Join our team

SAVE Board Officers:

 Lorraine Newman - Board President

My story begins on a farm just west of Billings, Montana, where the rhythms of life were set by seasons, livestock, and the steady work of my family. Each crop we raised, each animal we fed, and each chore we completed quietly taught me lessons about responsibility, timing, and the balance it takes to make something succeed.

As I grew older, those early lessons followed me into the working world. I built a career across agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, land development, and charitable work, gaining a wide view of how different parts of the economy operate. Understanding the mechanics of an economy came naturally to me. Numbers told a story I could easily read—one of growth, risk, and sustainability.

For a long time, I believed everyone saw that story just as clearly. Yet long walks through Whatcom Falls Park with my friend Kris helped me realize that, for many people, understanding how money flows, how businesses survive, and how economies stay healthy takes decades of experience—if it happens at all.

Kris and I began to wonder: what if those lessons didn’t have to take a lifetime to learn? What if young people were given the chance to see, early on, how the world around them really works?

That question became the seed for SAVE.

For me, SAVE isn’t just an idea—it’s a heart project. It’s my way of passing down the knowledge I’ve gained and offering the next generation a head start. Through SAVE, I hope to give them something I once took for granted: the ability to understand, navigate, create, and thrive in a vibrant economy.

 Ed Kilduff - Board Vice President

I grew up in Chatham, New Jersey, where life was pretty simple. My friends and I spent our days playing Little League baseball, riding bikes all over town, and enjoying the kind of childhood that seems less common today. Along the way, I learned some important lessons about responsibility and hard work by cutting grass, chopping wood, and shoveling snow for neighbors.Those early experiences stayed with me as I pursued my education at Tufts University, the Colorado School of Mines, and MIT Sloan School of Management. They also shaped a career that has taken me from oil and gas exploration to leading environmental and groundwater projects for the U.S. Navy and the Department of Energy. Today, I continue to work as a consulting geologist and hydrogeologist in Northwest Washington, and I own Watec, Washington's largest desalination plant operator.I became involved with SAVE because its mission connects with the values I learned growing up. I believe young people benefit from understanding how work, business, and local economies really function. Economics is not just something found in textbooks. It is part of everyday life, and understanding it helps people make better decisions and create opportunities for themselves and their communities.When people ask who my heroes are, I usually do not think of famous names. I think about ordinary people who quietly do extraordinary things every day for their families, friends, and communities. Those are the people who inspire me the most, and they remind me of the values I have tried to carry throughout my own life and career.

 Kristen Keyes-Halterman - Board Secretary

My name is Kristen Keyes-Halterman, and Bellingham, Washington, has been home to me my entire life. As a small business owner, wife, and mother, I’ve built a life rooted in family, work, and community. For 40 years, I helped operate our family business, Park Bowl, before we sold it to new ownership in late 2025. I also founded ABC Bookkeeping and later sold the business to my son, Kraig. Along the way, I found another way to connect with my community: hosting “Saturday Morning Live” on KGMI 790 AM. I grew a large radio audience before semi-retiring as the show’s host in January 2021. Each of these chapters has been part of my story, alongside my work as an original board member and developer of the nonprofit Social Alliance for a Vibrant Economy, known as SAVE Northwest.

The idea for SAVE began during walks with my longtime friend Lorraine Newman. We often talked about our concerns for the local economy, and I kept returning to a question: How could young people understand their role in an economy if they weren’t learning even the basics in school? On one of those walks, Lorraine and I decided it was time to do something. We wanted to make economics education engaging—to entertain children and young people while helping them understand what fuels an economy and improves life for everyone. With the love and support of many others, that idea became SAVE, a nonprofit that brings economics education to students through community-based programs. I believe that when people understand what makes an economy tick and recognize the many faces of economic activity, our whole community benefits.

Corinne Thorsen - Board Treasurer

Growing up in Bellingham, Washington, gave me a deep appreciation for community, opportunity, and hard work. From skiing at Mount Baker and participating in 4-H to competing in athletics and performing in music programs, I learned early that growth comes from embracing challenges and making the most of every opportunity.

My educational journey eventually led me to Western Washington University, where I earned a degree in Accounting with a business minor. Throughout my career, I have worked in both the public and private sectors, gaining valuable experience and a firsthand understanding of how education, perseverance, and personal responsibility can create opportunities for success.

As a mother, one of my greatest joys has been raising my daughter in Bellingham and watching her pursue a life of service in the United States Navy. Family, community, and service continue to guide the values that are most important to me.

I became involved with SAVE because I believe every young person deserves to know that opportunity is still within reach. Too often, students hear that their future is limited by circumstances beyond their control. I believe just the opposite. With education, determination, and a willingness to keep learning, people can create opportunities for themselves and achieve meaningful goals.

My passion for economics education comes from a practical understanding of how the world works. Economic literacy helps people understand choices, recognize opportunities, and develop the confidence to make informed decisions. More importantly, it encourages personal responsibility, independence, and a commitment to contributing positively to our communities.

