Bonnie Berk formed the firm in 1988 to provide consulting services in financial, economic and policy analysis, innovative infrastructure financial planning, and consensus building on complex policy and financing strategies. Bonnie leads the firm’s strategic planning and facilitation practice, specializing in multi-disciplinary and often controversial policy projects, requiring expert facilitation skills, the integration of technical and policy analysis and citizen engagement. Previously, Bonnie served as METRO’s Financial Projects Administrator and was a Research Scientist with Battelle. She received a B.A. in Politics and Sociology from Brandeis University, a masters degree in public policy from UC Berkeley, and an MBA from the University of Washington.

Allegra Calder is a policy analyst with a background in community development, housing and land use policy, and financial services. Previously, she was a Manager at Washington Mutual, where she oversaw a team that tested compliance with federal fair lending laws, assessed risk, and developed risk mitigation recommendations. She has also served as a research analyst at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, where she published monographs on access to financial services for low-income and minority populations. She also worked at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy researching the role of universities as major landholders, as a consultant to NeighborWorks America, and as a biking guide in Africa and Europe. She received a B.A. with distinction from McGill University and a M.A. in Urban Design from Oxford Brookes University.

Brett Sheckler is an economist and financial analyst with special expertise in municipal fiscal analysis, economic analysis of public and private land use decisions, development market analysis, and socio-economic forecasting. Brett has advised dozens of jurisdictions on the fiscal impacts of land use and governance choices, and on the formulation of strategic, market-based approaches to economic development. He has advanced skills in financial and database modeling, econometric analysis and spatial analysis using GIS. He holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Washington.

Jennice Hyden, Marketing Coordinator, is responsible for advancing the firm’s marketing, PR, and business development. An energetic, tech-savvy marketing professional with excellent writing skills, and formal training as a graphic designer, she infuses solid strategic marketing with creative finesse. Prior to joining Berk, she held marketing positions with several Northwest A/E/C consulting firms including Arai Jackson Ellison Murakami, Entranco, and AMEC Earth & Environmental. Jennice attended the University of Washington’s School of Art for graphic design, and received a B.S. in Natural Health Science and a M.S. in Science and Acupuncture from Bastyr University. Building upon her diverse background in visual and performing arts, and the practice of Chinese Medicine, she enriches her work for Berk with a rich understanding of diversity and community.

Michael Hodgins is a Principal at Berk & Associates and the firm’s practice area manager for financial and economic analysis. He specializes in the preparation of financial, economic and policy studies, with areas of concentration including urban land economics, strategic planning, market analysis, growth management issues, fiscal impact and feasibility studies for transportation and development projects, municipal fiscal analyses, and revenue and expenditure forecasting. Prior to joining Berk in 1992, Michael was a financial analyst with Gannett Fleming. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of British Columbia and a Certificate in Commercial Real Estate from the University of Washington.

Natasha Fedo is a financial and policy analyst specializing in policy research and financial and GIS analysis. Her background is in business planning, real estate, and portfolio and financial statement analysis. Prior to joining Berk, Natasha was with Kennedy Associates Real Estate Counsel, where she performed financial analysis for the commercial real estate industry. Born in the Ukraine and raised in Siberia, Russia, Natasha graduated with honors from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, where she studied finance and business administration.

Meghann Glavin is a policy analyst with a background in urban and neighborhood development, social science research and public policy. She is on Berk’s strategic planning and market analysis teams, providing policy analysis and stakeholder outreach expertise for the firm’s library, economic development, annexation, and regional transportation projects. Previously, Meghann worked for Seattle’s Office of Economic Development, helping the Neighborhood Business District program strengthen Seattle’s neighborhoods, and for the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation, an agency focused on rebuilding the community’s downtown. She graduated cum laude from Union College with a B.A. in urban public policy.

Morgan Shook is a policy and economics analyst with expertise in program evaluation, policy research, and demographic analysis. Morgan received his Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University’s School of Urban Studies and Planning, where his research focused on the impacts of the built environment on public health. Prior to joining Berk, Morgan worked as a health services researcher investigating issues in community health and clinical decision-making at the University of Chicago. Following his graduation from the University of Puget Sound with a B.S. in Biology, he was a research associate at the Institute for Systems Biology.

Nat Sahlstrom is a financial and economic policy analyst. His areas of specialization include econometric modeling, risk analysis, and capital budgeting. Prior to joining Berk, Nat worked for Prometheus Energy Company where he performed financial modeling, cost benefit analysis and Monte Carlo simulation to determine optimal bids for natural gas contracts. He has performed government relations work with the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition, the California Air Resources Board, and the U.S. Department of Energy, including serving as a managing stakeholder for the DOE Western Region Clean Cities Program. He received his B.S. in Economics from the University of Washington, where he was a member of the Economics Undergraduate Board. He is currently the chair of the UW’s Economics Alumni Organization.

Fauna Doyle is a policy analyst and facilitator in the firm’s Strategic Planning and Policy Development practice. She has consulted for the Coquille Indian Tribe, where she conducted cultural and education policy analyses, facilitated a strategic planning process, and developed a policy decision-making toolkit for the Advisory Health Board. Fauna received a BA in Communication from Lewis & Clark College, where she was a Dean’s Scholar, a Mary Stuart Rogers Scholar, and a Cheney Scholar. She received a masters in public policy from UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, where she was a UC Graduate Opportunity Fellow and an American Indian Graduate Fellow. She also holds a masters in public health from UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health, where she specialized in health management and policy.

