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.
Tina Tate, Executive Director
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Tina@skagitfriendshiphouse.org
360.336.6138 Equipped with strong management skills and a deep sense of community, Tina brings a passion for serving others to her role as Executive Director. She has a proven track record as a successful manager at Skagit Publishing and previously served on the Friendship House Board of Directors, including two years as Board President. Tina was once a resident of Friendship House, and has proven the program can be successful. Now she gives back to the community that supported her by volunteering with many other organizations in Skagit County. Tina’s heart is in community service. |
DeAnn Hughes, Women's & Barbaras House Manager
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DeAnn@skagitfriendshiphouse.org
360.336.2418 DeAnn has a diverse background working in education with at-risk youth and adults. Before coming to Friendship House, she previously worked at Cascade Job Corps as Residential Advisor and then Employment Specialist. She also has experience working in public schools as a paraprofessional K-12. DeAnn's hobbies include decorating birthday & wedding cakes and working on her growing hobby farm in the country. She and her husband recently celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary and are blessed with three children and several grandchildren.
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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. |
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. |
Jerry Shackette, Development/Program Manager
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Jerry@skagitfriendshiphouse.org
360.873.8022 Jerry is originally from Spokane 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 beginning in 1997. Jerry coordinates the Hunger to Hope program for Friendship House, mentors apprentices and serves as cheer-leader-in-chief for their personal and professional development. Recently moved “back home” to the Pacific Northwest, Jerry has a passion for all things food and enjoys seeking out interesting places to eat and exploring the vibrant local food culture in Skagit County. He and his family enjoy exploring the Northwest especially when there is a nice picnic basket involved.
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Rayna Huitt, Office Assistant
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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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Carly Geraci, Volunteer Coordinator
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Carly@skagitfriendshiphouse.org
360.336.6138 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, she is excited to get to know the Skagit Valley community and bring people together to help our Friends.
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Olivia Hickerson, Skagit First Step Center Manager
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Olivia@skagitfriendshiphouse.org
360.336.6138 Olivia is originally from Oklahoma where she grew up with a passion to serve others. Her commitment to service has afforded her opportunities locally and abroad. Her experience includes teaching English to children in Vietnam, volunteering at the Mariposa Center for Girls in the Dominic Republic, as well as working victim crisis hotlines in Washington State. She enjoys being a part of the Friendship House team and the difference they make in Skagit County. When she is not working, she enjoys reading and spending time with her husband and son.
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Betty Herrera, Skagit First Step Center Assistant Manager
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Betty@skagitfriendshiphouse.org
360.336.6138 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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360.336.6138
William "Bill" Bennett was born in the Southern U.S. during the late 1950's. He has traveled extensively throughtout 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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