OUR BOARD

Anne Hall, Chair, and her husband, Dr. David Hall, began spending time on Lopez in 1974, when Dave’s parents, Noni and Don Hall built a house here. Anne and Dave loved island life so much, when Anne was called as interim pastor of the Lutheran Church in the San Juans in 2011, they moved to Lopez permanently. Anne is a graduate of Radcliffe College and worked for 18 years as a teacher, counselor and administrator at all levels from preschool through college. In 1993, she was ordained as an American Baptist minister, and 12 years later became a Lutheran pastor. Anne is committed to social justice and for over 30 years has worked for peace, nonviolently resisting nuclear weapons and war. She is passionate about affordable housing, sustainable farming, and responsible and ecological land use, and is delighted to use her skills to support LCLT.

Bob O’Connell, Vice Chair, and his wife Sean have owned a home on Lopez Island since 2011. On April 30, 2014, they both retired from their jobs and moved from Nashville, Tennessee to Lopez permanently the next day. Bob has an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and a law degree from the University of Tennessee. He worked as an attorney in many capacities over the years and wound up his career as the Executive Director of the Tennessee State Employees Association. In Nashville, Bob and Sean founded a community theatre and a professional theatre and were active in running them. Both theatres are still going strong.

Bob is particularly interested in doing whatever he can to help tackle the shortage of affordable housing in this community and sees participation with the Lopez Community Land Trust as a the perfect avenue for that endeavor. He and Sean are very glad, indeed, to be here and to help however they can.

Chom Greacen, Secretary, moved to Lopez after meeting her husband Chris Greacen who was raised on Lopez. She co-founded and ran a Thailand-based non-profit, Palang Thai, which worked to transform the energy sector towards social and environmental justice and sustainability. Chom continues to engage in energy work on Lopez through involvement with the volunteer-based Islands Energy Coalition and through energy education at Lopez Island School District, where her children Ty and Sara go to school. Chom enjoys tracking energy consumption and loves living in the net zero neighborhood Common Ground where the community feels like a big family and the kids roam free.

Terri Drahn moved to Lopez with her husband Dan in 1993 drawn in part by the work of LCLT. She and Dan volunteered at Morgantown, LCLT’s first project. They quickly became beloved community members as they raised their three children – Nate, Miriam and Anah Kate – on island. From 1984-86, Terri served in Peace Corps Thailand as a physical therapist. Prior to moving to Lopez, Terri worked in Seattle as a Public Health Educator & Outreach Director for both the Country Doctor and the Carolyn Downs Community Clinics. For 20 years, Terri worked at the Lopez Island Medical Clinic as a physical therapist. She continues her work as a partner in a new private practice called Lopez Island Physical Therapy LLC.
Chaz Ott, Treasurer, is a former LCLT intern and employee who gained tremendous knowledge through the construction of the straw-bale, solar-equipped community at Common Ground. In the 10 years since that project, he has worked in engineering and construction management roles for mid-sized companies in Chicago and Pennsylvania. He has earned degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems. He is focused on incorporating energy efficiency into building design, and specialized for several years as a geothermal HVAC system designer. Chaz has returned to Lopez with his wife Arielle to start their family in a community they know and love.
Marvin Peterson is a homeowner in Common Ground with his wife, Karan Yvonne.  He moved to Lopez Island in 2014 and has enjoyed volunteering with LCLT on various tasks, especially in clearing the brush and weeding in the area around LCLT headquarters. He was born in Bellingham and grew up on a small farm in the Bow-Edison area in Skagit Valley.  He served in Army intelligence in Germany and Vietnam, and worked for the U.S. Government for 37 years in Washington, DC, and in Europe.  His work cumulated in Vienna, Austria, as the U.S. intelligence liaison with the International Atomic Energy Agency in their nuclear inspection work in Iraq, Iran and North Korea.  His principal work focus was on Nuclear Safeguards, with the personal goal of improving international nuclear safeguards to support President Obama’s goal of abolishing all nuclear weapons.  With his wife Karan’s firm guiding vision, he is a strong supporter of affordable housing and the Green New Deal Resolution.
Corky Searls and his wife Nancy sailed to Lopez Island for many years prior to purchasing their house on the island in 2011. Drawn by the strong sense of community when Corky retired in 2015, they moved to their Lopez Island home full time. Corky is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound and UCLA. Corky spent his career working as a research geophysicist in a variety of governmental and non-governmental roles. Additionally, he has been active in youth education through the Boy Scouts of America and has volunteered extensively in supporting emergency management programs at the community, county and state level. Throughout these activities he has witnessed the value of both education and a strong community, both of which remain his passions. Within the Lopez Island Community providing sustainable affordable housing and the facilities and infrastructure to feed the community represent two core elements for developing and sustaining a strong Island community. Corky is pleased to be able bring his skills and interests to serve LCLT and support the Lopez Community.