Media contact: Simon Bakke, Communications Manager, RE Sources, simonb@re-sources.org, 360-350-8971
Building on 40 years of defying convention, regional environmental group RE Sources is embarking on a new chapter by promoting three current directors to serve as co-executive directors.
Bellingham, Wash. (December 12, 2023) — RE Sources’ Board of Directors has appointed Ander Russell (they/them), Janet Marino (she/her) and Jay Kosa (he/him) the organization’s new Co-Executive Directors starting January 1st. Over the last five years, the organization’s programs and impact have grown by 20 percent while winning lasting protections against fuel expansions, fighting toxic pollution, reducing waste, and accelerating local climate action.
“RE Sources is entering a pivotal new chapter. From our education offerings to our campaigns on forests, Salish Sea pollution, and the clean energy transition, our work is coalescing and we can feel the energy that this community has for action. The three of us are honored and excited to carry the work forward,” said Russell. “We believe wholeheartedly that a shared leadership approach will allow for balanced perspectives, resilience, and efficiencies that will enhance the organizations’ impact.”
Shannon Wright, who has led the organization since 2018, is stepping down on December 31st to return to her roots in international environmental activism. She will continue to reside in Bellingham and serve as a valuable community advocate and supporter of RE Sources’ mission (Read a farewell message from Shannon).
“It has been a privilege to work alongside so many amazing coworkers and partners,” stated Wright. “Ander, Jay and Janet are deeply committed to our region and will catalyze transformative solutions to protect this region’s places and people.”
Ander Russell joined RE Sources in 2014 and served as manager of water programs and senior environmental advocate before being promoted to program director in 2021. Russell holds an M.S. from the College of the Environment at Western Washington University (WWU) and has over 30 years of experience in wildlife and land conservation and coalition building. As Co-Executive Director in charge of programs, Russell will oversee all aspects of the organization’s advocacy, science and education work.
Janet Marino first joined RE Sources in 1998 through a retail position with the RE Store, a program of RE Sources dedicated to diverting waste and reusing furniture and construction materials. In 2017, Marino re-joined RE Sources and has since served as program director and director of operations. Marino holds a BA in Political Science from WWU, paired with more than 25 years of experience with nonprofit management and operations. As Co-Executive Director in charge of operations, Marino will oversee all aspects of the organization’s staffing, finances, and facilities.
Jay Kosa joined RE Sources in 2020 to serve as Communications Director. Kosa holds an M.S. in Multimedia Journalism from the University of Oregon and brings more than 15 years of experience amplifying environmental causes, from green building to land conservation to climate advocacy. As Co-Executive Director of Communications and Development, Kosa will oversee communications, fundraising, and outreach efforts.
Each of these co-executive directors has earned the respect of environmental and community leaders.
“Ander has worked in solidarity with Community to Community for over a decade. They’ve been there supporting farmworker led projects that protect food producing land and address climate change. Through the good times and celebrations; also through one of our toughest periods, the COVID 19 pandemic. Ander will be a great leader for RE Sources,” said Rosalinda Guillen, founder of Community to Community Development.
“Janet brings a wealth of experience in the nonprofit world to her new position as co-executive director at RE Sources,” said Dr. Vernon Damani Johnson, Former Faculty, Department of Political Science, Western Washington University. “She has held administrative positions in a women’s organization (Bellingham YWCA), and was executive director at the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center during a period in which it experienced significant growth. Her work in the women’s and social justice arenas position her to see sustainability in its broadest sense. Kudos to RE Sources for selecting her for the position!”
“Jay has been a great partner inviting people in the community to engage in environmental issues through the power of film,” stated Melissa Tamminga, Program Director for the Pickford Film Center. “We look forward to more creative collaborations with RE Sources in the years ahead.”
“RE Sources, home of the North Sound Waterkeeper, is one of the most effective advocacy groups not only in Northwest Washington, but across the Pacific Northwest, and I am thrilled that Ander, Janet, and Jay will be leading the RE Sources team,” said Bart Mihailovich, Organizing Director for Waterkeeper Alliance. “With these three in key leadership positions, I’ve seen the organization grow its impact and earn the respect of environmental groups across the region.”
“The RE Sources Board of Directors is unanimous in affirming the new chapter of shared leadership for this respected organization, and appointing Ander, Janet, and Jay as Co-Executive Directors,” said board President Ted Wolf. “The Board is grateful to our departing Executive Director Shannon Wright, a quiet visionary who led RE Sources through the pandemic and instilled the values, vision, and hope in which this new model of leadership takes root. We are fortunate to have the chance to promote talent from within, and excited to support Ander, Janet, and Jay as they build on proven track records of mobilizing people in Northwest Washington to protect the land, waters, and climate on which we all depend.”
Russell, Marino and Kosa each reside in the Bellingham area with their families. They can be found romping through the woods or strolling along shorelines with their respective dogs. Russell and Marino can also be found organizing the annual Subdued Stringband Jamboree each summer. Learn more about the new Executive Team.
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Founded in 1982 and based in Bellingham, Washington, RE Sources is a nonprofit that mobilizes people in Northwest Washington to build just and thriving communities and protect land, water, and climate on which we all depend. We do this work through advocacy and education. RE Sources also operates the RE Store, non-profit program with a retail location in the Fountain District of Bellingham that exists to divert as much reusable material as possible from the landfill and to build a culture of reuse in our community. For more information, visit re-sources.org.