Phedra Elliott
Executive Director
Originally from Texas, Phedra moved to the Northwest in 2002. She and her husband arrived just in time to buy an affordable home before housing prices began to rise. She strongly believes that communities should have a wide variety of housing options and being able to live where you work should not be a matter of luck. Phedra has a diverse background in teaching, customer service, human resources, and grants administration. She has worked at HRB since 2010, has a young daughter and likes to play with her, read, cook, and drink wine with friends.
Lara Deits
Fund Development Director
Lara grew up in Hoquiam, WA and moved from Seattle to Bainbridge Island in 2017. She spent 15 years at an investment management firm where she led a team responsible for investment reporting. Lara served as a board member for HRB before joining the staff in 2020. On staff, she leads the fundraising and development program at HRB. Lara faced housing insecurity as a child and strongly believes that providing affordable housing to our community is vital. She is passionate about giving people opportunities to attend our amazing schools, live where they work, and to age in the community they call home. Lara has three young sons and loves reading whenever she can find a quiet moment.
Victoria Beckett
Accountant
Victoria comes to HRB with a background in non-profit accounting and a desire to be part of an organization that does meaningful work. She grew up in Bellevue and left the area in 1986. She has lived in Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania and California. Victoria is glad to be back in the Pacific Northwest after so many years away. She had never been on the Kitsap Peninsula until 2002, and she loves it here so much she made her permanent home in Suquamish wither her daughter, Hope. Working for HRB is a dream come true for Victoria.
Marta Holt
Rental Property & Homeownership Programs Manager
Marta has worked as a low-income housing property manager, homeless housing programs analyst, and homeless and housing advocate since 2010. She has a background in long-range urban planning, and she holds a Masters in Public Administration and is a licensed real estate broker. “I believe that the most vibrant and sustainable communities ensure integrity for all people in an economically and culturally diverse mix.”
Jeanette Hill
Housing Facilities Manager
Jeanette runs the day-to-day operations of HRB’s maintenance department and oversees the preventative maintenance program. She has over twenty years of experience in building and facilities maintenance. She worked for a large, top-rated housing authority prior to joining HRB. She is committed to maintaining HRB’s inventory of apartments in a manner that assures their existence for generations to come. Jeanette recently completed a three year course of study in affordable housing asset management. She is passionate about affordable housing and finds the work both challenging and rewarding.
Jessica Swaling-Campbell
Programs & Office Coordinator
Jessica moved to Kitsap County in 2007 to be closer to her family. She has worked as an intake specialist, behavioral health ombudsman, case manager, and foreclosure mediation program manager since 2010. She has a passion for service and volunteers as a mediator and a park steward. “I am proud to live in a community that is diverse and supportive of those in need, and am thrilled to join the HRB team!”
Julie Stone
Independent Living Program Manager
Julie moved to Bainbridge Island from Vermont to make a home for her young daughter close to family; she is a graduate of the University of Vermont. In Vermont she especially enjoyed six years in kitchen and bath design working with homeowners and contractors. With various work experience, including at the IRS, she found a new career in Washington employed in the insurance industry for six years assessing policy exposure for various trades. Since 2003 Julie combines community resources and her work experience to help keep folks in their homes safely. She enjoys the beauty of her Northwest home, exploring the National Parks, and trying new recipes.
Ruben Herrera
Maintenance Technician
Ruben is committed to customer service and helping build community through his work in maintaining HRB properties. He spent 7 years as Building Maintenance Supervisor in Clovis Ca. He then started residential maintenance in 2005 with the largest property management company in the Central Valley, where he was nominated Maintenance Technician of the Year. He continued his residential maintenance career after moving to Washington in 2009 and now serves as the Lead Maintenance Tech. for HRB. Ruben hopes to continue his positive impact on Bainbridge Island for many years to come.
Vidal Hernandez
Maintenance Technician
Vidal was born and raised on the Kitsap Peninsula and graduated from Kingston High School in 2018. This is his second year as a maintenance technician and he feels like he is learning so much already, and hopes to continue working with HRB as long as possible to assist in its growth. In his free time Vidal enjoys playing sports, fishing, art, reading, and traveling.
Tamar Kupiec
Communications Strategy Coordinator
Tamar Kupiec comes to HRB from IslandWood where she managed the volunteer program. She has an M.F.A. in nonfiction writing, taught creative writing in New York City public high schools, and worked for many years as a freelance writer and editor, most recently at Forterra. Tamar moved to Bainbridge in 2016 from the East Coast, where she lived in various Massachusetts cities and towns and in Brooklyn, NY, and was immediately taken by the island’s natural beauty and engaged community. She believes that through thoughtful, equitable, and innovative housing development, we can create a more economically diverse and interconnected community. She finds great satisfaction in sharing the stories of challenge and opportunity, generosity and commitment that define HRB and involving others in its work.
Irene Herman
Independent Living Program Coordinator
Irene, currently located in Poulsbo, had the privilege of spending her formative years on Bainbridge, and graduating from Bainbridge High School. She went on to attend the University of Washington and spent time working as a teacher, an office manager, and a real estate agent. Recognizing the systemic issues in real estate and home ownership that exclude low- and moderate-income people, she wanted to participate in affordable housing efforts and has found her place in the Independent Living program here at HRB. In addition to joyfully serving her clients and community, Irene loves adventuring with her husband, stepson, and dog Momo any chance they get.