Meet Our Board

It is with great anticipation that we introduce, Carla Morrison, our newly appointed board president!

Carla is a recent addition to our community, having made the permanent move here in the spring of 2023. Her journey to Coffman began with a summer visit in 2022, where she and her husband fell head over heels for the area. They knew instantly that their future lay here, and upon returning to Bonney Lake, WA, they wasted no time in selling their house and packing up their lives. Now, having successfully weathered a Coffman winter, Carla feels a deep sense of belonging, finally calling this place home.

Carla is a talented graphic designer and artist, expressing her creativity through various mediums. You can admire her work firsthand at the Riggin Shack, where some of her pieces are proudly displayed. Beyond her artistic talents, Carla brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our board. She dedicated five years to the PTA board of her son’s school in the early 2000s, serving as president for three of those years. Her dedication to fostering creativity led her to establish an Art Docent program at the school. Carla’s commitment to the arts extends beyond the classroom.

For the past 12 years, she has been an active member of the Fred Oldfield Western Heritage and Art Center board, serving as secretary for five years before assuming the presidency for another five. The FOWHC, a 501c3 organization, celebrates the life and works of western artist Fred Oldfield, offering art classes and workshops to individuals of all ages. Their main fundraiser, a large art show held annually in the fall, has been a cornerstone of the organization for over 25 years. Carla’s connection to the FOWHC runs deep, as Fred Oldfield was her grandfather-in-law. Her involvement in the center, alongside her in-laws, spanned all aspects of the organization, including the annual art show.

When Carla isn’t immersed in art or board meetings, she finds joy in gardening and fly fishing. The recent purchase of a small boat has ignited a passion for exploring the waters, casting lines and marveling at the majestic whales. We are thrilled to have Carla join our board and look forward to her contributions to our community.

We are beyond grateful to bring Heather Hedges as Vice President to our board

In the early days of the festival, Heather was one of the original four women who came together to create the event. As the Tourist Coordinator and Website Creator for the city of Coffman Cove, her expertise in advertising and web design proved invaluable to the festival’s success. Heather helped shape the festival from the ground up, ensuring that it would not only attract visitors but also showcase the best of the region’s arts and seafood.

Heather’s professional background is equally impressive. She started out in California where she excelled in hotel room sales for major business groups and marketing for the Orange County Auto Association. Her move to Hawaii led her to pursue advertising sales for West Hawaii Today. And she met her husband there where he lured her to Alaska. Upon relocating in 2008, with her husband, she became a co-owner of Coffman Cove Lodging, a family business that demands her attention during the summer months.

Despite her busy schedule, Heather’s commitment to the festival remained unwavering. She served as President until 2019, when she passed the reins to focus on her family business. However, with the festival facing dissolution, Heather stepped forward to help revive it as the Vice President of ‘Arts in the Cove.’ Heather’s dedication to the festival has been instrumental in its resurgence where she has been working diligently to secure its success. With her help and familiarity with the festival, guiding this amazing team, the ‘Arts in the Cove’ organization is confident that this year’s festival will be a memorable one.

It is with much excitement that we introduce Dania Allen as the new Treasurer of our organization.

Dania brings a wide range of experience and encouragement to this role, and we are confident that she will be a valuable asset to our team.

Born and raised in Southeast Alaska, Dania spent her younger years in logging camps throughout the Inside Passage. In 2009, she moved to Fairbanks, where she fell in love with the interior. However, there was just something about southeast that called her back home.

For the past 12 years, Dania and her family have traveled Alaska for work. She has held various positions such as laborer, operator, Traffic Supervisor, SWPPP manager, and Forman for many heavy civil construction projects all over the state. While they loved the excitement in this field, they decided it was time to set roots in a community they truly cared about.

Dania and her husband now run a small construction company in Coffman Cove. They are committed to growing with the community and embracing the opportunities that arise. Dania is actively involved in local events and enjoys working with an enthusiastic team.

When she learned that the Arts & Seafood Festival was dissolving and needed to be revived, Dania immediately stepped up to help. She is excited to be part of this beloved event and is committed to its success for generations to come.

As the new festival board was formed, they sought a Treasurer, and Dania was eager to volunteer and learn the dynamics of the festival. With her optimistic nature, kind demeanor, and experience managing her own business’s finances, she will undoubtedly contribute to the role of treasurer for our festival.

We are thrilled to introduce Jaime Dubè as our new Secretary of our festivals board.

She brings a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to the role, having served on numerous boards in the past while also fostering a love for creativity.

Jaime has been a full-time resident of Coffman Cove for the past three years, and she has quickly fallen in love with the beauty and peace of the island. She enjoys spending time walking the beach, searching for treasures that she can turn into art, fishing, hiking, kayaking, biking, painting, and hunting are just a few of her favorite hobbies.

Originally from Central Oregon, Jaime raised her two sons there. She was actively involved in their lives, serving as a cheerleader, nurse, referee, cook, taxi driver, and everything else that comes with being a mom of two active athletic boys.

In addition to her love of the outdoors, Jaime is also passionate about giving back to her community. She has been a part of her son’s gymnastics booster club, where she held the treasurer chair for three years. She was also the secretary of her son’s elementary school PTA for four years.

Jaime worked within the school district of her hometown in Bend, Oregon for over fifteen years, nine years she was a teachers assistant and then became the secretary for seven years. She prided herself in her positions within the school and was dedicated to giving back to the children and families of her district. In March of 2021, Jaime said goodbye to her school and work families and followed her passion and dreams of making Alaska her home. She can often be found on the beach with her pockets full of rocks or a paintbrush in hand, creating beautiful driftwood art.

