RTS Board of Directors

  • Arnie Mondloch, President                                         INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY AT RTS!

  • Charlie Foushee, Vice President

  • Brooke Sullivan, Treasurer

  • Kristen Cramer, Secretary
    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.”

  • Val Gorder                                
    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.”

  • Gayle Roberts
    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."

  • 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.”

  • Russ Schultz
    Honeywell

    “Rebuilding Together Seattle does an outstanding job of fulfilling its mission by being great stewards of the generous gifts of materials and labor donated by many people and companies. The passion of helping people, as demonstrated by the board and volunteers, is contagious and really energizes me! I am truly amazed at what can be accomplished by a group of individuals sincerely committed to a common goal.”

  • Jim Broadlick
    Vulcan Inc

  • 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.”


  • Dan Gemme
    Turner Construction


    • RTS STAFF

  • 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 Year-Round 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, 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 & Marketing Manager

    Sarah Ihrie joined RTS in February 2010 as a Program and Development Intern. She quickly advanced to the position of Program & Marketing Manager and then to Director of Programs. Prior to RTS, Sarah spent her time finishing law school and studying for the bar exam. 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 at a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the environment. Currently, Sarah volunteers her time as an attorney with the King County Bar Association's Kinship Care Solutions Project.

    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.

    Sarah keeps active through yoga, an occassional Crossfit workout 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, creative writer, and enjoys spending time with her husband and their yellow labrador.

  • Claire Oatey, RTS Intern

  • Paige Schultz, RTS Intern


    • RTS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

  • Charlie Foushée, Chair
    Tarragon
  • Mary Herche
    Community Volunteer
    Rebuilding Together National Board of Directors
  • Pam Madden
    Community Volunteer
  • Kyle Weeks
    Vulcan Inc.
  • Jim Broadlick
    Vulcan Inc.


    • RTS FINANCE COMMITTEE

  • Marie I. Cain, Co-Chair
    Community Volunteer
  • Brooke Sullivan, Co-Chair
    Deloitte & Touche
  • Arnie Mondloch
    Microsoft
  • Val Gorder
    Community Volunteer


    • RTS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS SOCIETY

  • Cody Moore, President
    Marler Clark
  • Celeste Reilly, Vice President
    Starbucks