Board of Directors

The Mustard Seed Project’s Board of Directors is a group of dedicated individuals from a variety of backgrounds that focus on overseeing the organization, setting goals and objectives, and strengthening our community.

Board of Directors

Learn More About The Mustard Seed Staff

Robert McCrossin

Robert McCrossin

Board President

Robert McCrossin has owned and operated Bayside Animal Lodge on the Key Peninsula since 2001. He has a degree in Business Administration and extensive experience within various industries including retail, storage and accounting to include management of Quality Control and Auditing departments. He started to follow his dreams of working with animals when he was managing two veterinary projects in Seattle, before coming to the Key and running Bayside Animal Lodge.

Robert served as Vice President of the Board of the New York Self Service Storage Association for two years 1980-1981.

Robert joined the TMSP in 2016 as a volunteer on the Finance Committee, joined the Board of Directors later that year, and served as board vice president from 2017-2021. From 2021 to current Robert has been the Board Chair.

Robert also served as Treasurer on the board of directors for the Key Peninsula Community Council and the Key Peninsula Farm Tour.

Robert recently joined the board of the Key Peninsula Partnership for Healthy Communities.

Anne Nesbit

Anne Nesbit

Board Vice President

Anne Nesbit is the Public Information Officer and Prevention Specialist for the Pierce County Fire District 16. Along with her training as an emergency medical technician, she also has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from USC.

Anne is deeply involved in the Key Peninsula community, volunteering not only for the Mustard Seed Project, but also as Battalion Chief for the local fire department. Anne’s contributions to the social fabric are well known, and she was named the Key Peninsula Citizen of the Year in 2017. Anne joined the board of directors in January 2022 and has been bringing her knowledge of the community to the work of the Mustard Seed Project.

David Brower

David Brower

Board Treasurer

David Brower operates a small business providing paralegal support services to attorneys in Pierce and King County on a contract basis. Under his leadership the company has matured, providing assistance to an array of cases and employing more than thirty employees.

He and his wife Sally have enjoyed living in the community for ten years. David joined TMSP Board in 2014 and has served as treasurer since 2017.

Angela Mattison-Lindbom

Angela Mattison-Lindbom

Board Secretary

Angela Mattison-Lindbom is a retired Navy veteran. She served 30 years and retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer. Her primary jobs in the Navy were Aviation Administration and Drug & Alcohol Substance Abuse Counselor. She spent many years aboard aircraft carriers. After her “official” retirement from the Navy, she worked in the private sector. She traveled globally as a workshop facilitator. She has facilitated over 300 workshops for all branches of our military forces in preparing them for a successful transition into the “civilian” workforce.

She was President of the Rotary Club of Gig Harbor North for the past two years and currently serving as the Secretary and Program Coordinator. She is the Vice-President of her sorority chapter of Beta Sigma Phi.

Her fundamental beliefs are: “No one should go hungry or be denied the opportunity for a better education, and ALL People should have the resources to help them thrive and be successful.” She volunteers time to multiple non-profit organizations in support of these beliefs.

Norman McLoughlin

Norman McLoughlin

Board Member

Norman McLoughlin has 30 years of experience in administration, economic policy development, and all aspects of affordable housing.

He served as chairman of the Kitsap County Economic Development Council from 1994-96, president of the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies from 2003-06, executive director of the Bremerton Community Revitalization Agency from 2002-2008, and served as executive director of the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority from 1989-2008. In 2008 he founded McLoughlin & Associates LLC, offering consulting services for housing and economic development. Norm joined TMSP board in 2016 and chairs the advocacy committee.

Lisa Dunham

Lisa Dunham

Board Member

Lisa Dunham has 25 years of experience in social services and education. She has provided social work services and family therapy, and has supervised and managed clinical staff. She was an adjunct professor at Seattle University.

She founded and served as Executive Director of a non-profit providing services to abused, abandoned and neglected children. She has a BS in Sociology and an MS in Counseling Psychology.

She remains active, teaching yoga, SAIL, and tai chi. Lisa returned to the Board of Directors in the fall of 2022.

Mark Cockerill

Mark Cockerill

Ex-Officio Board Member

Mark Cockerill worked as a software consultant and project manager in the financial industry for over forty years and retired in 2009. He moved to the Key Peninsula in 2003, joined the Key Peninsula Land Use Advisory Commission in 2014 and was accepted into a second term in 2018. Mark was elected as a Director into the Key Peninsula Community Council in December of 2019 and accepted the position as project manager of the Broadband project in January for 2020. Mark was also elected President of the Key Peninsula Community Council in 2022.

