NAMI Whatcom Board of Directors

Marie Marchand, Board President

Marie joined the NAMI board in December 2014 and now serves as the Board President. She values NAMI for its important programs that help reduce the stigma of Mental Illness in our community.  Her full-time job is as Legislative Assistant for the City of Bellingham.  She grew up in Colorado.  In her free time, she loves hanging out with her teenage son and their two dogs, watching Denver Broncos football games.  

Corinne Sebren, Vice President

Corinne is a PNW native originally from Ellensburg. She lived in Bellingham from 2004-2008 and recently moved back for the Behavioral Neuroscience program at WWU. She was involved as a NAMI volunteer in Seattle and is passionate about health care policy and advocacy. She is a member of the NAMI Washington Public Policy Committee. Corinne has worked in health care administration for 10 years and is excited to be a part of the NAMI Whatcom team. She feels incredibly fortunate to have been able to live and travel all over the world, but is happy to be back in the Northwest where she is close to family and has access to her favorite outdoor activities: snowboarding, kayaking, and climbing. She likes to spend time outdoors with her dog Lunchbox, enjoys reading, going to the movies, and is determined to get over her fear of the ocean and become a better surfer. 

Mark Wallace, Treasurer


Mark is a Bellingham native passionate about giving back to the community. He is a graduate of Western Washington University. He owns Skyline Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor where he works as a financial advisor. He provides wealth management services to individuals, non-profits and company retirement plans. Mark's rich business and financial background allows him to bring experience to the Treasurer position on the Board of Directors. Mark also serves as a member of the Financial Planning Association and Northwest Estate Planning Council.

Darrell Stewart, Board Member

Darrell Stewart is a Certified Public Accountant in Bellingham, WA. Darrell grew up in Tacoma, WA and came to Bellingham to attend Western Washington University where he graduated in March of 1894. After college Darrel worked as the controller for a local contracting company, and in 1987 he started his own accounting practice where he continues to work today. Darrell specializes in taxes and accounting for small business. Darrell currently prepares tax returns for over 150 small businesses and 650 individuals. ​

Russ Sapienza, Board Member

Russ is a board member at NAMI Whatcom and a small group facilitator. He has been with NAMI in various capacities for eighteen years. His first major event with NAMI was a state conference at Central WA University in Ellensburg. Russ is also a Peer Counselor at Rainbow Recovery Center, a fundraiser for Kids Town International (a local organization that helps orphans in Romania, India, and Nepal), a member of the Development Disabilities Advisory Board, a member of the Sehome Neighborhood Association, and is active in his church. Russ moved to Bellingham in 1997. Russ’s free time activities include reading, cooking, baking, doing crosswords, watching movies, and he regularly gives blood for Bloodworks Northwest.

Laurie Maxwell, Board Member

Laurie's pic and bio coming soon!

Hazel Haggen, Board Member

Hazel's pic and bio coming soon!

NAMI Whatcom Staff

Melanie Estes, Director

Melanie is a PNW native and assumed the Director position at NAMI Whatcom in January 2017. She is a graduate of Western Washington University, and is working on her Masters in Social Work at the University of Washington. She has a background in social work and non-profit administration and fundraising. Melanie brings a love for community outreach and advocacy to NAMI Whatcom and is one of those weird people that enjoys public speaking. She wishes there were more hours in the day to promote mental wellness and combat stigma surround mental illness. In her off hours, Melanie likes to volunteer with Bellingham’s community radio station, 94.9 KZAX Make.shift radio, and tries to pet every dog she comes across. You might see her out and about riding her beloved bike, or at a local swimming hole or hiking trail.
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Email: mestes@namiwhatcom.org ​

Kim Sauter, ​Education Coordinator

Kim is NAMI Whatcom's Education Coordinator and recently moved from a volunteer position to working for the organization part time! While she is not planning Education Forums and NAMI Signature programs, Kim helps manage volunteers and answer the resource and support line in the office. Kim loves to spend her free time outside with her family, her dogs, and planting trees.

​Email: KSauter@NAMIWhatcom.org