STAFF & BOARD
Staff
Jessica Means
Executive Director
Jessica began her journey with New Connections in the fall of 2015 as an intern through Tacoma Community College’s Human Services Program. After earning her degree in 2016, she stepped into the role of Program Manager, where she coordinated volunteers and interns and oversaw daily operations at Irma’s Place. Over the years, Jessica has remained deeply committed to the organization’s mission, ultimately transitioning into the role of Executive Director in 2024.
Through peer mentoring and resource coaching, Jessica fosters community engagement and supports women in building the skills needed for healthy, independent lives. Her leadership is grounded in lived experience, with a strong emphasis on trauma-informed practices, healing-centered engagement, and advancing equity for women impacted by incarceration.
In addition to her role at New Connections, Jessica works part-time for the State of Washington and remains actively involved in advocacy and mentoring spaces. She serves as a co-facilitator for the Pierce County Community Partnership for Transition Solutions, has practiced Participatory Defense, and was selected as a 2021–2022 Women Transcending Collective Leadership Institute Fellow.
Jessica earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from The Evergreen State College and continues to champion holistic, community-driven approaches that center healing, dignity, and long-term stability for the women she serves.
DARLENE TEAFATILLER
Darlene proudly serves as a Reentry Navigator at Tacoma Community College, where she supports justice-impacted students through advocacy, resource navigation, and community-building initiatives. She also previously served as the Irma Gary House Resident Manager, bringing lived experience and compassionate leadership to her work with women in reentry.
Darlene earned her bachelor’s degree in business and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Community Planning at University of Washington Tacoma, where her studies focus on equity, community engagement, and creating more just and inclusive systems.
Among her accomplishments is the creation of CountTime.org, an online platform designed as a safe and empowering space for incarcerated women to share their artwork, poetry, and personal stories. Darlene is deeply passionate about supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women by helping amplify their voices, foster connection, and create pathways toward healing and empowerment.
Beyond her professional and academic pursuits, Darlene finds balance and renewal through yoga, meditation, gardening, and the expressive art of painting.
THERESA POWER-DRUTIS
Special Projects Volunteer
Theresa began serving as executive director in 2010. She received her PhD in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University, MA in Education from Eastern Washington University, and Certificate of Carpentry from the Samuel Gompers Technical School at Seattle Central Community College. She was a founding member of the G Street Community, an intentional community in Tacoma that includes Irma’s Place and Annie’s Cottage.
Current affiliations include the Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness, Planning Team; Pierce County Safe Parking Network, Team Member; League of Women Voters, Board Member; St. Leo Homeless Workgroup, Trainer/Organizer; Hilltop Madrinas (Neighborhood “godmothers” strengthening the commons); Race & Pedagogy Institute, University of Puget Sound, Community Partner.
Board
LYDIA GARCIA-DOUGHERTY
Chair
Chanel rhymes
Co-Chair
Chanel Rhymes is co-owner of Monarch Consulting LLC and the Director of Advocacy for the Northwest Community Bail Fund. Prior to joining the Northwest Community Bail fund, Chanel served as the Court Program Analyst for the Washington Supreme Court Minority and Justice Commission, executing the mission of ensuring that all courts in the state of Washington remain free of bias so that justice might be adjudicated in a neutral and fair manner. Previously, she was a Program Manager for the Freedom Education Project of Puget Sound where she developed and coordinated college courses for women seeking to attain their AA degrees while incarcerated at the Washington Correction Center for Women. She was raised in Tacoma, Washington, and received her BA from Evergreen State College with a focus in Law and Government Policy. Chanel joined the New Connections Board in 2021.
Susan Godwin
Treasurer
Susan Godwin grew up on the NW side of Atlanta, then spent 22 years in the Tampa Bay area, moved back to Atlanta before moving to Tacoma 2 years ago. She recently retired from her 40+ years of accounting work for various organizations. Her most recent job was with the Suzuki Schools in Atlanta for 9 years serving as their controller. What brought her to Tacoma was her daughter, Katie. Katie served in the US Navy and Bremerton was her last base assignment. Katie fell in love with Washington’s beautiful mountains and convinced her mother to move for a new adventure. Susan loves to hike and tries to visit as many national parks as possible each year. Susan also loves to play pickleball and attend gym classes at the Tacoma Y. She’s an avid walker – so there may be a possibility of seeing her at some point on the sidewalks of north Tacoma.
Jean O'loughlin
Secretary
Jean is a retired attorney who served for many years as Assigned Counsel (Public Defender) at Pierce County Juvenile Court (Remann Hall). She joined the New Connections Board in 2021.
Katie Kuhl
Trustee
Katie Kuhl joined the New Connections Board in July 2025. She works in early learning at the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families and brings a strong background in education, policy, leadership, and organizational development. Katie also has extensive experience in research and evaluation. She lives in Tacoma with her spouse and two children.
Blake Kremer
Advisory Board
Blake is a longtime member of the Pierce County and Washington State Bar Associations and serves on the Law Fund for Client Protection through the Washington State Bar Association. He earned his law degree from the University of Puget Sound in 1992.
His legal practice includes criminal defense and personal injury law, along with extensive pro bono work in victim advocacy, hospice support, and social justice causes. Blake has also participated in death penalty defense work and represented activists including Father Bill Bichsel and Sister Anne Montgomery.
Blake joined the New Connections Board in 2017.
DEB SHEEHAN
Trustee
Deb Sheehan works as a paralegal at the DuBois Levias Law Group, where she continues to support and guide individuals navigating emotionally difficult situations. As a former Residential Manager, Deb has firsthand knowledge of the challenges people face when transitioning from incarceration back into the community, and she brings that perspective into her ongoing advocacy and support work.
After her own release, Deb overcame significant adversities while earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Justice and Political Science with the goal of creating meaningful legislative change. In 2021, she was recognized as Student of the Year during her senior year of college.
Deb has also served as a Program Manager for AA and BA degree programs within a correctional facility, spoken at the annual conference for the Washington State Superior Court Family Law Judges Association to advocate for incarcerated mothers, served on the Board of Directors for the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network, and volunteered with several community organizations that support individuals reentering society after incarceration.