Debra Gussin
President
Debra has worked as a clinical social worker and a health care executive. She now spends most of her time growing food and volunteering in her community, and is honored to work with the Vashon Food Bank. She lives on Vashon with her husband and two goofy dogs.
Robin Pollard
Vice President
Robin is from a lineage of seven generations of farmers, grew up on a farm in Iowa where her family raised livestock and grain crops and currently lives on acreage in rural Vashon Island with a garden, pigs, chickens and ducks, fruit trees and a pantry full of canned goods. She has a Master’s of Science in Agriculture and worked for the Missouri Department of Agriculture. She moved to Washington in the mid-1980s and has since raised a family, and had the privilege of serving as State Tourism Director, Assistant Director for Economic Development and Director of the Washington Wine Commission. In 2012, she decided to strike out on her own to start Pollard Per Se as a coffee roaster, vineyard owner, winemaker and orchardist. Robin was both honored and excited to be invited to serve on the board of the Vashon Food Bank and finds it a most rewarding experience knowing that she is able to help ensure no one goes hungry in our community.
Charolette Tiencken
Treasurer
Charlotte Tiencken is an arts administrator, director, producer and educator who has been working in the producing and presenting fields for 30 years. Tiencken has worked for many arts organizations throughout the US, including Managing Director at Freehold Theatre Lab and Book-It Repertory Theatre in Seattle, WA, General Manager at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Massachusetts, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Spirit Square Center for the Arts in Charlotte, NC, and The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, among others. She has taught at the College of Charleston in S.C., Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, The University of Washington and Seattle Pacific University and received her MFA from The University of Texas at Austin. She currently lives on Vashon with her husband, Bill, 2 dogs and 2 cats. Charlotte has been a member of the Vashon Food Bank Board for 2 years. She has also volunteered as a home delivery driver and knows that a person needs to be fed, clothed and housed before they can enjoy art or be otherwise civically engaged.
Heather Russell
Secretary
Bio Forthcoming
Vicki Boyd
Director
Vicki Boyd is a Clinical Psychologist in Seattle and has lived on Vashon Island for several decades. In addition to serving on the board of the Vashon Food Bank, she also serves on the Washington Appellate Project that provides legal representation to indigent persons on appeal.
Mason Gerety
Director
Mason graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and from the University of Washington with a Ph.D. in Economics. He taught at Clemson University, the University of Maryland, Northern Arizona University and Seattle University. He was a Senior Research Economist for the US Securities and Exchange Commission. He has published in the areas of Corporate Finance, Investments, Market Microstructure, Housing, and Environmental Economics. He served as Dean of the W. A. Franke College of Business and as Vice President of University Advancement at Northern Arizona University. He has served on several non-profit boards and is married with two children and three grandchildren. In addition to serving on the board of the Vashon Food Bank for several years, Mason is one of the organization’s most dedicated home delivery grocery bag packers.
Lennon Bronsema
Director
Lennon has been a resident on Vashon since 2016 and on the board since 2020. He is inspired by the intersection of food and social justice and is honored to serve on the board of the Vashon Food Bank to help make sure the needs of islanders are met. He is the Vice President of Campaigns at Washington Conservation Voters and previously served on the board of the Rainier Valley Food Bank. Lennon loves how easy it is to make Kale chips at home.
Andre Neeley
Director
Dre Neeley crafts dishes based on diverse influences, from his Southern roots, cuisines encountered traveling as a military brat and in various kitchen roles in and around Seattle. He believes in using seasonal, local ingredients to create meals that are succinct & sophisticated. Dre is passionate about giving back in the community, and is a Board Member for the local Vashon Food Bank.