Meet our Staff
Leadership Team
Jamie Maciejewski – Executive Director
Jamie has been the Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County since 2007. She previously led three other non-profit organizations, including ten years at Multnomah County CASA, a child advocacy organization in Portland Oregon. She has served in leadership positions in her churches, including as president of an inner city, multi-racial congregation. She has a master’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in organizational management.
Robert Collins – Director of Construction, Land and Strategy
Bob joins Habitat with more than 20 years of experience in program, financial, supply chain and operational management. Throughout his diverse career, including leadership roles at Microsoft Corp., Amazon and JPMorgan Chase, Bob led his teams to success through a combination of strategic insight, empathy and transparent management. He brings expertise in program improvements, cost-savings, safety and health enhancements, as well as team management to his current role as construction manager. From the time he was young, Bob worked on residential remodels and builds with his father giving him an experience for which he is deeply thankful. Bob enjoys collaborating with co-workers and is focused on making a people-centric impact at Habitat.
Maria Drury – Director of Engagement
Born and raised in Seattle, Maria moved further west to Bainbridge Island in 2012 and joined the Habitat staff in the summer of 2020. She is delighted to add East Jefferson County to her expanding sense of community and brings a passion for connecting people with mission-driven work. Past resource-development experience includes major-gift work for Classical KING FM and development director at Salish Sea Expeditions, as well board leadership roles for several music organizations. Maria holds an M.M. in Voice and enjoys singing, sailing, hiking, and knitting, among other things. She is an enthusiastic generalist and lifelong learner!
Rachel Williams – Finance Director
Rachel moved to Port Townsend in 2008 to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson, and went on to become the affiliate’s first full time construction manager. She left that position in 2012 to return to school, earning her MBA from Bainbridge Graduate Institute with a concentration in Finance in 2013. She is delighted to return to Habitat in a new role that puts her education to good use. Rachel is passionate about creating vibrant and resilient rural communities, and loves learning to understand systems from different perspectives.
Operations: Office & Programs
Leanne Smith – Homeowner Services Manager
Leanne has spent much of her career working in mortgage lending, as both a processor and a loan officer. Her specialty has been working with first-time home buyers, helping them to qualify for and purchase their homes. She also spent several years working in a developing community that was designed to provide affordable homes in a place where neighbors could know and support each other and have the opportunity to grow and thrive. Leanne knows the value of affordable homeownership and has a passion for building community.
Amy Howard – Manager of Volunteer Engagement
Amy Howard has been working with Port Townsend nonprofits since 2000. Re-elected in 2019, she serves on the Port Townsend City Council and earned an Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership through the Association of Washington Cities. Additionally, Amy earned a certificate of Nonprofit Executive Leadership from the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington. She has volunteered with many organizations throughout Jefferson County and performed many leadership functions, currently serving as the Vice Chair of the OlyCAP Board of Directors. She lives in Port Townsend with her husband and dog and enjoys cooking, reading, and listening to podcasts.
Emily Holmes – Program Coordinator
Emily Holmes is a new Port Townsend resident with a passion for nonprofit work. Her drive started with the facilitation of an 80-hour service project for her hometown homeless shelter. Emily’s dedication to making a difference followed her to UC Santa Cruz, where she assumed the position of social media coordinator for Earth Week at Rachel Carson College, providing outreach for environmental issues. Later, she served as co-chair of Common Ground Center—the premier social justice and sustainability education center at Kresge College. Emily is excited to bring her energy and experience to Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County. When she’s not working, Emily fills her free time with nature and friends.
Tessie Taylor – Business Support Manager
Tessie was born and raised here in East Jefferson County. Her family history dates all the way back to Quilcene in the early 1800’s. She first joined Habitat EJC as the Program Assistant in 2015, then became the Volunteer Coordinator in 2016. She left that position in 2019 to care for her newborn daughter full-time during her precious first year of life. In November 2022, she rejoined the Habitat team as the Office Administrator. She is thrilled to be involved once again in the efforts of providing permanently affordable housing for the community she grew up in and loves so much. Tessie has two daughters, two large boy cats and one tiny pup. She and her family enjoy their time together exploring the extraordinary Pacific Northwest.
Operations: Store
Jerimah Salmon – Store Manager
Jerimah was born in Montana and grew up in California. He served in the Navy for a while and has seven years of management experience, mostly in the restaurant industry. He’s a family man with six kids – most of whom are grown and on their own – and one child on the way. Jerimah enjoys sports, outdoor activities, and spending time with his family.
Donita Durgan – Store Team Member
Donita lives in Port Townsend and she enjoys bicycle riding and beach combing. She is currently working toward a Human Services degree, and has two grown daughters and a granddaughter, Jayden, who is the light of her life. Donita is proud to join the Habitat family, and loves working in the store. .
