Our Staff & Leadership

Teri Hein
Executive Director
The Greater Seattle Bureau of Fearless Ideas’ executive director taught for 25 years before starting Fearless Ideas. She is a published author of numerous essays and stories including her memoir, Atomic Farmgirl. Teri has won awards for both her writing and teaching, including a Fulbright Scholarship for research into different educational styles in Latin America. She converses comfortably in Spanish.
teri@fearlessideas.org

Peggy Jackson
Director of Development
After eleven years at Microsoft with a focus on internal marketing, communication, and training, Peggy has now worked in development for Seattle-area educational nonprofits for more than six years. She holds a BA in French from the University of Washington.
peggy@fearlessideas.org

Justin Allan-Spencer
Creative Director
Justin has worked as a designer for over a decade and has 15 years experience in the niche retail industry. He has taken performance production and art classes at Cornish College of the Arts and Everett Community College.
justin@fearlessideas.org

Humaira Barlas
Bookkeeper
Humaira received her MBA in marketing from the University of Hartford, CT and a Bachelors of Commerce from Hailey College of Commerce in Pakistan. Before coming to Fearless Ideas, she worked for the Lupus Foundation for nine years. She can communicate in English, Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi.
humaira@fearlessideas.org

Alaina Buzas
Events & Outreach Manager
With a BS in Journalism from Bowling Green State University, Alaina has worked both in and out of newsrooms as a reporter, photographer, graphic designer and editor. She began doing outreach for Fearless Ideas as a store volunteer.
alaina@fearlessideas.org

Joe Concannon
Programs Assistant
A graduate of Carleton College with a BA in Religion, Joe has worked as a writing teacher and camp counselor for kids of all ages. He is the author of Northwest Brewing Magazine's popular "Ales and Trails" column.
joe@fearlessideas.org

Sean Palmer
Store Manager
Sean has studied astronomy and worked in music journalism and website design. He has been involved in the Seattle arts community for the last ten years, two of which were spent volunteering in the Greenwood Space Travel Supply store.
sean@fearlessideas.org

Sue Spang
Programs & Publishing Manager
Sue has a BA in Classical Language and Literature from Lawrence University, in addition to graduate work in Book History and Print Culture at the University of Toronto. More recently, she has worked as a college admissions counselor and an independent school instructor.
sue@fearlessideas.org

Work with Fearless Ideas!
Open Positions

• If we have any, open staff positions are listed here.
• Also check out our internships!

Teri Hein
Executive Director of The Greater Seattle Bureau of Fearless Ideas and board member emeritus

Mia Ellis
Board Chair; Northwest native; mom; Founding Executive Director of Summer Search Seattle; current Summer Program Coordinator for Summer Search National

Ted Dworkin
Board Vice-Chair; Software and Content Development Manager in Microsoft’s Windows Experiences group

John Zagula
Managing Director and Founder of Ignition Capital and Qiming Ventures China; board member Oriental Cambridge Schools, China; former General Manager of Global Campaigns, Microsoft

Janet Buttenwieser
Writer; Mom; former Teen Services Librarian for the King County Library System

Howard Cutler
Former Director and Executive Producer of Interactive Media at WGBH Boston; member and former chair of Plan USA’s Board of Directors; elected rep to Plan International’s governing body

Michael Dix
CEO and Co-Founder of Intentional Futures, an innovation studio; board member of Charity Navigator; former General Manager at Microsoft.

Lindsay Hill
Former 4th-grade teacher; proud mom; founding Executive Director of Teach For America – Washington

Pam MacEwan
Special Assistant to the CEO; Washington State Health Benefits Exchange

Lynn Resnick
Part of the creative team for Sasquatch! Music Festival; army brat; mom; lover of good books and great music

Tom Robbins
Novelist; short story writer; essayist

Steve Yentzer
Managing Partner, DLA Piper

Jen Belle
Business, Strategic Thinker

Deborah Clothier
Retired Attorney

David Brotherton
Founder and president, Brotherton Strategies

Timothy Egan
Journalist and Author

David Guterson
Author

Maria Huang
Design Consultant, Dark Horse Design Lab

Nancy Pearl
Public Radio Librarian and Author

Sherry Prowda
Founder, Seattle Arts & Lectures

Shawn Rediger
Partner at Williams Kastner Law Firm

Jennie Shortridge
Author

Jim Smith
Entrepreneur

Bill Thorness
Author, Editor

Lisa Verhovek
Strategic Communication

Jess Walter
Author