Backpack Brigade Team
Founder & Executive Director
Nichelle Hilton
Program Manager
Sam Hoyt
Administrative Assistant
Sandy Gelb
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Volunteer Coordinator
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Warehouse Coordinator
Eric Velázquez
Director of Development
Maya Azimioara
Marketing Specialist
Eva Martinez-Bond
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Development Associate
Chelsea Montgomery
Backpack Brigade Board of Directors
President
Matt Camrud
Matt is a father of two teenage boys, husband of 20+ years to his wife, and a partner with Seattle-based wealth management firm Brighton Jones. Matt is a past-President of Bellevue Rotary and has been involved in serving non-profits for most of his life. Matt lives by the quote “I don’t want to only live the length of my life – I want to live the width of it as well.” He looks forward to serving Backpack Brigade and the thousands of children who rely on it for weekend food security.
Vice President
Loretta Douglas
Loretta was introduced to Backpack Brigade in 2023 through the Chef’s Fest event at Hot Stove Society. After interviewing Nichelle and Mariela for the Hot Stove Society Radio Show, which she co-hosts, her eyes were opened to the crisis of weekend hunger and she knew she had to get involved. Loretta is part-owner and general counsel of Tom Douglas and Company and has been involved in her family’s restaurant business for the majority of life. In her current role, she helps craft company policy, serves as Human Resources Director, and handles the variety of the company’s legal needs. She has a bachelor’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies and Comparative Religion from Colgate University and a law degree from the University of Washington. In her spare time, she can be found with her husband and three young children exploring a new playground or trying out a new recipe.
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Treasurer
Ben Bishop
Ben Bishop joined our board in 2025 after volunteering as a loader on the busiest day of the week. He is a lifelong Seattleite, and is a proud alum of multiple Seattle Public Schools that Backpack Brigade supports today. He runs Diagonal Strategy, an advisory for growth-stage food, beverage, and retail businesses - and applies his background in strategy, analytics, and business growth to Backpack Brigade.
Secretary
Dre Gohlke
Dre Gohlke is a marketing and communications consultant who has called the Pacific Northwest home for most of her life. She was introduced to Backpack Brigade through a simple invitation to the 2024 Winter Wonderland Gala and immediately knew she wanted to be part of the solution to end weekend hunger for children. With a strong background in fundraising, Dre has worked alongside Seattle-based organizations such as United Way of King County and Plymouth Housing, driven by her passion for community impact. A proud graduate of both Seattle University and the University of Washington, she's an avid Husky fan and a dedicated supporter of Seattle's sports teams. When she's not championing causes close to her heart, you can usually find Dre snacking her way through Seattle's many events, always on the hunt for the next great bite.
Member-at-Large
Sarah Ninivaggi
Sarah Ninivaggi is an experienced communications leader who specializes in helping organizations navigate complex challenges and communicate clearly and confidently. She currently serves as Vice President at Quinn Thomas, an award-winning agency based in the Pacific Northwest. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Towson University and a Master’s in Communications Leadership from the University of Washington. Over the years, Sarah has volunteered with several nonprofits and is honored to serve on the board of Backpack Brigade. As a parent, Backpack Brigade’s mission deeply resonates with her—ensuring all families have access to the support they need to thrive.
Member-at-Large
Mike Humphreys
Mike Humphreys has been involved with Backpack Brigade for more than 10 years. He began volunteer service in early 2016 and joined its Board of Directors as President in 2020, serving 2 years. After continuing volunteer service in the interim, Mike has now rejoined the Board as Member at Large, where he hopes to contribute to the team and its efforts to serve kids and help ensure no child faces their day hungry or disadvantaged. Aside from Mike’s Backpack Brigade service, Mike is retired from an international career in General Management running businesses in the banking and technology industries spanning the US, Asia & Europe. Mike lives in Kirkland Wa, is a happy & proud father, grandfather, and husband, and in his spare time pursues ultra marathon swimming & bicycling.
Member-at-Large
Colleen Donovan
Colleen is an economist with nearly two decades of experience helping companies discover data-driven insights and tell their most compelling economic stories. She is the founder of the consulting firm Donovan Economics. Colleen is also passionate about supporting non-profits in various sectors, and acts as the Executive Director of the Donovan Family Foundation whose mission is centered on alleviating poverty. A native of Michigan, she has enjoyed living in Bellevue WA since 2016. Colleen holds a PhD in economics from UC Berkeley and a BA in economics from the University of Florida.
Member-at-Large
Mary Ellen Osthus
Mary Ellen joined Backpack Brigade in 2020. Mary Ellen’s husband Scott is a life-long educator and through his work, she feels an urgency to tackle the staggering food insecurity in our school communities, helping ensure every child is ready to learn. Through Backpack Brigade she found a tangible way to serve, from volunteering in the warehouse, to packing meals and serving as Board Secretary (2021-2024). Mary Ellen grew up in Seattle, has a BA in English from the University of Washington, and has over 20 years of leadership experience with home-town retailers Nordstrom and Eddie Bauer. In her free time, she’s busy enjoying Seattle with her family, listening to live music and exploring low tides.
Member-at-Large
Maite Madrazo
Maite Madrazo Vega has spent over a decade helping organizations navigate complex challenges — leading strategy and program management at Starbucks, advising Fortune 500 companies at EY, and co-founding a startup from launch through acquisition. Originally from Mexico City and now a mother of three based in Seattle, she is passionate about supporting children's wellbeing and helping ease food insecurity in her community. She looks forward to bringing her operational expertise, curiosity, and collaborative approach to Backpack Brigade's board.
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Member-at-Large
Jim Eisen
Jim has extensive experience working with private equity sponsors and boards to drive enterprise transformation, operational scalability, and EBITDA growth. Most recently, he served as Board Member and Operating Partner for Shopko Optical and previously served as President and CEO of HVHC & Visionworks Inc, a vision-care organization with more than 700 retail locations and 9,000 employees. He also served on the board of Boys & Girls Club and volunteered with Bulldog Bags of Ohio, providing weekend and summer meals for kids in need. Currently, Jim is an independent consultant who moved to Seattle two years ago to be closer to family. He’s been married to his wife Heather for 46 years.