Habitat for Humanity of Washington State is governed by a volunteer board of directors including CEOs from member Washington affiliates, and at-large community representatives. To contact a member of the board, please email us at info@habitatwa.org.
Michelle Girardot – President
CEO, Habitat for Humanity-Spokane
Michelle Girardot serves as the chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity-Spokane and President of Habitat for Humanity of Washington State. Habitat for Humanity-Spokane is nonprofit organization that helps families build and improve places to call home. Supporters of Habitat’s efforts believe affordable housing plays a critical role in strong and stable communities. Habitat for Humanity has worked in the Spokane community for over 30 years and has provided homeownership opportunities for more than 320 Spokane families. Girardot was called to Habitat for Humanity after working in education seeing the need for housing stability in the lives of children. She started as an AmeriCorps Volunteer and quickly adopted Habitat as a lifestyle choice. Girardot is drawn to creative investment and finance strategies to combat economic injustice. Girardot and her husband have two daughters and live in Spokane, WA.
Carly Colgan – Vice President
CEO, South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity
Carly is the CEO of the South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity. She previously worked for Big Brothers Big Sisters in Livingston, Montana, where she was the Executive Director since 2016. She holds a master’s degree in non-profit management from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. While at BBBS, Carly lead the organization’s strategic planning, increased overall revenues and worked collaboratively with local school districts, partner agencies, policymakers at the state level, and with working groups focused on trauma informed care and suicide prevention. Prior to her time with BBBS, she served as the Director of Resident Services for Rocky Mountain Communities overseeing 42 different programs in 8 low income housing properties across the state of Colorado. In addition to her professional commitment to non-profit social service programs, Carly has served on the board of directors of an experiential learning youth organization that focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, served as a youth mentor for Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, and serves as a Big Sister.
Colleen Robinson – Secretary
Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Clallam County
Colleen Robinson was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. She moved to Sequim in September 1995 with her husband Craig, daughter Amanda and son Ian. In the nearly 24 years in Sequim she has grown her family by foster-adopting 3 children, Desiree, Hayley and Zak. Three of their 5 children live locally, and their 2 grandchildren live in Port Angeles.
In January of 2015 accepted a position as Community Outreach Director for Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County and May 1, 2017 she was promoted to Executive Director. Colleen also serves as President on the Habitat for Humanity WA State Support Organization Board, representing small rural Habitat affiliates in our state and serves on the Advocacy Committee – working to be sure that programs that support affordable homeownership like USDA 502 Home Loan Program continue to be funded and supported by our elected officials. Colleen worked for the Sequim School District for 8 ½ years in the Special Education Department as Administrative Assistant to the Special Education Director. She has a love for the Olympic Peninsula and all the communities it embodies and a passion for serving families through affordable housing. She also owns and operates Bountiful Baskets Catering.
Community is important to Colleen, which is evident in her roles on the Board of Directors of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce and Sequim Sunrise rotary, as well as on Catering Coordinator for the Boys and Girls Club Annual Auction Committee. She is well known for her passion and commitment to service. Colleen and her husband Craig enjoy spending time with their grandchildren. Colleen enjoys cooking and entertaining family and friends, golf, yoga and volunteering in the community.
Diane Perron, Treasurer
CEO, Cowlitz County Habitat for Humanity
Diane is originally from the Orange County, California area and relocated with her husband Dave to Winlock, Washington in September 2004 to be closer to her parents. After they settled and fulfilled a dream to build their own home, Diane accepted the position as the first paid staff person with Cowlitz County Habitat for Humanity in October 2004. From 2004 to 2005 she served initially as the agency coordinator and assisted in organizing and setting up the young affiliate; from 2006-2010 she served as program manager. In July 2010, Diane accepted the position as executive director and now as CEO. When asked why she is committed to CCHFH and the non-profit world, she states it is because she is passionate about ending poverty housing. She finds great fulfillment in serving others, providing hope to those who want to help themselves and empowering families and communities to make a difference.
In addition to serving on the Habitat WA Board, Diane serves as co-lead and fiscal agent for the NRCC (Neighborhood Resource Coordination Council); board member on the Altrusa International Longview-Kelso service organization and enjoys participating with various community and church networking and committee leadership roles. Educational background consists of business administration and is certified in various medical, administrative, non-profit leadership and development.
She enjoys spending time with family, rafting, making cards and scrapbooking and thoroughly relishes those precious yet few quiet moments reading in the beautiful library her husband built for her. Life is busy and good!
