Our Board
Adam Glickman
Vice Chair
Adam Glickman
is Director of Public Affairs for SEIU Healthcare 775NW, the long-term care workers union representing 30,000 home care and nursing home workers in Washington and Montana. As director of Public Affairs he oversees SEIU Healthcare 775NW's political, legislative, community outreach, and media relations work. Adam grew up on the East Coast and became involved in labor and other social justice work while at Wesleyan University. After graduating, he worked in New York doing communications and political work, including as the Communications Director for New York's Working Families Party. He has two wonderful children - Micah and Asher.
Jeff Hansen
Board Member
Jeff Hansen
Jeff is a marketing professional and business strategist currently working for Microsoft's Chief Marketing Officer where he leads the company's brand strategy function. In over 20 years at Microsoft Jeff has developed a deep and diverse set of skills across a range professions including human resources, advertising, brand and image management, market research, marketing communications, PR and crisis management, product management, and leading the company's "marketing profession excellence" function. Prior to rejoining the central marketing group, Jeff spent five years working for Microsoft's "Chief Software Architect", where he was focused on helping implement advanced technologies and computing scenarios that are critical to the company's long term success.
Jeff is a Seattle native. He had a decade long hiatus in Oregon during which he graduated from the University of Oregon with honors in Psychology and Sociology. Jeff returned to Seattle in 1991 having a short career in the legal profession before joining Microsoft later that year. Jeff currently resides in Bellevue with his wife and two boys. He is currently past President of the Bellevue Schools Foundation, a member of the U of O regional council, a Social Venture Partner, and a frequent guest speaker at various universities.
Tom Miller
Board Member
Tom Miller
Tom is a retired professional software developer who worked at Digital Equipment Corporation and worked at Microsoft between 1989 until 2012. He is an expert in file systems and storage, and was a key developer of Microsoft Windows NT.
Mr. Miller enjoys skiing, sailing, hiking and traveling with his wife and two sons. He has been an avid supporter of Save the Children for about 30 years, and has visited programs in Azerbaijan and Georgia, Myanmar (Burma), Malawi, Bhutan and the United States. He has participated in a Jimmy Carter Habitat for the Humanities build in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and another Habitat build in Guatemala. His humanitarian priorities are the chief fuel for his passion for progressive politics!
Dean Nielsen
Board Member
Dean Nielsen
Dean is principal of Cerillion N4 Partners, a political consulting and government relations firm where he works for political, non-profit, union and corporate clients in Washington State, across the country and around the world. Formerly, he was National Political Director for Progressive Majority, where he and his staff recruited, trained and elected more than 1,000 progressive champions. Dean is a career politico, having worked in various capacities on more than 250 campaigns throughout the Western United States and Eastern Europe starting with Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign. His lengthy client list includes Governor Gary Locke (WA), Solidarity Party (Poland), the Gore/Lieberman Campaign, as well as issue campaigns for groups such as EMILY's List, National Education Association, Wellstone Action!, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, SEIU, Harborview Hospital, PCCC and the Democratic Party in several states. In addition to campaigns, he helped build and expand a grassroots and grasstops lobbying program for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, conceived and launched the Institute for a Democratic Future, did qualitative research for several casinos in Las Vegas, managed a crisis communications project for a Fortune 500 company and does a variety of projects for several clean energy companies.
Daniel Weise
Chair
Daniel Weise
Daniel is a community activist who is really worried about the march to fascism that the Republican party is hell-bent on leading us on. His other big thing is climate change. So, as you can tell, Daniel tends to dwell on existential threats to our civilization. Daniel is on the second of his two careers. His first was computer science researcher (PhD MIT AI Lab) where he started out as a professor at Stanford before helping to start up Microsoft Research in the early 90s by leading one of its first research groups.
He left Microsoft Research in 2004 to work on computational evolution, but discovered climate change and joined the advocacy community after quickly realizing that solving global warming was not technical problem, but a social and political one. He has been on the boards of the Cascade Bicycle Club, the Hertz Foundation, Washington Environment Council, and Washington Bikes, and serves on the board of Climate Solutions. His latest project is the Take Action Network, a web platform for movement building by focusing on the needs of individual activists, not on advocacy orgs. The result is a system that shares knowledge and power, giving individuals more options and methods for creating change.
Ahmed Gaya
Board Member
Ahmed Gaya
Ahmed Gaya is a climate justice activist based in the Pacific Northwest. Over the last ten years, he has helped run campaigns in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. He started his climate activism in High School, working on campaigns to regulate pollution from coal-fired power plants in his home of upstate New York, and spent summers fighting mountaintop removal in West Virginia. He is a founder of several grassroots climate action groups such as Rising Tide Seattle.
