Website: https://www.sanjuanmakersguild.com/
Bio: I was born in Ballard in 1949, in business in Seattle for many years, retired from that in 1984 to retrain for working with community groups. I live on Orcas Island with my partner, Marcy Montgomery, and together we’ve been weaving the fabric of this emerging organization since 2010, formalizing it in 2019 as a Commnity Service project of Heritage Ranch, Inc., a 501c3 . Since then we have been fortunate to complete several inter related steps, funded by the USDA, San Juan County, SJI Conservation District, NW Ag Business Development Center, including: 1. an asset map; 2. needs assessment; 3. build a web platform; 4. 6-live events; 5. begin chapter formation; aiming to identify and help a county-wide board form by the beginning of 2004. Provided technical and funding assistance to 13 businesses. First education support happening this winter. Currently applying for a variety grants serving a rich mix of food, art, science, technology and culture. My primary role in the Guild is listening to individual business owners and public/private meetings of various concerns where mutual barriers and opportunities may be revealed and/or addressed. When possible I propose a resource to solve something or nurture the discovery process. I have a natural curiosity about many things (Multiple Curiosity Disorder) and I’m never really bored.
