Meet the Team

Penny is a native of Oregon, although she lived on the East Coast for ten years, earning her Masters in Education in Philadelphia before returning to the PNW and Bainbridge Island in 2004. Her professional career has included a number of teaching positions, including outdoor education, early childhood education, physical education teacher and coach, and more recently, special education teacher. Earning her Special Education endorsement at Seattle University, Penny taught K-8 as a Resource Teacher in the Bremerton School District and then served as a mentor to new teachers in the field before joining Stephens House. 

Penny enjoys being active outdoors, including running, cycling, hiking, and paddle boarding in Puget Sound. 

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Alejandra Gutierrez Nuno (Alex (She/They)) has lived in Washington for the majority of her life going to WSU. Once there she got her B.A. Criminal Justice and Criminology and B.A. in Psychology with minors in Sociology and Comparative Ethnic Studies.

She worked for Friends of Youth as a Youth Counselor, and then Easterseals WorkForce Development assisting with Individual Employment and Community Inclusion. After this she worked as a Paraeducator in the Central Kitsap School District, and then as a 1:1 Support Specialist at Catalyst. During all these changes every October for the past 6 years she has worked as a Scare Actor at My Haunted Forest in Vaughn WA. During her free time she collects hobbies (crochet, sewing, origami, jewelry, and more) and enjoys reading and listening to true crime, medical mysteries, and horror.

Maria Rosenberg-Kjelds brings a global perspective and a background in project management to the Stephens House team. Originally from Denmark, Maria holds a Master’s degree in Development and International Studies. Her diverse career spans leading expeditions across seven continents—including Mt. Kilimanjaro—to managing large-scale cultural heritage and marine environment projects in Europe. Now settled on Bainbridge Island, Maria enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest with her family, her two Golden Retrievers (Skipper and Bodhi), and horseback riding.

Erika Van Bibb is an experienced Executive Director and social impact strategist with over 20 years in organizational development and equitable leadership.

She has led international NGOs and nonprofits, including co-founding an accredited educational organization in Asia and consulting for Bainbridge-based nonprofits, focusing on program design, fundraising, and compliance. Erika’s work spans creating inclusive, community-driven programs, mentoring teams, and building partnerships that support vulnerable populations and advance social and environmental justice. Her expertise in curriculum development and holistic program design reflects a deep commitment to empowering individuals and fostering meaningful engagement. Erika brings a compassionate, strategic approach to improving the quality of life for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

Lori, her husband Josh, and their extended family have lived on Bainbridge Island for the past 16 years.  After moving from the east coast, they chose Bainbridge as their home due to its sense of community.  In addition, they felt it would be a great place to raise their family and a welcoming environment for Lori’s brother-in-law, Chris, who has Down’s Syndrome.

Lori has worked for Nordstrom for the past 27 years.  She is currently a Senior Vice President of Merchandising at Nordstrom.  She joined the Bainbridge Island Special Needs Foundation Board in 2021 to help keep their mission alive after seeing firsthand how vital the program is for adults with disabilities, like her brother-in-law Chris, a member.

Risha is a native to the Pacific Northwest, with a bachelors degree in Business Administration and 20 years of experience in merchandise and financial planning in the retail industry. She is currently a Vice President of Financial Planning and recently supported an organization wide transition from retail accounting to cost accounting.

Risha joined the Bainbridge Island Special Needs Foundation board to connect her financial acumen to the mission and opportunities provided by the Stephens House.

Bio coming soon.