Mark became a volunteer for the Mustard Seed for the Senior Advocacy Committee and became an Ex-Officio sitting on their board in August 2022.

Mark and his wife worked together as a team for the last 15 years of their careers as senior project managers for a credit risk company and traveled the world together managing projects. They feel extremely lucky to have found the Key Peninsula and to have been able to build our home here. “We feel like we have found paradise and have no intention of leaving.”

Anne Shoemaker

Anne Shoemaker

Board Member

Anne Shoemaker has been a volunteer and participant in programs at The Mustard Seed Project since 2014. Anne enjoys serving her elder community and learning and growing with the valuable mission and vision of TMSP.

Anne was a Board member of Key Peninsula Community Services from 2014 to 2019 and served as Board president for the last two years of her service. She was the direct leadership role to Executive Director and board members. Anne engaged with volunteers, community and employees for programs, fund raising, events and planning.

Anne’s education is based in sociology, psychology and law. She received my AA Paralegal degree at St. Mary’s College, Moraga, CA. Awarded BA degree from The Evergreen State Collage for Social and Environmental Justice.

Her career spans 30+ years with the State of Washington. The last eight years before retirement in 2014, Anne was a Program Manager in a prison which involved the Strategic Planning at the facility level; with an ongoing review of best practices and outcomes; Facility Sustainability management; with leadership and oversight to 120 employees. Anne collaborated with stakeholders and program contractors for education and other offender programs, oversite of biennial budgets and financial goals.

Anne is very proud to have raised her family on the Key Peninsula and maintained a home for 40+ years in this community.

“I feel confident with the contribution, sharing, oversight, and personal growth available through the TMSP Board opportunities. It is quite humbling to be a part of the vision of Edie Morgan and the support of donors to realize this project to its full and successful fruition.”

Marie Smurthwaite

Marie Smurthwaite

Board Member

Marie Smurthwaite has worked for Sound Credit Union for over 15 years. She is the Branch Manager of the Key Center Branch. Marie loves being of service to the people in our small community. As a Manager at Sound Credit Union, Marie has been able to support many of the non-profit organizations by making regular donations to assist them.

She has worked in a customer service capacity for over 35 years. During this time she and her husband raised two daughters who both graduated from Peninsula High School.

Marie is happy to be able to join a group that supports the many seniors in our community.

Alan Golston

Alan Golston

Board Member

Alan Golston is a retired cardiologist who practiced in the Tacoma/South Sound area for most of his 35 year career. Working for Group Health Cooperative/Kaiser Permanente, he held many administrative and leadership positions including Chief of Cardiology and chair of the Heart Care Services Roadmap Team among other roles.

He served as a Board member for the local American Heart Association board from 1995-2001, including one term as Board President. Alan has also served three years as a Board member with Food Backpacks4Kids. He joined TMSP Board in 2023.

He has been on the Key Peninsula since 1991, residing full time since 2008.

Staff

Learn More About The Mustard Seed Staff

Eric Blegen

Eric Blegen

Executive Director

Eric Blegen started as Executive Director in 2018, bringing 20 plus years of nonprofit leadership experience to the role; including experience managing capital campaigns and projects. Building on his interest in connecting people with the resources they need to grow and thrive even in challenging situations, the Mustard Seed Project’s mission of supporting seniors inspires him.

From an early age, he’s been drawn to learning from older folks and has a soft spot for seniors (and soon will be one!), as well as a commitment to ensuring that seniors are treated with respect and honored for their life experiences.

He is a Wisconsin native and has lived in western Washington since 1989, living with his spouse, 10-year-old son, two Chocolate Labs, and 14 chickens in Union, WA.

exdirector@themustardseedproject.org
253-884-1205

Maureen Reilly

Maureen Reilly

Operations Director

Maureen joined TMSP in 2015 as the Transportation Coordinator, moved on to become the Office and Facilities Coordinator in 2017 and was promoted to Operations Director in 2018. Maureen has 20+ years of Office and Property Management experience and has a master of Science in Microbiology. She has lived in 4 countries on 3 continents and has many years of experience interacting with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

operations@themustardseedproject.org
253-884-1355

Julie Crane

Julie Crane

Programs Manager

Julie received her Bachelor of Arts degree in human services from Western Washington University. After college, she completed two years of service with the AmeriCorps program, one year with Tacoma-Pierce County Habitat for Humanity and one year with the National Civilian Community Corps based in Denver, CO. Prior to joining the Mustard Seed Project in June 2021, Julie was a social worker at a Skilled Nursing Facility in the Transitional Care Unit.

