John Rosenberger
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.
Each year we host elections for our Board of Directors and participating branches. This year we are voting on three Board candidates. The slate of at-large Board candidates was nominated by our Governance Committee and unanimously endorsed by our Board of Directors.
Branch members from our Foothills, Olympia, and Tacoma Branches can also vote for their branch leadership in this election. Ballots will allow these members to vote in both the Board elections and the branch elections.
HOW TO VOTE: September 1 - 22, 2025
Voting will open Monday, September 1, and close on Monday, September 22 at 11:59pm. All active members over age 14 are eligible to vote. Duplicate votes will not be counted. Results will be announced on October 1, 2025 via a blog post.
ONLINE
The Mountaineers will send members an electronic ballot for the upcoming elections on either August 31 or September 1 through our online voting tool, Alchemer. Please note that comcast.net email addresses sometimes have issues with digital voting links, so members with a Comcast email should reach out to development@mountaineers.org if they do not receive a ballot.
If you are a member in good standing and you do NOT receive an email from us, please check your junk mail or spam folders for the voting link from Alchemer. Due to the nature of our online ballot, if you do not receive an email ballot you will need to follow the link provided on this blog once voting is open or submit a paper ballot. This includes individuals without a valid email address or those who share an email address with a family member.
Keep an eye out the morning of September 1 for your ballot. If you don't see an email from us (either in your inbox or in your spam folder) by 12pm on September 1, please vote via the link below.
VOTE BY MAIL
Mail-in votes will be accepted if postmarked by September 22. Paper ballots are now available in the Seattle Program Center Bookstore, or you can print the ballot at home and mail it in. You can also print the ballots for the Foothills, Olympia, and Tacoma Branch elections.
Mail to:
The Mountaineers - BOARD ELECTION
7700 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
BOARD ELECTIONS
The Mountaineers Governance Committee is pleased to present the following candidates to the membership for consideration in the upcoming Board of Directors elections: Sherrie Tracker, Erin Vagley, and Graham Zimmerman
This year’s candidates were selected by the Governance Committee from members who submitted a detailed self-nomination form. This rigorous, open nominations process, new in 2021, was designed to deepen the diversity of perspectives and lived experiences represented on our Board. We are confident this excellent slate of candidates will help inform better policies and strengthen relationships between Board members, Mountaineers members, and the wider outdoor community.
BOARD ENDORSED CANDIDATE STATEMENTS
The following Board candidates 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. Their candidate statements have been edited for length and affirmed as true. The candidates are presented in alphabetical order.
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.
Personal Statement
Every time I lead a trip for The Mountaineers, I am humbled and inspired by the other participants as I listen to their stories about what gets them outside, what they are motivated by, and their perspectives on life. The Mountaineers is such a unique organization in its ability to bring people together from different backgrounds for a common purpose, whether that purpose is to summit a peak on a specific day, or to support conservation of our lands for future generations to enjoy.
As a leader in the financial services industry, I have championed diversity and inclusion. I created the Women's Network at the CFA Society Seattle to improve gender diversity, and after educating myself on broader DEI issues, I now serve on the WSIB's DEI committee.
In 2023, I came down with Long Covid. It was my first experience with disability. I struggled to navigate the complexities of asking for workplace accommodations, seeking FMLA protections, and taking extended leave from work. While I personally struggle with the "disability" label, I can say that the experience has taught me a lot about struggles that people with disabilities face, both systemic and internal. I believe that my unique background that encompasses finance, DEI, and sustainability could provide a unique and complementary perspective to the Mountaineers leadership.
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.
Personal Statement
Since moving to Seattle from the east coast, The Mountaineers has been my home. It is where I’ve experienced both the most growth and the strongest sense of belonging. Scrambling and climbing taught me technical skills I never imagined mastering and helped me find both courage and confidence in the mountains. They also gave me friendships that now anchor my life in the Pacific Northwest. Serving as a hike leader has been my most rewarding role. I love seeing others find joy in the outdoors.
