LEADERSHIP
LEADERSHIP
LEADERSHIP
Digital Communications specialist
Originally from Alaska, Kelsey discovered her love of the Pacific Northwest upon arrival at Pacific Lutheran University in the early 2000's and she's loved it since! Kelsey has a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on Community and Social Change from University of Washington. Her passion has always been non-profit work to advance community wellbeing and positive youth development. She is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all Pierce County residents through community, equity, and innovation.
Parks and the park programs are critical to furthering equity and access and well-being in our community and Kelsey is honored to give back to the parks she and her family love so much! She lives in Tacoma with her husband, daughter, kitties, chickens and a humble little urban farm full of native and pollinator-friendly plants!
Kelsey horne
Board president
Washington state historical society
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Jessica is a dedicated environmentalist who is committed to protecting and preserving this amazing place we call home. She believes that our parks are key in connecting our children to nature, and is hopeful that they will grow up appreciating and doing their part to protect Puget Sound.
Jessica lives in Tacoma with her partner Adam and two daughters Terra and Eva. Jessica joined the Foundation Board in 2020. They are active users of the local park network in Tacoma and in the winter spend their weekends on the ski slopes.
Jessica Knickerbocker
Community Member
Immediate past board president
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Christian Isaac
Talent Acquisition Outreach Partner
Alaska Airlines
Christian grew up in Tacoma’s South End, where Manitou Park was a beloved space for fun and connection with friends. During middle school, a Metro Parks after-school program played a pivotal role in helping him overcome social anxiety and discover his potential as a leader. That experience sparked his passion for creating opportunities where others can thrive. Now a Talent Acquisition Outreach Partner at Alaska Airlines, Christian brings a deep commitment to equity, access, and community-building to his professional and volunteer roles.
Christian actively serves as a commissioner on the Pierce County Civil Service Commission, a member of the KNKX Community Advisory Council, and the YMCA Camp Seymour Advisory Council. Each of these roles reflects his dedication to uplifting communities and ensuring equitable access to opportunities. As a Tacoma Parks Foundation board member, Christian strives to expand access to programs and parks that inspire confidence, connection, and leadership, just as they did for him.
Board vice president
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Senior Program Director, Center for Community Impact
Ymca of pierce & kitsap counties
Vincent Barron is a dedicated leader, educator, and veteran committed to empowering communities. A former U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant, he served during Operation Iraqi Freedom before earning a B.A. in History from UCLA. With teaching credentials in Special Education and Career Technical Education, Vincent has worked extensively in education, supporting diverse learners. As a Senior Program Director for the Center for Community Impact at the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties, he oversees school and community-based programs in Tacoma Washington that provide academic support and enrichment opportunities for young people. Outside of work, he enjoys woodworking, coaching his daughters in youth hockey, playing recreational ice hockey, and spending time with his wife and family.
Vincent Barron
Board secretary
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Director
Thomas V. Giddens, Jr. Foundation
Tim Kotnour is a Washington native who currently resides in Tacoma, WA with his wife and pets. As a former Military Officer and current Director of a private grant-making foundation, he has worked with diverse populations, including children, adolescents, uniformed service members and their families, veterans, and seniors.
Like many others in the community, Tim and his family frequent several of Tacoma’s beautiful parks and green spaces. He is dedicated to creating sustainable community programs that provide safe environments, educational opportunities, and social and emotional learning for children and their families in Tacoma’s parks and public spaces.
Tim Kotnour
Board Treasurer
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Development coordinator
Palmer Scholars
Malachi Cabera is a South End Tacoma resident, community connector, and someone who feels most at home in the city’s parks and shared outdoor spaces. Whether it’s a neighborhood gathering or a quiet walk, he values the way these places bring people together and create a sense of belonging. In his professional role as Development Coordinator at Palmer Scholars, Malachi focuses on building relationships and connecting people to opportunities that support young people on their path to meaningful careers.
Malachi Cabera
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trish hudson
Vice President of Revenue Operations
Appfire
Trish Hudson is Vice President of Revenue Operations, where she leads the strategy, systems, analytics, and operational processes that help the company scale. With a career spanning global technology organizations, she has built Revenue Operations functions, led large-scale business transformations, and partnered with executive leadership to improve growth, forecasting, and organizational performance.
Known for combining strategic thinking with operational execution, Trish enjoys solving complex problems, building high-performing teams, and helping organizations navigate periods of growth and change.
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Outside of her professional role, Trish is an active volunteer and advocate for Tacoma’s parks and natural spaces. She serves as a Park Steward at Point Defiance Park and is a member of Park Watch, supporting stewardship, conservation, and community engagement efforts. She is passionate about preserving Tacoma’s parks and ensuring they remain vibrant, welcoming spaces for future generations.
