OUR MISSION:
We're here to help. What's on your mind?
PBCRC is a Pateros based non-profit corporation that provides a location and infrastructure for community needs. Our purpose is to connect community individuals and families with critical resources through case management, client advocacy, and behavioral/mental health services.
Gene Dowers
Executive Director
Gene came to Pateros 28 years ago with his wife, Carlene, a Pateros native and the town’s current mayor. A graduate of Washington State University with a B.S. in Physical Education, Gene was the Head Women’s Rowing Coach at W.S.U. for six years, at Gonzaga University for two, and has been the Head Volleyball Coach at Pateros High School since 1995. In 2005, he founded Confluence Volleyball Club at PHS and has been its director and one of its coaches since. He has been the United States Postal Service delivery driver for the town of Bridgeport since 2009-2020. He serves on Treehouse Preschool Board of Directors. Daughter Jessi is an architecture student at Montana State University and son Danny is a recent grad of Pateros High School. The son of a career U.S. Navy Chaplain and a Registered Nurse who gave 40 years to care and teaching, Gene has lived many places and likes it best right here in Pateros.
Angela Van Eysinga
Director-At-Large
We welcomed Angela Van Eysinga, our newest board member, in July 2022! Angela grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio with 10 brothers and 4 sisters. After graduating high school she moved away, living in several states for the next 25 years. In 2002 she moved to the Methow from Monroe, WA and then in 2005 she moved to Pateros. She has 4 children and 4 grandchildren, all living on the "west side" of the Cascades.
Throughout the years she has held many diverse jobs. She's worked in a greenhouse, as a waitress, bookkeeper, preschool instructor, retail worker, and driving instructor. In 2002 she began working at the Lake Pateros Inn as front desk clerk and became motel manager in 2011, ultimately retiring in 2021. She has also been self employed as a seamstress for 35 years.
Angela enjoys working with others, especially teaching and helping others learn new skills. She's a great addition to our board and represents our community well!
Grace Larsen
Director, Board Secretary
Grace grew up in New York and Connecticut, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Messiah College in 1987, and Masters of Science in Nursing from University of Washington family nurse practitioner program in 1992. She has always had a passion for working with underserved populations and enjoys rural lifestyle and the outdoors. She works part time with Confluence Health as a primary care provider in Brewster and serves on the board of directors for Pateros School District and the Treehouse Preschool. She enjoys playing piano and encouraging students to pursue the arts and sciences.
Cecilia Williams
Director, Board Treasurer
Cecilia is the Deputy Clerk for the City of Pateros. She moved here with her family from East Wenatchee in 2013. She has been a Therapeutic Foster Parent for over 10 years. Cecilia strongly believes in the need to be part of the local community. She grew up in Manson and experienced how small communities come together to make things happen. She has adopted Pateros as her community and has embraced its community needs. Cecilia helped establish AAU Pateros Youth Soccer in 2014. She also has coached Pateros Jr High Volleyball and AAU Basketball. She is also the Pateros Museum Coordinator and is a Recruiter/Peer Mentor for Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Adams County. Cecilia is currently pursuing her AA degree through Wenatchee Valley Community College and plans to study Integrated Sociology at UW.
Staci Pippitt
Director At-Large
Staci joined the Board in April, 2020. She has a strong background in food services management, culinary arts, and community outreach service. She currently works part-time for the Brewster Senior Center. Her creative and resourceful business mindedness as owner of Old Forest Hag Products, as well as engagement with community members, makes her well suited to furthering the mission and vision of PBCRC.
Maria Escobedo
Director At-Large
Jim Larsen
Director, Board President
Jim is a Board-certified Family Physician with a strong interest in helping under-served populations with medical and psycho/social needs. He has his BS and MS in Psychology from Idaho State University, Doctor of Osteopathy from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA, and did family practice residency with Southern Colorado Family Medicine in Pueblo. He has worked as a family practice physician for Community/Migrant Health Centers in the Northwest for over 20 years, including 17 years in Brewster and Chelan. After 7 years in emergency medicine, he currently works at Express Care Lake Chelan Health. Jim and his wife, Grace, have lived in Pateros for 21 years, and have launched 2 fine adults. He volunteers for Loup Loup Ski Patrol, and enjoys exploring the mountains in North Central Washington on mountain bike, skis, and running shoes.
