Our Team

Ted Howard

Board President

Ted grew up on the other side of the strait, in Coupeville. He left the state to obtain a B.A. in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara; an MPhil. in Culture, Environment, and Sustainability at the University of Oslo; and a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis.

After joining the Washington State Bar, he was a Legal Fellow at the Center for Environmental Law and Policy, and is currently the Staff Attorney for the Clallam—Jefferson County Housing Justice Project. He joined the Olympic Housing Trust board as a way to contribute to building more equitable and sustainable forms of community.

Jesse Thomas

Board Vice-President

Jesse was raised in Jefferson County, left to the city, but then came back home to raise his son. He graduated from the Evergreen State College and settled into the building design industry where he’s be working locally for more than 20 years. Jesse’s day job is as an independent building designer.

He joined the Olympic Housing Trust board because he cares about his local community, and he believe that permanently affordable housing programs are essential for preserving and promoting healthy, vibrant communities.

Rachael Dunn

Board Treasurer

Rachael Dunn was born and raised in Texas, moving to Washington to attend Western Washington University where she received her BA in Economics in 2015. Her work varies from farming to accounting with a hand in the natural world and another in spreadsheets.

Seeing the financial barriers to land access and an opportunity to aid in financial literacy and increase housing access, she joined the Olympic Housing Trust board with deep enthusiasm.

Ben Wilson

Board Trustee

Ben joined the Olympic Housing Trust after a 35-year career in healthcare and technology. Ben currently serves on multiple nonprofit boards, including the Jefferson Land Trust, the Jefferson County Farmers Market, and President of the Board for Climate Action Pathways for Schools.

Ben is also very involved with the BIPOC community including BLMJC and Nourishing Beloved Community.  Ben has an MBA and a Master’s in Public Health from UC Berkeley and degree in Political Science from Stanford.

Ben moved to Port Townsend with his wife Suzanne in 2020.

Justine Gonzalez-Berg

Board Trustee

Justine grew up in Port Townsend, but her family relocated to New Mexico during the 2008 recession. Since Justine returned to make her life in Jefferson County in 2016 she has become deeply involved in serving the community through her work and volunteer activities, which have included coordinating the Jefferson County Farm Tour, co-founding Strait Up magazine, and most recently, serving as the Network Director for Housing Solutions Network.

Justine’s commitment to affordable housing is rooted in witnessing her peers struggle to secure housing and her desire to raise a family in a diverse community. Justine is on maternity leave from the Olympic Housing Trust board during the summer of 2022.

Kate Dean

Board Trustee

Kate Dean was elected to join the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners in 2017 and represents District 1, Port Townsend. Kate moved to Jefferson County in 1999 when she purchased a historic farmstead in Quilcene where she grew organic produce.

She spent 10 years farming and working to grow the local farmers markets through businesses she co-founded including Finnriver Farm and Mt. Townsend Creamery. Kate holds her Masters in Public Administration from the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington. In her spare time, Kate can be found gardening, riding her bike or in the mountains with her two school-aged children.

Kathy Morgan

Executive Director

Kathy is a licensed real estate agent and experienced housing developer having worked along the entire housing continuum. Her passion for generating affordable housing was evident in her projects during her 16 years at OlyCAP as the director of Housing and Community Development. As the Executive Director of Olympic Housing Trust, Kathy will guide the organization into its next phase of growth as a leader in building and stewarding permanently affordable housing.

Kathy has lived in Washington State for 30 years and currently owns and operates a small farm in Quilcene, WA. She is married and has four grown children and nine grandchildren.

Kristina Hestenes-Stimson

Board Secretary

Kristina is a licensed architect, and a certified sustainable building adviser.  Her project experience ranges from residential, commercial, and historic renovation to community planning. 

As a volunteer she promoted green building techniques for The Northwest EcoBuilding Guild. She also served on the Planning Academy and The Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee for the City of Shoreline. Kristina is LEED accredited, and committed to creating environmentally responsible projects that emphasize sensitive integration of nature and the built environment.

Kellen Lynch

Outreach and Development Manager

Growing up in Port Townsend, Kellen has seen his hometown shift and become more exclusive over the years. Through his work, he is committed to pointing the community in a positive and inclusive direction.

Kellen runs his company, New Story Studio, to support housing and energy projects across the Olympic Peninsula and the nation.

Reach out to Kellen if you want to see and support our home to continue to be a bastion of creative spirit.