Our Staff

Make-A-Wish Alaska & Washington Staff
Trina Cottingham — AKWA
Trina Cottingham

Interim CEO / Vice President, Wishes

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to eat at one of the top 10 restaurants in the world
Bre Brennan — AKWA
Bre Brennan

Senior Director of Data & Information Services

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to have a new backyard deck with a fire table
Janine Lee — AKWA
Janine Lee

Assistant Director of People & Culture

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to do Asian and Pacific Islander advocacy work with Simu Liu
Lauren Martin — AKWA
Lauren Martin

Vice President of Advancement

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to have a garage transformation into a workout/family play area
Shelby Barlow — AKWA
Shelby Barlow

Wish Support & Administrative Coordinator, Alaska

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to go to Ireland and sit on a cliff to listen and watch the beautiful water
AKWA — Andi Blija
Andi Blija

Senior Manager, Multimedia & Creative Services

(he/him)
My Wish
I wish to have a complete yard makeover with native-growing plants
Sophie Boyer — AKWA
Sophie Boyer

Senior Manager, Donor Engagement & Annual Fund

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to have professional cooking and baking lessons
Paulette Buse — AKWA
Paulette Buse

Donor Care & Board of Trustees Administrator

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to take a food tour around Italy
Kimberly Carper — AKWA
Kimberly Carper

Wish Manager

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to have an interior designer help me redo our main floor to make it super warm and cozy
Lauren Davies — AKWA
Lauren Davies

Bilingual Associate Director, Wishes / Directora Asociada Bilingüe de Deseos

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to have new backpacking gear
Jessie Elenbaas — AKWA
Jessie Elenbaas

Associate Director Communications & Marketing

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to explore Italy with my family, savoring its cuisine, culture and history
Nataliya Frick — AKWA
Nataliya Frick

Wish Coordinator

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to open up an animal shelter
Lindsey Goss — AKWA
Lindsey Goss

Volunteer Coordinator

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to have a cooking lesson from my one of my favorite cookbook authors, Gaby Dalkin or Alex Snodgrass
Juli McClave — AKWA
Juli McClave

Senior Volunteer Manager

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to have a Zoom meeting with journalist Meghna Chakrabarti
Amy Morris — AKWA
Amy Morris

Program Manager, Volunteer Outreach & Engagement/Supervisora de Participación y Alcance de Voluntarios

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to have a hot tub
Kenzi Murphy — AKWA
Kenzi Murphy

Senior Coordinator, Corporate and Foundation Engagement

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to go to the Sundance Film Festival
AKWA — Kendra Nguyen
Kendra Nguyen

Community Engagement and Communications Manager

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to create an indoor play space that is accessible to all children
Teresa Perdue — AKWA
Teresa Perdue

Individual Giving Officer

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to go on a culinary adventure in Italy with my daughter and learn how to cook authentic dishes together
Kait Reiley — AKWA
Kait Reiley

Wish & Administrative Coordinator, Alaska

My Wish
I wish to go to the Galapagos Islands with my husband and kids
Andrea Solano Ruiz — AKWA
Andrea Solano Ruiz

Wish Coordinator/Coordinadora de Deseos

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to donate to an outdoor school or camp so kids from all paths have the opportunity to experience nature while getting an education
Bob Trutnau — AKWA
Bob Trutnau

Senior Finance & Administration Manager

(he/him)
My Wish
I wish to go on a tour of EMI Studio 2 on Abbey Road guided by Sir Paul and Ritchie
Kayla Verleye — AKWA
Kayla Verleye

Administrative & Events Coordinator

(she/her)
My Wish
I wish to go home to Hawaii with my mom to eat lots of good food and spend everyday in the ocean