General Contact: info@raincityrockcamp.org

Rain City Rock Camp for Girls is mostly a volunteer organization. You can typically expect a detailed reply in around 1 week, unless you indicate your message is extremely urgent. It could take a little longer if we are, you know, on tour or something.

MAILING ADDRESS: Rain City Rock Camp for Girls, 117 East Louisa Street #445, Seattle, WA 98102

Natalie Walker: Co-Founder & Executive Director

Natalie graduated from the University of Washington with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Music. She spent many summers during college as a forklift driver, dreaming up big ideas about joining a rock band and starting a women's movement. She then worked as an intern for acclaimed music journalists who she helped with interviews, transcription, and took copious notes on how to become a rock star. Her first experience with the Rock Camp phenomenon was as a participant in Ladies Rock Camp, a fundraiser for Portland's RnRC4Gs which provides a Rock Camp experience for women ages 19 and up. Her experience at Ladies Rock Camp illuminated to her not only her own musical potential, but also the potential of social change via music education and personal empowerment. She volunteered at the Girls Camp in Portland in 2008 as a bass instructor and band manager, and became convinced that Seattle could not go on another year without having a Girls Rock Camp. She is also active in the Seattle music community as the bassist and vocalist for the all-female band, Another Perfect Crime, who met at Ladies Rock Camp in 2006.

Holly Houser: Co-Founder & Board Member

A Seattle native, Holly graduated from the University of Washington where she studied Geography with a focus on urban planning, historic preservation and public art.  With a passion for the arts & community development and a knack for project management, her career path eventually led her to the Seattle Art Museum, where she spent three years working on the institution's ambitious expansion project.  After two more years in the art world managing projects for Chihuly Studio, she settled into a career in commercial real estate development where she provides management consulting on both public and private urban development projects as an Associate with Spectrum Development Solutions.  Holly has had seven years experience working with youth, most recently as a volunteer mentor for at risk youth at Rainier Beach High School, and has participated in the Portland Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls as an Instrument Instructor and Band Manager.  Trained as a classical pianist, she never gets tired of learning new instruments and exploring new styles, and currently plays keys and accordion with the band Exohxo.  In addition, she has been active in the local filmmaking community as producer and editor on a number of award-winning independent films and freelances as a photographer and graphic designer.

Michelle Shirley O'Connor: Program Coordinator

Jenn Johnson: Technology Director

Jenn received her BS in Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She worked as an 8th grade English teacher at an inner-city school in Covington, Kentucky and later as a marketing associate at The University of Chicago Press. Jenn has played bass for over 15 years and has been in 6 bands, recorded multiple albums, and toured nationally. She came to Seattle in April 2008 and began seeking a career focused around her other passions - education, technology, and social justice. She spent 3 years at Technology Access Foundation as a Program Manager for their STEM after school program and is now a Project Officer at Forum One Communications, a digital communications technology consulting firm that serves non-profits, foundations, and government. Jenn's most interesting job experience was her summer spent working as a basic laborer at a steel mill in Youngstown, Ohio. And no, the rest of the story didn't resemble Flashdance in any way.

Danielle Chang: Volunteer Executive Staff, Camp Director

Danielle was born and raised on the island of O'ahu and moved to Washington when her parents decided to move off of 'da rock.'  She obtained her Bachelor's degree from Western Washington University, where she studied International Studies and Communications and holds a Masters in Education from the University of Washington.  For nearly 10 years, Danielle has been working at Green River Community College as the Director of Student Life, fulfilling her passion to work with students and help them build lifelong skills in and outside the classroom in an educational environment. She has also spent time during the last 12 summers as a counselor and mentor at a camp for high-risk youth in California and has volunteered at the Portland Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls.  The most exciting period of her life was her early teen years where she competed in the World Junior Frisbee Competition, earning the title of Jr. World Frisbee Champion for two consecutive years.  Her life, in album form, would be called "You have GOT to be kidding me!"

Board of Directors & Committee Chairs

Bob Zammit
Board Chair

Bob is a life-long musician with a BA in Music from the University of Nevada-Reno and an MBA from the University of Washington.  In addition to a business degree hot off the grill, he brings professional performance, entrepreneurship, music education, and instrument retail experience (plus the occasionally useful Y chromosome) to Rain City Rock Camp for Girls.  He performs with two local bands and is sponsored by Pearl Drums and Aquarian Drumheads.  In his personal time, Bob enjoys writing long, cumbersome sentences and speaking of himself in the 3rd person.  If his life were an album it would be titled Live in Seattle because he totally does.

Lauren Domino
Board Member

Lauren graduated cum laude from the University of Washington with a degree in Drama, and has since earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from UW. She has worked as a theater teaching artist for numerous arts organizations including Seattle Children's Theater, Arts Corps, and Youth Theater Northwest. She now serves as the Education Director for Wing-It Productions. Lauren is committed to empowering girls through innovative programming such as Rain City Rock Camp for Girls, and she is also proud to be a lifetime member of Girl Scouts USA.  If her life were an album, it would be titled Hear me Roar.

Leslie Woodworth
Board Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair

Leslie has lived in the Northwest her entire life, and for most of that time has been involved in the arts. She learned how to play the bass at age 16, and although she had hoped to play in a rock band, she ended up playing in the orchestra instead. She moved to Seattle in 2002 to study with the bass teacher at the University of Washington, and ended up with degrees in music and accounting. Now she work as a CPA, and volunteers as a musician in a local community orchestra. Every once and a while she brings out her electric bass and jams with friends in the garage.

