Board & Staff

Board of Trustees

As we move further into property acquisition and property management, and start evaluating 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 guide 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.

Board Details

Like most CLTs, our bylaws require a democratically selected “tripartite” board. In 2021 we increased board size from 9 to 12. All trustees are elected by members. The three categories are:

Lessee Trustees: at least one-third of trustees must be lessees (homeowners) of the trust, once there are enough lessees for this to be feasible. Until then, there must be other individuals representative of low-income population and needs.
Public Trustees: one third are Public Trustees, nominated by the board to bridge to important community capacities and perspectives
General Trustees: the final third of trustees must be other members of THLT.

While we have slowly increased our paid staff time (to a full-time Executive Director position in mid-2024) our hard-working board still strongly supports both the planning and execution of our programs and projects. It is an ideal place for those who are passionate about affordable homeownership to deploy skills and experience to help move the housing needle and make a difference in our community.

Current Board of Trustees

President

Jerry Bustamante

Jerry has been part of THLT since our start-up, including service on the Outreach Committee, Funding and Acquisitions Committee, as one of the trustees most involved in developing our ground lease, and as THLT’s advocacy lead. In the latter role he has built on prior experience doing legislative administrative work and as a lobbyist to serve as one of THLT’s primary representatives in northwestern regional CLT advocacy, and on Thurston County’s most important coordinating body for affordable housing and homelessness response, the Housing Action Team. Jerry is Dine (Navajo) and graduated from The Evergreen State College in 2014.

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Secretary

Dan Rubin

One of THLT’s founders, Dan was attracted to this effort by a desire to make a long-term contribution to affordable housing outside the speculative spiral. Dan has been a half-time volunteer for THLT for the past four years, from its pre-incorporation organization committee through the present, with major roles in establishing our organization, helping develop our ground lease, exploring potential property donations, finding financial donors, representing THLT publicly and writing grants.

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Trustee

Ann Vandeman

Ann believes housing is a human right and a social obligation of a civil society, and the land trust model of permanent affordability is part of the solution. Ann has a PhD in agricultural economics, and currently works as a CPA tax accountant. Her previous positions include research economist, bookkeeper, organic farmer and nonprofit executive director. She’s a joiner, having served on numerous professional and nonprofit organization boards, most recently with the Community Farm Land Trust. She has an adult child with intellectual disabilities and is a leader in the community of like parents.

Trustee

Susan Davenport Moore

More than anyone else, Susan is the founder and instigator of THLT, and served as our Vice President 2018 - 2021. She applies years of knowledge and connections related to affordable housing and the situation of low-income families in Thurston County. Susan was a founding member, in 1975, of Black Walnut Association, a community land trust in Olympia, with ongoing work since then toward creating affordable housing in numerous community advocacy efforts. Susan works as a Homebuilder therapist and advocate with the Institute for Family Development, providing a full range of services including assisting clients finding stable, affordable housing.

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Trustee

Paul Knox

Paul is former Executive Director of United Way of Thurston County, following a long career of leadership and innovation in policy, operations, advocacy, and community organizing with state government and non-profit organizations (including founding executive of the Washington Asset Building Coalition). Paul is a social entrepreneur and professional consultant with a passion and life-long commitment for creating better communities and connections between people. He loves building projects, growing and making food and bringing people together. He has been the acquisitions lead in our first homeownership project.

Vice President

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.

Treasurer

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.

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.

Thurston Housing Land Trust

Board of Trustees

Board Details

Current Board of Trustees

Supported by an Economic Development grant from the
Catholic Campaign for Human Development

Community Sustaining Fund

for their support!

Thurston Housing Land Trust
PO BOX 7277
Olympia, WA 98507

info@thurstonhousinglandtrust.org
+1 (360) 346-1920

Board of Trustees

Board Details

Current Board of Trustees

Supported by an Economic Development grant from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development

Community Sustaining Fund

for their support!

Supported by an Economic Development grant from the
Catholic Campaign for Human Development