Bruce Morrison, President. Bruce is a local sculptor and teaching artist who has lived in the Methow since 1975. He is a founding member of the Confluence Gallery. Lead organizer of the Twisp Commons Park and Lecturer of the Twisp Valley Grange #472. Bruce was active in forest issues and timber planning from 1990 to 2000 and has enjoyed exploring the Methow Valley backcountry since 1974.

George Wooten, Vice-President. George is a biochemist who studied pharmacognosy at University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. He was a botanist, ecologist and mapping specialist for the Forest Service, Pacific Biodiversity Institute. George teaches Botany and Ethnobotany at Wenatchee Valley College. He works with Conservation Northwest on forestry issues, wildland fires and connecting wildlife habitats.

Allison Ciancibelli, Treasurer – Allison grew up on the Lower Columbia and moved to the Methow in 2000 with her husband, settling up the Twisp River. Together they opened Twisp River Glass, a sculptural blown glass studio they operated out of their barn for 20 years. Along with raising 2 girls and a garden, Allison helped run the Methow Valley Community School from 2014-2018. She is currently an interior designer at Intrinsic Design, a home design studio she also owns with her husband. Allison is a hobby botanist and spends as much time outside as she can appreciating the flora and fauna of the Methow. She is passionate about education and ecosystem restoration and is excited to be involved with the Interpretive Center and everything it provides for this valley!

Jennifer Molesworth, Secretary – Coming soon!

Carolyn Cilek, Board Member –  Carolyn joined the board in 2013. She has worked for many years to make the Twisp Pow Wow a success. She is a massage therapist.

Natalia Tuller, Board Member –  Natalia Tuller is the CEO of Sunridge Home, Inc., a local Methow Valley construction company she runs with her husband, Andrew. Prior to her valley life, she garnered a diverse skill set in environmental policy and stewardship, cross-agency collaboration, social entrepreneurship, event coordination, and project management. Organizing and guiding intergenerational women’s circles and spending time in nature are her passions.

Marisa Monteverde, Board Member –Marisa was raised in the Methow Valley and left after high school to attend The Evergreen State College. There she studied Political Economy and Spanish. In the 15 years she spent outside of the Methow she worked as a social worker for migrant families, taught English as a Second Language, started a restaurant, worked in affordable housing and spent time in nature all over North and Central America. She returned home 7 years ago and has been working with kids after-school, helping people write their Advance Care Directives and being part of the Methow Families Board since the inception. When not working she can be found in her garden or the river.

Ken Borg, Board Member –Ken was born and raised in the lower valley, leaving after college to pursue a career in banking and financial services. Spent two decades in commercial banking, serving as CEO for two. Spearheaded the formation of a new National Bank charter in the Seattle area. Was a board member of the Washington Banker’s Association, two bank boards, and the board of a community hospital. Served on several community service boards. Hobbies and interests include both downhill and cross country skiing, woodworking, landscaping/gardening, photography, geology. In 2019 he and his wife built a home in Twisp, moving into it on March 1, 2020.

ADVISORS

Crystal Miller, Tribal Liaison. Crystal works for Colville Confederated Tribes and in the MVIC office. Her family still lives on one of the original native allotments in the Methow Valley.

Carolyn Schmekel, Founder. Carolyn began her business, Harmony House Interiors, in 1986 in the Methow Valley, after moving from San Diego California, where she worked with two design firms. She has an AA degree in interior design and became a professional member of the Interior Design Society (IDS) in 1982. She was a licensed Realtor in both the State of California and Washington for a number of years. Prior to that she worked as a tax preparer for Vasquez Tax services for 4 years in the early 1980’s. She sold Harmony House Interiors in 2009. In addition to her professional business background she was part of the original board of Cascadia; the Methow Music Association, starting in 1987 and resigning in 2005. As president of Cascadia she was closely involved in a sweeping change in the arts that took place locally in the early 1990’s, helping put into place valley wide collaboration (arts calendar, monthly meetings with non-profit board chairs for dialogue)in order to create an atmosphere where the arts would flourish.

Glenn Schmekel. Glenn has been a resident of the Methow Valley since 1972, and is a retired public school teacher. He originated the “Alternative Learning Experience” in 1997, to help homeschool families continue to educate their children at home yet still be a part of the Methow Valley School District, creating increased funding for both the schools and support for the families. Currently, as founder and Executive Director of the COVE (established in 1998) Glenn is fully engaged with this charitable non-profit that has expanded into several projects; the Methow Valley Food bank, the Aid and Assistance fund, the Guardian Angels and Jamie’s Place (two adult family homes). He has been a recipient of “Keeper of The Place” award given for distinguished service to the community. He has personally been involved in the building and remodel of several homes in the Methow.

Rob Crandall has lived in the valley for twenty years. For the past decade, he has been operating Methow Natives, a native plant nursery focusing on container grown plants native to the Methow Valley. Methow Natives has been active in the salmon recovery efforts in the Methow for the past 8 years as well as working with numerous local landowners on restoration on private lands. Rob is an enthusiastic educator, heading up the Watershed Watchers program and River Camp.

Rich Davis, Lead of Methow Artifact Research Project. Rich has a diverse background in archaeology, ethics display construction and taxidermy. Rich is an active participant in several archaeology projects in the southwest and here in the Methow Valley.

OTHER ADVISORS

• Elaine Timentwa Emerson
• Jimmy Timentwa
• Tillie Timentwa Gorr
• Carol Geertsema
• Jim Kistner
• Richard Hart
• John Roth
• Chuck Borg