At the heart of what I believe is the conviction that every person has unique value, gifts, and potential. Through education and encouragement, I hope to help the next generation discover those strengths and build lives filled with purpose, opportunity, and service to others.

SAVE Board Directors:

Dave Courtney

Long before he became a business leader, entrepreneur, and community volunteer, Dave Courtney was a curious young boy growing up on the south side of Chicago. Even as a grade-school student, Dave showed an unusual interest in earning and saving money. His first job was delivering newspapers, and he carefully saved his earnings until he had enough to buy his very first share of AT&T stock while still in the eighth grade.

That first investment sparked a lifelong fascination with the stock market, business, and economics. Dave wanted to understand how companies grew, how people invested, and how opportunities were created. In high school, he gained hands-on business experience by helping run his school's candy store, where he learned valuable lessons about marketing, inventory management, and customer service.

As Dave entered college, he recognized that computers would transform the way people lived and worked. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and English from DePaul University and later completed an MBA in Finance and Small Business from the University of Chicago.

Dave joined IBM, where he built an impressive 25-year career. During his time with the company, he worked in a variety of roles, including computer programming, application design, marketing, executive education, product development, and management. Each position gave him new opportunities to solve problems, develop innovative ideas, and help businesses use technology more effectively.

When Dave retired from IBM in 1992, he wasn't ready to stop creating and contributing. Instead, he launched his own company, EDJ Enterprises, Inc., which specialized in software applications for IBM point-of-sale systems. As President and Chief Marketing Officer, Dave guided the company for two decades before retiring at the end of 2012.

In 1999, Dave and his wife, Mary Lynne, discovered Bellingham, Washington and quickly fell in love with the area. They eventually made the move in June 2008 and became active members of the community. Since then, Dave has dedicated his time and talents to a variety of local organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County, the Heritage Flight Museum, the Mount Vernon Rotary Club, and SAVE. Dave's love of baseball has inspired him to become a longtime supporter of the Bellingham Bells summer baseball team.

Throughout his life, Dave has remained passionate about education, especially economic education. He believes that people are never too young or too old to learn how the U.S. economy works. In his view, the earlier someone begins learning about economics and financial opportunities, the more prepared they will be to make informed decisions and build a successful future. Dave often encourages young people to start learning these concepts as early as middle school.

Today, although officially retired, Dave still describes himself with a title that perfectly reflects his lifelong curiosity and creativity: Idea Generator.

 Bill Knutzen

Born and raised in Bellingham, Washington, I learned the value of hard work at an early age. Growing up on a dairy farm, I developed a deep appreciation for farmers and the people who make a living through dedication and perseverance.

Life presented me with significant challenges as a teenager when my mother was seriously injured, leaving me to help care for my family and two younger sisters. Rather than allowing those circumstances to define me, I embraced responsibility and developed the determination that would guide me throughout my life.

My entrepreneurial spirit eventually led me into the cellular phone industry. Starting with little more than determination and a willingness to knock on doors, I built a successful business with my wife that grew into one of the Pacific Northwest’s leading wireless dealerships.

My commitment to fairness and community later inspired me to serve on the Whatcom County Council. Throughout my careers in business, public service, insurance, and construction, I learned that success is rarely a straight path. I often say that the greatest opportunities in life arrive disguised as adversity.

I became involved with SAVE because I believe young people deserve practical knowledge and real-world preparation. I am passionate about helping the next generation understand economics, free enterprise, and the opportunities that come from hard work and personal responsibility.

Among the people who have most influenced me are my Uncle Lyle, my grandmother Gudrun, and President Ronald Reagan, whose examples of character, perseverance, and leadership continue to shape my outlook today.

Karl Uppiano

I was born and raised in Southern California in the late 1950s and ’60s, then spent my high school and college years in Southwest Idaho—an experience I remember fondly. I grew up in a close-knit family where conversations often stretched across generations. My grandfather, an electronics engineer during the early days of radio, had a deep interest in economics and a strong admiration for economist and Nobel laureate Milton Friedman. I spent many hours discussing economic principles and public policy with him—experiences that sparked my lasting curiosity about how economies work and how policy decisions shape everyday life.

Encouraged by my grandfather, I pursued coursework in money and banking alongside my primary studies in mathematics and physics. This combination of analytical training and economic perspective helped shape my approach to problem-solving throughout my career.

Professionally, I have worked across both small and large organizations, gaining firsthand insight into how economic forces and public policy affect businesses and individuals alike. These experiences have reinforced my belief that a stronger foundation in economic education can empower people—especially young people—to make more informed decisions and better understand the world around them.

 

Former SAVE Board Members:

Dave Brumbaugh

Dave is president of Brumbaugh Co., a Lynden-based public-relations firm founded in 2002. He is a member of the Bellingham and Lynden Chambers of Commerce. He is a former editor of the Lynden Tribune and Business Pulse magazine. Dave is a graduate of Lynden High School and Washington State University. He serves on the church council of Hope Lutheran Church in Lynden and is a former board member of Lydia Place. Dave lives in Lynden with his wife Bonnie.

