Roger Mellem
We're pleased to present you with the outcome of the 2023 Board & Branch elections, and we're grateful to everyone who participated by voting and accepting a nomination. Your participation shows a deep commitment to the organization, and this year, we saw over 1,100 votes.
Certified by the Board Secretary, Carry Porter, and the Governance Committee, the following Board of Directors At-Large candidates were elected for a 3-year term:
- Dave Foong
- Maya Magarati (re-elected)
- Mark Walters
- Vanessa Wheeler
- Robert White
These five directors were nominated by The Mountaineers Governance Committee and endorsed unanimously by our Board of Directors after submitting a detailed self-nomination form. This rigorous, open nominations process, new in 2021, is designed to deepen the diversity of perspectives and lived experiences represented on our Board. We are confident these new directors will help inform better policies and to strengthen relationships between Board members, Mountaineers members, and the wider outdoor community.
We are also excited to welcome new branch leadership for the Foothills and Olympia Branches.
Foothills
The newly elected Foothills Council Member is Travis Vermeer for Branch Chair-Elect.
Olympia
The newly elected Olympia Branch Council Members are Mike Riley for Branch Director, Bob Keranen for Branch Chair-Elect, and Jeremy Hogan for Branch Treasurer.
Thank you
As a 501(c)(3) volunteer-led organization, The Mountaineers depend on the generosity, initiative, and leadership of our volunteers to steward the future of our organization. We are humbled by the service provided by Board and branch directors whose positions are confirmed by members each year. Thank you for all you do as members to elevate our mission, and for your participation in the forthcoming election process for these organization-wide leaders!
meet our new board members
The new directors possess the professional skills and personal commitment needed to further our mission: To enrich the community by helping people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
dave foong
MEMBER SINCE 2019
Dave Foong's involvement with The Mountaineers began in 2019, and since then, he has ingrained himself deeply within our community. Dave's journey started with a Basic Snowshoe course shortly after his relocation from Houston. That snowballed into Intermediate Snowshoe, Backpacking, XC Skiing, Alpine Scrambling, Basic Climbing, Leading on Rock, and many others. Dave cares about giving back to the community and has served as an instructor for Scrambling and Basic Climbing courses, recently becoming a Scramble Leader. Dave's passion for outdoor education and community development shines through his commitment to the organization as a student, volunteer, and committee member.
An unwavering advocate for equity and inclusion, Dave joined The Mountaineers E&I Committee in 2022. Additionally, he serves as E&I Coordinator for the Everett Climbing Committee to actively support a culture of belonging in that space. This vision of making the outdoors a more inclusive and welcoming place resonates with Dave particularly due to his own journey as an immigrant from Singapore.
Dave boasts 15 years of finance and accounting expertise, including financial planning and analysis for a diverse range of organizations including nonprofits, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies.
Dave's desire to contribute and elevate The Mountaineers legacy is undeniable. He brings to the table an impeccable grasp of financial intricacies and a passion for connecting others to the transformative powers of nature, making him a standout candidate for the at-large director position.
Personal Statement: “The Mountaineers expanded my horizons and made new types of outdoor adventures available to me through education and experience. While these activities previously felt exclusive and for people who were somehow “in the know,” I’ve instead found a very welcoming and inclusive community within The Mountaineers. My desire is to help us continue to extend that spirit through our current strategic vision of Adventuring with Purpose by leading, engaging, and advocating. I’m passionate about this organization and want to see it continue to thrive and inspire future generations of all backgrounds to care for and enjoy the outdoors.”
maya magarati (FOR REELECTION)
MEMBER SINCE 2004
Maya Magarati has lived in Washington for the last 23 years since moving from Nepal's Annapurna region to attend graduate school at the University of Washington as a Fulbright scholarship recipient.
Maya has been honored to serve the larger Mountaineers community as an at-large director alongside other dedicated Board members for the last three years, navigating the organization through the pandemic. She brings deep community engagement, social science expertise, and a diverse perspective from lived experiences in both her professional work at UW and her personal passion as a co-founder of the Nepal Seattle Hiking Community. Maya also serves on The Mountaineers Conservation & Advocacy Committee.
Professionally, Maya is an Assistant Professor and Associate Director at Seven Directions: A Center for Indigenous Public Health in the School of Medicine at UW. Her scholarship intersects sociology and public health in addressing social inequities by examining social and environmental determinants of health, with an intention of fostering knowledge democracy. She obtained a PhD in Sociology from UW, a Bachelor's in Health Sciences from the University of Newcastle in Australia, and a K-12 education from St. Mary's High School and Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, Nepal. Maya was born in the Magar village Dewaldhara (coordinates 28.15329,83.55511) in Rangkhani in the Baglung district, in the Gandaki province.
