RTS Board of Directors
- Val Gorder, President INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT RTS!
Community Volunteer
"I am inspired by the impact a group of volunteers can have on a homeowner’s life, changing their way of life in just one day.” - Kristen Cramer, Vice President
Lake & Co. Real Estate
“When I first learned about RTS and its mission statement, I was immediately excited to get involved. As a career real estate professional, I understand the financial and emotional advantages of home-ownership. I also understand the challenges of maintaining a house. With my knowledge of housing and my desire to give back to the community, working with RTS is a harmonious and natural fit.” - Marie I. Cain, Treasurer
Community Volunteer
“I support RTS because the program helps the elderly and disabled to stay in their homes, thereby making stronger neighborhoods and a more vital city. The program ultimately saves tax payers’ money in that by remaining independent, this segment of the population is not compelled to move into taxpayer subsidized housing.” - Gayle Roberts, Secretary
Community Volunteer
"RTS helps me fulfill my two greatest passions: helping people and construction. It is so gratifying to know that we make a real difference in the quality of life for people who love their home, but are not able to keep it in the best and safest condition." - Robin Finley
HomeSight
“RTS provides home repairs for people who may not otherwise qualify through normal channels. It’s all about health, safety and keeping people in their homes.” - Anne Quigg
Owner, Lake Union Travel
“RTS allows me to make and see a difference within hours on the blitz day. My friends and I work hard, play hard and make new friends in the process. [Rebuilding days] allow networking with multiple groups reaching a common goal of helping those who cannot help themselves.” - Charlie Foushée, Development Committee Chair
Tarragon
“I support RTS because it is an unbelievable organization that brings low-income homeowners in our community hope, safety, and warmth into their homes. RTS demonstrates the true meaning of community.” - Gary Ballas
Honeywell
"Rebuilding Together Seattle provides the opportunity to apply leadership skills learned in the corporate environment and make a direct and immediate improvement to the lives of our community members in great need. In addition, there is tremendous sense of goodwill felt by our volunteers, and the experience typically sets them on a course of lifelong service to others." - Brooke Sullivan
Deloitte & Touche
“RTS provides an essential service to homeowners by ensuring they have a safe place to live. My first experience with RTS was a 95 year old woman who did not have the proper plumbing for her washing machine – our group dug a ditch and fixed the plumbing so that she did not have to carry out a 10 gallon bucket to empty every time she ran a load of laundry. As small as that project was for our group to complete, her life was changed by it.” - Tim Lane
Engineer, King County Road Services Division
“I love the immediate results you see after one day of work with a group of volunteers! It’s hands-on, instant gratification charity work… a win-win for both the volunteers and the homeowner.” - Arnie Mondloch
Microsoft
“I believe that having a comfortable and safe home is fundamental to human dignity. RTS helps people in need stay in the homes they love in warmth and safety. The work RTS does can last a lifetime and gives homeowners in need peace of mind to concentrate on other important issues. It is tremendously rewarding to help people in simple but significant ways.” - John E. Lee, Honorary Board Member
Director of the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA)
About the RTS Veterans Program: “I am a firm believer that while no one organization can do it all, our combined efforts have the ability to change the lives of veterans and their families. There is no question that by fulfilling the basic need of a warm and dry home, you are able to help veterans have a sense of security they may not have had for years.” - Margie Thirlby, Executive Director
In July 2008, RTS welcomed new Executive Director, Margie Thirlby. At RTS, Margie has helped implement the new RTS website, RTS Blog, RTS News, the RTS Young Professionals Society, the RTS Internship Program, and the Annual Repair Program. Margie is thrilled to continue her position at RTS and assist homeowners in need in the Seattle community.
Prior to RTS, Margie worked in Development at the Fulcrum Foundation in Seattle, assisting with a 40 million dollar capital campaign and coordinating Fulcrum’s fundraising events, including the million dollar “Celebration of Light.” Margie’s other experience includes public relations, journalism, sports marketing, and consulting.
Margie graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota with a B.A. in English and Media Studies. At St. Olaf, Margie played Intercollegiate Volleyball, studied abroad in Ecuador and at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, and was the Sports Editor for her college newspaper. A Seattle native, Margie loves the outdoors, Seattle sports, working out, writing, and spending time with her family and friends. Margie is a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound and Sister Schools.
What Margie has to say about RTS: “Our volunteers help our clients with work they cannot complete on their own. At the end the rebuilding day, volunteers leave the house knowing they’ve improved the quality of life of another human being. RTS demonstrates that the simplest acts of kindness can go a long way.” - Sarah Ihrie, Program & Development Assistant
In February 2010, RTS welcomed new Program & Development Intern, Sarah Ihrie. Prior to RTS, Sarah spent her time studying for the bar exam and volunteering her time as a grant writer for Village Volunteers. While in law school, Sarah was a volunteer for the Housing Justice Project, a homelessness prevention program that provides accessible volunteer-based legal services to low-income tenants facing eviction in King County. Sarah also spent time working in a Wills and Trusts legal clinic for low-income families and a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the environment.
Sarah graduated with a B.A. in English and Media Studies from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. At St. Olaf, Sarah played intercollegiate varsity soccer. After college Sarah attended Seattle University School of Law, graduating Cum Laude in May 2009. During her second year at Seattle University, she served as President of the Association of Business Law Students.
Sarah keeps active through her daily Crossfit workouts and enjoys playing and watching soccer and hockey (playing hockey was a necessary part of growing up in Minnesota). She is also an avid blogger, scrap-booker, creative writer, and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
What Sarah has to say about RTS: “I love to see the restoration of a homeowner’s dignity. Just one day of RTS volunteer work can make a lifetime of a difference to a homeowner in need.” - Emma Pihl, RTS Intern
- Erica Strathern, RTS Intern
- Charlie Foushée, Chair
Tarragon - Mary Herche
Community Volunteer
Rebuilding Together National Board of Directors - Matt Sullivan
Amazon - Caitlin McHugh
University of Washington
RTS Young Professionals Society - Marie I. Cain, Co-Chair
Community Volunteer - Brooke Sullivan, Co-Chair
Deloitte & Touche - Arnie Mondloch
Microsoft - Val Gorder
Community Volunteer - Zach Oliver, Website Manager
Boeing, UnaDomanda
RTS Young Professionals Society - Christian Nossum, Marketing Coordinator
Wilson Realty Exchange, Inc
President, RTS Young Professionals Society - Colleen Skinner, Marketing Coordinator
Tullys, Inc.
RTS Young Professionals Society - Claire Karlberg, Blog Editor
Avtech Corporation
RTS Young Professionals Society - Christian Nossum
President - Ray Loyola
Vice President - Claire Karlberg
Vice President
RTS STAFF
RTS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
RTS FINANCE COMMITTEE
RTS COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
RTS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS SOCIETY