Thurston Housing Land Trust
Board of Trustees
As we move further into property acquisition and property management, and evaluate future development projects, we are looking for board members with the capacity to support increasingly complex legal, financial, operational and community/partnership-building activities. To provide strong and equitable opportunities to everyone in our community we also seek board members who are able to bring their lived and or working experience in BIPOC communities to our work.
A strong board is the key to preserving the long-term affordability of our existing properties, and building our expertise so we can develop and construct new housing to meet the challenges of our region’s inadequate supply of affordable homeownership opportunities.
If you enjoy working on interesting projects with great people, reach out to a board member or contact us for more information -- we'd love to talk to you.
Current Board of Trustees
Secretary
Susan Davenport
One of THLT’s founders, Susan returns to the board after a year away, having previously served two terms and contributed as an officer and especially on our homeownership-focused committes.
Treasurer
Robin Downey
Robin is currently a licensed realtor, with a focus on first-time and low-income homebuyers, following work in a family business with husband building, investing in and remodeling home. Her previous occupations have included shellfish farmer and director of the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association; jazz vocalist and songwriter, restaurant owner; free-lance writer; work in youth and family programs. Housing issues are near and dear to Robin’s heart and she became a member of THLT in 2021, soon after moving back to Olympia after an absence, in hopes that she could contribute to finding solutions to the complex issues around housing.
Trustee
Kiry Nelsen
Kiry Nelsen joined the THLT Board in 2024. She is a commercial real estate attorney at Perkins Coie in Seattle, where her practice focuses on affordable housing development and finance. Kiry was drawn to THLT’s permanently affordable homeownership model, which makes owning a home accessible to more families and individuals. She is excited to serve on the Board and support efforts to expand sustainable homeownership opportunities in Thurston County.
Trustee
Mike Miranda
Mike was elected to the board in December 2024. More information coming soon!
President
Rebeca Potasnik
Rebeca believes the land trust model is one of the many antidotes needed to make the changes these times require if we are to ensure everyone is housed. She has previous experience working with the Community Farm Land Trust as a long-time volunteer, and had the opportunity to serve on their board as a lessee representative when she was the Operations Director at Garden-Raised Bounty (GRuB).
Rebeca has a Master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon and a broad range of nonprofit leadership experience.
Trustee
Jordan Kizer
Jordan was elected to the board as our first Lessee Trustee in December 2024. More information coming soon!
Trustee
Max Lambert
Max Lambert was elected to the board in December 2025. More information coming soon.
Executive Director
Thea LaCross
Thea has a longstanding interest in housing as a critical part of community-building and resilience, and is a passionate believer in the Community Land Trust model of permanently affordable homeownership. For the past ten years she has provided finance and operations services to community nonprofit organizations, including two years as contract operations manager here at THLT. Previously she honed her management skills in the world of book publishing and software.
Trustee Opening
Community Members
We have an open position on the current board, and would love to talk to interested community members with nonprofit or housing experience and a passion to help make homes happen for low and modest income neighbors.