Volunteers join the Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities board for a variety of reasons. Two themes emerge among those who choose to serve: a passion for empowering women and children, and a desire to have a positive impact on the local community.
During a 3-year term, board members use their time/talent/treasure to manage all the tasks associated with hosting our annual luncheon. Board members self-organize into various committees, including communications, allocations and recruitment to keep the organization humming and complete the fundraising and allocation process.
Officers
President: Lety Torres
Lety Torres has an extensive background in the insurance and finance industries. She grew up in Lake Chelan, Washington, and after graduating high school, she spent several years in Arizona, where she gained valuable work experience in her field.
Twelve years ago, Lety relocated to the Tri-Cities, where she began her adventure with a non-profit organization. In this role, she provided workforce development subject matter expertise and oversaw day-to-day operations, ensuring that program model components were implemented effectively, and contractual outcomes were met.
Lety and her husband, Joe, now work together as a local residential and commercial real estate team. Lety is passionate about being involved in the community and giving back, and she and her family of six now consider the Tri-Cities their home.
In her free time, Lety loves to volunteer for various organizations, including 2nd Harvest, Union Gospel Mission, Habitat for Humanity, and local high schools. Lety’s dedication to her community and her passion for helping others are qualities that make her a valuable asset to any organization.
President Elect: Angie Cook
Angie Cook is the Maintenance and Operations Mission Support Project Controls Manager for Washington River Protection Solutions. Angie has over 25 years of Project Management and controls experience here in the Tri-Cities and Seattle. After attending her first Women Helping Women luncheon in 2016, she joined the WHWFTC organization in 2017. Angie grew up in the Tri-Cities, so volunteering and being part of WHWFTC has provided opportunities to give back and truly be part of the community.
Angie and her husband, Paul, have 2 children, and three wonderful grandchildren. As a family, we enjoy the outdoors and spending time together.
Treasurer: Stacie Anderson
Stacie Anderson is the Chief Compliance Officer for the Central Plateau Cleanup Co. out on the Hanford site. Stacie has a 30-year professional career on the Hanford Site, working in different facets of finance that include Financial Compliance, Internal Audit and managing accounting teams. After attending several luncheons over the years, Stacie joined WHWFTC organization in 2022. Stacie has a passion for helping people and has a strong belief in the power of community, especially when it comes to supporting women and children. You will often see her giving back by volunteering around the community, that is why WHW has been a natural fit.
Stacie has lived in the Tri-Cities since she was five years old and raised her, almost grown, children, Jacob and Megan, here. Stacie and her husband, Dave, have a combined total of four amazing children, two beautiful grandbabies, and four active dogs. They love the outdoors, entertaining friends and family, and spending time together as a blended family.
Secretary: Amanda Torres
Amanda Torres is the Assistant Branch Manager at Numerica Credit Union’s newest branch located on Court St. With 9+ years of experience in the financial industry, she has worked in every area of assisting members with their financial goals. Amanda’s journey at Numerica Credit Union has been enriched by attending various WHW Luncheons as a speaker sponsor, which inspired her to join the board.
Originally moving to the Tri-Cities at the age of 6, Amanda’s passion for serving the community became evident during her senior year at Pasco High School. Her senior project focused on volunteering and raising funds for breast cancer awareness, reflecting her dedication to making a difference. Now, she continues to give back to her community by serving on the board.
In her leisure time, Amanda and her husband, Miguel, are dedicated to raising their two young daughters and two dogs. They enjoy traveling and spending quality time with their extended family. Amanda’s commitment to both her family and community shines through in all aspects of her life.
Past President: SaLee Charlesworth
SaLee has over twenty years in banking/lending. Her experience started as a teller while in college, then worked her way to becoming a residential mortgage loan officer where she spent most of her career. After a successful career in residential, she migrated to commercial and business lending where she had the pleasure of working with all types of businesses including start-up companies, commercial real estate and multi-family. She enjoys learning about different industries and working with clients to help them grow their business.
She has volunteered as a JA Teacher, at the United Way, Red Cross and a 2nd grade Sunday School teacher.
In her free time, she enjoys living in the country where she and her husband raise chickens for farm fresh eggs, Angus/Wagyu cattle and pigs. She also has a small Concord grape vineyard, lots of dogs and her horse. She loves to be outside with the animals, working in the yard and garden, cooking as well as crafting.
Directors
Sunny Almeida
Sunny is an unabashed enthusiast for all things richly rewarding- life, family, friends, and service to others. Approaching each experience and every person with equal passion and unequaled commitment to excellence, who I am, does translate into what I do.
I’ve been an aesthetician for over 50 years and have owned my own business since 1980. Being a woman in business has brought me challenges but much joy. The biggest joy in my life is my family. Husband, Fred of 58 years, Daughter and her husband, and Granddaughter and her husband and now two Great Granddaughters! Volunteering has always been a part of my life and being a part of Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities has also brought me new friendships and opportunities to serve my community in new ways I had not been able to in the past. My favorite thing to do is to make “Memories”.
Eryn Brooks
Eryn Brooks has called the Tri-Cities her home for the past 12 years, and the longest place she has ever lived. As a kid she moved around a lot but enjoyed the opportunity to move to new locations and meet new people. This sense of a “vagabond” life sparked her passion for travel and provided her the ability to jump into any situation and become easily acquainted and acclimated.
Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Idaho in public relations where being involved in Greek life kicked off her devotion to community service and helping those in need. It wasn’t until several years later as a single mom of a beautiful daughter that Eryn checked off one of her bucket list items – to complete her master’s degree, which was completed in 2020 from the University of Southern California (USC) in human resources management. Education and continuing to learn is a daily goal.
Currently, besides her role on the Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities Board, she is the Board President for the Columbia Basin Chapter of Society of Human Resources Management (CBSHRM); serves on the Communications Committee for Partnering for Progress (P4P) that does work in Kenya and has even been part of a medical mission to Kenya; is active at Christ the King School, where her daughter is currently in 6th grade and is involved in several local non-profit organizations in the community.
Eryn loves spending time with her daughter and she is a gift in her life. She is the owner of a lively rescue pooch, Angus, and an adopted turtle, Turtle. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, a fabulous meal, a good glass of wine, laughing, reading, music, art and enjoying every moment of life.
Emily McKee
A native Tri-Citian, Emily grew up in Kennewick and graduated from Kennewick High School. She moved to Tacoma to attend Pacific Lutheran University where she studied marketing and advertising. During her time at PLU, she volunteered at Three Cedars Hospice House and fell in love working with non-profits, ultimately taking the position of Volunteer Coordinator there, after graduation.
Missing the sunny Tri-Cities climate, Emily returned to Kennewick working a short time in the insurance industry before finding her passion in marketing and advertising. She has honed her skills working with print, radio, television and digital platforms, and loves helping local businesses grow and succeed through creative marketing and advertising campaigns.
Emily has been married to her husband Ray for 21 years, has two children, Jacob, and Clara, and two doodles, Ruby, and Frankie. She loves working out, gardening, traveling, enjoying the Tri-Cities’ warm summers and a great meal paired with her husband’s amazing wine.
In 2002, Emily joined the board for Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities and served her first three-year term. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to again in 2024 to be a part of this amazing organization.
Jessica Parnell
Jessica has lived in Richland for 27 years with her husband and two children, feeling right at home after growing up in the small town of Waitsburg. For 25 years, she worked as a graphic designer and ran her own graphic design business for 13 of those years.
In 2022, Jessica embarked on a new professional journey, becoming a life coach and establishing “Let’s Talk PMA (Positive Mental Attitude)” alongside her daughter. Their initiative aims to strengthen mental resilience in athletes, coaches, and parents, offering workshops, a specialized workbook, and support to various sports teams, including the TruElite basketball academy founded by her daughter. Jessica is also the Director of Horses Helping Heroes at TROT (Therapeutic Riding of Tri Cities), where she helps Veterans, and First Responders through equine therapy. Helping others and promoting a positive mindset are at the core of everything she does.
In her spare time Jessica loves to travel, spend time with her husband, family and friends and enjoying life in every way she can.
Veronica Quintanilla
Born and raised in Moses Lake, I have navigated the journey of life as a devoted mother to three children and a grandmother to five beautiful girls and two handsome boys. My academic journey led me through the halls of Big Bend Community College, Columbia Basin Community College, and Eastern University, culminating in an Accounting Certificate from CBC in 2016.
Professionally, I have dedicated myself to the mortgage industry since 1999, becoming a trusted mortgage professional licensed in Washington, Oregon, and Texas. My passion has been to assist numerous families in realizing their dream of homeownership, guiding them through one of the most significant decisions of their lives with expertise and compassion.
Beyond my professional endeavors, I am a fervent advocate for higher learning. I believe firmly in the limitless potential of women, championing the philosophy that a woman’s strength is an indomitable force that originates from within. It’s my conviction that women are built to achieve all things; we are powerful when confident and prosperous when we harness our inner strength.
Throughout my career and life, I have strived to embody these principles, serving as a living testament to the power of perseverance, education, and inner strength.
Staff
Executive Director: Alysia Johnson
Alysia Johnson joined Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities in April of 2015 after attending the luncheon for years. Alysia’s extensive fundraising experience has paved the way for her to fit right into the WHWFTC organization.
Prior to assuming her current position, Alysia was a stay-at-home mom for 7 years which was extremely rewarding. She was blessed to be able to spend quality time with her daughter and was able to be involved with her son during his teenage years. Thru these years Alysia also served on a few boards. She is a current board of the Columbia Basin Non-Profit Association. Past board member of Tri-Cities Food Bank (secretary), Children’s Reading Foundation, and Domestic Violence Services of Benton & Franklin Counties (board chair and treasurer). She was a graduate of Leadership Tri-Cities class XI and past LTC board member.
Alysia’s career initially was in banking which led her through many sides of the industry. From teller, new accounts, loan officer, assistant manager in branches to credit analyst & executive administrative assistant in the commercial loan department.
She is excited to take the culmination of her experience to the organization and work hard for our community. Alysia has two kids, Sierra, Bradley, daughter-in-law Sarah, sweet granddaughter, Avery, and a handsome grandson, Dawson. She is passionate about giving back and helping others where she lives.