Alicia is a longtime Tacoma cheerleader and civic activator who grew up in the woods and cherishes the many ways to escape nature even in our urban setting. Alicia is the Director of Strategic Planning for Tacoma Public Schools and lives with her husband, three dogs and two parents in Tacoma's West End. With three now-adult children, she has many memories of splash pad playdates, skipping rocks at Owen Beach, and wandering Point Defiance with friends and family hoping the bald eagles don't try to snack on her dogs.
ALICIA LAWVER
Director, strategic operations team
TACOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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Lisa has spent the majority of her career working to strengthen community-based nonprofit organizations. She holds a Masters in Public Administration from Suffolk University and a BA from Pacific Lutheran University. Lisa currently works for Little Green Light, a nonprofit donor management software company and lives in Fircrest with her husband and two kids.
Lisa Lennick
customer support specialist
Little Green Light
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Abby Sloan
Principal
Tacoma Public Schools
My name is Abby Sloan I am a principal in Tacoma school district. I have a passion about ensuring that everyone has access to green spaces. Being in the natural environment is so important for all of our well-being. I am originally from New Zealand and have chosen to make Tacoma my home. I absolutely love this city the people in it and support 100% anything that helps our city be even better than it already is.
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Sionna stallings-ala'ilima
Fire ChIEf
Tacoma fire department
Sionna moved to the Pacific Northwest to attend the University of Washington in 1998 and has served with the Tacoma Fire Department since 2007. She and her husband have been together for 12 years and have enjoyed the variety of options Tacoma Parks offers: running on the waterfront (more likely walking these days), playing golf at Meadow Park, and taking their 9-year-old daughter to Point Defiance or one of the many spray and playgrounds, to name just a few.
Sionna grew up on the island of Maui, surrounded by beaches and parks where community members routinely gathered for sports, meals, fitness, and fellowship. She believes easy access to safe and clean recreational spaces and educational programs is necessary to build a thriving community and health-minded culture.
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Matt Mauer is the President of the Parks Tacoma Board of Park Commissioners and a government affairs professional with more than a decade of experience building partnerships between government, nonprofit, and community organizations. In his role with Sound Transit, he works with local governments and community leaders throughout Pierce County to advance major public infrastructure projects while fostering collaboration and public trust. Prior to Sound Transit, Matt held government affairs leadership roles with the Port of Tacoma, and Vulcan Real Estate.
Matt Mauer
Parks tacoma commissioner liaison
President, board of commissioners
parks tacoma
A U.S. Coast Guard veteran and longtime advocate for public spaces, Matt believes parks are among a community's greatest investments. He is passionate about ensuring every Tacoma resident has access to safe, welcoming parks, recreation programs, and opportunities to connect with nature. Matt is honored to serve as liaison to the Tacoma Parks Foundation Board and help strengthen the partnership between philanthropy and Parks Tacoma to expand access and create lasting community impact.
Outside of work, Matt enjoys exploring Tacoma's parks with his family, working in the yard, and giving back through local civic organizations.
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our team
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Beth joined the Tacoma Parks Foundation in early 2024. She comes with years of experience in both the non-profit and corporate sectors. Her passion for diverse and cross-sector community building was sparked during her tenure as the Executive Director of the American Leadership Forum of Tacoma/Pierce County (ALF). Her 12 years working with leaders to form relationships based on trust and mutual respect is rooted in inquiry, deep listening, and a relationship-oriented, collaborative, community-centered approach. Her background in building and facilitating leadership development, fundraising, and non-profit management complement her role at TPF.
Born and raised in Washington state, Beth loves being outdoors and spends her free time walking, playing tennis, gardening, and hanging out with her son (20), her daughter (23), and their sweet labrador retriever and very untrained, but lovable, bulldog.
Beth Boggs
Originally from Montana, Quinn completed her undergraduate studies at Pacific Lutheran University and pursued post graduate studies at Cal State Long Beach. As TPF's Manager of Communications and Operations, Quinn enjoys her wide range of responsibilities from working on the website to the finances! She enjoys spending time with her family, which include two adventurous kids!
Quinn Bartholomew
Operations & Communications
Manager
A Peer Counselor with an extensive administrative background ranging from nonprofit, corporate, medical, legal, and more, Claire is excited to bring their wide-ranging experience to join the TPF team in cultivating an equitable, connected, and thriving Tacoma.
Claire is delighted to call Washington home after nearly ten years in the PNW, more than half of those living in Tacoma. They spend their free time wandering the woods or taking in the area music scene, and they especially enjoy when they remember to water their extensive houseplant collection.
Claire Williams
ADministrative Specialist
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