Welcome Kat Goering New Room One Executive Director

After nearly two years, Room One is delighted to introduce our next Executive Director, Katrina (Kat) Goering. During the interim time period, board and staff were able to do important work together envisioning our next leader and the current needs of our organization and community. Robert Grim, Board President, says: “Her extensive experience in community engagement and deep understanding of health systems makes her uniquely suited to lead Room One in its mission to improve the health and well-being of all people in the Methow Valley.”

Kat comes to Room One following an impressive career that has taken her from Arizona to Seattle, Yakima to Bellingham, and now, the Methow Valley. Kat has played meaningful roles in programs that assist low-income homeowners with critical home repairs, assess the environmental safety of childcare spaces, improve access to reproductive health tools, support at-risk youth experiencing homelessness and in foster care, and advocate for increased access to healthcare and health information for migrant and seasonal agricultural workers.

The best part of this work, Kat says, is: “collaborating with community leaders and thinking creatively and strategically about how to meet the needs of diverse populations to create long-term systemic changes so that everyone can live a healthy life.” Kat is bilingual in Spanish and English and has experience leading multicultural teams.

Managing Director Kelly Edwards offers: “We are so fortunate to have Kat join our team! Her attention to and investment in relationships is just the approach we are looking for. And her collaboration and partnership with those who are underrepresented is inspiring.”

Kat started at Room One October 11. “I am so honored to have the opportunity to contribute and build on the amazing work of the Room One team as the organization’s Executive Director. I appreciate the strong sense of identity and uniqueness of the Methow Valley and feel so fortunate to be able to put down roots. I look forward to collaborating with partners and engaging and learning from community members, staff, the board, volunteers and Room One supporters.” Kat joins her partner, Mitchell Luce, here after a long period of commuting over the mountains to see each other.

Room One will continue offering community-responsive direct service, innovative prevention programs, and working alongside others in advocacy for meaningful change. There is a particular focus in the coming year on creative housing solutions, more peer support especially for those experiencing unsafe relationships, partnering to assure our elders needs are met, and building on youth programs supporting positive youth development.

A virtual Welcome Reception will be held for Kat November 2, 4:30-5:30pm via Zoom. Please RSVP Here.