We are currently recruiting board members to join our team!
Brenda Baumeister
President
A Board Certified Pediatrician for 25 years, 21 years here in Wenatchee Valley and 6 years at Columbia Valley Community Health.
Brenda grew up in Idaho and attended the University of Idaho and the University of Washington in her journey to become a Pediatrician, completing her Pediatric Residency including a year as Chief Resident at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital/University Hospitals of Cleveland in Ohio.
Her passion is taking care of Children with an interest in those with special needs. Brenda is married to Tom, who teaches math at Wenatchee High School. They raised two young women who are now continuing their own journeys. Tessa lives and works in San Diego with her husband Christian Silva, and Joy is completing her education at UC Santa Cruz.
Brenda enjoy reading, yoga, resting and relaxing at home with her garden and furry friends.
Christie Young
Secretary
Christie is a Physician Assistant in Family Medicine for Confluence Health. She grew up outside of Washington DC in Northern Virginia, and made her way across the United States for schooling with her final stop in Wenatchee in 1995 as a Physical Therapist. Christie practiced physical therapy for 13 years before embarking on a second career as a Physician Assistant in 2007. She worked for 7 years in Pediatrics at the East Wenatchee Clinic before a new change to family medicine in Cashmere. Christie has a wonderful husband and daughter and they enjoy hiking, backpacking and traveling. She loves to garden, do yoga and crafting.
Education & Certifications:
BS, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, 1993.
MS, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1995.
MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 2009
Danielle Miller
Danielle is employed by the Washington State Department of Corrections as a Community Corrections Supervisor. She is committed to public safety and offender reintegration. Danielle grew up in Spokane Valley and graduated from Eastern Washington University with a degree in Criminal Justice. She moved to Wenatchee in 1999 to pursue her career in community corrections (probation/parole. Danielle fell in love with the Wenatchee Valley. Outside of work Danielle is married and has a son attending Wenatchee Valley College and a daughter at Eastern Washington University. Danielle and her family enjoy traveling the world and spending time at Lake Coeur d’ Alene in the summers. Danielle has been a supporter of the BWP since the onset.
Edgar Reinfeld,
Vice President
Edgar is the Chief of Police for the Wenatchee Police Department. He has been a commissioned Officer with WPD since 2004 and has been assigned to Patrol, Traffic, Detectives, SWAT, as a Patrol Sergeant, and as a Captain. Prior to his time as an Officer, Edgar worked in Public Works, WPD Dispatch, and as a Link Transit driver where he provided door to door transportation to elderly and disabled members of Chelan and Douglas Counties. Edgar is also Chief Master Sergeant Reinfeld in the United States Air Force Reserve where he has served for over 30 years in the 446th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Lewis- McChord, Washington. There, he serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron that is responsible for maintaining 40 C-17 Globemaster III airlifters in cooperation with active duty Airmen. He has served temporary duties in Alaska, South Carolina, Guam, Germany, Japan, and Peru over the course of his career. His primary focus is on force development and mentoring of Airmen. He was born and raised in Wenatchee where he lives with his wife Erica who is a Registered Nurse and their two dogs and three cats. They enjoy travelling the world, particularly Europe and pretty much any beach they can find.
email: edgar@thebravewarriorproject.com
Charles Anderson
Treasurer
Bio coming…
Scott Volyn
Scott Volyn is a trial attorney, college and university professor, and commissioner pro tempore of the Chelan County Superior Court. His wide ranging experience over 30 years of trial practice includes several cases addressing those with mental health and other special challenges, Scott has a heart for the work of the Brave Warrior Project. Scott has undergraduate degrees in history and English Literature, a Master’s Degree in Communication, and a Juris Doctor. In addition, Scott continues to be an ABD candidate for a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary – a degree he hopes, in faith, to complete one day. Scott is an avid daily athlete, focusing on ultra trail running, boxing, and Crossfit. Scott lives in Wenatchee with his wife Alicia, daughter Gabriella, and son Isaiah, who is a freshman at the University of Idaho (Go Vandals!).
Jannel Burton
Jannel has been an Occupational Therapist for the past 24 years. She graduated from Omak High School and attended the University of Washington where she received her degree in occupational therapy and a post-professional occupational therapy master’s degree in rehabilitation medicine. She worked as a pediatric therapist in the Puget Sound area for several years prior to moving to Chelan in 2012. She currently works with young infants and toddlers in Chelan and Douglas Counties with the North Central Education Service District Early Support Services Program.
Jannel is passionate about working with and supporting families and children with special needs. She has an amazing husband, Mark, and four dynamic young adult boys. She enjoys music, kayaking, hiking, traveling, and exploring good food.
Jennifer Abelson
Jennifer Abelson is a board certified cardiothoracic surgeon and the newest member of the cardiovascular service line at Confluence Health. She attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she graduated as valedictorian of the School of Public Health with her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention studies. She attended medical school at Duke University School of Medicine with a Dean’s scholarship. There she earned her medical degree as well as completed her master’s degree in business administration at the Duke Fuqua School of Business. She completed her general surgery residency and a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery, both at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Abelson is widely published and is a member of multiple organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American College of surgeons, the Association for Academic Surgery, the Association of Women Surgeons, Women in Thoracic Surgery, the American College of Cardiology, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, serving on several board positions for these organizations. Dr. Abelson moved to East Wenatchee in 2024 with her husband, Joel, and two sons, Brooks and Fox. She first encountered the Brave Warrior Project in an effort to find services for her son Brooks, who was recently diagnosed with autism. She then joined our board to participate in an organization that helps families like herself find support in the community. She is also active in advocacy at the national level, participating in fundraising efforts for organizations including Autism Speaks.