Yumiko Damashek

Yumiko Damashek

Board Chair, Executive Committee Chair, Compensation Committee Chair, Finance Committee, Governance committee (Board Member since 2020);  Former Vice-President of Cabot Microelectronics

Yumiko came to the US from Japan as a graduate student and eventually settled in CA. After a fair share of struggles as a new immigrant in a new country, she landed a position in the semiconductor industry and successfully climbed up the corporate ladder all the way to executive leadership, breaking glass ceilings along the way. She is a purpose-driven leader with her passion in racial, gender and social justice, and has led women’s career development, leadership development and DEI and ESG sustainability programs in a variety of settings. She understands the difficulties refugees and immigrants face, particularly women, and is grateful for the opportunity to help transform their lives through the work she gets to do at RAI. 

Board Chair, Executive Committee Chair, Compensation Committee Chair, Finance Committee, Governance committee (Board Member since 2020);  Former Vice-President of Cabot Microelectronics

Yumiko came to the US from Japan as a graduate student and eventually settled in CA. After a fair share of struggles as a new immigrant in a new country, she landed a position in the semiconductor industry and successfully climbed up the corporate ladder all the way to executive leadership, breaking glass ceilings along the way. She is a purpose-driven leader with her passion in racial, gender and social justice, and has led women’s career development, leadership development and DEI and ESG sustainability programs in a variety of settings. She understands the difficulties refugees and immigrants face, particularly women, and is grateful for the opportunity to help transform their lives through the work she gets to do at RAI. 

Heather Bridges

Heather Bridges

Vice Chair, Board Treasurer, Governance Committee Chair, Finance Committee Chair, Executive Committee, Compensation Committee (Board Member since 2022); Managing Director, Unify Consulting

Heather is Managing Director at Unify Consulting and is a veteran leader in the management consulting industry, bringing over 30 years of experience helping for-profit and non-profit organizations establish more effective operations, systems, and teams. She brings her extensive Finance experience to her role as Board Treasurer. Heather's journey is deeply rooted in her personal experience. As a former foster child, she understands the importance of community support and it is this understanding that fuels her commitment to the women that RAI serves. Their strength, resilience, and hopeful spirit embody the very best of humanity and inspire us all.

Vice Chair, Board Treasurer, Governance Committee Chair, Finance Committee Chair, Executive Committee, Compensation Committee (Board Member since 2022); Managing Director, Unify Consulting

Heather is Managing Director at Unify Consulting and is a veteran leader in the management consulting industry, bringing over 30 years of experience helping for-profit and non-profit organizations establish more effective operations, systems, and teams. She brings her extensive Finance experience to her role as Board Treasurer. Heather's journey is deeply rooted in her personal experience. As a former foster child, she understands the importance of community support and it is this understanding that fuels her commitment to the women that RAI serves. Their strength, resilience, and hopeful spirit embody the very best of humanity and inspire us all.

Brittany Mehl

Brittany Mehl

Board Secretary, Executive Committee, Compensation Committee (Board Member since 2019); Business Development Director, Mentor Creative Group


Brittany Mehl works for Mentor Creative Group, a digital creative agency in Seattle that designs, builds, brands, and markets products. She is passionate about RAI’s innovative model to transform the lives of refugee and immigrant women. She is looking forward to helping share the impact stories of the organization along with developing community partnerships.

Board Secretary, Executive Committee, Compensation Committee (Board Member since 2019); Business Development Director, Mentor Creative Group


Brittany Mehl works for Mentor Creative Group, a digital creative agency in Seattle that designs, builds, brands, and markets products. She is passionate about RAI’s innovative model to transform the lives of refugee and immigrant women. She is looking forward to helping share the impact stories of the organization along with developing community partnerships.

Hayden Bixby

Hayden Bixby

Governance Committee Chair (Board Member since 2019); Program Director, Cura Orphanage

Hayden Bixby currently serves as the International Program Director for Cura Orphanage (Kenya), a non-profit she has led on a volunteer basis since 2006. Professionally, she is in the property management business, having left her tenured Edmonds College faculty position of 24 years in 2021. She has both corporate and non-profit Board experience, and is thrilled to be contributing to the work of RAI as it serves women who come as refugees to their new homes in the US. As a resident of Lake City, she also appreciates RAI as a vibrant, hopeful and entrepreneurial neighbor committed to social justice.

Governance Committee Chair (Board Member since 2019); Program Director, Cura Orphanage

Hayden Bixby currently serves as the International Program Director for Cura Orphanage (Kenya), a non-profit she has led on a volunteer basis since 2006. Professionally, she is in the property management business, having left her tenured Edmonds College faculty position of 24 years in 2021. She has both corporate and non-profit Board experience, and is thrilled to be contributing to the work of RAI as it serves women who come as refugees to their new homes in the US. As a resident of Lake City, she also appreciates RAI as a vibrant, hopeful and entrepreneurial neighbor committed to social justice.

Elta Ratliff

Elta Ratliff

Development Committee Chair (Board Member since 2022)

Elta is the daughter of immigrants who were fortunate to make it to United States after escaping civil war, and she is grateful for the opportunity to support RAI’s artisans. Elta is fascinated by the creativity of RAI’s team, and she is excited that such meaningful work repurposes textiles that would otherwise go to waste. In addition to running her property management company, Elta has also devoted her time to volunteer leadership for a variety of environmental and educational institutions. Earlier in her career, Elta worked as supply chain consultant and as a process engineer, and she holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from MIT.

