About
About
About
Services
Services
Services
Staff
JOSHUA WALLACE
CEO & President
Joshua Wallace identifies as a person thriving in long-term recovery from co-occurring challenges. He became a member of Peer Seattle in 2005, started volunteering in 2008, joined as staff in 2009, and took over as executive director in 2011. Josh is a co-founder of the Washington Recovery Alliance, King County Recovery Coalition, and Washington Peer Advancement Coalition. He currently serves on the King County Mental Illness and Drug Dependency Advisory Committee and co-chairs the Washington Behavioral Health Advisory Council. In his spare time, Joshua provides peer services consulting internationally on program development, evaluation, and training. Josh is a fierce advocate for peer services in Washington state because he knows firsthand the incredible impact that a community of peers connected by shared experience makes on increasing the success of long-term recovery.
CODY B. WEST
Chief Program Officer
Cody was born and raised south of Seattle in Lakewood, Washington. When he was sixteen, Cody emancipated himself from his parents, moved to the Ballard neighborhood in Seattle, and attended Roosevelt High School. Cody experienced many challenges while living independently at such a young age, and before graduating High School in 1995, he attended seven different High Schools.
Cody went on to study Accounting and Finance at Seattle Central Community College and was offered his first corporate job as a Bookkeeper. He has held many private sector positions ranging from Accounting & Finance, Human Resources, Training & Development, Employee Relations, and Management. Cody has been active in the Seattle recovery community and Peer Seattle for many years, providing services as a volunteer, peer group facilitator, peer recovery coach, trainer, and tree lot assistant manager. He enjoys empowering individuals to create and sustain a healthy living approach to their lives. His combined experience and community leadership have resulted in some innovative approaches to community action.
PAULA LURF
Chief Financial Officer
Paula was born and raised in Overland Park, Kansas. She left home to study business and accounting at Baylor University and the University of Kansas. Seeking adventure after college, Paula moved to Anchorage and worked on the pipeline in Prudhoe Bay - what an experience! Eventually, Anchorage was where she found a recovery community and got sober. A couple of years later, she moved to the Puget Sound area.
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Upon arrival in the Pacific Northwest, Paula worked in the private sector for a short time but did not feel like this was her calling. Her passion has always been people and recovery. At her core, Paula is an accountant with a social worker's heart. She found a job that used this combination of skills when she went to work as Finance Director of a Tribal Government. Paula stayed in Tribal work for the next 17 years, eventually becoming the first non-Indian General Manager of the Tribe.
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She moved to downtown Seattle in 2011 and worked as the Controller at a large non-profit for eight years. Paula has been involved in the recovery community her entire sobriety and is passionate about seeing people achieve a way of life that works for them daily. She is grateful for long-term recovery and believes that her life now is a never-ending opportunity to serve others.
SARA GRAHAM
Director of Data Management
A Seattle area native Sara started living on the streets at the age of 15. During her 5 years of homelessness, she found support in many local programs including - Lambert House, University District Youth Center, YouthCare, and the YMCA. During this time, she became passionate about youth advocacy especially relating to the queer community.
Sara has been active in the Seattle recovery community and Peer Seattle for a couple of years and becoming an employee on 6/17/2019. While her highest priority in all things is trust other core values include - having a strong sense of self and empowering others to as well, being part of a cooperative community that inspires unity, and looking at things with a curious mind to learn and grow as an individual.
MORGAN SMITHSON
Database Specialist
Morgan is a recent transplant from the UK to Seattle. They moved in order to continue their education and stayed because of the community and weather (most of the time…). Previously a school administrator, Morgan is looking forward to applying the experience they have gained in the past to Peer Washington’s projects. Outside of work, they enjoy gaming and are currently hooked on a variety of phone puzzle games.
RIVET
Marketing / Technology Director
Rivet is a Texas native who moved to Seattle in 2013 in search of greener, or at least wetter pastures. Rivet is an active member of the Seattle LGBTQ community, serving Seattle Men in Leather as a board member alongside his work with Peer Seattle. His dedication to service is matched only by his unyielding love of pie.
