Name

Bio

Tom Alderson

Tom Alderson has been a Vashon resident for nearly 40 years.  In 2020 he retired from a career in the maritime industry, having owned and managed a business, Emerald Maritime, that I started 30 years ago for shipping Washington apples and other fruits and vegetables to many countries worldwide. He has been a member of FoM since its inception and joined the Fruit Barreling Plant committee in 2019, partly because of the connection between the plant’s historic function and his career exporting fruit.

Rita Brogan

Rita Brogan is a communications professional with deep ties to Seattle’s Asian Pacific community. She currently serves as President of the Mukai Farm & Garden Board of Directors.  She is a former board member of SCIDPDA, ACRS and US Japan Council. Born in Japan, she is an avid reader, gardener and food enthusiast.

Darin Brown

Darin Brown is one of the few marketing veterans that has spent equal time in traditional advertising and pure-play digital.  Darin was also an early believer in digital and, in 1995, created Leo Burnett Interactive. Over the last two decades he led several advertising and digital agencies in Europe and recently moved to Vashon Island where he is spending more time as an angel investor, consultant and entrepreneur.

Annie Duggan

Annie Duggan worked in private practice for forty-six years in the field of somatic therapy. She is active in the Vashon Community and for the last ten years has volunteered at Granny’s Attic where she has been a board member and served as Head of Jewelry and Collectibles. She has a deep appreciation for Japanese pottery, architecture, tea ceremony, flower arranging, Japanese food and social justice.

Ayumi Luke

Ayumi Nakada Luke’s passion is in U.S.-Japan relations.  She was born in a small town near Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan and is married to a retired U.S. diplomat.  She served as a reporter/editor for an English language publication in Japan and later served as a teacher to bilingual students in both the U.S. and Japan.  She is currently working to promote international educational travel from Japan to the U.S. through her company, Vashon Island Homestays.

Michal J. Kleer

Mike Kleer is a retired landscape architect and a certified ESL instructor. He currently runs a non-profit foundation which funds education and humanitarian efforts for Burmese refugees living in Northern Thailand. He is  active with the WSU Master Gardener program and spends an inordinate amount of time tending his own extensive garden.

Brit Myers

Brit Meyers is a Project Manager with the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States where she works to build and strengthen community connections between large networks of interdisciplinary researchers, Indigenous knowledge holders, policymakers, funders, and the broader public. Brit has been involved in the development and capacity building of regional non-profits in a number of previous roles.  She lives with her husband Don on Vashon Island’s Judd Creek estuary, adjacent to the former Kaguni family loganberry farm site. 

Meg Nelson

Mukai’s Board Secretary, Meg Nelson is a native Seattleite who has lived on Vashon Island for the past 5 years. Meg is an archaeologist with research interests in prehistoric hunter-gatherer land use.  She has completed many archaeological surveys, excavations, and considers herself lucky to be paid to be outside, at least when the weather is good.

Renee Roman

Renée is a Vashon resident, architect, King County Master Gardener, and recently transitioned to full time potter. Early in her career she worked on numerous historic projects, and sat on the City of Seattle Historic Preservation Board. She brings her unique skill set and enthusiasm for design, art/craft, and heritage to the Mukai board.

Mary Rabourn

Mary Rabourn serves as board vice-president. Born in Japan, she works on communications and cross-cultural outreach for King County’s Department of Natural Resources. She co-chairs the Programs Committee.

Kay Longhi 

Kay Longhi grew up on Vashon, and is now back on the island after retirement. Her experiences visiting in New England, and living in Alabama gave her a deep appreciation for historic preservation. Kay is past president of Friends of Mukai, and now volunteers to create Mukai programming and facilitate preservation of the fruit barreling plant.

Asano Hayama

Asano Hayama and her husband Bart Diener were drawn to Vashon in the midst of the pandemic because of its natural beauty, art scene, sense of community, proximity to Seattle, and, finally, because of Mukai. Inspired by natural beauty, art, community, and Japanese culture, Hayama continues to seek opportunities to connect with the local community and find new friends with common interests. Hayama has loved the experience of getting to know the Friends of Mukai and is excited about getting involved with more Mukai projects and activities in the future.