Our Board - South Whidbey at Home

HomeOur Board

Sam Wessel-Estes, MA - President

Sam retired from the working world in 2022 and has been having a lovely bunch of fun ever since. Professionally she has several degrees in psychology and community building, along with 40+ years of experience developing and managing non-profit organizations, human service, and public health programs. Sam is a native of WA and became a permanent resident of South Whidbey Island with her husband, Scott, 9 years ago. She and Scott have two adult children, one grandchild, and have been foster and adoptive parents. Sam’s passion’s include healthful cooking, chocolate making, gardening, and various forms of art. Her foundational values embrace supporting the wellness and resilience of communities and helping to sustain our natural world in ways that allow us all to thrive.

Dr. Kevin Clay, MD - Vice President

Kevin was raised in the Northwest. His family has had a home on Whidbey Island for over 30 years. He was a bio-physics major in college and took a year off from college and taught school in Micronesia. Postgraduate education was at Loma Linda University and received his MD in 1984. Dr. Clay trained in Family Medicine. He initially joined a group in Napa CA, but Hawaii called, and he and family moved out to Kauai for 8 years. During those years, he also worked as Medical Director for Kauai Medical Group. Wanting better educational opportunities for his sons, the family relocated to Arlington in 1996, and Kevin joined The Everett Clinic at Stanwood. He practiced there for nearly 20 years, and during that time was also Medical Director at Warm Beach Senior Community.

Dr. Clay was also active at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, serving as President of Medical Staff, and later as Ambulatory Division Chief for many years. During that time, he was the liaison for Skilled Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living facility, in addition to overseeing the Continuing Medical Education Program. In the last decade he has also been actively teaching lifestyle education to hospital employees. In 2020, he and his wife bought a home on Central Whidbey, and they recently retired there in December 2024. He has two adult sons, and one grandson.

Henry Veldman, FACHE - Treasurer

Like many in America, I too am an immigrant. Born in the Netherlands and coming to America as a youth. I served in combat in Vietnam as a drafted soldier. Upon returning home I completed my Bachelor’s degree and subsequent Master’s in Healthcare Administration. I experienced a wonderful 40+ year career as a Healthcare Administrator. One highlight while with the Kaiser Permanente Program as an executive was to build a medical center and grow the Kaiser membership over a ten-year period. I’ve had the privilege of being on several non-profit boards, some dealing with Healthcare, Education, and Sound Experiences – the sailing schooner Adventuress – where we provided a nautical experience for many underprivileged youths. I am a recent Whidbey Island resident, having lived with my wife and our dog Poppy near Edmonds for 28 years. We decided to enjoy Whidbey for this chapter of our life’s journey.

Margaret Andersen - Secretary

We are a wonderful, caring community here on Whidbey Island!
I have lived on Whidbey since 2007 and discovered many of the organizations that support people young and old. I have been on several Boards serving non-profits here and am honored to be part of the South Whidbey at Home Board. I bring to the organization my experiences of 30+ years as a corporate executive as well as my BA from Loyola University/Chicago and BS from DePaul University/Chicago.

The SW@Home vision supports seniors by providing many important and heartfelt services that are needed to keep ourselves in our home as we age. I am delighted to serve my community and the South Whidbey at Home organization.

Dan Mooney

Dan Mooney is currently the president of Flying Colors Enterprises LLC, an Aerospace Consulting and Property Management company. Prior to that, Dan had a career at Boeing spanning over 40 years. During that time he held executive leadership positions in engineering, technology, program management and regulatory affairs primarily in Boeing’s Commercial Airplane business.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Pennsylvania State University and is a Fellow of both the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAS) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Dan has served on the Boards of Seafair and Trident United Way as well as the Corporate Development Advisory Committee for Penn State. He is the current Commodore of the South Whidbey Yacht Club. Dan and his wife Julia have three adult children and they split their time between Charleston, SC and Whidbey Island, WA in the Pacific Northwest.

Ross Godwin

I have lived on the Island since 1984 and met my wife here a year later. She had two boys, ages 2 and 4, and we have a daughter together. I am retired doing home repairs and maintenance, as my previous jogs was working in Oak Harbor for 27 years doing the same type of work.

I have been on several Boards for the community starting with the Home Owners Association where we used to live, the South Whidbey Children’s Center in Langley, and the Hearts & Hammers Board. I am a long-time volunteer for South Whidbey at Home, starting in 2016 when it first started and I have been doing mostly light repair work.

I enjoy helping others by doing home repairs and maintenance so people can feel comfortable and safe in their homes.

Kathleen M Errico, PhD

Kathleen is a retired Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse. Her nursing practiced spanned over 45 years and included both direct patience care and administrative roles. She holds a BS in Nursing, a Master’s of Science in Nursing, and a PhD in Public Administration and Policy with areas of focus in Health Care Administration/Policy and Aging Policy. She is and was certified as both a Family and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner. She previously coordinated a Geriatric Assessment Center at the San Bernardino County Medical Center Family Practice Residency Program in San Bernardino, California.
Prior to her retirement, Kathleen was the Director of Advanced Practice Nursing and Chief Nurse Practitioner at the University of Washington Medical Center for over a decade.
Kathleen and her husband, Chuck, have lived on Whidbey Island for 27 years and call Langley home. She enjoys gardening, skiing, hiking, reading, golf, and volunteering with her dog Liam as a certified Therapy Dog Team with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. She is a volunteer with South Whidbey at Home.

Sheilagh Byler

Sheilagh was raised in Western Canada, and has lived in Coupeville since 2000. She worked in the environmental field for 20 years, holding a B.Sc. in Biology and Chemistry, and a M.Sc. in Water Resource Management. Over the past 25 years, she has worked for Island County, Ebey’s Landing NHR, and the Oak Harbor School District. She has served on several non-profit boards, including the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, Coupeville Youth Soccer, and Trinity Lutheran Church. She and her husband raised their children on Whidbey Island. Many delightful days full of soccer, tennis, ultimate frisbee, skiing, hiking, and messing around on or near the water. Their younger son is in high school, the older is launching into the wide world, and it appears the dog will be staying put. Sheilagh loves exploring new places and traveling, gardening and reading, and connecting with friends on walks. Sheilagh has a passion for elder care and companionship, is pursuing a M.Div. degree in preparation for Chaplaincy, and is currently a hospice volunteer with Whidbey Health.