Staff
Orcas Community Resource Center Staff
The dedicated team at Orcas Community Resource Center brings together passionate professionals committed to serving our island neighbors. With diverse backgrounds and expertise, we work together to provide resources and support, sharing one common goal: strengthening our community and helping island residents thrive."
Erin O'Dell, Executive Director (she/her/hers)
Erin has led the Orcas Community Resource Center (formerly Orcas Family Connections) since 2007. She has worked as a Family Support Advocate, Program Administrator and now as the Executive Director. Erin also worked for San Juan County Health and Community Services for nearly 10 years as a Spanish Interpreter and Breastfeeding Peer Counselor.
Before working at the Resource Center, she worked for the Orcas Elementary School in the ELL department and as the K-12 Spanish teacher at Orcas Island Christian School. She interned in Nicaragua and Ecuador working with families and children in crisis.
Erin graduated from The Evergreen State College in Political Science and Spanish. She is also certified in Family Support Studies at Edmonds Community College. Erin oversees all operations at the Resource Center as our Executive Director.
Josh Culp, Health & Family Services Specialist (he/him/his)
At OCRC Josh helps clients with medical financial assistance programs, health insurance, therapy referrals, educational programs, food access and more. His educational path and experience certainly reflect his passion for social work. Josh has been in the social services field for five years as a case manager, youth mentor, and housing/job acquisition specialist. Josh has a master's degree in social work (MSW) and holds a LSWAA, Licensed Social Work Advanced Associate license.
Josh was born and raised on Orcas Island with a strong sense of community. Ever since being in high school, he remembers being fascinated by alternative lifestyles; urban camping, off-grid living, or any other version of outside the box thinking.
Josh shared, “Joining the team at the Resource Center, I have the opportunity to be a part of an incredible organization whose mission aligns perfectly with my desire to support those asking for guidance in acquiring the resources missing in their lives.” When working with clients he takes a strength-based perspective any chance he can; meeting the client halfway while focusing on their strengths to allow them to move toward greater self-sufficiency.
In his free time Josh enjoys working with the land on building projects, growing trees, and connecting to this special island. He shared, “I look forward to seeing where the Orcas community can go, nurtured by institutions in our community like the Resource Center!”
Keri Duenn, Development & Communications Specialist (she/her/hers)
An Orcas resident for nearly 20 years, Keri is a passionate and hardworking professional with extensive leadership experience and a knack for thriving under pressure. As a co-owner of Sequel Consignment in Eastsound and long-time board member of the Orcas Island Booster Club, she seamlessly blends her entrepreneurial spirit with a commitment to community engagement.
Valuing family deeply, Keri is a devoted parent to three young adults, a cat, a dog, and more plants than she can count, and actively seeks to balance her home life with her numerous passions.
Keri joined the Resource Center as our Development & Communications Specialist, where she leverages her expertise to raise funds and promote the essential services we provide to our community. Significantly invested in making a positive impact on the lives of her fellow islanders, Keri is eager to collaborate with others who share her vision for a thriving island life.
Driven by a mission to foster connection, Keri brings creativity and dedication to her role at the Resource Center, inspiring those around her to engage and contribute to the community’s growth.
Kyra Dyer, Community Support & Health Services Specialist (she/her/hers)
Kyra grew up locally on Lopez Island. After living away in San Francisco, Portland and traveling to Central America, she returned home to the San Juan Islands. Kyra loves gardening and has been busy working in and tending gardens around the Island while raising her four year old daughter.
Trained as a Birth Doula, Kyra has been blessed to be at births over the years supporting women and families. Kyra enjoys hiking, being on the water, paddle boarding and adventures with her daughter.
At the Resource Center, she oversees healthcare related programs and services such as accessing medical financial assistance, applying for health insurance, Fresh Bucks and Farmer’s Market vouchers.
Paula Gustafson, Community Support Specialist (she/her/hers)
Paula grew up on a small farm in western Minnesota, and landed in the PNW in 2004 by way of Monterey, CA. After visiting Orcas Island for 20 years, she made one of her dreams come true and moved here full time in April 2023.
Paula majored in Education at the University of Minnesota, and has spent most of her career engaging with and advocating for clients with integrity and patience.
She has one son who lives in Seattle, and a lab/pit mix dog named Poncho. Paula enjoys traveling, thrifting, and doing DIY projects around her house.
Paula joined the Resource Center in January 2024 as a Community Support Specialist, and is dedicated to providing support to our island community. Stop in and introduce yourself next time you’re in Eastsound.