 Jacob Deschenes – Past Vice President (founding Board Member)

Jacob is an investment advisor and portfolio manager for Era Capital Management, LLC, specializing in quantitative analysis and portfolio risk management systems.  In 2008 he received his bachelor’s degree in Finance and minored in Economics from Western Washington University. Jacob also is a substitute host for Saturday Morning Live on KGMI AM790. Raised in an unincorporated area near Auburn, Jacob has lived in Bellingham/Whatcom County for 12 years and recently married his wife Crystal.

Dick Donahue

Dick has been a Whatcom County resident since graduating from Washington State University in 1965. He entered the financial services industry in September 1966 as a self-employed independent financial advisor. He owns and manages Asset Advisors, LLC, located in Fairhaven. As host of two weekly radio shows on KGMI, Dick is known for his incorporating “conservative political opinions” along with market commentaries and the impact of politics on the ability of his listeners to accumulate and protect their assets. Dick has been married to his wife Fontene for over 30 years.

Mike Hudson

Mike Hudson is the Founding Executive Director of The AWB Institute a not-for-profit affiliate of the Association of Washington Business. The Institute serves as an “intermediary” between the public Workforce Development System and employers who rely on that system to provide qualified workers.

Washington Governor Christine Gregoire appointed Mike to the state’s Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, the Veterans Innovation Programs Board and the Washington Rehabilitation Council.  Mike also serves as a member of the Education, Employment, and Training Committee of the United States Chamber of Commerce and as the Chairman of the National Work Readiness Council. 

Mike’s work at the Institute has covered all aspects of workforce development and work readiness focusing on development of both hard and soft skills and is dedicated to the development of the Washington Work Ready program to ensure that all employers in the State of Washington has access to a fully qualified workforce.

Prior to coming to AWB, Mike had a thirty-year career in private business, most recently serving as President/CEO of North Coast Credit Union in Bellingham, Washington.

Mike has authored two books on credit union marketing. He was recognized as the Credit Union Executives Society’s “Marketer of the Year” in 1988 and voted into the Credit Union National Associations’ “Marketing Hall of Fame” in 1997.  Mike has had numerous articles published in various business publications including the series Workforce Washington! appearing in AWB’s magazine Washington Business. He is also a popular speaker having delivered programs and presentations for many business groups in the United States and Canada.

Mike received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Management from Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana, and a Certificate in Project Management from the University of Washington – Tacoma.

 Todd Hausman – Past Director (founding Board Member)

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Todd Hausman is an elementary teacher in the Burlington-Edison School District. He has more than two decades of experience in the field of education and brings perspective from the private, public and non-profit sectors. Todd earned a Bachelor of the Arts degree from the University of Oregon in 1992 and a teaching certificate from Western Washington University in 2000. He worked as an Assessment Consultant for Riverside Publishing and as the Director of Leadership for Teachers United. While employed by the Bellingham School District, he served as a “Future of the Teaching Profession” fellow with the National Education Association and was featured on The Teaching Channel. In 2015, he accepted a position at innovative Bay View Elementary. Todd has lived in Whatcom County since 1999 and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in School Administration. When not in school, he likes to ski and kayak with his family.

Leslie J Rogers - (retired Washington State teacher)

Born in Eugene, Oregon, Leslie first moved to Bellingham in 1973.  She received a B.A. in Education from Western Washington University in 1988, and began her teaching career in Long Beach, Washington. While teaching elementary school in Long Beach, she won Microsoft Foundation and Apple grants – bringing computers to classrooms, and served as director of the district’s migrant summer school.  Leslie earned an M. A. in Special Education from Central Washington University, in 1996.  Returning to Bellingham in 1999, she teaches at Lowell Elementary School.  In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, book club, and the outdoors.

Samuel Sefzik

Samuel was born in Dallas and lived across the Southwestern United States during his childhood.  Upon moving to Washington in 2009, Samuel gained an appreciation for the unique and beautiful northwestern states.  As a college student studying finance, his chief interests are in teaching, learning about business, political organizing, public speaking, and getting young people engaged in the issues of our day that will affect them for years to come.  He particularly enjoys taking challenging topics and communicating them in a way that is concise and understandable for the benefit of his audience. 

David Spring (lifelong teacher and entreprenuerial instructor)

David was born and raised in Seattle, WA. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Science Education from Washington State University and a Master’s Degree in Child Development from the University of Washington. David started a successful small business in Bellevue, WA in 1985 and spent 20 years teaching courses in Leadership, Problem Solving and Technology at Bellevue College. In 1994, David started one of the world’s first online stores. Some of his students went on to start their own small website called Amazon dot com. For the past 15 years, David has focused on Computer and Website Security and written several books which can be read for free on his course website College in the Clouds dot org.