Board of Directors

Please visit our full website for director and member bios.

Markéta grew up under russian oppression in Czechoslovakia, escaped her homeland as a teen and settled in the US. Her childhood nightmares came to life when russian tanks rolled into Ukraine in 2022. Markéta founded the Sunflower F.U.N.D. after her first humanitarian mission to Ukraine in 2023. She returned in 2024 to join the fund’s Ukrainian partners on the ground, to personally deliver and monitor the fund’s aid to the most critically needed areas. Markéta is a graduate of University of Washington School of Law. She established a boutique estate planning practice and has served on several nonprofit organizations. She lives in Anacortes and loves to spend time with her humans and dogs on the sea or in the mountains. She remains committed to Ukraine until all of its people are free.

Sharon enjoyed a career in telecommunications for Time Warner Cable where she worked as marketing coordinator, project manager of new product launches for high speed data and internet phones, and as Senior Director of customer service for four Texas call centers. Before retiring to Anacortes in 2015, Sharon lived in San Antonio, Texas for 20 years, after living in Vancouver, BC, where she worked for the airline and hotel industry, primarily in marketing.  Sharon lives in Old Town with her husband Ed and their recently adopted shelter cat, Dude. She loves the Pacific Northwest and looks forward to joining a local nonprofit that supports Ukraine.

Marjie entered humanitarian work early in life when her mother co-founded a non-profit organization to support children affected by congenital defects from Agent Orange and missing limbs from accidental landmine detonations.  Marjie spent the last 30 years raising her sons, volunteering in her community and working in healthcare administration. She and her husband moved to Anacortes, where she manages a local manufacturer of emergency response equipment. Having traveled extensively and seeing firsthand the pervasive, destructive remnants of war, Marjie joined the Sunflower F.U.N.D. to support the resilient people of Ukraine.

Tor earned his MBA at the University of Chicago and spent a 30 year career in finance and management, providing business strategy and organizational management as the Chief Financial Officer to several international and regional corporations. He served in the US Army (reconnaissance) during the Cold War era, volunteered as treasurer for multiple local and regional nonprofit organizations and remains active in local efforts to promote nature conservation, affordable housing and economic growth. His admiration for Ukrainian self-determination led him to join the Sunflower F.U.N.D. Tor lives in Anacortes with his wife and son and enjoys the outdoors, martial arts and travel

Liz is a Branch Relationship Manager for Heritage Bank in Anacortes. She has been in bank management for 30 years.  She has always had a passion for and draw to humanitarian work and volunteering and she serves on several local community nonprofits.  The extreme human rights violations and crimes that adults and children in Ukraine are struggling against are what drew Liz to the Sunflower F.U.N.D. – to support the incredibly resilient people of Ukraine.

 

Markéta Vorel, founder

Marjie Lines, vice president

Tor Fleming, treasurer

Svenja holds an MBA and a Master Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership and is currently the director of the Anacortes Senior Activity Center Foundation. Svenja grew up in Germany but has lived in several different countries and US States before making Anacortes her home 10 years ago with her husband, two children and pets. Since moving here, she has been actively involved in several nonprofits in the community.

Sharon Jackson, secretary

Colton is a student at Anacortes High School who loves policy and international relations. In his free time, he leads the school debate team as a champion Lincoln-Douglas debater and plays varsity tennis.

Liz Svoboda, community outreach director

Svenja Marshall, development director

Colton Hong, youth director

Members

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Neli Espe

With over 30 years of experience in healthcare, Michelle has dedicated her life to serving others. As a physician assistant, she has provided acute care to military personnel, government contractors, and host country nationals in remote and austere locations such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Qatar, and the Marshall Islands. Michelle holds a doctorate in health sciences, and her interests extend beyond healthcare to include the outdoors, trail running, craft beer, and world travel. A recent trip to Ukraine has deepened her commitment to volunteering and reinforced her lifelong mission of service.

Laurence has spent the last 30 years as an aviator, first as a US Navy fighter pilot, then as a global cargo airline pilot and flight instructor. Years of global travel and a few deployments to foreign countries and war zones have confirmed his belief that our planet is too small to ignore conflict in other regions and that aggression against civilians must not be tolerated. Laurence has lived in Anacortes since 2010, enjoys spending time in the San Juan Islands, Cascade mountains and time with his family.

Larry is a doctor of chiropractic medicine and spent the last 30 years in a shared private practice with his late wife. After spending most of his life on the east coast, Larry retired in Anacortes, where he actively volunteers for several local nonprofits. He enjoys music, art, photography, reading and hiking.

Jim has spent over 30 years in public service as a public school teacher and principal. He holds a BA in Education and a Masters in School Administration. Jim has traveled the world with his wife and retired in 2002 in Anacortes, where he continues to support charitable organizations and efforts to deliver humanitarian relief to the Ukrainian people.

Neli is a graduate of Seattle University School of Law. She is the founder of Olympic Legal, a Skagit law firm focused on estate and business planning. She has worked for years in legal education and has served as a board member of local organizations. Her current volunteer work includes community water system building in Nicaragua, where she has served several missions.  She lives in Anacortes with her husband and three daughters and enjoys hiking, biking, music, astronomy and travel. 

Larry Lesser

Michelle Miller

Laurence Reay

James Schaffner