Jay Ryan, President
Jay (Lehan Jay Ryan) has lived on South Whidbey since 1999. He is retired from the practice of law in Minnesota where he practiced in the Probate and Trust Department of a large law firm in the areas of Estate Planning, Probate, Wills and Trusts. He has served on a number of Civic and Charitable Boards and in addition to the Board of Good Cheer he is currently serving as president of the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation Board.

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Robin Hertlein, Treasurer
Robin Hertlein has a degree in international relations from the University of Puget Sound with a minor in nutrition and comes to Good Cheer after having helped create the Gifts from the Heart Food Bank in Coupeville. She owns her own grant writing business and has helped many nonprofits. She is also a former executive director of a child abuse prevention foundation and spent five years as Town Administrator in Coupeville. “I’m just very excited about the innovative programs that Good Cheer Food Bank is doing. I want to be a part of that,” she said, and hopes to use her grant writing skills for the organization.

Ann Gallagher, Secretary
Ann Gallagher retired in 1997 after 35 years teaching secondary level math and science in independent schools in Pennsylvania and California. She moved to South Whidbey and built a home, along with her husband, a retired physician. This was the Gallaghers' second time to live on Whidbey They were here for two years during the Vietnam War when Dr. Gallagher was the internist at NAS Whidbey. They are both active in Langley United Methodist Church and are the parents of three adult children and the grandparents to six.

Michael Boyd
Since moving to Whidbey Island from Seattle in 1976, Mike has enjoyed working with our community as a general building contractor and registered architect. He has served as Chair of the Langley Design Review Board, member of the Langley Planning Board, member of the Langley Building Department Board of Appeals, and participated in various special projects for the City of Langley. He holds a Master's dregree from UW in Architecture and Urban Design. Among the many residential and commercial clients he has worked with Good Cheer over the years to redevelop it's facilities. Recently retired from practice, he is now looking forward to helping to guide these efforts from within the Board.

Jim Hartley
Born in Chicago, Jim graduated from Grinnell College (Grinnell, IA) with a degree in English. After serving two years in U.S. Air Force, he was employed by Simpson Timber Co. of Seattle in public affairs positions in Shelton, Wa; Arcata, CA, and Seattle. He retired in 1992 and moved to Whidbey with his wife Lou to whom he's been been married 52 years. They have four children and four grandchildren. Interests include golf, gardening, reading and travel. This is Jim's second time serving on Good Cheer's Board of Directors. The first time was in 1996.

Maury Hood
Maury Hood grew up in Spokane, graduated from Washington State University with a degree in architectural engineering, and then spent the next 40 years applying his design and building skills in Washington, California, Tennessee, and Texas. This is his second time to serve on the Good Cheer Board. He is also commissioner of the Clinton Water District and works as Goosefoot's real estate projects manager. He is also a volunteer with the South Whidbey Lions Club and Hearts and Hammers.

Tom Nack
Tom retired with more than 30 years in the military. His final assignment in the Army Corps of Engineers was as a director of an 1,100 person Engineering and Construction organization with a $200 million annual budget. After retirement he served as President and CEO of a civil/structural engineering consulting firm. Since his 2nd retirement he has served on Church, Historical Society and Good Cheer Boards. He has also served in a number of professional organizations and service clubs. Tom has lived on South Whidbey since 1982.

Bob Olson
Bob has served on Good Cheer's Board in the past and is currently head of the Finance Committee as well as Chair of Good Cheer's capital campaign. A native of Everett, WA, Bob is a graduate of Stanford University and served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of four banks in Washington and Oregon. He served as Chairman of the Board of Washington Banking Company and Whidbey Island Bank from April 2003 until April 2005 and recently retired from the Board of Directors.

Marilee Seligson
Marilee Seligson has a degree in psychology from Fredonia College in New York and has completed graduate work in special education and health care administration. Before retiring, she served as a treatment team leader for Letchworth Developmental Disabilities Service Office, operating eight group homes, and coordinating the work of professional and paraprofessional direct care staff. “I have a strong desire to be of service to my community,” she said. “As a life-long advocate for people with needs, I feel I can bring empathy, collegiality and a realistic view to the provision of essential human services in a time of growing need.”

Kay Stanley
Good Cheer is a passion for Kay, and nothing is too big a task or daunting a challenge. Her dedication inspires volunteers, staff and board members. She served three years as President of Good Cheer’s Board and frequently comes to Good Cheer to clean items, price clothes, work the cash register and greet customers with a big smile.

Bill Watts

Bill graduated from Texas Tech with a major in Accounting, and then earned a law degree from South Texas College of Law. For thirty years he worked for petroleum and energy companies in the areas of finance and as a consultant. After moving to Whidbey Island in 1998, Bill became involved with Good Cheer’s Board. He also volunteers with Trinity Lutheran Church’s wood ministry and as a part-time cook and usher at Langley United Methodist Church. When not volunteering, Bill enjoys his role as grandfather of a 15-year-old, cooking for his family, and doing yardwork.

Gene White
Gene White is an internationally recognized nutritionist who has and continues to consult for the United Nations World Food Program, and is president of Global Child Nutrition Foundation located in Alexandria, VA. She also continues to consult for school and nutritional programs and the food industry. On the local level, she has served as the Chair of the Wellness Task Force for the South Whidbey School District, and is a former member on the Board of the Whidbey General Hospital Foundation.

Kathy has served as Executive Director for Good Cheer for the last five years. She brought to the position 25 years of retail experience and 10 years of working with social service programs.  Before coming to Whidbey Island she was employed by Lucky Stores where she started as a retail sales clerk and became one of the of first females in the history of the company to be promoted into a management position, supervising over 100 employees.  She was identified by the corporate officers as a key person in setting up new store sites through out the state of California.

She came to Whidbey Island 28 years ago when she purchased a hardware store with her brother Dan. Together they developed Freeland Ace Hardware into a respected and viable business. Upon selling the business she then went on to serve as Executive Director of the Island County/Stanwood Community Public Health & Safety Network.

Because of her strong commitment to sense of community she serves or has served on the boards of Readiness-To-Learn Foundation, South Whidbey Commons, Big Brothers/Big Sister, Partnership with Youth, In a Pinch Crisis Nursery, Seeds of Change, South Whidbey’s Soroptimist, Parent and Teacher Association, and the Freeland and Langley Chamber.  She also helped in establishing the South Whidbey Family Resource Center, Partners-for a Drug Free Community, South Whidbey’s Relay for Life, and Children’s Day. She strongly supports community building processes and passionately believes in the goal of Good Cheer to create a hunger-free Community.