FOUNDER & BOARD CHAIR

Riley founded Acorn for Tomorrow because she is passionate about protecting the planet and wants to support environmental research that has been affected by funding cuts. Riley has served on the Environmental Justice Youth Committee for the Washington State Department of Health. She is a National Climate Fellow with Change the Chamber and is currently working as an intern with NexaYouth, a nonprofit organization centered around youth climate resilience. Riley has traveled across the globe learning about climate change first hand from communities in Alaska, Chile, Iceland, Nepal and Peru. Riley brings with her a wealth of knowledge which helps guide the direction of Acorn for Tomorrow. When she is not traveling or studying in school she loves hiking, reading, and spending time with her dog.

VICE CHAIR

Tyler brings with her 20 years of experience starting and running for profit businesses. She earned her B.A. from the University of British Columbia and has served on the board of a 501(c)(3) K-8 private school as both the Vice President and Board Chair. Tyler is the donor advisor to the Benjamin Foundation which has supported various charities over the years. She is especially proud of the Women in Stem Scholarship provided each year for a high school senior continuing their post secondary education in the field of STEM. She is passionate about the environment and believes education is key to creating positive change. In her free time she loves hiking, listening to music, and spending time with her family.

BOARD MEMBER

Tom brings with him 30+ years of educational experience working in various roles as a teacher in the fields of special education, history, and music. He was an Associate Professor at University of Hawaii at Manoa in the College of Education/Special Education for many years. He also served as an Adjunct Professor of songwriting at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) College of  Media and Entertainment. In addition, Tom has served on various educational committees and boards throughout his career. In his free time he enjoys writing songs, listening to and playing music, reading and spending time with his family and Boston Terrier.