Our Leadership

Joe is a seasoned executive leader with diverse industry experience and a proven track record of entrepreneurship, creativity, and complex problem-solving to deliver growth, innovation, and results in fast-paced environments. He joined Key Works as Chief Executive Officer in April 2022. Previously, he served in executive roles at a variety of companies, from large corporations to startups, in a wide range of sectors including consumer packaged goods, commercial printing, strategy consulting, retail, and Internet technologies. Joe has many years of serving on a variety of non-profit boards and committees. He received his BA from Wesleyan University and his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Ryan is a senior behavioral health executive and licensed psychologist with 20 years of progressive leadership experience driving operational excellence and clinical outcomes in residential and outpatient systems. He has served in senior clinical leadership and management roles at a variety of substance use disorder and mental health facilities, creating and scaling programs, strengthening organizational culture, and driving exceptional patient outcomes. He is an author and educator, and an expert in clinical operations, outcomes measurement, workforce strategy, and organizational change in high-acuity settings.

Christina is an experienced organizational development, operations, and strategic HR leader with deep experience in leading high-performing teams in a variety of sectors, including healthcare, human services, nonprofit, education, life sciences, high tech, and hospitality. She received a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Psychology from Western Washington University and a master’s degree in Organizational Development and Adult Education from Seattle University. She brings more than 20 years of expertise in talent management, culture building, leadership coaching, change management, and human centric design. She is co-author of a book on leadership, Going Elemental: The Essentials of Success, and a passionate advocate for equity, inclusion, innovation, sustainability and social impact.

Sandy is a highly talented financial professional who provides exceptional financial management and strategic financial advice to help guide our operations. She has worked in a variety of industry sectors, including medical technology, financial services, and non-profit organizations. She joined Key Works in May 2023, and serves as our Controller, managing all aspects of our financial operations, including budgeting and forecasting, accounting, contract management, and payroll. Prior to joining our team, Sandy served as Director of Finance and Operations/Controller for OneAccord Companies, Controller for a division of Philips Respironics, and Vice President/Director of Finance for Pro-Tech Services. She received her BS in Accounting from California State University, Fresno, and her MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Seth has served as general manager for our recycling operations since 2015, and brings decades of extensive expertise across all areas of the recycling industry with a demonstrated passion for sustainability and waste reduction. He leads with a commitment to continued business growth, increased profitability, and improved efficiencies through strategic planning, critical thinking, and solution-based initiatives. Seth is passionate about Key Works’ mission of sustained recovery and is dedicated to developing the unique talents and skills of every team member to deliver the best results.

Rob brings 25 years of operational leadership experience in the recycling industry. He joined our team in 2007, and is known for his commitment to extraordinary customer service and creating trusted long-term business relationships with the hard-working tradespeople and others who bring us materials. He and his team have built a network of customers that includes the Pacific Northwest and extends as far as the Alaskan Aleutian Islands. Rob is inspired by the opportunity to support both the trades community and the environment through the circular economy, while making a direct impact in our community through sustained recovery.

Jason is a seasoned vocational rehabilitation leader and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with over 25 years of experience advancing employment outcomes for individuals facing barriers to workforce participation. As Director of Work Skills, he brings extensive expertise in program development, workforce readiness training, and evidence-based vocational rehabilitation services. He is recognized for strengthening service delivery systems, fostering community and employer partnerships, and implementing outcome-driven strategies that improve both participant success and organizational performance. Jason’s leadership is grounded in a deep commitment to person-centered practice, operational excellence, and expanding access to high-quality vocational services that create lasting impact.

Elise is our clinical director, designing holistic trauma-informed treatment programs for our patients and working with our counselors and other specialists to promote the best possible outcomes for our patients. She joined our team in 2022 as the mental health clinical manager, bringing 15 years of mental health, substance use disorder treatment, and human service experience. Previously, she served as a mental health therapist and substance use counselor at Seattle Counseling Service, as a psychotherapist in private practice, and in leadership roles at several other mental health, advocacy, and community organizations. She received her bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College and her master’s degrees from the Seattle School of Theology & Psychology.

Dr. Ostacher is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University. He is also the Site Director for the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at the Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System, where he serves in a number of leadership roles in patient care, education, and research, including Medical Director of the VA Pharmacology of Addiction Recovery Clinic. Dr. Ostacher is a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, the Harvard School of Public Health, and Harvard Medical School, and is currently board-certified in psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and addiction medicine. He has published extensive research on mental health and addiction, and the implementation of evidence-based mental health practices.

