Garage Staff
Brett Baldwin
Counselor brett@issaquahteencafe.org Brett is a Counselor at the Garage, a Teen Cafe and has been with the organization since the Winter of 2023. He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA, WA). He received his Bachelors from the University of Oregon in 2016 and his Masters in Psychology from Seattle University in 2022. Brett has a passion for serving teens' mental and emotional health needs through offering wrap-around services and a drop-in model of care. His approach is rooted in existential-humanistic theory, using interventions drawn from relational and psychodynamic modalities. Brett resides in Issaquah with his two cats, Pancake and Sushi. In his free time he enjoys playing video games, tumbling rocks, and losing to 10 year-olds at the local chess club. KayLee Jaech
Executive Director kaylee@issaquahteencafe.org KayLee is the founder and Executive Director of the Garage, a Teen Café. She worked for three years to bring a teen center to the Issaquah School District before the Garage opened in 2018. Since then, she has led the organization that now serves 60 – 100 teens a day, providing a safe space for them to gather and access resources as needed. Before starting the Garage, she was the Development Director and Interim Executive Director of the Issaquah Schools Foundation. KayLee has spent more than 25 years working in the nonprofit field and is happy to bring that experience to serve youth in her hometown of Issaquah. KayLee also serves as trustee for the Breneman Jaech Foundation and the Herbert B. Jones Foundation. She received a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University. She resides in Issaquah with furbabies Frankie, Wynona, Waverly and featherbabies Geraldine, Maisey, and Wilma Christine Knight
Case Manager christine@issaquahteencafe.org (425) 477-9251 Christine is a Case Manager at the Garage, a Teen Cafe. She assists youth ages 12-19 achieve their goals and meet their individual needs through strengths-based service plans. This intervention and prevention works to keep teens in their homes and communities. Prior to joining the team in the fall of 2021 she worked for multiple nonprofits in the Central Valley of California as a Registered Behavior Technician. She has been thrilled to spend the majority of her professional career serving the teenage demographic and continues to find joy and passion serving the youth of Issaquah today. Christine brings a valuable perspective to the Garage as someone with lived experience with the foster care system and youth homelessness. She currently resides in Renton with her pet best friends, her cat Meekah and leopard gecko Bartholomew. Serena Narisawa
Program Coordinator serena@issaquahteencafe.org Serena is a Program Coordinator at the Garage, a Teen Cafe. She serves teens daily, manages the Book of the Month Program, and helps to evaluate program efficacy through monthly Listening Sessions. Before joining the Garage Team, she graduated with a bachelor's degree from Seattle University. During her time there, she served as a Global Ambassador at the International Student Center, where she welcomed and facilitated community building events for incoming international students. Additionally, she was an active participant with the Gender Justice Center as well as Seattle U's Asian/Pacific Islanders for Equity and Critical Engagement (APIECE). Serena currently resides in Renton with her furbaby, Maple. Brenna Moore
Program Coordinator brenna@issaquahteencafe.org Brenna is a Program Coordinator at the Garage, a Teen Cafe. As a Program Coordinator, she works hard to create a welcoming environment for any student that comes through the door. Her main goals at The Garage are to help students bring their creative ideas to life, and to create a space where all students are welcome and validated. Brenna has 4+ years of working with youth from varying backgrounds and identities. Before working at The Garage, Brenna has worked for Sequim School District, Mercer Island School District, Issaquah School District, as well as counseling at Echo Glen Children’s Center. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences from Washington State University, as well as an Associate’s in Addiction Studies from Peninsula College. Brenna currently resides in Issaquah with cat, Rosie. Tiana Parry
Program Manager tiana@issaquahteencafe.org Tiana is the Program Manager at the Garage, a Teen Cafe and has been with the organization since the Grand Opening in 2018. As Program Manager, she enjoys mentoring her Gibson Ek High School intern, leading the Garage’s Teens 4 Teens steering committee, and hosting the Garage’s annual Rainbow Prom in the Spring. She received her associate’s degree from Bellevue College with a concentration in Sociology before transferring to Western Washington University to earn her bachelor’s degree. While at Bellevue College she also tutored fellow students on Sociology at the Academic Success Center. She resides in her hometown of Bellevue with dogs, Ginny & Leia and cat, Louie Jocelyn Skillman
Counselor jocelyn@issaquahteencafe.org Jocelyn is the a Counselor at the Garage, a Teen Cafe and has been with the organization since the Summer of 2022. She is a fully licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC, WA) with her Child Mental Health certification (CMHS, WA). She received her Bachelors from the University of Puget sound in 2008 and her Masters in Counseling Psychology in 2013. Jocelyn serves teens' mental and emotional health needs collaboratively utilizing a wrap-around and drop-in model of care. She is trained in multiple clinically proven therapeutic interventions including trauma-informed care, dialectical behavioral therapy, and somatic and existential psychodynamic modalities. She resides in Issaquah and enjoys playing board games with her family, doing art, and enjoying their beautiful and hilarious pet blue lobster- Bluey! Bryan Thompson Case Manager bryan@issaquahteencafe.org Bryan is a Case Manager for the Garage’s drop-in center and host home program, Blackthorn Haven. He is passionate about supporting people experiencing homelessness and assisting them with housing. He has been working with youth and young adults in the East Side area that are at risk or currently experiencing homelessness for 7 years. He has a technical degree in Social and Human Services from Edmonds Community College and has lived experience from being unstably housed in the greater Seattle area. In his off time, he enjoys theoretical astrophysics, “what if” history, video games, and documentaries. He resides in Everett with his dog Maggie, cat Motley, and turtle Buddy. |
Garage Board
Rebecca Rice Board Chair Care Coordinator at Eastside Fire & Rescue Tonya Swick Vice Chair & Treasurer Senior Business Executive, Operational Ninja Alicia Spinner Secretary Cultural Bridges Manager at Issaquah Schools Foundation Carolyn Kennedy Past Board Chair Community Member Karen Crowe Past Chair Director of Child Development at Arena Sports Jerry Blackburn Board Member Program Director at Empower Youth Network Matt Coyne Board Member Chief Operating Officer at DA Davidson & Co Russell Joe Board Member City of Issaquah Council Member External Relations Manager at Master Builders Assosiation Kim Weiss Board Member Community Member |
