Joan Hemphill
Board President
Joan grew up on Bainbridge Island, and is a fourth generation islander. She graduated from Bainbridge High School and interned at the Bainbridge Review and ABC News during college. Joan graduated from the University of Washington School of Law and worked in criminal defense, representing members of the Tulalip Indian Tribe and defendants appealing their convictions in state court. Joan recently moved back to Bainbridge, where she lives with her husband and beloved spaniel.
Annie Hodges
Vice President
Annie moved to Bainbridge Island from the Midwest 7 years ago and is continuously inspired by the community's compassion and generosity. Annie has spent much of her
professional career in education and has almost two decades of experience with philanthropic fundraising and development. She focuses her philanthropic energies on education, food insecurities, and women's health causes. Annie is excited to join Helpline House's board and further serve her community. In her spare time, Annie enjoys hiking, gardening, running, and spending time with her husband, Ben, and daughter, Olivia.
Mark Siler
Treasurer
Mark joined the Helpline House board in February 2018. Until he retired in December 2016, he was the Chief Financial Officer of DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center), a not-for-profit agency that provides emergency shelter, mental health, and substance abuse case management services to homeless women and men. DESC also owns and manages 1000+ units of permanent housing for formerly homeless adult women and men. Mark moved to Bainbridge in 1988, with Jackie raised 4 kids who graduated from Bainbridge High School. Mark also volunteered with the National Park Service and the Poulsbo SEA Discovery Center.
Linda Stranahan
Board Secretary
Linda has lived on Bainbridge Island since 1996. She began a Psychotherapy practice on the Island
17 years ago, after interning at Jumping Mouse Children’s Center in Port Townsend and
working for The Suquamish Tribe. She strongly connects to nonprofits and has been participating since her 20s. Her area of interest lies in accessible mental health, family support, and the sustainability of shared resources. When she first arrived in Bainbridge, she joined the Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Board, then the Bainbridge Psychotherapy Board, and Alliance for Healthy Youth, she is delighted to join Helpline House. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and 15-year-old son out on the water: Boating, kayaking, fishing, or just splashing around.
Richard Gawlowski
Board Member
Richard was born on an air force base in Texas and spent his early years in Pittsburgh, his parents' home town. Rich graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Juris Doctor degree from ASU College of Law. He and his wife moved to Bainbridge Island in the late 1970s and started a family here. He coached little league for 7 years and served on the Bainbridge Island Little League Board of Directors. Since 1990, he has practiced litigation law with Wilson, Smith, Cochran, and Dickerson.
Wandee Pryor
Board Member
Wandee grew up on Bainbridge Island, left when she graduated high school, and returned with her husband and her two daughters in 2015. She has been a practicing clinical psychologist for over a decade working with children, adolescents, and adults in community health clinics, hospitals and currently in private practice. She loves reading, running and being in the water and during the pandemic served as a child psychology consultant for artist Wendy MacNaughton’s online kid’s show Draw Together.
Wandee feels particularly grateful to have the opportunity to support Helpline House. She has sweet memories of personally benefiting from Helpline’s services when she and her mother moved to the island in the early 80s.
Tom Croker
Board Member
Tom is a fifth-generation islander. He holds a BS and MS in fisheries science from UW. He and his wife raised two boys and have five grandkids. In 1978, he cofounded and co-managed NET Systems on Day Road, which designed and manufactured trawl gear for the North Pacific fishing fleet. He later started another company in 1995, which marketed and manufactured a linear mooring system and offshore sea cages for fin fish farming. His previous board experience includes the Bainbridge Island Land Trust and the Bainbridge Community Foundation, serving in officer positions on board boards. He is currently involved in a project to create affordable homes on the Island and enjoys spending time on his sailboat and other travels.
Julie Matthews
Board Member
Julie has lived in Kitsap County since 1987 and on Bainbridge since 1998. Prior to retiring in December 2018, Julie worked for more than 30 years as an attorney for the US Environmental Protection Agency helping to implement and enforce the federal environmental laws. After retiring, Julie began regular volunteering at Helpline House in the foodbank and in other roles as needed. She is excited to join the Board, inspired by the staff’s dedication and compassion, and by the community’s generosity. Julie currently serves on the Bainbridge Island Climate Change Advisory Committee appointed by the City Council in 2019. She is a former Board member and current volunteer for the Bainbridge Island Land Trust and for Keta Legacy Foundation, a Kitsap County based conservation-related nonprofit organization. Julie enjoys spending time with her husband and their two adult children, long distance hiking, walking, skiing, travel, gardening, and other outdoor activities.
Mev Hoberg
Board Member
Mev was born and raised in San Antonio, TX, where her family has lived for generations. After graduating from Stanford, she and her husband, Paul, lived in the Bay Area for 12 years before moving to Bainbridge in 1999. Their two children are proud products of the Bainbridge Island school system, where Mev served as a member of the board of directors for almost 8 years. Mev loves a good craft project or home repair project and walking with her dog. She is excited to serve on the Helpline House board as she considers the services they offer to be vital to ensuring the diverse and caring community that makes Bainbridge so special.
Bill Chester
Board Member
Bill Chester, owner of William J. Chester Architecture LLC, has nearly 50 years of experience in all phases of the field of Architecture. His skills as a design professional have allowed him to successfully complete a large variety of both commercial and residential architectural projects on time and budget. Above all, he prides himself in having many satisfied clients. He served as Rotary Club President from 1987-1988, was a member of Team Winslow Parking Committee 1997-1998, helped design the Helpline House Barn, and was a Bainbridge Island Planning Commissioner from 2015-2022 and chair of Bainbridge Island Planning Commission 2018-2021.