Our Board of Directors
Rick Wray, Co-Founder & Board Chair
Rick has 25+ years of diverse education experience, serving both K-12 students and teachers in Washington State and Utah. Rick began his education career in Salt Lake City as a co-founder and Executive Director of Higher Ground Learning (HGL), a tutoring and mentoring center focused on reaching students through personalized learning models. While at Higher Ground, Rick realized the dynamic instructional nature of the media arts and digital storytelling. In 1999, Rick passed on the reins of HGL and founded Utah’s only not-for-profit youth media center, Spy Hop Productions. In 2010 after serving over 10,000 Utah youth with innovative audio, video and interactive programming as Spy Hop Productions’ Executive Director, Rick Wray stepped down to launch SHIFT Workshops in Washington State, a teacher-training organization focused on integrating filmmaking and digital storytelling into classroom instruction. Rick served as the Executive Director of SHIFT through 2015, and after training over 3,000 educators, the organization merged with the Utah Film Center where Rick served as both their Director of Education and lead education programs consultant. Currently, Rick is a co-owner and manager of the two Mercantile CoWorking spaces located in downtown Wenatchee.
Rick’s education work and the organizations he has founded have been recognized both locally and nationally, receiving awards such as the 2003 Salt Lake City Mayor’s Service to the Arts Award, a finalist for the 2010 Ernst and Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year award, and Spy Hop Productions’ receipt of the National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Award in 2015 by First Lady Michelle Obama.
Josh Castro, Board Member & Treasurer
Josh has lived in Wenatchee since 2003, graduating from WHS and WVC with an AA in 2007. He later graduated from University of Phoenix Online, earning his BS-IT degree in Telecommunications while working as a Certified Nursing Assistant night shifts. He has worked in the Information Systems department at Cashmere Valley Bank since being hired in 2012.
Josh has spent a life drawn to technology and has always been fascinated by computers. He was born at the beginning of the Internet age and has been able to witness the beginning of an age of artificial intelligence. He’s been fortunate to be able to work in the field that’s held his interest all of his life.
His interest and curiosity in tech drives him to not only fix problems when they come up but motivates him to better understand whole processes. Often times when taking a wider look at a system, it brings more clarity as to why a process is done a certain way and reveals areas that can be improved upon. One of the most valuable lessons he’s learned through his experience working at Cashmere Valley Bank, is that technology should be in place to help people do their job faster, more accurately and more securely.
If a piece of tech gets in the way of those things, it is worth considering a change.
Blake Baldwin, Board Member & Secretary
For over a decade, Blake has worked as a public policy professional in Washington State with roles in external affairs and outreach, economic development, and legislative policy. Born and raised in Cashmere, Washington, he began his career in public service as the Legislative Assistant to Senator Brad Hawkins, a lawmaker from Washington’s 12th legislative district. His rural public policy experience led to an appointment as Central & Eastern Washington Regional Representative in the Office of Governor Jay Inslee, later going onto to serve as the governor’s statewide Director of Outreach.
In 2019, Blake returned to the Wenatchee Valley as Director of Economic Development for Chelan County where he worked to enhance and manage economic vitality and growth in North Central Washington.
In addition to public policy, Blake brings extensive experience from the nonprofit sector. Previously, he served as the Director of Operations for NCW Tech Alliance, currently serves as a founding board member of the Kyrgyz-Washington Sister Region Organization, and is actively involved with the steering committee for Rural People’s Voice.
After studying music composition at Cornish College of the Arts, Blake earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences at Washington State University. He currently resides in Wenatchee with his wife, Katie, and their son, Emmett.
Flora Fernandez, Board Member
Flora Fernandez was born in Colima, Mexico and raised in the United States since the age of one. She has worked as a National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) at Columbia Valley Community Health (CVCH) for eight years. She received her associates degree from Wenatchee Valley College and received her NCMA certificate in Los Angeles, California. She has deep passion and respect for her current job at CVCH and believes she makes a difference in someone's life every day. She strongly believes that when you work as a team you are able to make a difference.
When not making a difference in the workplace, she is a single parent of four children, ages 29, 19, 13 and 8, and a proud grandmother of two beautiful boys. Additionally, Flora is an active member of Parque Padrinos in South Wenatchee and volunteers at Columbia Elementary and Orchard Middle Schools. Passionate about education and the well-being of young people in her community, she focuses her volunteer time serving Latino youth. She knows that our future depends on the youth and wants to make sure she’s contributing to make a difference.
Nate McClennen, Board Member
Nate McClennen is Senior Partner of Strategy at Getting Smart where he supports schools, districts, organizations, foundations, and universities to determine a strategic path forward based on the future of learning. His expertise and interests focus on expanded learning ecosystems, learning networks, technology-enabled personalized learning, project-based learning, real-world learning, purpose making, rural communities, equity, and place-based education. Nate has built two ed-tech solutions, helped found and lead a PK-12 school, served as Head of Innovation for a non-profit, taught math/science at multiple levels, supported multiple school launches, consulted nationally and internationally, and launched a rural-school network over his 25-year career.
