Talitha's Team
Talitha’s strength is its partners and advisors who bring expert-level knowledge and experience from diverse industries. Each team member’s unique linguistic and cultural background further enrich the type of services Talitha offers. The team thinks and acts inclusively while putting equity at the forefront of everything they do.
Diversity is not what they do, it is WHO THEY ARE TOGETHER.
Talitha's Advisors
Beryne Odeny, MD, Ph.D
Advisor, Sr. | Research & Implementation Science
Beryne Odeny, MD, Ph.D
Advisor, Sr. | Research & Implementation Science
Ehler WinCommunity Planning, Healthy Food and Language Access
Ehler is a graduate from the University of Washington with a degree in Global Health and a minor in International Studies. Her passion lies in supporting her community through various volunteer events and advocacy projects. As a resident of Tukwila for the past thirteen years, Ehler attended the Tukwila school district from elementary through high school. Her lived experiences of being in a diverse school district and community gives her a rich understanding of what it looks like to live harmoniously in a multicultural environment. Currently, Ehler is a community advocate with Food Innovation Network; a local non-profit that aims to increase access to healthy food and provide food-related business opportunities for immigrant and refugee communities in South King county. She also co-chairs the steering committee and works closely with many partners of Food Innovation Network. Outside of school and work, Ehler is extensively involved in her Karen ethnic community through her role as a youth leader for the youth ministry. She coordinates church and cultural events and acts as an informal mentor for young people seeking to learn more about post-secondary education. Ehler is often commended for being a compassionate young leader and a genuine person that wants the best for others. Ehler is a proud refugee and resident of Tukwila. This – in combination with her ability to converse fluently in Karen, English, and comfortably in Burmese – enhances her ability to engage diverse cultural and linguistic communities in people-centered conversations around community planning.
Language: Karen & Some Burmese
Allan Luai
Contract Management, Transportation Project Management, Accounting
Allan Luai
Contract Management, Transportation Project Management, Accounting
Masao (Jordan) Uomoto, M.Div
Learning and Development | Community Partnerships
Masao (Jordan) Uomoto, M.Div
Learning and Development | Community Partnerships
Yin N. Liu
People Migration (refugees and immigrants in the Pacific Northwest), Aging and Disability Services, Youth & Family Services
Yin N. Liu
People Migration (refugees and immigrants in the Pacific Northwest), Aging and Disability Services, Youth & Family Services
Adam J. Loeffler, Professional Engineer, P.E., M.S.
Built Environment, Spatial Planning, Structural Engineering
Adam J. Loeffler, Professional Engineer, P.E., M.S.
Built Environment, Spatial Planning, Structural Engineering
Adam advises Talitha’s team using his expertise in structural engineering and development life-cycle and support. He holds a Masters degree in Engineering from the University of Washington. He currently works as a Project Engineer for one of the largest consulting engineering firms in the Greater Puget Sound Area. Adam’s compassionate, attentive and soft-spoken leadership sharpen the firm’s organizational values and cultures. Adam finds joy in being outdoors, carving wooden spoons and hiking with his family and close friends.
David Menke, M.A.
Public Safety & Emergency Planning
David Menke, M.A.
Public Safety & Emergency Planning
David possesses a comprehensive management experience in public safety, law enforcement, emergency management, investigations, and security training. As a current Director of Public Safety at Highline College, David has a track-record of delivering accomplished and measurable results while leading eight-seven (87) personnel-team in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment. He manages a departmental budget of over $2M while exceeding the expectations of the college’s executive leadership team . Prior to Highline, Menke spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy where he held the rank of chief petty officer. In the last decade, he was stationed in Everett and served as Law Enforcement Operations Manager with the Naval Station Everett Military Police. In addition to Everett, Menke’s posts included Lemoore, California, and Yokosuka, Japan, and during the war in Iraq, he was deployed to Baghdad, Fallujah and Kirkuk. David won multiple awards for his outstanding performance in the Navy and as Emergency Management professional.
Charles H. Loeffler, MSWChild and Family Welfare, Substance-use Recovery, Trauma-informed Practice, and Adolescent Mental Health
Jennifer V. Nguyen, M.A.Research Assistant (Housing Stability & Homelessness Prevention)
Yuman Xu, M.A.Associate (Community Planning and Design)
Bunnies🐰Chief Comfort Officers
Chief Comfort Officer Freya and Mischief Officer Wilberforce are two indoor bunnies. They comfort the Talitha team with their playful yet calming presence.