Meet our Leadership

Jordan Hay, Executive Director

My family and I love Anacortes.  My parents moved here 20 years ago, and my kids have grown up swimming in Cranberry Lake, shopping for holiday presents downtown, and waving flags in the 4th of July parade.  Before serving as the director of the Downtown Anacortes Alliance, I spent 24 years in Seattle working in technology leadership roles at Amazon, IMDb and Alexa.  

Paelle M. Seman CPM®, Manager of Volunteer Engagement & Community Strategy

Paelle grew up in Anacortes and has believed in the impact of building and maintaining a strong community her whole life. As Student Representative for the Anacortes Futures Project in 2011, Paelle shared a young, future-optimistic voice to the creation of the original documents now transformed into the 2016 Comprehensive Plan.

After graduating with her Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, Paelle put her leadership skills to work at Tesla in California, managing teams manufacturing electric cars and robotics. She eventually took the leap to create her own small business supporting artists around the world by making molds of and reproducing their hand-made sculptures. Paelle’s business was awarded a grant from the California Small Business Development Center for its great potential, and an achievement award from the Global Chamber of Commerce for bringing manufacturing back to America.

Paelle returned to Anacortes in 2025 to marry her high school sweetheart, Collin Seman, whose family has lived in Anacortes for four generations. Together, Paelle and Collin enjoy decorating Downtown for the holidays, staying in historic hotels around the Pacific Northwest, working on their cars and inventing fun hardware and building projects. Their life goal is to buy land and build their dream home with their own hands here on Fidalgo Island!

Photo Credit: CarleyJayne Photography

Ward MacKenzie, Chairman and President

• Seattle Native
• Retired and moved to Anacortes in 2017
• Master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Administration
• Work experience in social services, mental health, human resources, budgeting
• Volunteer and consulting experience in business, non-profit and government strategic and business planning
• Non-profit experience in three startups include program design, fiscal management, grant writing, IT
• Community economic development experience with a Seattle neighborhood Comprehensive Planning process, residential and commercial real estate investments, Anacortes Planning Commission

Glenn Szerlong, Treasurer & Chair of Economic Vitality Committee

My daughters, wife, and I are the latest stewards of the beautiful historical Platt building, downtown on Commercial Ave. We love Anacortes’ working waterfront, vibrant small businesses, cottage homes, creative artists, and world-class natural resources. I continue to commute between Anacortes and Seattle, where I lead a global team of financial and risk analysts focused on commercial and corporate lending. I joined the board to help promote our downtown in ways that keep sight of Anacortes rich heritage while prioritizing housing affordability and ease of families making a healthy living. 

Teresa Lindberg Brum, Vice-President

For more than 35 years, Teresa has dedicated her career to revitalizing communities across the Pacific Northwest and Midwest, with a consistent focus on downtown redevelopment and economic vitality. Her experience spans executive leadership of large city departments as well as the direction of complex economic development initiatives. Throughout her career, she has remained grounded in her core passion: strengthening downtowns as the heart of community life.  A recognized practitioner and thought leader in the field of community revitalization, Teresa has founded and supported Main Street programs, frequently presented at regional and national conferences, and served as an adjunct professor in Urban Planning.

Teresa holds a dual master’s degree in Urban Planning and Public Administration. A native of Anacortes, she recently retired to her hometown and is committed to supporting the preservation and revitalization of downtown for future generations.

Kaia Matheny, Secretary

Kaia Matheny is the owner-operator of Adrift Restaurant and has a background in environmental education and community outreach. Living in both Alaska and Washington, she has a fondness for the outdoors and environmental stewardship. In one form or another, Matheny has worked in the hospitality industry throughout her entire career, performing every job in a restaurant along the way. Matheny and her co-manager purchased Adrift in October 2019. She has learned from the process of purchasing a business and the pandemic that community is a way forward, supporting her community through volunteerism, local purchasing, and building a healthy and stable workplace.

Chris MacKenzie, Co-Chair of Promotions Committee

• Baltimore native
• Moved from Seattle to Anacortes in 2017
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Accounting)
• Work experience managing back office for two residential construction companies
• Community economic development and non-profit experience in Seattle with neighborhood Comprehensive Planning and startup of a local nonprofit community building organization

Lori Maul, Chair of Outreach Committee

Lori Maul is a native Washingtonian and moved to this area with her husband in 2014 when she opened her first shop, Classic Style and Co, LLC.  As a graduate of University of Washington, Lori focused on business administration, accounting and fundraising in her career.  Lori owns Fidalgo Artisan Yarn & Clothing and The Wishing Rock in downtown Anacortes. She is delighted to be working with the Downtown Alliance on the outreach committee and as a board member.  In her spare moments, Lori enjoys spending time with her husband, Dan, gardening, knitting, and being outdoors.

William Gartz, Chair of Design Committee

I’m excited to join the Downtown Anacortes Alliance board as chair of the design committee to contribute to the vibrancy of our community and historic downtown. With over 35 years of experience as a registered architect and ten as a Principal at Callison, I’ve had the privilege of working on hospitality, retail and mixed-use projects worldwide that connect people and spaces in meaningful ways. I bring a deep passion for innovative design, collaboration, and community development.

Post career, one of my more rewarding experiences was as board member and President of the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle, where we supported efforts to preserve maritime heritage and celebrate traditional craftsmanship.  During my tenure we developed and opened the new Wagner Education Center which won a 2024 AIA Architectural Award.

As a recent resident since retirement, I’m eager to bring my expertise and enthusiasm to Anacortes, a community I’ve frequently visited and deeply care about, to help preserve its character, foster growth and increase creativity.

Eli Barrett, Board Member

I purchased Pelican Bay Books & Coffeehouse with my wife and partner Brooklynd Johnson in 2013. We have three kids. As a younger man I attended Gonzaga University and then spent the better part of five years working and starving my way throughout the United States, Europe and West Africa. I believe Anacortes is one of the best places on earth and committed to making it more vibrant, diverse, sustainable, and just.

Laurie Gere, Board Member

Laurie Gere owns Gere-a-Deli with her son Phil. The Gere-a-Deli has been feeding Anacortes since 1981.  Located in historic Downtown Anacortes, they’ve been voted best of Anacortes the last 30 years, including best lunch and catering. Laurie served as Mayor of the City of Anacortes from 2014-2021. She was elected to this position after serving on the City’s Planning Commission for 20 years and as an Island Hospital Commissioner for 12 years. She continues to lead the Anacortes Community Task Force to bring together stakeholders in the community to work to serve Anacortes youth and families.

Rick Star, Board Member

Rick Star is a co-owner of The Rockfish Grill & Anacortes Brewery and a lifelong advocate for small-town vitality, live music, and local business. After a career as an aerospace engineer at Boeing, Rick followed his passion for brewing, food, and community-building to downtown Anacortes, where he and his business partner helped revitalize the north end of Commercial Avenue in 2000.

Rick has booked over 2,500 live music performances at Rockfish, helping build Anacortes into a music town. He’s a co-founder of key community events like Beer on the Pier and has a long history of supporting nonprofit fundraising through beer collaborations, event partnerships, and grassroots generosity. Under his leadership, the Rockfish has become not just a restaurant and brewery but a home base for gathering, giving back, and growing the next generation of local leaders.

As a Downtown Anacortes Alliance board member, Rick brings decades of small business experience, a deep love for Anacortes culture, and a commitment to making downtown welcoming and vibrant for all.