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Kristi O'Neill
Director At-Large
Kristi grew up in NJ and moved to WA in 2006. She spent the past 20 years of her career working in underserved and rural communities strengthening partnerships with businesses and community-based organizations to ensure that our most underserved community members have equal access to the resources and skills needed to thrive. She has worked as a behavioral and vocational specialist for youth and adults with disabilities, a re-entry employment specialist for individuals that have been formerly incarcerated, as well as a college and career navigator in low wealth communities. She was excited to bring her passion and experience to Okanogan County in 2013 where she served several years as a Workforce Development Specialist for the Okanogan County WorkSource.
Kristi now serves as Senior Education & Employment Advocate for FYRE--Foundation for Youth Resiliency & Engagement--in Omak. Kristi is widely known for her ability to build and strengthen partnerships and her advocacy of having equitable resources within rural communities. She is passionate about Workforce Development, Community Engagement, and connecting employment, training and education resources to our community members. She spends her time outside of work outdoors, skiing and backpacking with her husband and 3 dogs, and most recently hiked 150 miles along the coast of Portugal.
Maria is our newest board member--she joined us in June, 2023. She has local roots and moved back to this area last year to be closer to family.
As a board member, she aims to grow in her leadership and advocacy skills in helping community members remove barriers in their lives and access much needed resources and help, regardless of language barriers and biases. Her previous experience as a board member/treasurer mean that she brings extensive knowledge and expertise to PBCRC.
Maria's background includes a wealth of knowledge and experience including two master's degrees in forensic psychology and criminal justice, Associates and accounting degrees with Wenatchee Valley College, Case Management Counseling and Social Services Degrees with Spokane Falls Community College, and a Corrections certificate.
She has worked in several social service and nonprofit agencies, including working alongside incarcerated individuals in their re-entry programs, as well as work with children and adolescents seeking therapeutic services as victims of sexual/physical assault.
She has served in Spokane as a volunteer Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), Sexual Assault and Crime Victim Advocate, Refugee Connections Committee member, and Board Treasurer for the Hispanic Business Professional Association of Spokane.
Please WELCOME Maria back home and to PBCRC!
PAST BOARD MEMBERS
Greg Goodnight
Past Director,
2020-2022
Greg's career in education includes 35 years of teaching and school administration. He taught high school and middle school science, math, and history for 21 years. He served as middle school/high school principal for 3 years and a superintendent for 12 years in school administration.
Greg earned his bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Physical Education from Washington State University in 1982. In 1993, he graduated for Gonzaga University with a Master's in school administration. His principal certificate was earned at Eastern Washington University, and his superintendent certificate was received from WSU.
Greg's wife and oldest daughter are also educators in special education and first grade, respectively. His youngest daughter is a computer programmer.
They love living on the Columbia River and spend much of their free time fishing and hunting with their two yellow labs.
Hilda Caquias
Past Director, Board Vice President, 2018-2021
Dr. Caquias served on the PBCRC Board for 3 years and stepped down to move back to Puerto Rico, where she and her family will continue to make a powerful impact on the mental/behavioral health of their community. THANK YOU, Dr. Caquias!
She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Mental Health in the University of Puerto Rico, and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico. She did her residency in APS Healthcare in Caguas, PR, and graduated in 2010. After years of practicing psychology in Puerto Rico, she left the Island with her family to Colorado first and then Washington State. Her special interests include prevention of violence, women’s health, integrated care, holistic approaches, and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Caquias enjoys outdoor activities, spending time with her family, and traveling.
Mark Miller
Past Director, Board
Chair 2015-2020
Mark is a Founding Board Member of PBCRC since 2014. He stepped down in January 2020 to pursue other endeavors. A huge THANK YOU to Mark for his years of service! We wish him all the best as he moves on to other endeavors!
Mark grew up in Pateros and completed his Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy at University of Washington in 1978. Mark has served 4 generations of local communities as well as 8 years on the Physical Therapy State Board of Licensing.
The Miller family roots run deep--as local native people who have embodied dual Anglo-native cultural diversity and devoted to the preservation of their Indian lands since 1872 in the community of Pateros.