The Board

President:
Rhiannon Troutman
Fringe Boutique

Rhiannon was born in Bellingham the year Bellis Fair Mall was built. Because of this, she grew up in a downtown with a lot of large vacancies and a lackluster spirit. A move to Portland for school made her to realize just how special Bellingham is, and how uniquely supportive our community is of small businesses of every kind. She loves that almost every business in our downtown core is locally owned -- from herb & spice shops to pet stores, and cider houses to music venues. She decided to move back to Bellingham for this very reason, and opened Fringe Boutique in an historical downtown building in 2015. She loves connecting with the creative community of Whatcom County, and is excited to be a part of a new generation shaping the City of Renewed Excitement through vibrant businesses, engaging events, and a beautiful landscape.

Vice President:
Rose Lathrop
Sustainable Connections

Rose Lathrop is the Program Director for Sustainable Connections; a Whatcom County based non-profit business membership organization dedicated to advancing sustainable business practices. At Sustainable Connections, she leads the Housing and Smart Growth Program, Energy and Green Building Program and Toward Zero Waste Program. She also manages the Whatcom Housing Alliance, a broad alliance of organizations all united to build an affordable, healthy, equitable, thriving, and inclusive community. Rose has a deep-seated passion for sustainable living, and she practices this in her daily life. She is a curious blend of urban farmer, green building pioneer, and cheerful community-maker.

Secretary:
Linett Nardone
True Footage

Looking for a city with a vibrant sense of community, Linett, a Los Angeles native, relocated to Bellingham with her husband in 2020. Having raised two daughters in Los Angeles and feeling a lack of community, moving to a city where there were opportunities to make a difference at a local level was very important to her. Whether delivering meals for Family Promise, or serving meals through CAST, Linett began immersing herself in the community. As a multi-racial woman with a professional background in operations management and client engagement (currently Director of Strategic Projects for True Footage), Linett is excited to bring her life experiences to contribute to the work being done to increase opportunities for further diversity and inclusivity in Bellingham. During her downtime, Linett can be found hiking, kayaking, or enjoying time with friends and family downtown.

Ashley Fejeran
Providence Health Foundations

Ashley grew up in La Conner, Washington and attended Western Washington University. She’s lived and worked in, or near, downtown as long as she’s been in Bellingham, but slinging scoops and crafting local ice cream for Mallard Ice Cream throughout college is where her love for Bellingham really began. At Mallard she learned how deeply rewarding it is to invest in her community and how local businesses can be important hubs for connection, bringing folks across many backgrounds and ages together. After leaving Bellingham for time in Oregon, Montana, and graduate studies in Seattle, she always knew she’d make her way back to Bellingham eventually, and finally did so in 2018. She’s made a career in non-profit data administration working for fundraising institutions in higher education and health care. Ashley feels deeply privileged to call Bellingham home, and to help support the work of the DBP. You’ll find her out and about downtown, riding her bike over Bellingham’s incredible trails, or out sailing on the bay!

Craig Jewell
Wild Buffalo House of Music

Craig Jewell was born in Puyallup, WA and moved up to Bellingham in 2004 to attend Western Washington University. He studied Vocal Performance, Japanese, and ended up getting a degree in Communications with a Minor in International Business in 2008. In that same year, Craig became part-owner of the Wild Buffalo House of Music, a music venue in Downtown Bellingham. Over the years he has been a member of multiple regional bands, became a part-owner of Bellingham Engraving, was hired to book the talent at the Summer Meltdown Festival in Darrington, WA, and has thrown dozens of benefit shows for various regional charities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Craig co-created two non-profit organizations—WANMA (Washington Nightlife and Music Association, an advocacy and lobbying group for the live music ecosystem) and KML (Keep Music Live, a fundraising campaign for live music venues in Washington State). “Other than family and music, there is nothing else that I am more passionate about than a thriving downtown Bellingham.” - Craig Jewell

Chris Roselli
Western Washington University

Chris Roselli is the Director of Community Relations at WWU where he fosters positive relationships by serving as the liaison between the community and the university. Chris has lived in Bellingham since 1995 and is actively engaged with many community organizations including the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission, Domestic Violence Commission, Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism, and City Club. Chris is devoted to supporting the growth of downtown’s vibrant community and is excited to create more opportunities that bridge the WWU community to Downtown Bellingham. You can find Chris spending time with his wife and two daughters at many of downtown’s shops and restaurants including Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro, Mt. Bakery, Fringe, Pure Bliss, the Co-Op, Pie Hole, Horseshoe Café, Café Rumba, and many more.

Jennifer Stephens
SeaFeast

A native Washingtonian, Jennifer was born in Seattle. After graduating from Pitzer College, Jennifer moved to Bellingham in the early nineties, started a mountain bike racing team, and played a role in developing the trail system on Galbraith (her husband named the Family Fun Center). After receiving a Masters in Cinema Studies from New York University, Jennifer lived in Wallingford for over 18 years. Her family then relocated to the Methow Valley, and when it was time to come back across the mountains, they chose to live in Bellingham because of the vibrancy, location next to the bay and the North Cascades, and of course the mountain biking. When not working as the Community Engagement Director at SeaFeast, Jennifer can be found running with her hound dog Joey, riding bikes with her husband, or escaping to the North Cascades.

Are you passionate about the vibrancy and economic health of the Downtown Bellingham neighborhood?

Sounds like we’re on the same page! You might be a good fit for our Board of Directors.