the United States, Dyson divides his time between building kayaks and writing books. His subjects, now translated into seven languages, have ranged from the development (and redevelopment) of the Aleut kayak (BAIDARKA, 1986) to the evolution of digital computing and telecommunications (Darwin Among the Machines, 1997) and nuclear bomb-propelled space exploration (Project Orion, 2002). He is currently working on an account (for Pantheon/Vintage/Penguin) of the dawn of modern computing in the aftermath of WWII, and lectures widely on this and other research.
Served since 2004
George Dyson is a boat builder, designer, and historian of technology who has lived in Bellingham for 18 years. He purchased the former Dick's Tavern property at Holly and Central Avenues at the mouth of Whatcom Creek in 1989, and has been an active proponent of waterfront redevelopment ever since.
A dual citizen of Canada and the United States, Dyson divides his time between building kayaks and writing books. His subjects, now translated into seven languages, have ranged from the development (and redevelopment) of the Aleut kayak (BAIDARKA, 1986) to the evolution of digital computing and telecommunications (Darwin Among the Machines, 1997) and nuclear bomb-propelled space exploration (Project Orion, 2002). He is currently working on an account (for Pantheon/Vintage/Penguin) of the dawn of modern computing in the aftermath of WWII, and lectures widely on this and other research.
Anne-Marie Faiola - Board President
Served since 2004
Anne-Marie Faiola is the owner and founder of Bramble Berry Inc. Anne-Marie originally wanted to be an FBI agent and had a brief, but unsuccessful stint as a correctional officer that convinced her she wanted to be self-employed. She founded Bramble Berry in 1997 with the goal of providing quality soap-making products to the soap-making community. From humble beginnings in Anne-Marie’s living room, Bramble Berry has grown to encompass a diverse product line with over 2500 items. In 2003, Anne-Marie founded Otion–The Soap Bar in downtown Bellingham.
Served since 2004
Anne-Marie Faiola is the owner and founder of Bramble Berry Inc. Anne-Marie originally wanted to be an FBI agent and had a brief, but unsuccessful stint as a correctional officer that convinced her she wanted to be self-employed. She founded Bramble Berry in 1997 with the goal of providing quality soap-making products to the soap-making community. From humble beginnings in Anne-Marie’s living room, Bramble Berry has grown to encompass a diverse product line with over 2500 items. In 2003, Anne-Marie founded Otion–The Soap Bar in downtown Bellingham.
John D’Onofrio
Served since 2004
John D'Onofrio is the president and CEO of Northwest Computer in Bellingham. In addition to his position on the board of the Bellingham Bay Foundation, he is active in the Sustainable Connections organization where he serves as a co-sponsor of the group's Think Local First campaign. He has a degree in fine art from Rutgers University and exhibits his photographs and paintings in local and distant venues. In his "spare" time he writes on wilderness travel for various publications and performs unusual world music with the Monkey Puzzle Orchestra. The father of two sons, he lives in Whatcom County with his wife Susan.
Served since 2004
John D'Onofrio is the president and CEO of Northwest Computer in Bellingham. In addition to his position on the board of the Bellingham Bay Foundation, he is active in the Sustainable Connections organization where he serves as a co-sponsor of the group's Think Local First campaign. He has a degree in fine art from Rutgers University and exhibits his photographs and paintings in local and distant venues. In his "spare" time he writes on wilderness travel for various publications and performs unusual world music with the Monkey Puzzle Orchestra. The father of two sons, he lives in Whatcom County with his wife Susan.
Bob Kelly
Served since 2004
Bob Kelly is the Natural Resources Director for the Nooksack Tribe.
Served since 2004
Bob Kelly is the Natural Resources Director for the Nooksack Tribe.
David Syre
Served since 2004
David Syre was raised on the family farm on the banks of the Nooksack River. Growing up, he always wanted to be a farmer. David received a BS in Agriculture from Washington State University and a law degree from Gonzaga University. He founded Trillium Corporation, a Bellingham based real estate development and resource management company, in 1974 when he realized he needed a “real job.”
Served since 2004
David Syre was raised on the family farm on the banks of the Nooksack River. Growing up, he always wanted to be a farmer. David received a BS in Agriculture from Washington State University and a law degree from Gonzaga University. He founded Trillium Corporation, a Bellingham based real estate development and resource management company, in 1974 when he realized he needed a “real job.”
David is married, has twin daughters and a son, and three grandchildren. He dislikes overly curious dogs and precipitous cliffs. He enjoys photography, fierce Yahtzee competitions, lightly steamed white asparagus and driving quickly through big mud puddles on dirt roads.
Alice Clark - Secretary
Served since 2004
Alice has resided in Bellingham since 1980 and is the mother of two. She’s a founding board member of the Whatcom Film Association, which opened the Pickford Cinema in 1998. Alice has served as the organization's Executive Director since 2001. She was past chair of the Bellingham Cultural Roundtable and currently sits on the board of the Bellingham Tourism Commission. When she is not working on the relocation plans for the Pickford Cinema she relaxes by traveling, gardening and creating art.
Served since 2004
Alice has resided in Bellingham since 1980 and is the mother of two. She’s a founding board member of the Whatcom Film Association, which opened the Pickford Cinema in 1998. Alice has served as the organization's Executive Director since 2001. She was past chair of the Bellingham Cultural Roundtable and currently sits on the board of the Bellingham Tourism Commission. When she is not working on the relocation plans for the Pickford Cinema she relaxes by traveling, gardening and creating art.
