Behind every service we provide is a dedicated team of professionals who care deeply about our community. From our leadership team to our social workers, case managers, and front desk staff, each person brings compassion, expertise, and a commitment to helping neighbors thrive. Get to know the people making Helpline House work.
Maria Metzler is the current director of Helpline House. She most recently served as a senior manager at Seattle’s Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC), where her portfolio consisted of overseeing four emergency shelter programs providing over 450 beds of shelter each night, two scattered sites housing programs providing nearly 300 units of permanent supportive housing, and DESC’s Rapid Rehousing program. Metzler holds a Master’s degree in counseling from Seattle University. She has lived and worked internationally (Italy and Belize), has three kids that she and her husband are raising on Bainbridge Island, and she loves the Seattle Sounders and the Kentucky Wildcats.
Ann Reis, a Chicago native and one of eight siblings, has built a dynamic 30-year career in Operations and Human Resources. She notably served as Director of Operations at Clark Construction and as Human Resources and Operations Coordinator at Mary’s Place Seattle, combining strategic business leadership with a people-first approach. A proud graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in Economics, Ann brings a deep understanding of organizational development and team dynamics. She raised her three children on Bainbridge Island, where she remains active in the community. Ann’s professional journey is rooted in resilience, collaboration, and a lifelong dedication to family, business, and service.
Megan grew up in Oregon and graduated with honors from Southern Oregon University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. Her practicum was completed in nonprofit working with at-risk youth. Upon graduating, she worked in employee benefits administration, regional wine distribution, and as an administrative specialist managing small business bookkeeping, HR, and corporate records. Megan happily joined Helpline House in December 2021 as the Assistant Business Manager. She is married with two daughters and an amazing rescue dog. In her spare time she loves practicing piano with her kids, sailing, reading, and being outside with her family.
Lianne came to Helpline House from Bay Hay and Feed where she was the Market Manager and Buyer for several years. Prior to this, Lianne lived in the Snoqualmie Valley where she raised two children, was a Girl Scouts troop leader, and worked in Nonprofit Donations and Volunteer Management as well as a farm laborer on a biodynamic farm. Lianne has a MA from Antioch University in Environment & Community with an emphasis in Food Systems and Permaculture. She holds an AA degree in Sustainable Business from Bellevue College as well as a BS in Biological Sciences from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Lianne is passionate about all things food and in her spare time, she loves to cook for family and friends, read and spend time out of doors.
Terri Beckett is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Akron. In 2019, she moved to Bainbridge Island, where she now resides with her husband David, her son Ben, and her Old English Sheepdog, Pancake. Her professional background is in Human Resources, where she focused on fostering positive workplace culture and helping teams perform their best. She has also worked with individuals facing barriers to employment, helping remove obstacles so that people can access meaningful work. When she isn’t working, she can usually be found outdoors—hiking, gardening, or simply enjoying nature—or inside doing something creative: baking, knitting, or sewing.
Kristy Olson was born in Yakima, Washington, and raised in Suquamish. She is married and has dedicated her early years to raising her three daughters, later becoming a grandmother to two grandchildren. Kristy’s professional journey began in school photography, followed by a nine-year tenure at Port Madison Enterprises. After that, she spent seven years working at Kitsap Mental Health Services. In 2023, she joined Helpline House as a front desk administrator. In her leisure time, Kristy enjoys photography, painting, traveling, and camping.
Shawn was raised in Gulfport, Mississippi and moved to Kitsap County in February of 2014. She started her academic journey for Social Work in 2018, graduating with her Bachelor’s in Social Work in August of 2021. After earning her BSW, she joined the Helpline House’s Social Work Team as a case manager. Shawn completed her Master’s in Social Work in May of 2023, specializing in children, youth and families. She is now the child therapist at Helpline House and is excited to move forward in her social work journey towards her LICSW. Shawn has two children and, in her spare time, enjoys crocheting, reading, being at the beach, and spending time with her family.
Donna grew up in Poulsbo and raised three sons here on Bainbridge Island. She did her practicum at Helpline House in 1998 while attending the University of Washington School of Social Work and remained on staff until 2014. She managed programs providing community access and job skill building for adults with cognitive disabilities as well as a number of other roles to support Helpline House’s mission. She served on the boards of One Call for All and Housing Resources Bainbridge, among other community volunteer activities. She is delighted to come home to Helpline House. She sees herself as a “lifelong learner.” She enjoys expanding her gardening and sewing skills, usually with a science, health, philosophy, or politics-themed podcast or audiobook playing in the background. She enjoys throwing balls for her dogs and introducing her grandkids to a wide range of music.
Kate grew up on the East Coast, from New York to Tennessee, yet settled happily in the Pacific Northwest, on Bainbridge Island, almost 30 years ago. With a Masters in Social Work from Brigham Young University, she has worked in clinical adult outpatient settings as both a therapist and an intake clinician. She joins us here at Helpline House, excited to learn more about case management and to help clients discover all the resources available to them, both within the community and within themselves. Kate enjoys walking her sweet Border Collie, growing flowers, and dreaming of her next knitting project.
Amanda is a dedicated social services professional with seven years of experience in crisis services. She brings a compassionate, client-centered approach to her work, drawing on strong skills in de-escalation, advocacy, and resource coordination. In her role as a Social Services Case Manager, she aims to help clients navigate complex systems, build stability, and achieve meaningful, lasting change in their lives.