Josh Townsley – Director & Past President
CEO, Evergreen Habitat for Humanity
Josh has served with Habitat for Humanity since 1999. Currently, he is the CEO of Evergreen Habitat for Humanity in Vancouver, WA. He has served as Habitat Washinton’s past Chair and held multiple roles on the Executive Board. He is a member of Habitat for Humanity International’s Advocacy Committeee. He has lead numerous Global Village experiences building Habitat homes overseas. At Habitat Washington, he currently co-chairs the Sustainability Committee that oversees financial structure, policy and membership criteria. He serves on the Advocacy Committee at Habitat for Humanity International. In his spare time, Josh enjoys hiking, boating, travel and being outdoors with his family.
Orin Kolaitis – Director
CEO & President, Island County Habitat for Humanity
Orin Kolaitis resides in Oak Harbor, WA and is the CEO at Island County Habitat for Humanity. Prior to this role, he served as COO and as Construction Lead. Orin has a background in trucking and construction with over 17 years of leadership experience. Orin serves on Habitat for Humanity of Washington’s Advocacy Committee helping to create the advocacy priorities and implement the grass roots initiatives.
Arlene Patton – At Large Director
Retired Area Director, HUD
Arlene resides in Spokane and is a retired HUD area Director, and remains an affordable homeownership and housing advocate. Arlene was involved with Habitat in Anchorage on the Women’s Build, and very involved with Habitat Spokane in many roles. She currently chairs Spokane’s City Community Housing & Human Services Board where she works with others to direct HOME & CDBG funds to the community. When Arlene is not advocating for affordable housing, she is busy as all get out with her grandsons (and their parents) in Spokane.
Laudan Espinoza – At-Large Director
Sr. Communications Director, WA Senate Republican Caucus
Laudan lives with his wife Maia and children in Lakewood, WA. He works as the Community Outreach Liaison for the state Senate Republican Caucus in Olympia. He has an extensive background in public policy and communications, and applied that work previously for the City of Seattle, U.S. Senate and the Tacoma-Pierce County Habitat for Humanity affiliate. He volunteers with a number of community organizations including the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Knights of Columbus.
Laudan serves to inform Habitat for Humanity of Washington’s advocacy efforts on a state-wide basis. He is committed to the Habitat mission of providing safe, affordable housing for all through affordable homeownership. His skills in bi-partisan work and messaging help bring communities together to further the impact of Habitat for Humanity.
Jennifer Wallace, Director
Executive Director, Palouse Habitat for Humanity
Jennifer recently celebrated her 10th year as Executive Director of Palouse Habitat for Humanity, which serves Whitman County, Washington as well as Latah County, Idaho. During her tenure, Palouse HFH has added a signature annual fundraiser, opened a Habitat store, launched a home repair program and grown from building one home every 3 years to dependably building one each year. Over 400 community members are engaged in Palouse HFH’s mission work each year. Jennifer spent several years as an event coordinator and communications consultant with local nonprofits while a ‘stay-at-home’ mom to her three children. Her early career was as a Legislative Assistant to then-U.S.Senator Dirk Kempthorne for agriculture and natural resources issues, and with the University of Idaho in government relations. She has undergraduate degrees in Crop Science and French from the University of Idaho. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Moscow Idaho Chamber of Commerce and volunteers with her son’s Scout troop. Jennifer and her husband Ray own Buy the Dozen donuts, a mini-donut stand at the local farmer’s market.
Sherri Ott, At-Large Director
Program Manager – Youth Homeless Development Program, HopeSource
Sherri was born and raised in the State of Kansas and moved to the Pacific Northwest with her husband when they married in 1995. Together, they have four children who are now grown and are the proud grandparents of two amazing grandchildren. In 2009, Sherri accepted a position as an Affiliate Coordinator with Kittitas County Habitat for Humanity as their only staff member. In 2010, she was promoted to the Executive Director position and over the course of 10 years the affiliate grew from an all-volunteer organization building one house every three-four years, to a fully functional affiliate building one – two houses per year and completing up to six critical home repairs per year. Under her direction, the Habitat Store opened and flourished.
During her tenure as the director of Kittitas County Habitat for Humanity, Sherri served on the Habitat for Humanity Washington State Board for a period of 4 years, 2 of which she served on the HFHWA executive board.
