Susan Baker, Executive Director:
Susan moved to the Wenatchee Valley from Seattle in 1992. It certainly did not take her long to make an impact in the community – in 1994 she started the Chelan-Douglas CASA Program with then-Superior Court Judge Carol Wardell. Now 16 years later, Susan serves as the Executive Director and ensures the financial stability and policies of the Program along with providing guidance and support to volunteers and staff.

A former foster parent, Susan has eight children, 15 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and a wonderful husband named Don.   Sue has a true love of kids and has always worked with children, many that have been victims of abuse or that have special needs.  As she explains, “My training is in nursing, but my love is the CASA Program, our dedicated volunteers, and the children that we advocate on behalf of.  I share many frustrations regarding the protection of children and their need to have a voice – not only in the dependency court, but also within the community and with the law makers.”

Susan is a recipient of the Wenatchee Valley Civil Rights & Social Justice Award and the Chelan Douglas Counties Bar Association’s Volunteer Legal Services Award.  She has over 30 years of Guardian ad Litem experience, starting with the King County GAL Program and has served three years on the Washington State CASA Board of Directors.

As many people can attest, Susan keeps a hectic schedule. However, when she does have some free time, Susan can be found quilting and visiting with her grandkids. 

Serving as the Chelan-Douglas CASA Program’s Administrative Coordinator, Debi never has a lack of things to do.   She assists volunteers with court reports, lets volunteers know when they have a hearing coming up, and sends the reports out to all parties. Debi also completes case paperwork and is the go-to person for requesting case discovery such as Department case notes, medical records, and dental records.

Debi has always had a love of children and has raised nine children of her own, six of whom were her adopted foster children. Because children have such a special place in her heart, Debi enjoys her work at CASA. “After doing foster care for 12 years, CASA fit into my next phase in life. It is important that kids have a voice and CASA provides that voice,” she explains.

When she’s not busy at the office, this Wenatchee native enjoys either spending time with her grandchildren, sewing, reading, or enjoying a Denny’s breakfast with Pete, her husband of 34 years.  

A transplant from Auburn, WA, Arlene has been in the Wenatchee Valley since July of 2007. As our Volunteer Coordinator, she leads our efforts in the recruitment and training of new CASA volunteers. She also provides ongoing training opportunities for our volunteers and helps organize special events and fundraising activities, including the Rock ‘n Rowl for Kids Bowl-a-thon and the Stocking Project.

Arlene’s entire life has been centered around children and families so working for the CASA Program is great for her. Holding a degree in education, Arlene enjoys watching volunteers learn during their first case and put their training to work. When asked what else she enjoys about her work, Arlene replied, “I really enjoy networking with caring adults who believe in giving back and seeing the community’s generosity. I see this through the Stocking Project, the Bowl-a-thon, through the ladies who sew blankets and quilts for our children, the CASA Volunteers and those who give to the CASA Program monetarily.”

Arlene spends her free time reading, ATV riding, watching various sporting events, visiting her two children in Bellingham, or cheering on her musical family at gigs around the state.

Bev, a Wenatchee resident of 22 years, manages our database that keeps track of kids on our caseload and our volunteer information.  In addition to this, she creates all of our legal files by creating order out of the volumes of paperwork we receive and then helps to ensure paperwork is distributed to the appropriate parties.  Bev has been in the office for almost 8 years but has been a CASA volunteer for 15 years. 

Bev has one son and three step-grandsons.  Prior to her CASA work, Bev served as the Risk Manager for Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and held the same title at Central Washington Hospital. 

Bev likes to pass her spare time by completing craft projects and by volunteering at the Kitty Rescue, a local no-kill cat shelter.  She is very attached to Pretty Boy and Missy, her own cats, as well as to her 20 year old aqua Geo Storm.