Meet The Board

A local fixture in Olympia’s music scene since 1988, Tela launched her career as a music instructor and educator in 1998. Throughout her career she has taught hundreds of youth, inspiring joy and excellence in all of her students. Pizza Klatch played an instrumental role when she began her transition in 2017. After formally coming out in 2020, Pizza Klatch provided her the opportunity to support LGBTQ+ youth. She began facilitating Klatches in 2022 and has dedicated her activism through local organizations to support LGBTQ+ youth ever since. Tela is the proud parent of two young adults.

A lifelong resident of the Olympia area, Craig has been volunteering with Pizza Klatch for over 8 years, both as a facilitator at various schools, in addition to the Board of Directors for the last few. He is extremely proud of the staff at Pizza Klatch, watching them power through challenges and improve the organization as it evolves. After coming out late in life, due in part to a lack of support, role models and resources in his own youth, he is passionate about PK’s mission, and truly understands the importance of the support Pizza Klatch provides. A father of two grown children himself, Craig feels honored to be able to provide support to the LGBTQ+ youth of our community and finds great joy in continuously learning from both the staff and youth PK serves. He has worked for the State of Washington for 30 years and is currently with the Department of Revenue. He currently resides in NE Olympia with his longtime partner Greg.

Josie grew up in Washington but she’s been around the world a few times. She works at the Department of Revenue, mostly doing taxes but also engaging with DEI groups and running presentations on LGBTQ+ issues. After decades in the closet, she is thrilled to live as an out queer trans woman in one of the best places in the world: Olympia!

threshold joined the board to support an organization that they know would have been life changing for them when they were a struggling queer youth.