TYLER SELF
Marketing Coordinator
Tyler hails from a small village in northern Washington called Sedro-Woolley. After college, he found his tribe within Seattle and blossomed into the fully-fledged human person you see today. This could never be achieved without Seattle's thriving local community, so giving back and working to cultivate those experiences for others became a goal at the forefront of Tyler's worldview. As Marketing Coordinator, he hopes to enrich others' lives in ways he could never do alone and raise both himself and Peer Washington to an even higher pedestal. You can catch him nowadays snacking on sour candies, gayming with friends, or quoting his favorite literature no matter how irrelevant it is. "Without change, something sleeps inside us and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken." -Duke Leto Atreides.
JESS LAM
Database Coordinator
Jess was born and raised in Hawaii and moved to Seattle in 2011. While struggling with long-term disorders, she discovered Peer Seattle support groups and found strength in the community's resiliency, galvanizing her to embrace self-compassion and work towards a better quality of life. Since then, her professional and volunteer work has helped support those experiencing domestic violence, food insecurity, and homelessness. Jess is invested in continuously learning more about herself and others, cultivating positive growth, and always finding ways to be of service.
TREVON BOBO
Marketing Coordinator
Trevon "Tre" Bobo was born and raised in Oak Harbor, Washington. He attended Washington State University in Pullman, Washington earning his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Technology & Culture and Strategic Communications. While there, Tre experienced firsthand the prejudiced and socioeconomic factors contributing to the decline of many minority groups' mental health. Since then, he has been an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and providing equal opportunity in education and health services.
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After moving back to western Washington in December 2019 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of civil unrest, Tre was adamant about promoting mental health awareness and career development opportunities amongst the black community and other minority groups. As Marketing Coordinator at Peer Washington, he aims to improve the community by providing awareness of the peer services and recovery resources available around Washington state.
KAREN ROBERSON
Accounting Controller
Karen was born an army brat in West Germany, eventually moving to California as a child. She lived in several cities but considered Sacramento home. After meeting her husband and starting a family together, the Navy brought them to Washington in 1995, and they have never left. Karen has three exceptional children and five beautiful grandchildren.
For over 30 years, Karen has worked at various non-profit organizations providing vital services to domestic and sexual violence victims, homelessness services, and support for mental health and addiction. She has been involved with Special Olympics as a coach and volunteer at events and served on the Board of the Layne Staley Fund, supporting recovery from heroin use.
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In her spare time, Karen enjoys socializing with her amazing core of friends and family. She is an avid fan of heavy metal music and attends numerous concerts throughout the year. Disneyland is her happy place that she visits once or twice each year. A self-professed "work in progress," she is constantly learning how to better herself and practice self-care through counseling and support groups.
DOUG LOTZ
Human Resources Director
Doug was born and raised in Shoreline, WA, just north of Seattle. After attending The University of Washington and graduating from Seattle Pacific University, he moved back home for a short period to get his bearings and continue his journey to discover his true self. He eventually found himself happily living in the middle of Seattle’s Gay Community on Capitol Hill.
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His journey included HIV/AIDS education while still in its infancy, a couple of crazy years in Seattle’s drag community, volunteering for Chicken Soup Brigade & Hands Off Washington, and doing queer fringe theatre.
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He lives in Shoreline now with his husband and their two cats, Henry and Chester. They love to entertain friends, especially during the Summer, and are die-hard UW Football fans. Go Dawgs! While his 25-year career in HR has been primarily in the public sector, he is excited to be a part of the Team at Peer WA and continue his journey supporting and giving back to the LGBTQ+ community.
GWYNNE McCAY
Regional Director
Gwynne is a West Coast baby, living everywhere from Oakland, CA, in a collapsing duplex to Bristol Bay on a fishing boat. She spent a long time bouncing around and is happy to finally call South King County home. She, her wife, and her son are active in the LGBTQ+ community and identify strongly with the peer mission.