Development Committee Chair (Board Member since 2022)

Elta is the daughter of immigrants who were fortunate to make it to United States after escaping civil war, and she is grateful for the opportunity to support RAI’s artisans. Elta is fascinated by the creativity of RAI’s team, and she is excited that such meaningful work repurposes textiles that would otherwise go to waste. In addition to running her property management company, Elta has also devoted her time to volunteer leadership for a variety of environmental and educational institutions. Earlier in her career, Elta worked as supply chain consultant and as a process engineer, and she holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from MIT.

Cleo Escarez

Cleo Escarez

Governance Committee (Board Member since 2023); Founder/CEO at Redyoos

Cleo Escarez is a results-oriented retail executive with over 15 years of experience leading and growing successful retail businesses. Throughout her career, she has consistently delivered impressive results by developing and executing innovative retail strategies, fostering a customer-centric culture, and leveraging data-driven insights to optimize operations. She is a champion of sustainability and a recognized expert in integrating circular economy principles into retail operations. A passionate advocate for women, refugees, and immigrants. Cleo leverages her expertise in business to create impactful programs that empower marginalized communities.

Governance Committee (Board Member since 2023); Founder/CEO at Redyoos

Cleo Escarez is a results-oriented retail executive with over 15 years of experience leading and growing successful retail businesses. Throughout her career, she has consistently delivered impressive results by developing and executing innovative retail strategies, fostering a customer-centric culture, and leveraging data-driven insights to optimize operations. She is a champion of sustainability and a recognized expert in integrating circular economy principles into retail operations. A passionate advocate for women, refugees, and immigrants. Cleo leverages her expertise in business to create impactful programs that empower marginalized communities.

Shannon Walker

Shannon Walker

Governance Committee (Board Member since 2023); Civil Rights Attorney, Law Offices of Shannon Walker

Shannon is an attorney with nearly 30 years of experience in non-profit civil and human rights advocacy. She has worked with immigrant, refugee and indigenous communities in Washington, Alaska, and California to ensure their safe and prosperous futures including through litigation and legislative policy development. She lives in Seattle and is excited to be working with RAI because it is a local organization investing in refugee entrepreneurs from the local community in a way that supports their long-term independence and holistic transition to living in the United States.

Governance Committee (Board Member since 2023); Civil Rights Attorney, Law Offices of Shannon Walker

Shannon is an attorney with nearly 30 years of experience in non-profit civil and human rights advocacy. She has worked with immigrant, refugee and indigenous communities in Washington, Alaska, and California to ensure their safe and prosperous futures including through litigation and legislative policy development. She lives in Seattle and is excited to be working with RAI because it is a local organization investing in refugee entrepreneurs from the local community in a way that supports their long-term independence and holistic transition to living in the United States.

Kristina Reed

Kristina Reed

Product Development Task Force (Board Member since 2024)

Kristina Reed is a two-time Academy-Award winning film producer with over 25 years of experience leading highly creative and technical
teams. Together, they created emotionally resonant, visually ground-breaking entertainment for feature film animation studios like Disney and Dreamworks.

More recently Kristina served as the SVP, Creative Development & Strategy for Madison Square Garden Company’s Sphere theater in Las Vegas. She guided the development, building a production slate and bespoke pipeline for the 160,000 sf screens.

Today, Kristina is leveraging her deep multi-stakeholder leadership skills to strengthen the partnership, network and impact of textile diversion in Seattle. As a daughter of two
immigrants to the US, Kristina is passionate about helping the RAI community find their
financial and social footing.

Product Development Task Force (Board Member since 2024)

Kristina Reed is a two-time Academy-Award winning film producer with over 25 years of experience leading highly creative and technical
teams. Together, they created emotionally resonant, visually ground-breaking entertainment for feature film animation studios like Disney and Dreamworks.

More recently Kristina served as the SVP, Creative Development & Strategy for Madison Square Garden Company’s Sphere theater in Las Vegas. She guided the development, building a production slate and bespoke pipeline for the 160,000 sf screens.

Today, Kristina is leveraging her deep multi-stakeholder leadership skills to strengthen the partnership, network and impact of textile diversion in Seattle. As a daughter of two
immigrants to the US, Kristina is passionate about helping the RAI community find their
financial and social footing.

Key Advisors and Contributors

Key Advisors and Contributors

Steve Hill, Board Development Advisor - Steve is an effective business and community leader with extensive human resources and organizational effectiveness experience in both the private and public sectors. A non-profit guru, Steve dedicates his time to coaching RAI on how to effectively lead and grow as a company.

Ron Chew, Non-Profit Advisor - Journalist, Author and community organizer. Ron was Executive Director of the International Community Health Services, a journalist at the International Examiner, and Director of the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle's International District. He has extensive experience in oral history and community-based arts organizations, founding Chew Communications in 2008.

Alexa Carver, Board Development Advisor - Alexa is a highly experienced consultant who specializes in governance, identity and strategy development for nonprofits. She has been a trusted advisor to RAI and its board since 2020.

Steve Hill, Board Development Advisor - Steve is an effective business and community leader with extensive human resources and organizational effectiveness experience in both the private and public sectors. A non-profit guru, Steve dedicates his time to coaching RAI on how to effectively lead and grow as a company.

Ron Chew, Non-Profit Advisor - Journalist, Author and community organizer. Ron was Executive Director of the International Community Health Services, a journalist at the International Examiner, and Director of the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle's International District. He has extensive experience in oral history and community-based arts organizations, founding Chew Communications in 2008.

Alexa Carver, Board Development Advisor - Alexa is a highly experienced consultant who specializes in governance, identity and strategy development for nonprofits. She has been a trusted advisor to RAI and its board since 2020.

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