Tyler joined the board in 2020. He serves as Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in The Dalles, where he lives with his wife, Mairead, and their two children, George and Maeve. Originally from Minnesota (MN), Tyler has lived in the Mid-Columbia region since 2012 when he did his year-long pastoral internship, though he went back to MN for two years to finish his Master of Divinity and also serve as a chaplain resident at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, MN. He serves on the board of The Next Door, Inc. because The Next Door is one of the organizations that most clearly makes a positive difference in the lives of our families and children and helps the Gorge become the interconnected, beloved community we want to be.

Carolina joined the Board in 2021. She works as a Juvenile Counselor at the Hood River Juvenile Department. Previously, she worked at TNDI in the Klahre House as counselor and then supervisor. As a teenager, Carolina was also involved as a youth leader in TNDI’s prevention work. Carolina was born and raised in Hood River, and currently lives in The Dalles with her husband and their two children. Carolina serves on the Board because having been a former program participant and employee of The Next Door Inc., she has seen the results of positive interventions and how they make a difference in a person’s life and well-being.

Linda is a long-time Board member, first serving from 2008-2017, and then rejoining in 2020. An engineer by training, Linda is currently retired but has held a variety of positions in her long career, from Executive Director of the Columbia Area Transit to small business owner of a local bed & breakfast. Originally from Mississippi, Linda has been a resident of Hood River since 1988. She has a partner, three children, two grandchildren, and a cat. Her current interest is creating fabric art. She continues to serve on TNDI’s Board to give back to the community she loves.

Ann is the Board Chair, having served on the Board since 2018. She is the OSU Open Campus Coordinator at Oregon State University Extension office, where she’s worked for the past 10 years. Ann has had a wide variety of work experiences including starting the Juntos Program in the Gorge that focuses on helping Latinx families navigate the path to post-secondary education and also, the Master Naturalist program that trains Gorge volunteers to support the natural environment through stewardship, research, and by educating others. She has been on the TNDI staff in the past, managing the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program (now called Gorge Youth Mentoring). She is married to a local physician, and they have two adult children. Ann states, “Though my career has been varied, I always view the world through the eyes of a social worker. I see the work of TNDI as vital for building a healthy, equitable community where all can thrive.”

Kathy is the Vice Chair, having joined the Board in 2013. She has many years of experience serving on Boards of Directors, including on her own family’s foundation, the Jubitz Family Foundation. A native of Portland, Kathy moved to Hood River in 2008. She has two children. Kathy serves on the board because she cares about people. She strongly believes in trying to ease other's pain, diminish their suffering, and provide them with the tools and resources to move past their challenges in order to live more peaceful and meaningful lives.

Patricia joined the Board in 2021. She serves as the Director of Equity and Family Partnership, and Migrant Education at the Hood River County School District (HRCSD). Prior to this position, Patricia was a teacher and Vice Principal at the two middle schools of HRCSD for over 20 years. Originally from Chile, Patricia has lived in Hood River since 1998. She is married with two adult children. Patricia serves on the Board because she loves to be part of an organization that works tirelessly to support and empower our underserved community.

Bruce is the Board Secretary, having joined the Board in 2019. Now retired, Bruce founded a financial planning firm where he worked for 21 years after an additional 12 years in the industry. He also graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law and practiced law briefly after passing the Oregon Bar. Bruce’s financial background helps TNDI as he also serves on the Finance Committee. Bruce retired from his Olympia, WA, firm in 2015 and has been a resident of Parkdale since then. He is married with 11 children and 14 grandchildren. Bruce serves on the board because he wants to support a team that works so hard to strengthen families and create opportunities for those who might not otherwise have them.

Luke joined the Board in 2023. He is the Principal of Colonel Wright Elementary School in The Dalles, and previously served as a teacher and leader at a variety of schools throughout Oregon, as well as one in Vietnam. With roots in both Oregon and Portugal, Luke lives in The Dalles with his wife and two children. He serves on the board to help bridge the work of The Next Door with that of the North Wasco County School District.

Maija is the Board Treasurer, having joined the Board in 2018. Now a consultant specializing in program evaluation and grant writing, Maija worked for over 25 years with the Hood River County Commission on Children & Families as a licensed prevention specialist and community organizer. Maija’s community service started early, having served on TNDI’s Board shortly after its founding in the early 1970s and continued to serve on over a dozen community boards throughout her career. As a third-generation orchardist, Maija’s roots in the Hood River valley run deep, solidified with her marriage to another third-generation orchardist, Flip Yasui. They have three children who share their commitment of serving others and in turn are raising seven grandchildren with similar values. Maija believes that TNDI exemplifies her passion for service by empowering children, families, and communities to be the best they can be while practicing equity and inclusion throughout the journey.