Building an economy that works for everyone

Economic Opportunity Institute Staff

 

Headshot of Alexis Mansanarez, who's wearing a light grey long sleeve sweater with cuffed sleeves. Alexis has light to tan skin and a shaved head with some facial piercings present.
Alexis Mansanarez

Communications Director

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alexis@opportunityinstitute.org

Alexis Mansanarez has a BA in Communications, with an emphasis in Journalism, and Political Science from the University of Washington. She has a decade of communication experience across journalism, the non-profit sector, and campaign management. Alexis’ professional and personal work center liberation for all. As a journalist, she covered the WNBA for The Athletic, now part of the New York Times, and the rise of athlete activism during the 2020 uprisings and beyond for various publications. As a campaign manager, Alexis worked to elect Teresa Mosqueda to King County Council as the first Latina to hold the position and, most recently, on State Senator Rebecca Saldaña’s campaign at the intersections of Environmental Justice and decolonizing conservation.

Aaron Keating

Managing Director

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aaron@opportunityinstitute.org

Aaron Keating joined EOI as Communications Director in 2007 and is now the Managing Director — managing the organization’s budget/finance, IT, and human resources functions. He also oversees a policy portfolio covering retirement security, and state economy and budget research. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington, and a B.A. in Music from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR. Before joining EOI, Aaron worked as Communications and Technology Manager for Port Jobs, Outreach Coordinator for the Center for Environmental Law and Policy, and Program Director at the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties.

Carolyn Brotherton

Policy Associate - Progressive Revenue

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carolyn@opportunityinstitute.org

Carolyn Brotherton holds a BS in Chemistry from Yale University and a PhD in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Harvard University. Before joining EOI, she worked as the Government Relations Specialist for AFT Washington. Carolyn got into advocacy while helping to organize a union and negotiate a first contract for fellow postdoctoral researchers at the University of Washington. She interned with the Washington State Labor Council during the 2019 Legislative Session. Carolyn believes every billionaire is a policy failure.

Andrea Lopez-Diaz

Development and Operations Associate

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Andrea@opportunityinstitute.org | 206-529-6360

Prior to EOI, Andrea worked in philanthropy, supporting communities in developing and implementing inclusive economic growth strategies in underinvested neighborhoods in California. Previously, she provided technical assistance and helped build capacity for community health worker coalitions across Washington state. She also served as a Program Fellow/Community Organizer for the American Friends Service Committee, addressing systemic barriers that impact communities of color in King County, focusing on the prison industrial complex and racial equity.

Gabriela Quintana

Senior Policy Associate – Family Economic Security

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gabriela@opportunityinstitute.org | 206-529-6361

Gabriela earned a Masters of Social Work from Boston University and a BA in Political Science from the University of Washington. Prior to joining EOI, Gabriela managed her own consulting business where she worked on social and racial justice issues such as the panhandling ordinance in Seattle, the voting restoration rights bill in Olympia as well as on some statewide initiatives such as the domestic partnership and the anti-liquor privatization initiatives.

Jayanthi Ragubathi

Development Director

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Jayanthi@opportunityinstitute.org | 206-529-6345

Jayanthi holds a BS in Political Science from Santa Clara University. Before joining EOI, she served as the Development and Communications Manager at WestSide Baby helping to provide diapers and other essential items to families throughout Western King County and supporting policy to address diaper need in Washington. Previously, Jayanthi worked at Catholic Community Services supporting youth tutoring programs in public housing communities and an addiction recovery program serving those experiencing homelessness. She also interned at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities promoting and advocating for the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and free tax help.

Sam Hatzenbeler

Senior Health Policy Associate

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sam@opportunityinstitute.org | 206-529-6375

Sam Hatzenbeler holds a master’s of public health from the Community Oriented Public Health Practice program at the University of Washington. Sam started her work with the Economic Opportunity Institute in 2014 as a graduate policy intern focusing on women’s economic security and now manages EOI’s health policy portfolio. Along with community partners, Sam co-founded the Fair Health Prices WA campaign to improve health care affordability in Washington state. Before joining the EOI team, Sam managed an abortion clinic in downtown Seattle, worked as a community organizer at Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project, and spent four years as a women and children’s advocate in the movement to end domestic violence. Sam has a faculty appointment with the Department of Health Services, University of Washington, as a clinical instructor in the School of Public Health.

Traci Underwood

Policy Director

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Traci@opportunityinstitute.org

Traci Underwood holds a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Washington where she focused on public policy and nonprofit administration, and has been working for economic justice for Washingtonians since 2001. She comes to EOI after over 20 years in the movement to end domestic violence, 15 of which were spent at the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV). There Traci coordinated their Economic Justice Project which aims to promote financial security and dignity for survivors by monitoring policy and practice pertaining to public benefits, labor, and housing; collaborating with anti-poverty groups; and supporting the economic stability of survivors through community partnerships and action.

Rian Watt

Executive Director

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Rian@opportunityinstitute.org

Rian joined the EOI team as Executive Director in 2024. He previously served as the Executive Director of The Urbanist, a Seattle-based advocacy journalism organization; as a Strategy Lead for International Large-Scale Change for Community Solutions, a national homelessness nonprofit; and as a Senior Analyst for Abt Global, a public policy research firm. Outside of EOI, Rian serves on the board of Futurewise, a statewide land use organization, and on the implementation board of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. He lives in Capitol Hill.

Board of Directors

Michael Tamayo

President

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Michael is Vice President of the Seattle Education Association.

Mary Curry

Secretary

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Mary Curry is an early learning professional and advocate, and has served Washington families for over 40 years.

Stan Sorscher

Treasurer

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Stan Sorscher is a Labor Representative at the Society for Professional Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), and previously worked as a physicist at Boeing. Stan has been an EOI board member since 2007.

Dawn Trudeau

At-Large Executive Committee

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Dawn Trudeau spent 20 years in the software industry, is co-owner of the Seattle Storm, and is a member of many boards and community organizations in Seattle. Dawn has been a member of EOI’s board since 2006.

Matt Loschen

At-Large Executive Committee

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Matt Loschen is retired, and has served on EOI’s board since 2009.

April Berg

Board Member

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April Berg is a member of the Washington State House of Representatives, representing District 44-Position 2.

Joe Kendo

Board Member

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Joe Kendo is the Chief of Staff of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Elizabeth Woody Lindquist

At-Large Executive Committee

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Elizabeth is a practicing attorney and owner of Lindquist Law, PLLC in Seattle, Washington.

Tammy Morales

Board Member

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Tammy Morales is a member of the Seattle City Council, representing District 2 in Washington.

Shemona Moreno

Board Member

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Shemona is an activist, leader, changemaker, and the Executive Director of 350 Seattle.

Katharine Weiss

Board Member

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Katharine Weiss is the Director of Government Affairs at the Washington State Nurses Association.