Friendship House Staff
Our excellent staff is committed to the empowerment of Friendship House guests and people affected by homelessness. Staff members receive ongoing in-service training and adhere to the Ethical Standards of Human Services.
Jonathan Kline, Executive Director
Jonathan@skagitfriendshiphouse.org
360.336.6138
Working in the nonprofit sector with a focus on poverty alleviation for over a decade both domestically and overseas, Jonathan brings a breadth of experience to his role as Executive Director at Friendship House. After leading the Whidbey Homeless Coalition for several years, he joined Skagit Friendship House in the summer of 2022. What he loves most about this type of work is interacting with guests and being able to show them the love and dignity that they deserve. When not at work he can be found hanging out with his family, paddling around the Puget Sound, or hiking through the woods with his two malamutes.
360.336.6138
Working in the nonprofit sector with a focus on poverty alleviation for over a decade both domestically and overseas, Jonathan brings a breadth of experience to his role as Executive Director at Friendship House. After leading the Whidbey Homeless Coalition for several years, he joined Skagit Friendship House in the summer of 2022. What he loves most about this type of work is interacting with guests and being able to show them the love and dignity that they deserve. When not at work he can be found hanging out with his family, paddling around the Puget Sound, or hiking through the woods with his two malamutes.
Kristie Kaaland, Men's & Transitional House Manager
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Kristie@skagitfriendshiphouse.org
360.336.2135 Kristie cares for other Friendship House staff and residents with motherly affection. Kristie is a nurturer with a diverse history of helping others and is inspired by the “little things” that can make a person smile, which brought her to Friendship House many years ago as a volunteer. Kristie enjoys spending her free time with her two children and raising miniature longhaired dachshunds. |
Carly Geraci, Women and Children's Shelter Manager and Barbara's House Manager
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Carly@skagitfriendshiphouse.org
360-336-2418 Carly Geraci is from Metro-Detroit and moved to the Pacific Northwest after completing all 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail. While she studied psychology in college, she found visual storytelling as a way to learn and grow both personally and professionally. She worked as a photojournalist at several different newspapers across the country including The Dallas Morning News. As Volunteer Coordinator for Friendship House, she was excited to get to know the Skagit Valley community and bring people together to help our Friends. With the opportunity to do more as a House Manager, Carly has found her experience of working on the team in other ways has prepared her for the role she now holds.
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Skagit First Step Center Manager
360.755.9525
Now Hiring
Tom Hoffman, Kitchen Manager & Hunger to Hope instructor
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Tom@skagitfriendshiphouse.org
360.854.8718 A Skagit county native, Tom spent 25 years working and managing in the culinary industry at many local restaurants before starting at Friendship House. Tom enjoys the rush of experimenting with new recipes and dishes as the Friendship House Café’s Kitchen Manager and Chef. When he’s not in the kitchen, you can find him practicing Soo Bahk Do, a form of Korean Martial Arts, and cracking jokes. |
Mell and Lauren, Kitchen staff
Bio's Coming soon!
Jen Hutchison, Development and Facilities Capital Coordinator
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jen@skagitfriendshiphouse.org
360.961.8434 Jen came to Friendship House first as Administrative support and then went on to other community involvement before returning in a different role. She now serves on the Development team and works diligently assisting with facilities maintenance management as well. Having a helpful attitude, Jen enjoys working with the staff in all areas of Friendship House's programs to find ways to create growth while cutting costs to assure every dollar goes as far as possible within services. Gardening is a hobby she enjoys at home and she also has a new found love of hiking and walking the local trails, while calling it exercise! Jen comes from the East coast, so her style of persuasion has an added punch while her dedication to serving the community of Skagit County makes you feel like she was born and raised right here. |
Jerry Shackette, Grant Writer
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Jerry@skagitfriendshiphouse.org
360.873.8022 Jerry is originally from Spokane, Washington and enjoyed many years in the hotel and restaurant business before accepting a faculty position at College of the Ozarks near Branson, Missouri where he led the Hotel and Restaurant Management program from 1997 through 2014. Jerry joined the staff in 2015 and currently serves Friendship House as a Development Associate focused primarily on grant writing seeking support from a portfolio of major charitable foundations and corporations. In August 2021 Jerry changed his status at Friendship House to “part-time working remotely” as he and his wife build a new home in Southwest Missouri. Jerry and Kaye are enthusiastic fans of all things food and beverage especially at farmers markets and independent local eateries. Jerry can be reached at jerry@skagitfriendshiphouse.org, by office voicemail at (360) 873-8022 or mobile at (417) 598-9731 (voice or text).
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Rayna Huitt, Office Administrator
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Rayna has spent most her life between Island and Skagit County, and feels at one with the community. Her roots in the restaurant industry have sewn deep seeds when it comes to providing service, and engaging with the community. While part of a local restaurants management team, she provided job training for members of our Hunger to Hope Program. Whether it’s visiting seniors, joining clubs, or volunteering in events like Oak Harbor’s annual Pigfest and the Tulip Festival Poster Unveiling, she does her best to be an active member of the community. Skagit Valley is her home, and she hopes to help in its growth and enrich its future.
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Mollie Hoare, Volunteer Coordinator
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mollie@skagitfriendshiphouse.org
360.336.6138 Mollie has lived in the Skagit Valley since she graduated from college with a BS in Horticulture in 1987. She worked in the Wholesale Nursery/Greenhouse Industry for 30 years. She feels so fortunate to reside in such a lovely area for outdoor activities. She has been married for 30 years and has been blessed with the best children (adults of course now) and 3 precious grandchildren (there’s nothing better than that)! Friendship House has been a part of her volunteer time since 1989. She remembers serving dinners out of the men’s house kitchen years ago. Most recently has been volunteering in Laundry, Bag Lunch Van, Serving dinner at Skagit First Step Center and as a last minute volunteer as needed. Her last job was as a Shelter Monitor at Skagit First Step Center. She loves people and feels it is a privilege to serve the needs of those in our beautiful community and has an attitude of “all are welcome” !
Love grows when shared and when it is unconditional it is so beautiful and perfect! |
Betty Herrera, Skagit First Step Center Assistant Manager
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Betty@skagitfriendshiphouse.org
360.755.9525 Betty is originally from Kennewick, but was raised between Texas and Mount Vernon up until the age of 14, this was when her family migrated back and forth for seasonal farm work. Her experience working with the community started in 2002, when she started working for Community Action of Skagit County in the the Woman Infant and Children program (WIC). At the end of 2014 Betty decided it was time to move on and explore other options and fields out there, she left Community Action to work as an Office assistant, but found herself missing something, she then realized it was not having that satisfaction of working to help the community. In October of 2020 she joined the Friendship House as the Winter Shelter Assistant Manager. Betty enjoys being able to help the community in which she lives again.
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William Bennett, Van Driver/Skagit First Step Center Support
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360.755.9525
William "Bill" Bennett was born in the Southern U.S. during the late 1950's. He has traveled extensively throughout the U.S.; visiting all 48 lower states and living in 10. After serving in the military Bill spent the next 25 years in the construction industry, including 10 years in construction management. Upon learning construction he earned a degree in Early Childhood Education and worked for the Mount Vernon School District, specializing in work with special needs students. Bill views his work at the Friendship House as a way of giving back to the community and is excited for the opening of the Skagit First Step Center in May.
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