Lila Kitaeff
Board Member

Lila is an award-winning filmmaker and video editor. She has been with Reel Grrls since 2003 working as a mentor and instructor, and currently serves as Technical Director for the organization. Lila has been active as a cinematographer and editor with Independent Media Centers throughout the United States and Mexico, and worked on Production and Post-Production for "Granito De Arena," winner of several awards including Best Documentary at the International Documentary Festival in Venezuela. Her most recent film, the short experimental art documentary "Dark Material," was recipient of two Jury Awards at the International Documentary Festival, including Best Editing. Lila believes that media is a powerful catalyst for social change, and that the tools for creating it should be passed on to as many people as possible.

Jessica McCarthy
Board Member

Jessica earned her BA from WWU in Communication and Political Science, including a semester in Brussels studying the European Union and French language. After graduating in 2002, she moved to Seattle where she worked at Hugo House until 2005 and Microsoft until 2009. Jessica loves music and is excited about the opportunity to help bring our programs to girls who are at that time in their lives where something like this can change their worlds.

Megan Riggs
Board Member, Development Committee Chair

Megan graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in History and Archaeology, while also studying German and Linguistics. While in college she indulged in her passion for live music and found work in music promotion, rock photography and managing a local band. In her professional life, Megan has worked with non-profit and service organizations in the areas of administrative management, fund development and operations. Megan has also owned a business consulting for non-profits and small businesses in Operations and Development. Because she has made work a hobby, Megan currently volunteers with the Moisture Festival (the world's largest Varietè festival) and the Northwest Development Officers' Association, as well as her service with Rain City Rock Camp for Girls. Megan loves to travel, cook, read, camp, craft and sleep. Megan has lived in Wisconsin, Maryland, Alaska, Germany and Austria, but has made Washington her home. If her life were an album, it would be titled "It Is What It Is."

Heidi Lenze O'Halloran
Board Member, Community Relations Committee Chair

Joleen Hughes
Board Member

A graduate of Seattle University School of Law with an undergraduate degree in Communications from University of Washington, Joleen began her music career in artist management, talent booking, concert production and special events during the height of the Seattle music explosion in the late 80's/early 90's.  From booking the notorious RKCNDY nightclub from its inception, to working with Susan Silver and Kelly Curtis Management (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Screaming Trees, First Thought), to managing local acts such as Inflatable Soule, Sage and Jollymon, Joleen's love for music made her determined to make a difference.  After becoming a lawyer, Joleen served as Senior Counsel to RealNetworks, Inc., where for many years she provided a broad array of business and legal affairs services for the company's global media operations.  While at Real, she was an integral part of its music business and participated in the company's largest transactions in the consumer services/digital media space including forming MusicNet, the first legal music service.  After leaving Real, Joleen embarked in private practice and founded Hughes Media Law Group to represent a diverse range of clients in the music, film, gaming, technology and online space, including clients who have performed on the Academy Awards and off-Broadway in NYC.  She also co-owns the Celtic Swell Irish Pub & Restaurant, which is located on Alki Beach in Seattle, spends a lot of time with her two Siberian Huskies Finnegan and Foley, and enjoys travelling worldwide.

Dawn Schellenberg
Board Member

Past Board Members

Alicia Dara
Profession: Singer, Songwriter, Performer, Educator

Alicia is a singer, composer, performer and educator. She is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. She started a record label in 1997 and has released 4 self-produced CD's of original songs. She has toured all over the US and appeared in venues including The Knitting Factory in NYC, Genghis Cohen in LA, The Crocodile in Seattle, and The Limelight in Nashville. As a singing teacher she has taught hundreds of private students, including members of Maktub, Pretty Girls Make Graves and The Blood Brothers. She has taught in local educational environments including EMP, UCDS, The Evergreen School, Salmon Bay, and Coyote Central. In 2008 Alicia signed with local indie label Chroma Records to release her 5th CD, "The Secret Dream of Tigers."

Brooke O'Neal
Profession: Individual Giving Manager, Seattle Children's Theatre

Born and raised in Seattle, Brooke was bit by the music-loving bug at her first show at the Pioneer Square Theatre in 1993. Since then, she has been active in non-profit fundraising and event planning for more than 8 years and is currently the Individual Giving Manager at Seattle Children's Theatre.  Brooke is also a mother to two beautiful boys, Chance and Franki.  She loves taking photos, indulging on sugary snacks and spending time with her lovely friends.  If her life were an album, it would be titled Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea.

Kelly Drake
Profession: Campaign Manager, US Congressman Jim McDermott

Music has always been an important part of Kelly's life since picking up a flute in 5th grade and later becoming a marching band nerd in junior high.  She received her BA in Political Science from the University of Iowa.  In the summer of 2006, Kelly moved from Iowa City to Seattle. Through her involvement in the local, state and national level Kelly has worked to help young women succeed in politics through YDA's Women's Caucus as well as the National Women's Political Caucus - the group started by Gloria Steinem.  She credits her strong mother for giving her the great life motto, "Anything boys can do, girls can do better!"  Kelly is currently working as the campaign manager for US Congressman Jim McDermott as well as a political consultant with another successful woman in politics.  Having over 20 GB of music on her iPod, her life seems set to an ever changing soundtrack - currently in heavy rotation - Mute Math's self titled album, Oh No by OK Go,  and anything from Tegan & Sara.