Mark Kruse
President
As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Mark manages a Bainbridge Island-based investment management & financial planning firm…
Mark Kruse, President
Advice for my teenage self: Don’t be distracted by the social setting around you.
Favorite Quote: Being honest may not get you a lot of friends, but it’ll always get you the right ones. ~ John Lennon
What makes me happy to be alive: Family, friends, and community.
As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Mark manages a Bainbridge Island-based investment management & financial planning firm. He joined the BYS board in 2018 as Treasurer, and assumed the role of board President in August 2022. His mission is to foster greater community awareness and support of BYS’ mission through effective board leadership. Mark enjoys hiking in the Olympics with his wife and dog.
I joined the board because I saw an opportunity to serve our community’s youth alongside other caring, intelligent, and creative people. Helping teens makes such a powerful impact for the rest of their adult lives- this is important to me.
Bob Tull PhD
Vice President
Bob is a retired psychologist who has worked with at risk youth and young adults throughout his career…
Bob Tull PhD, Vice President
Advice for my teenage self: Put one foot in front of the other…Often baby steps are the way forward.
Favorite quote: “I can’t change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water and create many ripples.” – Mother Teresa
What makes you happy to be alive:My extended family, my dear friends, my passion for helping others and to be surrounded by all that nature has gifted us.
Bob is a retired psychologist who has worked with at risk youth and young adults throughout his career. He has also worked with healthcare professionals and healthcare leaders to enhance their communication skills.
Getting through adolescence is a significant challenge for most people. BYS provides the support to increase the opportunities for teens to self-reflect, gain personal direction, and better understand how they fit into the world around them. I joined the BYS team because I wanted to continue my involvement with adolescents and help support them and the BYS organization.
Scott Stanton
Secretary
Scott joined the BYS board in 2018 and is the organization’s technical guru…
Scott Stanton, Secretary
Advice for my teenage self: Be more confident in your abilities and what you have to offer for other people.
Favorite quote: If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants. ~ Newton
What makes me happy to be alive: My wife. My kids. Snow. Rain. Music.
Scott joined the BYS board in 2018 and is the organization’s technical guru. Scott likes to spend time with his wife and children when they are around. He also enjoys hiking, riding his motorcycle, and snowboarding.
I chose to serve on the board because The future is our children and to improve the future we need to make sure that the youth in our community are growing up to be healthy (emotionally as well as physically), resilient adults. BYS provides youth who are traveling through a difficult time in their lives a place to learn how to be emotionally healthy and resilient.
Irv Alpert
Irv is a retired business executive who spent 40 years…
Irv Alpert
Advice for my teenage self: Do not believe it when people tell you that following your passion will lead to happiness. The problem is that phrases like ‘follow your passion’ and words like ‘happiness’ is they are words to cover up a much deeper yearning. Passion is temporary and self-centered and it is all about what life can give you. Instead, ask yourself, what is your purpose? Purpose is rooted in values and is about what you can give to life. To identify your purpose and find joy and contentment, you will need a clear understanding of your values and the things that give your life meaning.
Favorite Quote: “Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back.” – Harvey Mackay
What makes you happy to be alive: Laughing my head off.
Irv is a retired business executive who spent 40 years in the minerals exploration, civil construction, and information management businesses. He spends his time visiting his family, sailing, camping, exploring new places with his wife and substitute teaching at BISD.
My teenage years were “challenging” so I joined the BYS board to assist BYS’s passionate, hardworking team of people who believe that even the most difficult situations can improve with the right support!
Karen Klein
Karen is a Bainbridge Island attorney and joined the BYS board in 2018…
Karen Klein
Advice for my teenage self: Celebrate your successes!
Favorite quote: I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. ~ Maya Angelou
What makes me happy to be alive: Family & friends, my dog Oscar.
Karen is a Bainbridge Island attorney and joined the BYS board in 2018. She has more than 30 years of legal experience and focuses on business and employment law. She lives her life based on the principles of honesty, integrity, and loyalty, always striving to make a difference in the lives of others. In her spare time, Karen mentors women attorneys and volunteers with WISER, helping young women in Kenya receive a secondary education. Karen enjoys traveling and likes to exercise daily.
I am privileged to serve on this Board to make a difference to our community. I am passionate about empowering and inspiring our youth, and volunteer globally to advance opportunities for young women in education.
Lee Moniz
Lee is a retired Registered Nurse after working for 20 years in the Emergency
Department in local area hospitals….
Lee Moniz
Advice for my teenage self: Talk to strangers. Ask for help. Spend more time around the people you love and respect. There are many roads in life, don’t sweat it- enjoy the journey.
Favorite Quote: It doesn’t have to take over your live, it doesn’t have to define you as a person, it’s just important that you ask for help. It’s not a sign of weakness. – Demi Lovato
What makes you happy to be alive: Helping others towards being happy and being around the people and pets I love.
Lee is a retired Registered Nurse after working for 20 years in the Emergency Department in local area hospitals. She now owns a small embroidery business on the island and volunteers with several non-profits that promote mental well-being.
I am honored to serve on this board so that I may continue to help encourage and promote mental wellness in our community. Mental Health, especially with our
youth, is just as important as physical health and it deserves the same focus and quality of support.
Kristina Rodgers
Kristina has served as the Principal at Bainbridge High School since 2021….
Kristina Rodgers
Advice for my teenage self:A lot of the big stuff might feel small later so collect some takeaways and move on.
Favorite Quote: “There is no use in trying,” said Alice; ‘one can’t believe impossible things.” “I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things a day.” – Lewis Carrol from Alice in Wonderland
What makes you happy to be alive: What makes me happy to be alive: my kids coming in on a Saturday morning to cuddle, standup paddle boarding on Puget Sound, nature walks, enjoying time with my family.
Kristina has served as the Principal at Bainbridge High School since 2021. She joined the BYS Board in May of 2022.
I joined BYS because as an educator I recognize the critical partnership between social and emotional health supports for youth in helping them to achieve their potential and become lifelong learners. As well, there is a desperate need to thread the needle for educators around our collective responsibility to support our students socially, emotionally, AND academically. If the first two aren’t in place, it is hard for the third to actualize.
Youth Advisory Board
Emma
Lily
Max
Maxwell
Serena