Brian Murphy is a senior policy analyst, strategic and business planner, and facilitator. He leads the firm’s Strategic Planning and Facilitation practice, and has managed dozens of community planning, policy and program development projects for Berk. Areas of focus include economic development, strategic planning for non-profits and public agencies, and program evaluation. Brian received a B.A from UC Santa Cruz in Literature and Politics, and his MBA from the University of Washington, where he focused on marketing and finance and led the school’s Net Impact chapter, which focuses on sustainable business practices.

Erica Natali is an economic analyst specializing in economic research, data collection, and data analysis. Projects include economic analysis for Environmental Impact Statements, Input/Output modeling, tax and pricing data collection and assessment, and economic impact model development. Preceding her affiliation with Berk & Associates, Erica was an associate with ECONorthwest, with a focus on technical research and data analysis. She received her B.A. in Economics from Seattle University, graduating summa cum laude.

Kapena Pflum is a policy analyst with a background in environmental, land use and transportation issues. Recent projects include policy-oriented market, annexation and socio-economic analyses for cities, counties, ports and transportation agencies. Previously, he worked as a senior research associate at the Environmental Law Institute in Washington, D.C. conducting policy research on brownfield, superfund, and environmental enforcement programs. He also taught English in Japan, following graduation from Brown University with a B.A. in East Asian Studies. He received an MPA from the UW’s Evans School, where he conducted GIS analysis for the UrbanSim transportation and land use modeling group.

Heather Rogers is a financial and policy analyst with a B.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign, where she was both a Chancellor and a James Scholar. She received her Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago, where she conducted research for the Cultural Policy Center on cultural amenities and urban economic growth. She has worked for ACCION Chicago as senior microlending loan officer, and as a senior associate for PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she developed complex financial models and analyzed financial liability claims. She has volunteered with the Instituto de Formación Permanente in Estelí, Nicaragua, assisting with rural subsistence farming initiatives, including community seed banks and “patio to market” economic empowerment projects for women.

Julia Warth is the firm’s Project Associate. An excellent writer and communicator, she supports the firm’s project work, providing assistance on analytical, outreach, research, and editing tasks. Originally from the Seattle area, she received her B.A. in Literature and Government from Claremont McKenna College in California. Prior to joining Berk, she held positions at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in the Social Work office and as office manager for a small wine distributor. She also volunteers teaching ESL at the Refugee Women’s Alliance and tutoring for 826 Seattle.

Julia Bosch is a policy analyst in the firm’s Strategic Planning and Policy Development practice. She graduated summa cum laude from Dartmouth College with an A.B. in Government, and received her master in public policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where she specialized in political and economic development policy. She has also interned and consulted for ACCION International’s Knowledge Management Unit. Prior to attending graduate school, she taught English at La Universidad Nacional de Cuenca in Ecuador as a WorldTeach volunteer.

Erik Rundell is a policy and GIS analyst, and an urban planner. He received his Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from Portland State University, where he worked as a graduate research assistant for the Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies conducting research on the impacts of Oregon Ballot Measure 37, a major land use and property rights initiative. He has also served as an AmeriCorps member for the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments program, where he worked on a land use needs and location analysis project for the City of The Dalles. He received a B.A. in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems, also from UW-Madison.

Teresa Branch, the firm’s Controller, is responsible for all accounting operational functions, management reporting, project management support, assessment of accounting operations and internal controls, financial planning and strategy, healthcare and benefits program administration, and contract review and management. Teresa has excellent communication, technology and analytical skills, as well as a collaborative problem-solving approach which compliments the firm’s team-based environment. She has worked for many professional service and contracting firms across the west coast. She has a dual major B.S. in Business Administration and Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

Michele Eakins is the Office Coordinator for Berk. Team-based and multi-talented, she provides administrative support to all members of the firm. Michele received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington and will complete her Paralegal Studies Certificate through the UW School of Law Extension Program in June 2009. Michele spent a quarter studying abroad in Rome with the UW Comparative History of Ideas Program, and participated in an internship with Seattle Parks and Recreation through the UW Pipeline program. Prior to joining Berk, Michele worked as a Legal Assistant for a Seattle-based law firm, an Administrative Assistant with PACCAR, Inc., and an intern for a political consulting group.

Malia Langworthy is a policy analyst and strategic communications specialist. Prior to Berk, she was a Communications Strategic Advisor with Seattle Parks and Recreation, a Legislative Aide for a Seattle City Councilmember, a Resource Conservation Specialist with San Mateo County, and an Assistant Director of SCORE Educational Centers in San Jose, CA. She received a B.A. in International Relations from Pomona College and a MPA from the UW’s Evans School of Public Affairs, where she was Treasurer of the Graduate & Professional Student Senate, and held research assistant positions focused on legislation related to Native American tribes and transportation demand management strategies for schools districts. Malia also serves as a board member of Feet First, an advocacy organization dedicated to building walkable communities.

Meghann Glavin is a policy analyst with a background in urban and neighborhood development, social science research and public policy. She is on Berk’s strategic planning and market analysis teams, providing policy analysis and stakeholder outreach expertise for the firm’s library, economic development, annexation, and regional transportation projects. Previously, Meghann worked for Seattle’s Office of Economic Development, helping the Neighborhood Business District program strengthen Seattle’s neighborhoods, and for the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation, an agency focused on rebuilding the community’s downtown. She graduated cum laude from Union College with a B.A. in urban public policy.