Photo (L-R): Aric Skurdal, Dakota Nixon, Keith Samuels 

Aric Skurdal, Interim Executive Director We welcomed Aric Skurdal as our part-time Interim Executive Director while Stephanie Monroney was on Family and Medical Leave over the past few months. Aric will continue to assist for three months after Stephanie's return this week. Aric previously consulted with PHC during the financing and construction of Eng House on Beacon Hill. He joins PHC through Companis, an organization that matches volunteers with nonprofits in and around Seattle. Aric's background is in anti-poverty work, and he has worked with multiple nonprofits focused on housing security, food security, and workforce development. He has also served on nonprofit Boards, including time as Chairperson.

Dakota Nixon, Volunteer Coordinator  Earlier this summer, we welcomed Dakota Nixon to the PHC team as our Volunteer Coordinator. Dakota comes to us with a wealth of experience. Impressed with Dakota’s resourcefulness in recruitment, love for engagement during the onboarding process, and vast experience in training, we look forward to working with Dakota to develop and launch a robust volunteer program that will support PHC’s objective: to provide companionship and housing for people living with mental illness and housing instability. One of the ways the pandemic has affected PHC and its residents, as with so many other organizations during these past few years, has been by making volunteer opportunities much scarcer and hard to coordinate. Dakota will be working hard to provide ways for people to plug into PHC as volunteers in ways that serve our residents and enrich residents’ and volunteers’ lives.

Keith Samuels, Sr. Property Manager  Keith Samuels has a passion for property management and working closely with his tenants. For over 12 years Keith has dedicated his skills, talents, and leadership in various property management positions supporting both affordable housing and public housing in the Seattle area. Keith is living his dream and enjoying every minute of it. The enthusiasm for his work and the opportunity to be an encouraging voice to the residents he serves is evident to anyone who is around him. We are delighted to have Keith on the PHC team!