In addition to hiking and backpacking in state and national parks, forests, coasts, and islands both in the US and Canada, Maya enjoys helping her partner take care of the plants and vegetables that they grow organically in their backyard, which provide food not only to people but also to the bees, butterflies, and birds. Maya is blessed with an amazing daughter who inspires her daily.
mark walters
MEMBER SINCE 2010
Mark Walters is a seasoned trial and appellate lawyer, renowned for his prowess in representing businesses and individuals in courtrooms across the nation. With a track record of excellence in his legal career and deep involvement in our community, Mark brings a combination of leadership and passion to The Mountaineers.
Mark's dedication continues well beyond the courtroom. He has been an active member of The Mountaineers community since joining in 2010, bringing stories to life with The Mountaineers Players at Kitsap Forest Theater for over a decade and serving on the Advisory Council for several years. His commitment to learning and adventure led him to successfully complete the Basic Climbing course in 2012. Since then, he has achieved notable summits, including Rainier, Glacier Peak, Grand Teton, Mount Baker, and Mount Adams. Mark's adventurous spirit extends to his role as a parent, as he enthusiastically shares his love for climbing with his son.
Beyond his outdoor pursuits, Mark's dedication to nonprofit service shines. His past presidency at Washington Wild underscores his passion for conservation and environmental advocacy. Moreover, his experience as a past Board member of Outward Bound highlights his understanding of nonprofit dynamics.
Mark's commitment to volunteerism, conservation, and outdoor education aligns deeply with The Mountaineers values. With a blend of legal expertise, nonprofit leadership, and a profound appreciation for the outdoors, Mark Walters is poised to bring valuable insight to The Mountaineers Board of Directors.
Personal Statement: "I've grown up here in Washington and have spent a good portion of my 49 years exploring the mountains and Salish Sea. My involvement with The Mountaineers began when I picked up an old copy of Freedom that my Dad had on his shelf. I became a member in 2010 and took the Basic Climbing course a year later. I have reached the summit of all Washington volcanoes, save Mt. St. Helens, and I'm inspired by the spirit of volunteerism present at The Mountaineers. Where else do people give as much of their time and talent to a community organization that is not a church or something affiliated with one's job or career? I cannot think of anything that compares to The Mountaineers in this department. I'd be honored to serve on the Board."
Vanessa Wheeler
MEMBER SINCE 2022
Vanessa Wheeler grew up in the greater Seattle area, where she developed a love for camping and hiking (both traditional and urban). She and her sister got into urban hiking when she was twelve and her sister was seventeen. What started as a means to get to places for two kids in a family struggling financially very quickly became a passion. Soon they were scouting hiking and biking paths between cities, learning bus routes and connections, and getting up early in the mornings all summer to hike 15-30 miles and bus back to a place where a parent could pick them up on the way home from work. When her sister left the state for law school, she got Vanessa a student membership with The Mountaineers for Christmas so that Vanessa would have a community of people to continue hiking with while she was gone.
Vanessa later attended law school out of state herself. She returned to Seattle to work at Miller Nash, where she was reintroduced to The Mountaineers when she had the opportunity to represent the club in trademark matters for years. Over time, Vanessa delved deep into the history of The Mountaineers, and has helped defend the organization against attempts to remove its trademark rights. Vanessa has remained invested in The Mountaineers, serving on the Board as an appointed at-large director and on both the Mountaineers Litigation Committee and Governing Committee.
Vanessa is the General Counsel of Windermere Real Estate Services Company and serves as the Secretary for the Windermere Foundation, another local nonprofit. She obtained her law degree from Columbia Law School. She has experience in hiking, intellectual property, real estate, litigation, mediation, and Board service.
In January 2023, Vanessa was appointed by the Board of Directors to an open at-large position. Per The Mountaineers bylaws, she is now standing for election by membership.
Robert White
MEMBER SINCE 2016
While Robert White has been a member since 2016, his true journey with The Mountaineers began in 2019 when he joined the Equity & Inclusion Working Group. Since then, he has become deeply embedded in our organization's fabric, serving on the E&I Committee, Advisory Council, and playing a pivotal role in shaping the 2023-2028 Mountaineers Strategic Plan through his involvement in the Strategy Steering Committee.
Robert wears many hats with The Mountaineers, including serving as the treasurer for the Everett Branch and contributing his expertise to the Everett Alpine Scrambling, Climbing, and Lookout & Trail Maintenance Committees. As an instructor in Basic Backpacking, Basic Snowshoeing, Basic Climbing, and Wilderness Navigation, he is committed to sharing his knowledge and experiences with others.
Robert is no stranger to nonprofit leadership, having more than a decade of Board service, with a strong focus on education, environmental justice, and community engagement. Notably, he has chaired a Racial Equity Committee and contributed to Finance Committees. Robert is also a certified Intercultural Development Inventory Administrator, equipped with the skills and training to drive meaningful change in our community.
Robert’s candidacy for at-large director is rooted in his commitment to supporting The Mountaineers' 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, with a passionate focus on the Engage and Advocate strategic priorities. His intersectional identity as a person of color, veteran, and disabled provides a unique perspective for The Mountaineers.
