Board of Directors

For nearly 30 years, Carolynn Ferris has contributed to the growth and success of Imagine Housing and is an essential bridge connecting the organization’s past and future. She is committed to ensuring affordable housing continues to be a high priority on the Eastside and is an active civic leader who currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Bellevue Planning Commission. Carolynn brings leadership acumen that was honed through a successful career as a senior executive for an international Fortune 100 company. Her positive, can-do attitude is infectious and creates an atmosphere of teamwork and progressive thinking. She empowers those around her to be their best selves both personally and professionally, while always keeping the organization’s best interests in mind. She lives in Bellevue with her husband and when she’s not spending free time with “the littles” (grandkids) you’ll likely find her deftly navigating waves on waterskies.

PennyMarie Curry is a dedicated advocate for her neighbors and the broader community.  She speaks from her heart and seeks to find connections through authentic discourse.  After escaping domestic violence, PennyMarie and her children navigated transitional housing for a number of years until finding stability at an affordable housing community.  She believes everyone deserves a safe place to sleep, a stable home to build a life, and a seat at the table. She is committed to correcting the negative perceptions that are often assigned to those who have experienced housing instability. PennyMarie has 15 years of experience as an early learning and school age educator and contributes this expertise to families in her community – she is a Parent Advocate with Family Engagement Expert Leaders and a Parent Representative and member of the Policy Council with Denise Louie Early Head Start. She also volunteers her time as a Board member at Farms for Life and enjoys creating art, sewing and tending to her indoor garden on the Eastside.

Laura Coughlin believes that affordable housing and access to social capital can change a person’s life trajectory – when she looks back on her own path to a successful career as a real estate attorney she sees firsthand how this this principle has impacted her own life. Laura regularly practices in state and federal courts throughout Washington and in recent years, has been admitted to practice before the Tulalip, Puyallup, and Quinault Tribal Courts. She is inherently curious and is known to be expert at navigating unique, complex legal issues. Laura was a Chateau Ste. Michelle Diversity Scholar at the University of Washington before going on to obtaining her juris doctorate at Washburn University School of Law in Topeka Kansas. Prior to joining the Board of Directors, Laura served on Imagine Housing’s Real Estate Development Committee. She enjoys DIY projects, baking, camping and attempting to live sustainably.

As a licensed architect and executive in real estate development, Jackie Frank works in the built environment – and brings this talent to initiatives focused on supporting people experiencing housing instability. As a past president and Board Member at Temple Bnai Torah, an Eastside faith based community, he was involved with his community’s commitment to host homeless individuals including Tent City 4 and The Sophia Way. Jackie is the type of leader who guides groups with multiple perspectives and motivations toward actionable consensus.   He and his wife live in Woodinville and have three children who grew up on the east side and in the Temple Bnai Torah community.

Jayme Longoria pursues complex problems head-on; pushing through roadblocks with compassion and clarity. She leverages two Masters Degrees in healthcare and her lived experiences with housing instability, the criminal justice system and domestic violence to advance pivotal pursuits both for herself and for others. Jayme is grateful for community programs that provided much needed support to her and her three children and she is continually looking for opportunities to help others navigate similar public resources. She currently oversees University of Washington COVID-19 testing site operations and is active with The ALS Association Evergreen Chapter. She grew up in Tukwila and finds joy in making a home one’s own through interior design.

Nam Nguyen is driven by the power of relationships and skillfully connects people together for the benefit of the broader community. A child of Vietnamese immigrants, he was born and raised on the Eastside and is now raising his own family just miles from where he grew up. Nam listens intently and authentically appreciates meeting new people, learning about issues impacting the community and lending a hand. He readily reflects on his family’s difficulties and experiences with housing instability when he was young; recalling instances when access to a kitchen or other household amenities were not accessible. He is driven by a desire to respond to the community and their needs whatever it may be. Nam also serves on the Board of the Bellevue Fire Department Foundation and the Global Social Business Partners Group.

Yi Zhao grew up on the Eastside and attended Bellevue Public Schools after moving to the U.S. with his family from a little city in China near the Gobi Desert. As a first generation immigrant who worked to bridge his Chinese and American identities at a young age, he understands how important it is to nurture a sense of belonging for all. This belief has driven his career aspirations and professional successes from his start with AmeriCorps to the leadership role he now holds at Plymouth Housing. Yi excels at streamlining processes and strives to build connections between logistics and human services. He prioritizes listening and works to create spaces that invite complexities. He lives in Bellevue with his wife and young children.