Outside of his professional life, you can find him most often in the kitchen, cooking meals from around the world or putting up jam from fruit foraged near his home. Now that the kids are grown he and his wife, Laurie, have more time for walks in the hills with their rescue dog, Kugel.

Marla brings over 25 years of distinguished leadership in non-profit supportive housing and behavioral health organizations. Her work has focused on developing programs that nurture environments of care and security to support individuals impacted by addiction and incarceration. She has a proven track record of delivering positive outcomes for organizations and the people they serve. With a CPM in Real Estate from the Institute of Real Estate Management, Marla leverages her diverse experience to lead high-performing teams, oversee operations, and manage finances to strengthen business and program results. Marla is also a certified performance coach, helping professionals unlock their full potential.

Outside of her professional work, Marla has a passion for horses and equestrian pursuits. She competes in the discipline of Reining, and also is a certified Equine Experiential Facilitator, where she partners with horses to facilitate profound personal growth for her clients.

Jennie brings deep clinical and administrative expertise to the Key Recovery board. She currently serves as an Associate Instructor at Edmonds College, where she teaches classes on addiction treatment, case management, assessment, and youth and family services. Previously, she served as Clinical Director for Evergreen Recovery Centers, the largest substance abuse disorder treatment provider in the north Puget Sound region of Washington State, where she oversaw clinical staff and services across residential, substance use disorder treatment, mental health, and outpatient services, reaching more than 2,000 clients per year. She also served many years as a Clinical Preceptor for the U.S. Navy, providing training for chemical dependency counselors at Navy substance abuse rehabilitation facilities. She received her BA in Social Work from the University of Washington, and her MA in Psychology from Antioch University.

Jennie, her husband and their two cats live in Everett in a 120-year-old house. They are following their dream of living in a cohousing community, co-creating a new one in Marysville. She loves gardening, growing vegetables, and cooking with fresh organic produce.

Patrick serves as Executive Director of Weld Seattle, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people returning home from jail or prison rebuild their lives with housing, employment, and resources to support their recovery and successful reintegration into society. Previously, Patrick served as Weld’s program director, helping to grow Weld’s services from approximately 20 system-impacted individuals per year to more than 200 men and women per year. Patrick’s passion and insights are a reflection of his own lived experience with incarceration, addiction, and homelessness. At Weld, he leads a team that understands the challenges facing system-impacted individuals and has a proven track record of helping each individual succeed in their journey to reentry.

Jon is the Vice President of Finance and Business Control within the recycling division at CellMark, a global supply chain service company facilitating trade and business development across multiple industries, with 70 offices in more than 30 countries. Previously, Jon spent 15 years on Wall Street, beginning at Deutsche Bank. After surviving the financial crisis, Jon decided to pursue a career in management consulting with KPMG Advisory. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentration in Finance and Economics from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University and a certificate of Executive Leadership from the Haas Business School at Berkeley.

Jon lives in Westport, CT with his wife Emily Clare and their 2-year-old daughter. In his free time, Jon enjoys spending time with his family and running or hiking.

Barbara Lither is a retired environmental attorney who joined the Board because she believes in the mission of Key Works.  She served in a variety of senior positions at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional office for 34 years and received multiple awards and recognitions, including a regional Distinguished Career Award. She has experience as a regulator, policy advisor, and innovator, with particular focus on promoting sustainable business development practices. Barbara also served as an Eisenhower Exchange Fellow, (EEF) which is an independent, nonpartisan, international leadership organization. She continues networking with Eisenhower Fellows around the globe, and supports activities designed to promote peace and prosperity through leadership development.

Barbara is a graduate of Loyola University Law School,  the University of California at Los Angeles, and Los Angeles Community College. 

In her private life, Barbara enjoys her family and friends, mentoring students, volunteering, studying foreign languages, and gardening.

Megan is the Settlement Program Administrator at the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA), with extensive experience facilitating effective cross-sector collaboration in public health and human services. Prior to joining the HCA, Megan was a Project Manager at North Sound Accountable Community of Health (ACH) and served in a variety of roles in public and private health and rehabilitation organizations. Megan received her BA from Western Washington University and her Master of Public Health from the University of Washington School of Public Health.