Jaime’s creative, cheerful nature and her experience serving on many boards make her a wonderful asset to our festival board. We are excited to have her on our team and look forward to working with her to make our festivals even more successful.

We are grateful to welcome Shannon Vellutini to our festivals board!

A vibrant and enthusiastic addition, Shannon brings a wealth of experience and a passion for community engagement.

Born and raised on the Oregon coast, she developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors and all the beauty the region has to offer. This love for nature and community was further nurtured during her time at Western Oregon State University, where she majored in Education and played varsity volleyball, competing in two national championships. Following graduation, Shannon dedicated herself to education, taking her first teaching job in a rural community, where she taught elementary and middle school Physical Education.

After marrying and moving to Salem, Oregon, she continued her teaching career at the middle school level while pursuing her Master’s degree from Oregon State University. In 2017, a visit to Coffman Cove ignited a love for the community and its charm, leading her and her husband, Jerry, to make it their primary residence in 2019.

Shannon’s exceptional ability to work effectively with diverse groups, her meticulous organizational skills, and her eagerness to embrace new challenges make her an invaluable asset to our festivals board. We are confident that her enthusiasm and dedication will play a vital role in the continued growth and success of the Arts in the Cove festival.

We are delighted to welcome Julie Ashe to our board.

A longtime resident of Coffman Cove, Julie brings a wealth of community knowledge and experience to our team.

Julie moved to Coffman Cove in August 1993, following her husband. She dedicated many years to providing childcare, a service that was surprisingly in high demand in such a small community, often caring for 8 to 10 children alongside her own three. Julie truly cherished her time with those children, finding joy in being a part of their lives. While her own children are now adult children, she enjoys being a grandma and spending time with her six grandkids. Beyond her nurturing heart, baking is Julie’s passion and stress reliever, and she is known for creating some of the best baked goods in Coffman Cove.

Julie has a long history of community involvement, having served on Coffman Cove’s Civic Club board, the ASC board at Howard Valentine, and the Arts and Seafood board. She was also a dedicated volunteer for the 4th of July planning committee for over 25 years. Now, Julie returns to the festivals board, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a genuine love for Coffman Cove, making her an invaluable asset to our team.

We are happy to bring Brenda Clauson to our board

She embodies the spirit of Coffman Cove. Arriving to Coffman in June 1996, after falling in love with the town during a visit with her sister, Brenda has become deeply rooted in this community.

She worked in the education department for years where she worked along-side teachers, and she spent countless hours volunteering for fundraisers, baking breads, cookies, and pizzas with the kids. Summers found her working as a cook in logging camps, tug boats, and yachts. She also established her own commercial upholstery business, stitching and creating patterns from couches to boat tops. Her creative spirit shines through her passions for art, painting, and crafting unique melt-and-pour soaps, which she also enjoys teaching. 

Brenda’s love for the outdoors is reflected in her enthusiasm for fishing, foraging, and simply having fun. Her involvement with the festival dates back to its beginnings, and her experience in leadership roles with organizations like Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls, and 4-H, where she served as president for many years, has equipped her with valuable skills. Brenda’s love for Coffman Cove is evident in her purchase of the old Andersonville Cabin Rentals, which she is diligently restoring. As well as reviving her Full Recovery Commercial sewing business and cargo freight service. 

Brenda’s infectious enthusiasm and collaborative nature make her a joy to work with. Having learned the importance of teamwork during her summer camp days, she eagerly anticipates working with our new board members and festival volunteers to ensure the success of this incredible event. We are truly grateful for Brenda’s invaluable wisdom and her unwavering commitment to our community.

We are stoked to welcome Cody Carver Wilson to our board 

Cody is a stay-at-home homeschooling mom, always ready for an adventure with her two boys. She embodies the life of Coffman Cove, with dirt under her nails, moss in her hair, sand in her shoes, and pockets overflowing with treasures. Their days are filled with digging in the dirt, tending plants, chatting with chickens, and embarking on endless adventures.

Cody has a deep connection to Coffman Cove, having been a resident since March 2013, braving the harsh winters and relishing every ray of fleeting sunshine that graces our rainforest island. Her love for this community goes back even further, as she has been visiting the Cove since she was eight years old and moved here at fifteen, attending high school for several years. After graduating, Cody pursued higher education at Spokane Community College and North Idaho College, specializing in Esthetics and further expanding her knowledge in English, Social Science, Psychology, Speech, and Health.

Her entrepreneurial spirit was ignited at the young age of 11, as she was roped into her family’s bustling business, selling train tickets and snow-cones for her father’s miniature train and running concession stands across the Northwest, a different festival every weekend. The summers were filled with flipping burgers and slinging homemade curly fries and corn dogs to customers, operating cash registers, and managing extremely long lines of customers, setting up tents, decorating them, food prep, and long days. This instilled in her a deep understanding of event logistics, flow of humans, customer service, and the dynamics of successful festivals. These early experiences, where she navigated the demands of a fast-paced environment, shaped her into the capable and resourceful individual that she is today. While her childhood dream of becoming an event planner took a different path, Cody enjoys creating memorable birthday celebrations for her sons and finds it rewarding to volunteer at community events when she can.

In 2021, when the community’s Arts and Seafood Festival was canceled, Cody took the initiative to organize a Craft Market, ensuring that the community could still come together. This experience further solidified her desire to be more involved with the festival board and she is excited to work with our new team. So you may find her a familiar face from working with her years ago.

We are fortunate to have Cody’s passion, experience, and community spirit on our board, and we look forward to her contributions for the years to come.