In 2015 Ahmed convened the sHell No! Action Council that coordinated iconic land and water protests against Shell's Arctic drilling rig docked in Seattle. Ahmed was a founding steering committee member of the Prison Ecology Project, and believes we are strongest when we find strategic points of intersection between progressive movements.
Julie Robinson
Board Member
Lyle Quasim
Board Member
Lyle Quasim
Lyle Quasim is a respected leader and advocate in Pierce County and across the state. He has served leadership roles in a wide array of educational and advocacy organizations working to advance racial equity, economic development, and social justice. Quasim chairs the Tacoma Black Collective, a community of black people dedicated to civic engagement through volunteer service. He was the first African American to head Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), has served as the Chief of Staff for the Pierce County Executive, and countless community boards. He is an engaged community leader with extensive background in advancing social justice.
Yazmin Mehdi
Board Member
Yazmin Mehdi
Yazmin Mehdi spent 18 years in public policy and public service, most recently as Interim District Director for Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. She brings over 25 years of experience in facilitating staff and non-profit board teams to identify and realize strategic priorities. At Congresswoman Jayapal’s office, she led a staff of six to identify constituent priorities and find ways to address these needs through federal legislation, resources, and attention. In her work in non-profits, she led the board of Town Hall to launch a $25-million capital project and fundraising effort, now completed; evaluated options for new funding for parks and recreation while on the Parks Board which led to creation and passage of the Seattle Park District, a sustainable funding source; and, co-chaired the initial phase of a capital campaign for University Prep. At the City of Seattle, she expanded the Library’s programs to serve the growing immigrant and refugee population; re-set Mayor Paul Schell’s relationship with the arts community through identification of a new funding source for the arts; and, successfully led the move of the Central Library to temporary quarters and back to the Koolhaas-designed structure. In 2007, she helped start Crosscut, a source for local journalism. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies from Harvard University and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan.
Leah Snyder
Board Member
Leah Snyder
A farm girl at heart, Leah left the Okanogan highlands to travel to Seattle for a career in Graphic Design. She attended Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington. She met many wonderful and interesting people and further developed her lifelong passion for the arts. Graduating with honors, she was confident her academic career was not yet finished. During a brief stint as a package designer with a local toy company, Leah began studying and applying to take the LSATs.
By happenstance, she met a local attorney and began her legal career as a receptionist. She was quickly accepted into Seattle University School of Law and began her studying in earnest. Juggling recreational soccer, part time work, and her studies, time flew by. After school, Leah immediately got a job with a trial attorney. Some years later, Ember Law PLLC was formed.
Leah joined the Washington State Association of Justice and shortly thereafter the American Association of Justice where she became an Insurance Litigation Group Chair and member of the Business Interruption Litigation Taskforce. Her colleagues and mentors have been invaluable in assisting Leah in her efforts to become an excellent litigator.
Leah’s practice focuses on insurance issues including property and casualty. It has been her privilege to try numerous cases for her clients Washington and she looks forward to seeking justice to her future clients.
Brianna Thomas
Board Member
Raman Khanna
Board Member
Jamielyn Wheeler
Board Member
Jamielyn Wheeler
Jamielyn grew up in Washington state's capitol and was raised by progressive parents who worked in government and politics. She is a graduate of the University of Washington, earning a bachelor's degree in Political Communication.
Jamielyn has over a decade of experience working on candidate/issue campaigns and lobbying, and served as Deputy Director at Fuse, Washington state's largest political advocacy organization. She most recently joined the team at Northwest Harvest as their Sr. Director of Strategic Initiatives.
Our Staff
Aaron Ostrom he/him/his
Executive Director
Aaron Ostrom, Executive Director, drives the strategy behind Fuse and its innovative campaigns to fuel progress in Washington State. Before helping to launch Fuse in 2007, Aaron served for eight years as the Executive Director of Futurewise, an organization dedicated to protecting rural areas and natural resources from irresponsible development and making cities great places to live. Aaron was a co-founder and Director of the Transportation Choices Coalition and also worked as a manager in the City of Seattle's Strategic Planning Office. He has served on the board of Progress Now and Smart Growth America and several other non-profits. He has chaired and/or played a critical leadership role in several statewide and regional ballot measure campaigns. Aaron has B.A. in Public Policy from Brown University. In his off-time, Aaron plays old man basketball and goofs off with friends and family. He aspires to spend more time hiking and camping and sleeping.
Abigail Leong she/her/hers
Communications Hub Senior Manager
Abigail works with the Communications Hub to help local changemakers engage their audiences through research-backed storytelling strategies. Before joining the team at Fuse, she helped produce podcasts like Nina Turner's Hello Somebody, Battle Fatigue, More Perfect AF, and Seattle Kitchen. She is a graduate of Seattle University, where she earned a B.A. in Communication and Media with a specialization in Journalism. When she is not at work, Abigail can be found teaching cyr wheel classes at the School for Acrobatics and New Circus Arts, a local circus nonprofit.