Cheryl Petrick – Store Team Member
Cheryl retired after 35 years in telecommunications. She has lived in the PNW for 40 years, 15 of those in Brinnon. Her volunteer work for community organizations includes tutoring at Quilcene School. In her work at Habitat she has met amazing staff & volunteers who go out of their way to help others. Cheryl is married with 2 children; her 4 grandchildren are “the light of her life”.
Pam Barnet – Store Team Member
Pam, a Brinnon resident, served at the Quilcene Habitat Store until its closure and is now thrilled to be part of the Port Townsend Habitat Store Team. A retired elementary teacher, she brings a willingness to be of service and a compassion for others. She has three grown children, six grandbabies and a husband of more than 1/2 century, Bill. She loves cooking, growing tomatoes, reading books and enjoying friends and family. Living on the Olympic Peninsula brings her joy with its proximity to water sports, seafood and natural beauty.
Dan Caulfield – Store Team Member
Dan joins Habitat’s store team with excellent customer service skills and a passion for being part of the Truck Crew. His background in carpentry and maintenance come in especially handy. Dan is also passionate about organic farming – ask him about crops, chickens and farmers markets! His long history of service, including a stint in the Peace Corps, makes him a great fit for Habitat.
Finance
Heidi Gali – Bookkeeper
Heidi comes to Habitat with more than 15 years of experience in accounting, including bookkeeping, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and revenue, and tax reports and preparation. With a B.S. in Accounting from Central Washington University, she has helped clients, including non-profits, navigate complex tax issues and stay abreast of changing tax laws. Heidi was born and raised in Port Townsend and is now happily raising her two children here as well. She understands the challenges families face in finding affordable housing and remaining in the area and is excited to help tackle those challenges with Habitat. When taking a break from bookkeeping, Heidi enjoys knitting, training her new puppy Violet, and spending time with her family.
Engagement
Beth Kissinger – Database Specialist
Beth joined the Habitat EJC staff in the role of database specialist after volunteering for almost a year at the Habitat office in Port Townsend, WA. Before moving to Port Townsend in 2019, Beth and her husband lived in Northern California and she worked as the Director of Enterprise Applications for the California State University, Chico. She has over 30 years of experience in IT and application programming and holds a degree from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire in Business Administration. Living in the Pacific Northwest is the fulfillment of a long-held dream. Beth loves the weather, the ocean and Port Townsend. In her free time, she is an avid reader, knitter, volunteers at KPTZ, is active at Trinity United Methodist Church and has three very busy border collies and two mischievous cats.
Construction, Land and Strategy
Julie Miles – Program Manager
Building upon her career working with homeowners and communities as a landscape architect, Julie is thrilled to be part of Habitat’s efforts to strengthen community through affordable housing. With an undergraduate degree in French and Environmental Studies and a Masters of Landscape Architecture, Julie strives to combine dedication, friendliness, and service in her endeavors. Julie loves to hike, kayak, and Nordic ski, and especially enjoys exploring both wild and built places.
Ashley Schenkel – Construction Site Supervisor
Ashley came to Port Townsend as a Care-a-Vanner in spring of 2022. After one build, Ashley fell in love with the community, and has since completed six two-week builds with our affiliate.Ashley brings to EJC Naval supply experience, a degree in management, and a desire to learn construction skills from our incredible team.
Dave Weld – Construction Site Supervisor
Dave’s experience in the construction industry covers almost four decades, from his start as a laborer right out of high school. Over the following 25 years he acquired other skills valuable in the industry, such as carpentry, cabinetmaking, and drafting/print reading. Wanting another challenge, Dave went back to school and earned a Career and Technical Education (CTE) teaching degree and credential. After graduation, he taught high school students about woodworking, carpentry, cabinetmaking, and computer aided drafting (CAD), as well as hosting an after school mentoring program and construction workshops where professionals would work with students interested in industry careers. Upon retirement in the fall of 2020, Dave and his wife relocated back to the PNW, where he joined Habitat EJC. At Habitat, he is grateful to spend his days in both the teaching world and the construction world. Dave has been married to his wife Tracey for 36 years, and they love to spend time outdoors — exploring, hiking, kayaking, and snowshoeing.
Raul (Tony) Torres – Senior Site Lead
Tony grew up in California and has been living in Port Townsend since 2011 with his beautiful wife and now 4 boys. In his past, he’s worked as a mechanic, in sales, and attended Peninsula College to learn welding. As a volunteer, he worked on the very first house Habitat built on Cliff Street. “I love working with my hands and being able to spread the love of God in our community through the amazing work we do at Habitat.”
Spencer Schwartz, Senior Site Lead
Born in Port Townsend and a Port Townsend High School graduate, Spencer is stoked to work in – and for – the community he grew up in.