After experiencing health concerns, Sherri took a break from her work at Habitat to focus on her well-being, and when she returned to the work-world her focus became making a difference for youth who are experiencing homelessness. She now serves as Program Manager for HopeSource and their Youth Homeless Demonstration Program. This program reaches homeless youth in Kittitas, Okanogan, Grant and Adams counties. While working at HopeSource, Sherri has never lost her commitment to Habitat for Humanity’s mission and affordable housing in Washington State and beyond. Sherri’s mission and passion in life is serving and loving God and others. This drives her work in all she does.
Maureen Fife, Director
CEO, Tacoma-Pierce County Habitat for Humanity
Since 2006, Maureen Fife has been proudly serving as CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tacoma Pierce County. The affiliate is a sustainable builder featuring energy efficient designs and neighborhood developments where families thrive with strong community support and intense resident engagement. The affiliate involves thousands of volunteers from the Puget Sound community in construction activities, retail store operations and office support. The affiliate is actively engaged in Neighborhood Revitalization in the communities of Tillicum (Lakewood) and the Midland/Parkland area of Pierce County. The affiliate provides pre and post-purchase homeowner counseling, foreclosure prevention counseling and financial education.
Tacoma Pierce County Habitat for Humanity has strong relationships with local active-duty military units and veteran’s groups, along with continued partnerships with local jurisdictions. Along with serving on Habitat Washington’s Board and as Chair of the Advocacy Committee, Maureen serves on Habitat for Humanity International’s Advocacy Committee and their US Council. Locally, Maureen serves on the University of Washington, Tacoma School of Urban Studies Advisory Board and is the Vice President of the Tacoma/Pierce County Affordable Housing Consortium Board of Directors. Maureen also serves as a member on the HFHI US Council and participates in the Advocacy and Policy Committees.
Jet Richardson, Executive Director of Tri-County Partners Habitat for Humanity
A native of Richland, Jet returned to his hometown to put his passion for urban density and knowledge of advocacy to work for Tri-County Partners Habitat for Humanity which includes Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla counties.
After graduating from Seattle Pacific University, Jet moved to Chicago, then joined the Peace Corps. His interest in Urban Planning was inspired by that time in West Africa. Lack of planning and adequate electricity made living hard in West Africa. He saw areas needing improvement in the United States as well, especially when he returned and enrolled in Columbia in New York. He received twin graduate degrees in urban planning and international relations. He then worked for four years in foreign policy in Washington D. C. in an agency that focused on conflict resolution.
The timing was perfect for a move back west, and the Tri-Cities is not where he thought he would end up, until the Habitat position caught his attention. The Tri-Cities is at a turning point for urban planning, and with rising interest in higher density and blended development, Jet wanted to ensure that affordable homeownership was part of this plan. He has been working diligently on a local basis, as well as at the state and federal level with Habitat Washington and HFHI in advocacy.
John Moon, CEO of Whatcom County Habitat for Humanity
John has served in multiple Affiliates as CEO, and most recenlty leading Whatcom County Habitat for Humanity. He has a vast background in both for-profit and non-proft work, including leading Museums. John has a deep passion for affordable housing, and the economic stabilizer and social equity driver that it represents for families. Whatcom County has distinction, like many Counties in Washington, between the very wealthy and those in poverty. John works tirelessly to bring all members of the community together to build affordable homes, and hope.
Meloney Rosen, CEO of Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity
Meloney Rosen is the Executive Director of Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity. YVPHFH is a faith based, 501 c 3 non-profit affordable housing provider. Building homes, community, and hope our programs are designed to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. Meloney’s work and education have been a perfect mix to address the many facets of managing a Habitat affiliate.
Meloney was born, raised, and is raising her family in Yakima Valley. She attended Yakima Valley College for general studies and obtained a business management certificate from Trend Business College. Prior to accepting the position with Yakima Habitat, Meloney worked in HR and Operations management in a retail environment; Meloney was the first and only female partner of Argus Insurance Inc, a regional insurance brokerage; Meloney worked in Real Estate both as a Title Insurance Rep and most recently, partnered in opening the Keller Williams Yakima Valley Realty office.
Meloney enjoys spending time at the lake, in the mountains, on the beach, and just hanging out with family and friends. She and her husband have raised 5 adult children and are now in the process of adopting a 25-month-old. Meloney States “God has been preparing me for this role with Habitat all of my working life.” Finding a career that checks all the boxes (challenging, community service, supporting families, with a focus on housing) is like finding your way home. When you Love what you do, you will never work a day!”