Calvin Jones he/him/his
Outreach Director for Defend Washington
Calvin Jones works to broaden the Defend Washington coalition and to ensure partner organizations have the support they need to oppose the three right-wing initiatives on the ballot this year. He has been a Seattle-based advocate for progressive taxation, environmental justice, and progressive housing policy as a TikToker, organizer, and advocate for the past 8 years. He previously worked as a Session Aide to State Senator John Lovick and as a product manager at Microsoft, Google, and DoorDash. In generic Pacific Northwest fashion, he enjoys skiing and rock climbing in his spare time.
Ciara Coughlan she/her/hers
Development and Events Manager
As the Development and Events Manager at Fuse, Ciara maintains our databases and manages our monthly and small-to-mid level donors to keep them engaged and empowered. Originally from Denver, Colorado, Ciara graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 2021 with a B.A. in International Affairs. She also completed an independent study program in Buenos Aires, Argentina that focused on social movements and human rights in the region. Prior to joining Fuse, Ciara worked at the Friendship Circle of Washington - a local non profit that provides support, resources, and inclusive programming to families, children, and teens with special needs. In her free time, you can find Ciara knitting a sweater or hat, paddle boarding on Lake Union, and hiking whenever it’s not too rainy.
Collin Jergens he/him/his
National Progressive Voters Guide Director
Collin is the Senior Director leading Fuse's Progressive Voters Guide program, which provides election information for millions of voters in 12 states. In this role, he coordinates between Fuse staff and partners across the country to produce more than 20 online guides every year. Collin has a B.A. in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University and an M.A. in Communications, Culture, and Technology from Georgetown University. Prior to joining Fuse in 2010, Collin worked at a startup technology company in Washington, D.C. before hitting the road to work as a field organizer for the presidential campaign of then Senator Barack Obama.
Damiana Merryweather she/her/hers
Deputy Director
Originally from SW Oregon, Damiana has a Bachelors in History from the University of Oregon. She spent over a decade in Oregon as a legislative policy advocate and campaign manager. She moved to Washington 15 years ago to take on the statewide political leadership of a large private sector union. In addition she has over eight years as the cofounder and financial director of an independent restaurant group. Her unique blend of political and business experience will be highly leverageable as she helps align internal systems and build external partnerships. In her personal time she is an avid gardener and has two young children to (try to) keep up with.
Eric Bronson he/him/his
Communications Manager
As the Communications Manager at Fuse, Eric develops, plans, and aligns all content for email, social media, and the Fuse website. Hailing from Eugene, Oregon, Eric graduated from Oberlin College with B.A.s in History and Political Science. Before joining the Fuse team, Eric led the public policy advocacy program of YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish. When he isn’t juggling emails, you can find him riding the light rail, perfecting his risotto technique, and planning his next international trip.
Isabel Lay she/her/hers
Digital Campaigns Manager
As Digital Campaigns Manager for the Fuse Communications Hub, Isabel develops and implements multimedia visual strategy to engage and activate supporters across Fuse’s social media platforms and for progressive partner organizations. A native of Venice, California, she graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Visual Journalism and Graphic Design. Prior to joining the Communications Hub, Isabel managed the Public Health - Seattle & King County social media channels. When she isn’t watching TikToks for work, she is watching TikToks for fun, crafting and exploring South Seattle.
Jeff DeBray he/him/his
Eastern Washington Director
Jeff joins Fuse as the Eastern Washington Director after living in Spokane for nearly a decade. With a background in community organizing, fundraising & government relations. Jeff is passionate about building the progressive movement in Eastern Washington working for organizations from Spokane County United Way, the Elizabeth Warren Campaign for President and most recently, the ACLU of Washington. Originally from Montana, Jeff moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2014 and first started organizing for DACA recipients at university during the Trump Era. Jeff is passionate about elevating young people and queer people in the political process and imagines a future where all of us have the access and inspiration to participate in our democracy. In his spare time, he enjoys running, exploring the outdoors and jamming out to Taylor Swift's latest hits.
Karen Arlette Gamez Lopez she/her/hers
Engagement Director
Karen Arlette Gamez Lopez recently joined the team as the Engagement Director at Fuse. Originally from Sinaloa, Mexico, Karen grew up in Kent, WA, and graduated from Green River College and the University of Washington. For the past 8 years, she's served in various professional roles in higher education institutions, non-profit organizations, and state agencies. Karen’s passion for civic engagement and advocacy fired up in high school when she began advocating for immigrant rights. She began sharing her story as an undocumented student at the capital to expand state financial aid to students like herself. She is extremely proud to have been a part of the passage of the WA State Real Hope Act (aka WA Dream Act) in 2014. Karen also loves to dance, travel, and try new restaurants!
