Board of Directors - Acres of Diamonds

Acres’ Board of Directors are a group of highly dedicated volunteers who not only have a heart for the organization but are also the governing body. They are responsible for creating the mission, vision, strategic plan and for the integrity of its operations and financial records. It is a blessing to have the following people guiding the ministry that serves the women and children residing at Acres of Diamonds.

David Goodnight

President

Doug Cooley

Vice President

Dean Wagner

Treasurer

Shari Hill

Secretary

Jennifer Paddock

Chief Executive Officer

Dale Zimmerman

Member

Michelle Hollomon, Ph.D., LMHC

Member

Paulina Mwangi, PhD

Member

Joan Wallace

Member

Ed Roberts

Member

John Williams

Member

Jon Torres

Member

President

David Goodnight

David Goodnight is an experienced trial lawyer in major disputes. David is in his 39th year of law practice and thoroughly enjoys it. He is a trusted advisor to public and private clients in major disputes. His work includes commercial, land use, partnership, construction, and tax and telecommunications litigation. David has tried cases to juries and judges in various state and federal courts throughout the U.S. and has obtained several of the largest jury trial verdicts in Washington.

Vice President

Doug Cooley

Doug returned to the board in 2024 following a previous stint on the board. Prior to that he volunteered with transitional housing providers that served homeless Eastside families. He is a retired writer and editor and active member of Bellevue Presbyterian Church. Doug and his wife Janine live in Redmond and are blessed with two lovely children and three charming grandkids.

Treasurer

Dean Wagner

Dean Wagner is a retired health care leader and Air Force Officer who has been on the Board of Acres and served as Treasurer since 2019. He has served in leadership with several US and African based non-profit organizations including current positions with Acres of Diamonds and Congo Peace. Hobbies include travel, hiking, x-country skiing, kayaking, motorcycling, and exploring world cultures. Dean is an avid aviator with ratings in airplanes, helicopters, and gliders. He is married, with one son and two grandchildren.

Secretary

Shari Hill

Shari Hill is an active Acres Board Member since 2019 and is actively involved leading bible studies and support groups at Acres. Her heart is focused on each lady realizing her worth in Jesus and for healthy relationships to grow in community. Shari uses her relational expertise, biblical wisdom, and mentoring capabilities to help residents and staff alike to overcome hardship. Shari and her husband have been married for 39 years and have 4 adult children and 2 grandchildren. Shari has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Baylor University.

Chief Executive Officer

Jennifer Paddock

Jen was born and raised in Bellevue, Washington and currently resides in Redmond Ridge with her husband, Lee, and her two Great Danes, Holly and Kirby. Before coming to Acres of Diamonds Jen served as the Director of Community Outreach at First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue. It was in this role she discovered a passion to advocate for the homeless. After many years of supporting non-profit Executive Directors and investing in local charities, Jen decided she couldn’t sit on the sidelines anymore and decided to jump into what God was doing on behalf of the homeless in King County. This decision led her to Acres of Diamonds in 2014 as the Executive Director and she still wakes up each day with a passion to help moms make lasting change in their lives. Photo Credit: Amy Wimber Photography

Member

Dale Zimmerman

Dale Zimmerman has served on the board since 2022, after retiring from a 40-year engineering career. He currently serves as an elder at Bellevue Presbyterian Church, a Bible study teacher, and a photographer. Dale is also working with World Relief to help refugees resettle here in the Seattle area. He and his wife Margaret live in Redmond, WA and spend lots of time with family spread all over the country.

Member

Michelle Hollomon, Ph.D., LMHC

Michelle has served on the board since 2014 and has watched Acres grow in influence and impact during her tenure. She is a licensed mental health counselor and educator and is involved in training the next generation of counselors to be trauma-informed and evidence-based. She brings this expertise to the board of Acres of Diamonds and a passion for program evaluation and advocacy. She has served on various boards, including Timberlake Church and Habitat for Humanity/Montana. She is wife to Mr. Dashing (Brian), mother to daughters, Sweet and Sassy (Addi and Evelyn), and walker of one needy chihuahua (Tucker).

Member

Paulina Mwangi, PhD

Dr. Paulina Mwangi is an executive with a rich background in business operations, strategy, analytics, product development, and transformation across the technology, logistics, and oil and gas sectors. She has held pivotal leadership roles at Salesforce, Amazon, and General Electric, driving key initiatives that enhanced efficiency, innovation, and growth. Beyond her professional endeavors, Paulina is passionate about contributing to education, housing, and healthcare in underserved communities. She enjoys reading, hiking, practicing yoga, and spending cherished moments with her husband and two sons. Continuing her grandmother’s and mother’s legacy of service, Paulina volunteers with Acres of Diamonds, leveraging her expertise scale the organization’s incredible impact to expand its capacity to serve more women and children effectively. Dedicated to serving the Lord, Paulina is committed to empowering these incredible women, thereby making a meaningful and enduring impact in the community.

Member

Joan Wallace

Joan Wallace is a prominent member of the Bellevue community, celebrated for her visionary leadership at Wallace Properties, a family-operated commercial real estate firm that has been a cornerstone in Western Washington since 1977. Joan’s commitment extends to numerous nonprofit organizations, where she has made significant contributions to various Boards of Directors: Acres of Diamonds Board (Capital Campaign Chair, Current), Overlake Hospital Board (Past Chair), Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Board (Past Chair). KidsQuest Children’s Museum, Seattle Pacific University, Bellevue Downtown Association, Bellevue First Presbyterian Board of Elders, Bellevue First Presbyterian Foundation and Warm Beach Camp Board. Her dedication to service and community involvement is evident in her over four decades of marriage, her role as a mother and grandmother, and her active participation in the Bellevue First Presbyterian Church.

Member

Ed Roberts

Ed came on the board in 2018 following his retirement from a 40-year career in real estate development in King and Chelan counties. He has a passion for marginalized people which lead him to Acres of Diamonds. He has served with Bread of Life and Compassion House missions . He is also active with Samaritans Purse. Ed and his wife Susie enjoy spending time with their three adult children, five granddaughters and four grandsons.

Member

John Williams

John was named a Director on November 1, 2022. After careers in real estate law, commercial real estate investment and business entrepreneurship, John currently enjoys volunteering with several nonprofits. He has served as the Director of Operations for Timberlake Church. His passions include his family – wife, Tonya, his son and daughter – traveling, UW Huskies sports, and coaching his daughter’s fastpitch softball teams. John enjoys using his past legal and business experiences to assist Acres in fulfilling its mission to serve homeless women and their children.

Member

Jon Torres

Jon is a husband, dad to three amazing kids, and a pastor at Timberlake Church in Redmond. He’s passionate about building community and investing in the next generation. Jon also loves the outdoors, music, and basketball.