As a Board member, I would be honored to contribute my experience to strengthen The Mountaineers for the next generation. I bring expertise in business leadership and people strategy and a passion for fostering inclusive communities, developing leaders, and advancing safety and belonging. Most of all, I want to give back to the community that has given me so much and to help others find joy in the mountains and in the Mountaineers.
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.
Personal statement
As a lifelong climber, I have a deep connection to the mountains of the Pacific Northwest—places where I first developed core mountaineering skills and continue to return to. The Mountaineers mission to “enrich the community by helping people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond” resonates deeply with my own purpose: “to empower individuals, organizations, and movements toward a future where we live in better balance with our planet and each other.” I’m excited about the opportunity to serve an organization that has played such an important role in our region and in the broader outdoor and conservation communities. I look forward to contributing my skills while learning from fellow board members and staff. I’m especially eager to support efforts that deepen community engagement, advance environmental stewardship, and ensure the next generation has access to these landscapes and experiences.
Branch ELECTIONS
Three branches - Foothills, Olympia, and Tacoma - are also holding elections from September 1 - 22, and branch members are invited to vote for their leadership. For members of these branches, the online election survey will allow you to vote for your branch leadership at the same time. Your vote counts, so please take the time to learn more about the candidates and cast your vote.
Our other branches - Bellingham, Everett, Kitsap, and Seattle - will be conducting their branch leadership elections in the coming months. Please keep an eye on your branch newsletter for more information about these important elections.
The Foothills Branch has one candidate for election. Kelley Chaddock is running for Council Member At Large.
The Olympia Branch has one candidate for election. Beth Barga is running for Olympia Branch Treasurer.
The Tacoma Branch has four candidates for election. Jacqueline Fritz, Scott Schissel, and Kristi van Doorn are each running for a separate seat as Council Member At Large. Amy Stafford is running for Tacoma Chair-Elect. The Tacoma Branch will also have a write in field for their final Council Member At Large position.
More information about these branch leadership candidates can be found in the election survey.
Thank you for joining us in shaping the future of The Mountaineers by participating in the 2025 Fall elections. Your vote will play a crucial role in steering our organization's legacy of outdoor education and environmental stewardship. Results will be shared with membership no later than October 1, 2025 via a blog post.
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I am a recent member of the mountaineers making this the first time I have voted in an election for the board members. This truly does not seem like an election given that the board decides who will be the candidates and selects only three for three positions. Perhaps there were only three who submitted nominations however that is not clear From the description of the process. If the board chooses to review self nominations and select the candidates determined to be in possession of the skills necessary to be on the board, perhaps this should not be called an election, but rather an endorsement of the board selection. The use of the term withhold is not clear. Would there ever be a time when the board would not select these three candidates for the board? If in fact, there were more withhold votes than four votes with the board fill only one or two of the positions? I have never belong to an organization with this type of election process and would encourage a different type of explanation or at a minimum provide a link to the governance rules for further information as part of the ballot.
Hi Louise. Thank you for voicing your concerns.
Firstly, here is the link to our Board of Directors bylaws for your review: https://www.mountaineers.org/about/vision-leadership/board-of-directors/board-policies/bylaws/view
The new process as of 2022 allows for an open nominations window where members may be nominated by themselves or others. This process has been good at sourcing interested and qualified candidates for the Board. The Governance committee is made up of Board Members and At Large Members who represent the wider Mountaineers community and make their recommendations to the Board from this pool. The responsibility of evaluating and recommending candidates lives with the Governance Committee. The Board then considers the recommended candidates and endorses a slate who are presented to members for consideration in the election.
The Governance Committee does have the ability to present more candidates than there are positions available, although that did not happen this year. If a candidate receives more "Withhold" votes than "For" votes, they would not be elected, and the seat would not be filled. Thus, the membership of The Mountaineers does have the final say on whether or not someone is elected.
I understand that this process can appear convoluted when viewed as a whole. The primary goals of the election are as follows: To find the best candidates possible for our Board, to ensure that these candidates represent the full breadth of our membership, and to give members the final say on approving these candidates.
Please let me know if there is any more info that I can provide. We appreciate your investment in the process and your feedback is very valuable as we move forward.