Meg Wiedl she/her/hers
Senior Multimedia Designer
As Senior Multimedia Designer for the Fuse Communications Hub, Meg helps to diversify Fuse's communications tactics and tell visually stunning stories. Meg earned a BA in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of Washington, later graduated from the Graphic Design program at the Seattle Central Creative Academy while becoming a Pride Scholar. Meg is a lifelong artist, DIY specialist, avid reader, has a flair for fashion and home decor, and enjoys Dj-ing dark dance music for her friends.
Mike Pond he/him/his
Political Communications Organizer
An accomplished advocate for community engagement and progressive change, Mike Pond serves as our Political Communications Organizer in Southwest Washington. With a background in local politics, grassroots organizing, and campaigning, Mike brings a wealth of experience. A Vancouver native, Mike's civic activism began very early on in his youth, earning the honor of Eagle Scout. His commitment continued through academic pursuits, obtaining degrees from Clark College and Western Washington University. Over the last decade, Mike has played a crucial role in local campaigns, actively supported community initiatives such as, affordable housing and clean industries at the Port of Vancouver. His leadership roles, such as Board Member for the Queer Youth Resource Center (501 c3), Chair of Young Democrats of Clark County, as well as Precinct Committee Officer (PCO), highlight his experience and dedication. As our Political Communications Organizer, Mike leads digital and offline organizing projects, mobilizing volunteers and community leaders to extend our reach and impact into Southwest Washington.
Reiny Cohen she/her/hers
Senior Director of Communications
As Director of the Fuse Communications Hub, Reiny is responsible for legislative communications strategy. Reiny comes to Fuse by way of affordable housing advocacy, having spent over three years as Director of Communications for the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, a nonprofit advocacy organization working with the state legislature to ensure that everyone in Washington has a safe, healthy, affordable home. Additionally, she has worked on legislative and electoral campaigns, and has 15 years of on-air experience in the Seattle radio market. On the side, Reiny directs the Institute for a Democratic Future, a leadership development fellowship for young progressives in Washington. She lives in Seattle with her wife and their dog, and can be found around town running, dancing, and singing karaoke at pretty much every opportunity.
Rosey Barber she/her/hers
Campaign Director
As the Campaign Director, Rosey works to win important issue and election campaigns in order to build a stronger and more progressive Washington. Rosey believes deeply in the power of an informed and organized community, and she has served previous roles working to mobilize communities to take action around climate justice, reproductive rights, and the advancement of progressive policies. Rosey holds a BA in English from SUNY New Paltz and an MA in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University. In her free time, Rosey enjoys hanging out with her cats, Murphy & Rusko, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
Rowan Lenihan he/him/his
Operations Director
Rowan joined the Fuse Washington team as Operations Director in April 2023. He brings over 6 years of accounting and human resources experience, as well as decades of lived experience as a neurodivergent queer person. He describes himself as an “overgrown punk,” and firmly believes in justice, mutual aid, and authenticity. He performs as part of Queerly Beloved, the Gender Variety Show he founded with his spouse, Nyx. When he’s not greasing the wheels at Fuse or performing, you can find him in the nearest woods (probably barefoot), or snuggled up with his son Padraig and their supermutt Sirius.
Serena Carmona-Hester she/her/hers
Development Director
As part of the Development team, Serena strives to foster a more engaged and robust member base for Fuse. She knows that Fuse members are the key to making progressive change, which is why she values positive, sustainable relationships with our supporters. She first began her time at Fuse as a campus organizer in Fall 2018 working on student voter registration and climate change. Serena graduated from Gonzaga University with a B.A. in Environmental Studies, fostering her passion for environmental justice. Previously working for Clean Water Action, Gonzaga University's Office of Sustainability, and the City of Pleasanton, she brings experience in environmental advocacy, coalition building, sustainability engagement, and fundraising. In her free time she loves to hike, attempt yoga, try new food, wear Christmas socks year round, and tend to her pet plants.
Shevonne Foo she/her/hers
Senior Technology Manager
As the Technology Manager, Shevonne maintains and builds digital tools used by organizers and activists in Washington. Shevonne moved to the Seattle Area after graduating from the University of Alberta with her BSc in Computer Science. She loves animals and has a soft spot for derpy dogs. Before joining Fuse, she spent four years as an analyst at Seattle Humane where she worked with Development and Marketing on fundraising strategies and all things data. In her spare time, she enjoys going around the city trying new food.
Stephanie Spence she/her/hers
Senior Communications and Program Manager
Stephanie makes Fuse look good online. She is one of the primary researchers and writers of the Progressive Voters Guide; she also writes content for Fuse's email, supports the organizers' actions out in the field, and poses the office dogs for Instagram. She graduated with a degree in environmental sciences and worked in the Midwest on conservation issues before moving to the Pacific Northwest. When she's not in the office, she's usually off drawing, complaining about hiking, and writing children's books and science fiction audiodrama.