Meet our team
Michelle Kind
President/Executive Director
Michelle brings over 16 years of experience as a successful leader in the non-profit sector to her role as Executive Director of Evergreen Safety Council. With a degree in business from Valparaiso University and an MBA from Seattle University, as well as a background in project management in the startup software industry, she is passionate about using her wealth of knowledge and skills to help organizations make a difference in the areas of health and safety. In her free time, she loves traveling, running, spending time with family and friends, and going on walks with her adorable Cavapoo, Eji.
Sophie Merwick
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Sophie is the Operations Manager at Evergreen Safety Council. After graduating from Whitworth University with a BA in Business and Hospitality management, she honed her management skills working through the ranks of a local restaurant group. She enjoys developing systems and tools to help streamline operations and make them more efficient, finding creative solutions to problems, and building synergistic teams—all of which culminate in a strong workplace culture. Sophie is a lover of the great outdoors, and can often be found hiking, fly fishing, skiing, and enjoying life with her Australian Shepherd pup, Lolo. She also loves cooking for family and friends and cheering for the Seahawks.
Nara Hohensee
SENIOR CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Nara oversees the creation of Evergreen’s program content. Since 2019, she has headed up the Creative Services team to design engaging and effective learning experiences that use cutting-edge technology. She holds a Ph.D. and has a background in higher education as well as digital media production. In her spare time, Nara loves composing and playing music and traveling with her family.
Tina Bacon
Sr. Administrator & Trainer, Occupational Safety
Since starting work for Evergreen Safety Council as a Roadway Programs Coordinator, in February 1996, Tina has worn many other hats, which has made her invaluable to the rest of the team.
The programs she has managed include Work Zone Flagger and Traffic Control Supervisor for Idaho, Oregon and Washington as well as the Washington State Pilot/Escort Program. She was also the in-house graphic designer and lead project coordinator for all of Evergreen’s training materials.
Her most recent role is that of a trainer and master instructor. She currently teaches Flagger, Pilot/Escort, EverSafe and First Aid & CPR courses.
Chan Lee
Senior Accountant
Chan joined our team in 2019. He graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s of Art degree in Accounting and Finance in 2016, and practiced his accounting in a tax accounting firm for two and a half years. He also served in the U.S. Army from 2008–2012.
Ashley Kachmar
Records Administration Specialist
As our records department specialist for our health and safety programs, Ashley manages class registration paperwork, troubleshoots students’ technical issues, and assists with inventory and certification management. Her friendly, upbeat demeanor and attention to detail help ensure our customers have a great experience. She attends Edmonds Community College in pursuit of a Diagnostic Ultrasound degree. In her spare time she enjoys reading, traveling to new places, and spending time with her cat.
Leigh Wright
Sales and Operations Specialist
Leigh uses her many talents and background in customer service, sales, and operations to help our customers find the best training solutions that fit their unique needs. She started at Evergreen in 2022 and, after a brief stint away, she now continues to dazzle our team and our clients with her outstanding skills. Outside of work, she’s a devoted nature lover, animal enthusiast, an avid reader, and culinary creator.
Momo Clyne
Occupational Safety Instructor
Momo is a Seattle native who escaped the technology mines of Silicon Valley and returned to the Northwest to share their passion for learning with others. Originally coming to Evergreen as a motorcycle instructor, Momo’s infectious energy is focused on teaching occupational safety and keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes. When not working to help keep you safe, Momo enjoys spending time on two wheels, exploring the Northwest, and enjoying science fiction.
Brittany Staten
customer Support Specialist
Brittany is a Southern belle from Beaumont, Texas who came to Washington in September 2023. She brings 10 years of experience providing exceptional customer service in a variety of fields. In her free time, she loves spending quality time with her husband and 4 children, cooking for fun, shopping, exploring the Northwest’s rich coffee culture, and watching true crime shows.
Manuel Moreno
Customer Support Specialist
Manny is a Los Angeles native who moved to Tacoma in June of 2024. His wealth of experience includes 15 years of customer service and sales work in telecom, catering, and transportation. His ability to help students get connected to what they need is just one of the many assets he brings to Evergreen. Manny loves to cook, spend time with his two dogs, and travel. Fun fact: he’s been to all of the lower 48 states!