Cheryl Helm, Community Support & Energy Programs Specialist (she/her/hers)
Cheryl moved to Orcas Island in 2006 to intern at the Bullock’s Permaculture Homestead and learn about sustainable living and farming. Orcas enjoyed many delicious dishes as Cheryl opened the Catkin Cafe in Olga in 2015 operating until 2021.
Her volunteer experience with the Orcas Island Food Bank and Island Rides led to a career change and becoming a part of the Resource Center team. She enjoys helping others, being engaged with the community and making a positive impact.
At the Resource Center, Cheryl oversees the administration of all energy/utility assistance programs available to islanders such as LIHEAP and Project Pal.
Megan Metcalf, Development, Communication & Community Outreach Manager (she/her/hers)
Megan has long time family ties to the island and moved to Orcas the summer of 2018 with her husband, Larry. Coming onboard the Resource Center in May of 2020, she worked in client services as our Community Service Assistant. Getting to know our programs and the community we serve helped her make a smooth transition to the role of Development, Communication & Community Outreach Manager in late 2021.
Megan has a passion for the Resource Center because its work supports our neighbors and community members who keep our island humming. She focuses her time on getting the word out to the community about our services and raising the funds it takes to provide them. Megan is a mother of two daughters and a Goldendoodle, named Greyson. In her free time she enjoys kayaking, thrifting, walking, painting and traveling.
If you see Megan out and about, be sure to say hello. She’s always happy to chat about the Resource Center and the essential role our organization plays on Orcas Island.
Alison O'Toole, Community Health Worker (she/her/hers)
A true island girl, Alison grew up between Orcas Island and Hawai’i. After spending several years away from Orcas, Alison came back to the island to connect with her roots.
Alison studied History and Political Science at Western Washington University and received a teaching certificate for middle and high school history and social studies. Upon completion, Alison went on to teach in Costa Rica, Vietnam, and Seattle.
Alison has worked in social services professionally for several years, but has always had a drive for connecting with others and community engagement. In her free time, you might catch Alison cooking, playing soccer, snuggling with her dogs, and occasionally singing karaoke.
Isaac Perales, Bilingual Community Health Worker he/him/his)
Isaac grew up in a city known for its automotive industry in Coahuila, Mexico, near Texas. He earned a degree in Human Resources with a specialization in Labor Relations from the Autonomous University of Coahuila. During his studies, Isaac gained valuable experience through internships in various automotive companies. After graduation, he worked as a Labor Relations Coordinator, where he resolved labor law issues, negotiated with unions, and implemented projects to reduce absenteeism and turnover.
Isaac is fluent in Spanish, English, and French. He moved to Orcas Island in 2021 to join his father and quickly became part of the community. In addition to his professional skills, Isaac is passionate about sports, enjoying mountain climbing, motocross, baseball, and soccer.
We are thrilled to have Isaac as our Bilingual Community Health Worker. His expertise and language skills enable him to effectively assist both the broader community and Spanish-speaking clients, helping them navigate language barriers and access essential services.
Holly Southern, Programs Director (she/her/hers)
Holly grew up in Westfield, NJ taking the train to New York City most weekends. She studied sociology and graphic design in college and eventually made her way to Seattle.
With Seattle changing so much over the years, she and her husband, Raymond, sought out a slower-paced life and found exactly that by moving to Orcas Island.
Holly was looking for meaningful work that would make an impact in the community and jumped on board at the Resource Center in 2020. Her current role is as our Programs Director, where she oversees our programs and direct service staff.
When she’s not working, she focuses her energy on family and time with her adorable dog, Sweedie. Holly enjoys kayaking and traveling to warm destinations in the winter.
The best piece of advice she’s ever received is to volunteer your time helping others when you are feeling down. It will get you out of your own head and give you some much-needed perspective!
Sophie Timin, Americorps VISTA Member (she/her/hers)
Sophie grew up moving around a lot between Germany, Canada, and Costa Rica, but her connection to the pacific northwest always remained the strongest. She is now settled in Bellingham and working remotely for the Resource Center.
Sophie developed a passion for social research at Cal Poly Humboldt, where she graduated with a BA in psychology. She went on to earn her MS in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, where she gained an interest in nonprofit program evaluation.
Her research background centers around social psychology and refugee well-being. She is excited for the opportunity to work with the Resource Center and contribute to supporting islanders to enhance their wellbeing.
In her freetime, Sophie enjoys singing, pilates, and hiking. She loves having picnics and admiring trees, deer and squirrels.