Bill Henkel (he/him)
Executive Director
Bill loves initiatives that encourage and link collaborative efforts to move local individuals, families and our community itself toward prosperity. He’s proud of Community Action’s track record in working toward our vision of a community where EVERYONE works together to end poverty. Bill first joined Community Action in 1999, and has served as Executive Director since 2008. He also served as the founding Director of the Whatcom Homeless Service Center, and before that he volunteered with the Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa. He earned a BA in Economics from William and Mary, and an MA in Communication and Writing from Oregon State University. He serves or has served on many boards locally and regionally. Bill lives in Edison and loves anything outdoors, hiking, biking, skiing, kayaking, and playing the banjo. 

Mindy Engstrom (she/her)
Human Resources & Operations Director
Mindy is passionate about supporting her community and creating meaningful, people-centered workplaces. She joined Community Action in 2018, aligning her career with her values of service and impact. As Director of Human Resources and Director of Operations, she oversees HR, IT, and Facilities. She holds a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) with an emphasis in Management and Strategy and a BA in Communication Studies. Before transitioning into Human Resources, Mindy spent 10 years in the legal field in business and operations roles and now brings over a decade of HR experience. Mindy is a graduate of Leadership Skagit Class of 2022 and is currently pursuing her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification. She has called Skagit Valley home since 2015 and enjoys everything is has to offer, especially spending time outdoors and with family.

Jazmin Flores (she/her)
Director of Care Coordination
Jazmin serves as Director of Care Coordination, overseeing stabilization programs including housing, shelter, resource centers, recovery, and outreach. With over a decade at Community Action, she advanced from Housing Case Manager to her current leadership role. Jazmin is dedicated to program excellence, focusing on crisis response, integrated services, and supporting staff development and collaboration. Growing up with a physically disabled parent, Jazmin understands the importance of access to compassionate care. She believes people thrive when they are met with genuine support and is committed to ensuring that services honor the diversity of the Skagit community. As a proud Latina, Jazmin recognizes the importance of diversity and inclusivity in leadership roles. Outside of work, Jazmin enjoys a simple life, Zumba, movies, gardening, and exploring new places to eat.

Elizabeth Jennings (she/her)
Director of Community Engagement
Liz’s passion is helping people become superheroes for their communities. Since 2012, she has helped build Community Action’s strategies to achieve our vision of “everyone working together to end poverty in Skagit County.” The Community Engagement Team helps people LEARN about poverty issues, VOLUNTEER to make a difference, ADVOCATE for public policy change, GIVE to support our work financially, and ORGANIZE community members, coalitions and initiatives for the shared goal of working together to end poverty in Skagit County. Liz’s career began as a news reporter and editor, and she has served as staff, executive director, and board member for many nonprofits, from tiny groups to Amnesty International USA. Having grown up in a low-income family, Liz has dedicated her career to protecting and promoting human rights and housing stability. She is a frequent trainer for Leadership Whidbey and Leadership Skagit. 

Michele Metcalf (she/her)
Housing Project Director
Michele joined Community Action of Skagit County in October 2021 to help advance our commitment to ensuring everyone who lives and works in Skagit can have a safe, affordable place to call home. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in Housing Development and program administration, both in inner city and rural communities. Prior to joining Community Action, Michele worked as the Housing Director for the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe of Darrington, Washington. Michele is an enrolled member of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe of Washington and has dedicated years to serving tribal communities and other diverse populations both on and off reservation. Michele also has experience working with a low-income housing organization in Portland, Oregon where she assisted with fund development, served on the Board of Directors, and held roles in administration and property management.

Ayumi Orthmeyer (she/her)
Finance Director
Ayumi values customer service and has led Community Acton’s Finance Department since 2024. Ayumi has worked in the nonprofit finance field since 2008. She leads financial/accounting tasks with precision and accuracy, such as conducting financial reporting and maintaining GAAP compliance. Ayumi is also excited to work with the Finance team to grow their skills to help programs problem solve. Ayumi’s top priority in her role is to ensure that everyone understands how the finances work at the agency, and to have Finance and Administration be strong partners in programs and clients achieving their goals. Our board and leadership are especially proud of our Finance team’s strong track record of clean audits, despite a budget that includes hundreds of federal, state, and local government sources, and private foundations and donors.

Sandi Phinney (she/her)
Chief Strategy Officer
Sandi is committed to building a community where there is opportunity for all. She is dedicated to fostering a culture of learning at Community Action by encouraging data-driven question-asking and strategic planning. She joined Community Action in 2010 in the adult education program, later taking on the role of managing the agency’s data improvement before becoming a director in 2021. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s degree in public administration (MPA), focusing her study on program evaluation and measuring collective impact. Sandi spent many years working in Central and Eastern Europe on civil society development, including a year on the Bosch Fellowship in Germany studying immigration and integration. An Anacortes resident, she has lived in Skagit County longer than anywhere else in her life and is proud to call it home. 

Melissa Self (she/her)
Deputy Director & Director of Community Services
Melissa has enjoyed supporting the people in Skagit County through her work at Community Action since 1995. She has worked in a variety of programs over the years and currently holds the position of Deputy Director.  She began her career doing home visits with young families and children, listening to their stories and sharing resources to help them become healthy and thriving. Though she has been involved in nearly every program at Community Action, she currently supports the Skagit Food Distribution Center, Energy Assistance, WIC/ Infant Case Management and Mobility & Senior Services programs. Melissa is a 2013 graduate of Leadership Skagit and has served on or led several local boards and coalitions. Melissa is a lifelong resident of Skagit County and loves music, sports, the outdoors and all the beauty the valley has to offer.