Julie and her family moved from Seattle to Port Orchard in 2019. In her free time, Julie enjoys doing yoga, kayaking, and spending time outside with her spouse, two daughters, and their dog.

programs@themustardseedproject.org
253-884-1499

Carolyn Benepe

Carolyn Benepe

Nutrition Director

Carolyn brings 40 years’ experience in food & nutrition to the Mustard Seed Project. She has worked in every aspect of food service, including owning a restaurant, bakery and catering business. Carolyn attended the University of Wyoming, then Colorado State University. She eventually obtained a master’s degree in nutrition & food science and become a registered dietician.

After graduation, Carolyn worked as a Nutrition Educator for Wyoming Cooperative Extension. Later she was the Nutrition Director for the Sheridan Senior Center. In 2016 Carolyn moved from Wyoming to Washington to be near her daughters and their families. Carolyn worked as a Clinical Dietitian at Western State Hospital for five years and at two long-term care sites on the Olympic Peninsula. In 2021 Carolyn moved to Vaughn and couldn’t be happier to call this beautiful place home.

Madysen McLain

Madysen McLain

Volunteer and Transportation Manager

Madysen moved to Gig Harbor in September 2021 after graduating from Washington State University with a degree in journalism. Madysen wrote for two newspapers after graduating, including the Woodinville Weekly and the Reflector. She covered various topics, such as new businesses, sports, and breaking news. Then, she became the campaign manager for a local race this year where she recruited and collaborated with many volunteers.

In her spare time, Madysen enjoys camping, hiking, visiting family in Eastern Washington, and trying out new hobbies like painting and making jewelry. During Madysen's time at WSU, she had the privilege of writing for The Daily Evergreen and leading in her residence hall as a resident advisor.

Annette Tatum

Annette Tatum

Finance Controller

Annette Tatum, brings more than 25 years of experience in all aspects of nonprofit and small business accounting and management to TMSP. With a passion for nonprofit work, she has dedicated her career to the nonprofit and education sectors.

She has extensive expertise in accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and analytics. She enjoys strategic planning and implementation to meet organizational and program goals. Community building and inclusiveness are important to Annette and she likes bringing people together and working in diverse groups.

Annette loves the outdoors and is a Pacific Northwest native. She moved to the Key Peninsula with her family in 2019. She and her family enjoy volunteering in the community. On a rainy PNW day, Annette enjoys baking for her family, and curling up with a crochet project and a cat.

finance@themustardseedproject.org

Stacy Halgren

Stacy Halgren

Kitchen Manager

Stacy joined the Mustard Seed Project in 2023 as the Kitchen Assistant. Stacy was born and raised on Fox Island and moved to the Key Peninsula in 2017 to care for her mother. It was an honor for Stacy to care for her mother during her final years. It also provided direction for Stacy’s next stage in life; helping our older community members on the KP.

Stacy has 15 years of restaurant and management experience. Stacy also has experience in real estate as a Limited Practice Officer. Stacy’s loves working in hospitality and is excited to be part of the Mustard Seed Project and Café.

Working on a local farm caring for horses, going to the beach and spending time with her dog, Riggins, are a few of Stacy’s favorite things to do.

kitchen@themustardseedproject.org
253-884-9814

Naomi Saunders

Naomi Saunders

Office Coordinator

Naomi brings over 30 years of office coordination and management experience to TMSP. She loves connecting people with services, programs, or items they need. This probably explains why she has experience working in a varying array of settings, such as restaurants, libraries, and repair shops. Naomi attended Western Washington University and received her Bachelor of Arts in Human Services. While working on her degree she interned with the Suquamish elders and discovered a passion for working with seniors.

Naomi has lived in Washington almost her whole life and still enjoys discovering new places to explore with her husband and their dog. Most weekends Naomi can be found spending time with her family (especially her beautiful grandson!), trying out new recipes, and fussing about with her orchids.

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“We have met many delightful, interesting and always appreciative people who have made our time on the road well spent.” -Lynne

Learn More About The Mustard Seed Project

Services & Programs

The Mustard Seed Project

Our services and programs promote independent living and quality of life for seniors residing on the Key Peninsula

Community
Volunteers

Key Peninsula Senior Ride Program

Key Senior Information Center