The Mountaineers
We're pleased to present you with the outcome of the 2025 Board & Branch Elections, and we're grateful to everyone who participated by voting and accepting a nomination. Your participation shows a deep commitment to the organization. This year, we received nearly 1,300 votes from our membership.
Certified by the Board Secretary, Vanessa Wheeler, and the Governance Committee, the following Board of Directors At-Large candidates were elected for a three-year term:
- Sherrie Trecker
- Erin Vagley
- Graham Zimmerman
These three directors were nominated by The Mountaineers Governance Committee and endorsed unanimously by our Board of Directors after submitting a detailed self-nomination form. This rigorous, open nominations process was designed to deepen the diversity of perspectives and lived experiences represented on our Board. We are confident these new directors will help advance our mission and strengthen relationships between Board members, Mountaineers members, and the wider outdoor community.
We are also excited to welcome new branch leadership for the Foothills, Olympia, and Tacoma Branches.
Foothills
Kelley Chaddock has been elected as the newest Council Member At Large for the Foothills Branch.
Olympia
Beth Barga has been re-elected as the Treasurer for the Olympia Branch.
Tacoma
The newly elected Tacoma Council Members are Jacqueline Fritz, Scott Schissel, and Kristi van Doorn, each elected for Council Member At Large, as well as Amy Stafford as Chair-Elect.
Thank you
As a 501(c)(3) volunteer-led organization, The Mountaineers depends on the generosity, initiative, and leadership of our volunteers to steward the future of our organization. We are humbled by the service provided by Board and branch directors whose positions are confirmed by members each year. Thank you for all you do as members to elevate our mission, and for your participation in the forthcoming election process for these organization-wide leaders!
meet our new board members
The new directors possess the professional skills and personal commitment needed to further our mission: To enrich the community by helping people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Sherrie Trecker
Member since 2011
Sherrie is a dedicated volunteer and outdoor enthusiast and has been an active member of The Mountaineers since 2011, taking on numerous leadership roles. Her extensive involvement as a volunteer includes being a climb, scramble, hike, and backpack leader, as well as an instructor and leader for various mountaineering courses. She’s been recognized consistently as a Key Leader and Super Volunteer and in 2024 was awarded the Scramble Leader of the Year by the Olympia Branch. Sherrie is certified as a Wilderness First Responder and completed her AMGA Single Pitch Instructor in 2019.
Professionally, Sherrie is currently the Head of Sustainability at the Washington State Investment Board (WSIB), where she oversees the sustainability strategy for over $213 billion in assets. Before working at the WSIB, Sherrie held various institutional investment roles at Russell Investments with increasing seniority and increasing focus on sustainability. She was the first-ever two-term president of CFA Society Seattle, working to shift the board's focus to strategy and improve alignment with the parent organization. Her career is marked by a passion for bringing diverse teams together to tackle complex challenges, always with a focus on her fiduciary duties and improving long-term outcomes for those she serves.
Sherrie is a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), having founded the Women's Network at the CFA Society Seattle to improve gender diversity in the financial services industry and has expanded her advocacy to broader DEI initiatives. Her personal experience with Long Covid has given her a deep understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities, further fueling her commitment to creating more inclusive environments.
Erin Vagley
Member since 2019
Erin Vagley (she/her) joined The Mountaineers in 2020 after moving to the Seattle area from Washington, D.C. She completed the Scrambling and Basic Alpine Climbing courses and now volunteers as a hike leader and as an instructor for Alpine Scrambling and Basic Alpine Climbing. Erin has also served as Leadership Coordinator for the Foothills Hiking, Backpacking, and Urban Walks Committee and as a member of the Board’s ad hoc Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Prevention Committee (SHSAP). In addition, she volunteers as a Meadow Rover at Mount Rainier National Park, helping visitors explore the park responsibly. An avid outdoorsperson, she especially enjoys time in the mountains with her husband—whom she met in the Alpine Scrambling course—and introducing her nieces to the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
Erin is the Senior Vice President of People & Culture for Sounders FC and Reign FC, drawing on a career in law along with extensive expertise in organizational strategy, cultural transformation, and talent development. She is eager to bring her experience and perspective to The Mountaineers Board and community.
Graham Zimmerman
Graham Zimmerman is an award-winning professional alpinist and creative who works at the intersection of mountain sports, climate action, and community empowerment. He is a Piolet d'Or-winning alpinist who has completed technically demanding and first ascents around the globe, learning about the value of preparation, risk management, and collaboration firsthand. Graham has directed award-winning films, authored an award-winning memoir (published by Mountaineers Books), launched podcasts, and written for both mainstream and niche publications. He leads a team at the nonprofit, Protect Our Winters, organizing and supporting over 150 athletes to be effective climate advocates. He is also the founding board chair of Dirtroad Organizing, which is a 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to coaching candidates in rural districts across the United States.
Graham served two terms on the board of the American Alpine Club, including a term as President. While on the board, he led the hiring process for a new Executive Director, helped develop and implement a strategic plan, rewrote the bylaws, and worked to realign the board's governance.
Thank you to all of our amazing candidates and members who participated in this election! You are doing your part to ensure a successful future for The Mountaineers!