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Professionally, she brings 12 years of non-profit experience to her role with Peer Washington, including a strong background in navigating both the DSHS and Juvenile Justice systems as an external advocate. She has spent many years working within the LGBTQ+ community in different capacities. Gwynne has also studied cultural geography at Cal Berkeley and Conflict Resolution at Portland State.
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CHRISTINA TAYLOR
Staff Accountant
Christina is a Seattle native who enjoys all of Washington from the coastline to the majestic mountains. She enjoys music, karaoke, art, history, and spending time with family. Her ultimate favorite movie saga is Star Wars, and she has enjoyed the new Mandalorian series. One of her favorite family traditions is an annual trip to Ocean Shores, where her kids can play and she can enjoy the water.
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Christina began her career in accounting almost ten years ago, starting as a Leasing Consultant and then making her way to the non-profit world, where she discovered her purpose and passion for helping others. She spent five years at the non-profit organization, PROVAIL, as a Junior Accountant whose mission was to help people with disabilities. After PROVAIL, Christina worked for the Edmonds School District in the public sector, helping the Associated Student Body (ASB). She was eager to return to the non-profit world where Peer Washington caught her attention.
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Growing up low-income and in the projects, Christina’s family comes from a line of addiction and mental health struggles from depression to PTSD. Her experience and understanding of these issues help her feel more connected to Peer Washington. Her compassion for others and empathy make her a great listener and strong person. She is excited to join Peer Washington and its mission to help others.
LINDSEY BORTON
Chief Program Officer Executive Assistant
Lindsey was born and raised in Western Washington and now calls Puyallup home. She has helped support loved ones through addiction and recovery and is passionate about bringing those learned skills into her professional career through the work done at Peer Washington. She is an avid supporter of her many LGBTQIA+ family members and a strong proponent for a safe and healthy community for folks from all walks of life. In previous roles, she has found a passion for horticultural therapy, specifically within memory care communities nationwide.
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Lindsey has worked primarily in administrative positions and is described as an “Office Wizard” by coworkers and friends. When she’s not practicing administrative magic, she spends her time in comic and games stores running Dungeons and Dragons games or playing as a half-elf cleric. She loves creating tasty baked goods with the items she purchases from local businesses and artisans at farmer’s markets in her area. On weekends, you can find her hiking new trails, looking for Orcas (usually unsuccessfully), or playing board games with her spouse and son.
SELENE HERNANDEZ
Accounting / HR Clerk
Selene's roots in East LA shaped her identity, but her thirst for new experiences led her to venture beyond her familiar surroundings. Leaving behind sunny Southern California, she embarked on an exciting chapter in Northern California at Chico State, where she studied Business Information Systems. Eight fulfilling years later, Selene bid farewell to her beloved college town and set her sights on Seattle, ready to embrace fresh opportunities and broaden her horizons.
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Beyond professional pursuits, Selene finds joy in a variety of hobbies and embraces every opportunity for exploration. Her creative spirit shines through her crafting, gardening, and painting endeavors, while her competitive side emerges during lively card games and her ongoing journey to improve her golfing abilities. Passionate about fostering welcoming and vibrant spaces, she enjoys planning and hosting events that bring people together and forge lasting connections.
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Thrilled to join the Peer Washington team, Selene is eager to contribute to the mission of advocating for mental health and supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
COREY HASSELL
Information Systems Manager
coming soon​
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EZZY PARTIDA
Marketing Coordinator
Ezzy, a native of Washington state, discovered her love for digital art during her teenage years and set her sights on transforming it into a full-time career. Having witnessed family members struggle with drug addiction and mental health challenges, she often felt disheartened. She now aims to channel adversity into creativity, striving to make a positive impact with her role as marketing coordinator for Peer Washington.
Outside of work, you can find her engaging in one of her many hobbies, such as crafting a stop motion video, designing intricate 3D rooms on her computer, or enjoying a level of Crash Bandicoot.
Andrea Boyd
Accountant Grants / Contracts
Coming soon!
Babrah Happy
Senior Accountant
Coming Soon!