Rosa Pulido, Board Member
Rosa Pulido is a community-focused nonprofit leader whose work centers on building stronger, more inclusive spaces for families, small businesses, and future generations in the Wenatchee Valley. As the Executive Director of the Wenatchee Downtown Association, Rosa leads initiatives in economic vitality, historic preservation, public space design, and community engagement, championing the belief that vibrant communities start with people who feel seen, supported, and connected. Her leadership has strengthened partnerships with the City of Wenatchee, the Regional Port Authority, local entrepreneurs, and cultural organizations, helping drive collaborative solutions during a time of significant growth and change downtown.
Born and raised in Wenatchee, Rosa brings a deep understanding of the community’s needs and opportunities. Prior to her current role, she spent more than a decade in nonprofit service and community development, focusing on small business support, public outreach and health, youth programs, and organizational leadership. She continues to advocate for equitable access to information, resources, and opportunity, particularly for Hispanic and underrepresented families who often face barriers navigating local systems.
Outside of her professional work, Rosa is deeply involved in service and community leadership. She serves on the YMCA Board of Directors, is a proud Rotarian, and is an active member of the Hispanic Business Council. At home, Rosa stays closely engaged in her daughter Milaya’s world, from sports and arts to Pathfinders and community activities. Rosa is honored to support Pinnacles Prep’s mission and believes deeply in its vision for preparing students to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially through curiosity, exploration, and real-world learning. She is passionate about ensuring families feel connected, welcomed, and empowered to be part of their child’s educational journey
Katie Lease is an Associate Director of Professional Development at McKinsey & Company, where she partners with McKinsey leaders to shape people strategy, leadership development, and talent initiatives. A proud product of North Central Washington's public schools and a graduate of Eastmont High School, Katie brings a deep personal commitment to expanding educational opportunity and excellence across the Wenatchee Valley.
Katie began her higher education journey at the University of Washington and earned her degree in Business from UCLA. She spent several years at Microsoft in Seattle and Europe, managing regional procurement, before earning her MBA from Harvard Business School. She then joined McKinsey & Company as a management consultant, advising organizations across diverse industries on complex strategic challenges. In 2015 Katie shifted her focus from consulting to internal professional development and talent strategy.
Having returned home to the Wenatchee area in 2020, Katie is deeply invested in the community's future. She previously served as PTO President at Rock Island Elementary and is the proud parent of two scholars currently attending Pinnacles Prep. Katie is honored to serve on the Board of Trustees, bringing her background in organizational development, strategic problem-solving, and parent advocacy to support Pinnacles Prep’s mission of place-based learning, student purpose, and equitable real-world education.
Becca Freimuth is a community-focused leader with more than 10 years of experience spanning public education, communications, nonprofit governance, and economic development in North Central Washington. Her work has included supporting local school districts, leading regional communications and community engagement efforts, managing complex projects and budgets, and helping organizations build stronger connections with the communities they serve.
Her professional experience includes roles with the North Central Educational Service District, NCW Tech Alliance, Numerica Performing Arts Center, NCWLIFE, and other local organizations. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Visual Journalism from Western Washington University, with minors in Business Administration and Film Studies.
Becca currently serves as Treasurer on the board of Our Valley Our Future and previously served on the North Central Education Foundation board, where she helped support grants and resources for local educators. She also volunteers as a Guardian Ad Litem with Chelan-Douglas CASA, advocating for children and youth navigating the foster care and court systems.
Becca is passionate about educational opportunity, community collaboration, and ensuring young people have the support and opportunities to discover their strengths, explore their interests, and build futures that are meaningful to them.
Kari Johnson has spent much of her career bringing people together—whether through youth athletics, recreation, community events, nonprofit work, or local business. A longtime North Central Washington community member, she believes strongly in creating opportunities for young people to discover their strengths, challenge themselves, and oeel connected to the community around them.
Kari’s commitment to youth development grew through many years in the ski industry, first as an alpine ski racing coach and later through leadership roles with Mission Ridge Ski Area and the Mission Ridge Ski Education Foundation. She has had the opportunity to work with young athletes of many ages and abilities, from local programs to nationally ranked competitors. Those experiences reinforced her belief that young people thrive when they are given meaningful challenges, supportive mentors, and the confidence to pursue goals that may initially seem out of reach.
Throughout her career, Kari has also worked extensively in community engagement, fundraising, event development, business management, and organizational leadership. She has served on several nonprofit and community boards and has volunteered with organizations including the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce and Wenatchee Downtown Association.
Kari is excited to serve Pinnacles Prep and contribute to a school community that encourages students to think independently, become engaged members of their community, and recognize their own potential. She brings a practical, collaborative perspective to the board, along with a genuine interest in helping create opportunities for students and families throughout the Wenatchee Valley.