About Us

Our Mission

We inspire humans to make compassionate and sustainable choices for the health of the planet and all living beings.

Our Principles

 
 
 

Mental Health

Learning to practice self compassion – treating ourselves with kindness and understanding – is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves and others.

Social Health

When we treat ourselves with self-compassion we have more space to feel empathy and compassion for all living beings, understanding we can all feel pain, suffer and desire many of the same wants and needs.

Physical Health

Being mindful of our breath and listening to our bodies cultivates presence and self-awareness. Creating a desire to take care of our bodies through exercise and healthy food.

Environmental Health

We are nature, not separate from. Our own well-being is dependent upon the health and well-being of all others and the world around us, affected by every decision we make and dollar we spend.

Our History

It all started with a goat named Chino.

While driving home from a knee surgeon appointment in 2019, we happened upon an incredibly large, malnourished, lice-infested goat with overgrown hooves. It was obvious he was a stray, foraging on wet grass on the side of a busy highway. We had to stop and investigate.

Unable to find where he could have come from, and the fact that he followed us around from the moment we stepped out of our van, it was clear Chino was meant to be with us. Lucky for us we were driving a vehicle big enough for him to fit in…and he followed us right in. He stood between the seats, watching the road quietly and curiously as Eric drove us home with his blown-out knee.

Not planning on having a goat when we left home, we had nowhere to put Chino. He lived quite happily in our main yard (with our dogs) for a few months while we raised money and built him a proper pasture and home. After four years of discussion, preparation and planning, Chino gave us the inspiration to make the final leap in making Ridge 2 River a reality.

Our Founders

 
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Anna Gullickson, Co-Founder/President
Eric Gullickson, Co-Founder/Facilities Manager

Eric, originally from Kansas City, and Anna from Reno, NV, met and fell in love while ski patrolling in Washington State. They have both always had a passion and appreciation for the outdoors and nature – Eric was a full time mountain guide and Anna a floatplane pilot.

As they became more aware and learned how much their personal choices had an impact on the planet, animals and their own health, they were encouraged and inspired to make some big changes. Their journey has been one of learning, growing, frustrations and challenging times. From Eric eating bacon & eggs every morning and steak and shrimp being one of Anna’s favorite meals, in 2015, they both transitioned to eating a plant-based diet and committed to living a vegan lifestyle.

They have never looked back.

Anna had previously worked at a dairy and visited a slaughter house, and she wonders how we have built a culture where pain, suffering and inhumane acts have become normalized and often go unquestioned, not only for animals, but for our fellow humans. Eric & Anna want to help change this aspect of our culture, and created a place where everyone can learn how to think critically about the systems we choose to support, and be inspired to make compassionate choices for ourselves, the planet and animals.

Our Team

  • ALISA MARVEL

    HUMANE EDUCATION COORDINATOR

    A lifelong animal lover, Alisa often spent her days in elementary school anxiously awaiting the bell so that she could go home and play with her cats. As an adult, she has been an advocate for people, animals, and the planet and has focused her career on helping to create a more compassionate future.

    Prior to joining R2R, Alisa spent five years working in nonprofit food education as an educator, manager, and director. Her work has included delivering presentations to classrooms across Massachusetts, developing educational content, and expanding outreach to new audiences throughout the United States. In addition to her professional work, she has spent hundreds of hours volunteering for both human and animal causes and is a continual believer in the power of humane education after personally reversing chronic disease with a plant-based diet.

    Alisa has a bachelor's degree in history from Salem State University, a master's degree in public administration from Framingham State University, and a certificate in plant-based nutrition from eCornell.

  • MAREN GILLETTE

    PART-TIME RESIDENT CAREGIVER

    Maren always enjoys being around animals, even from a very young age. She transitioned to a vegetarian diet her freshman year of high school after learning about the cruelties farmed animals experience, the detrimental effects farming them has on our planet, and how consuming them has negative effects on humans’ health. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Art from Whitworth University. Since then, she has dedicated her life to being an advocate and a voice for the voiceless through her art, educating her friends and families, and working at the sanctuary. Maren is thrilled to be a part of the Ridge2River team and loves to help take care of the residents daily needs and see them thrive.

    Maren has happily transitioned to a vegan lifestyle and is in the works to help others do the same. She is currently earning her Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator (VLCE) certification through Mainstreet Vegan Academy, a certification in plant-based nutrition through T. Colin Campbell’s e-Cornell online course, and is becoming a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (INHC) through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN). In creating her own business, Maren's goal is to help coach and inspire others to make a switch towards a vegan/plant-based lifestyle as she did.

Our Board

  • CAROL RAY

    BOARD SECRETARY

    Carol has had a long, successful career as a business owner and Speech-Language Pathologist. She moved to Seattle in 1994, after attending Rollins College in Florida where she earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology, and a Master of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders at the University of Central Florida. Several years later she opened her first pediatric speech-language therapy clinic, which has been one of the region's premier pediatric clinics for children with special needs for more than 20 years.

    In between degrees, Carol took a job as an animal trainer at SeaWorld of Florida, training orcas and other cetaceans. She quit after a few years, having been witness to several heartbreaking situations, which are inherent in the exploitation of non-human animals used for entertainment. She is now an outspoken anti-captivity advocate and uses stories from her experiences as a former orca trainer to educate others regarding the cruelty of the captivity industry. Most notably, she was a cast member in the documentary films Blackfish and Long Gone Wild, and was interviewed for David Kirby's book Death at SeaWorld.

    After getting more involved in activism related to anti-captivity issues, Carol transitioned to a vegan lifestyle and now helps others do the same as a certified Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator (VLCE) through Mainstreet Vegan Academy, and an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (INHC) through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN). Carol also obtained a certificate in plant-based nutrition through T. Colin Campbell's e-Cornell Center for Nutrition Studies.

  • ERIN SPENCER

    BOARD MEMBER

    GRANT WRITER/VOLUNTEER

    Erin grew up in Wenatchee, WA, graduated from Wenatchee High School, and went on to earn a BS in psychology from WSU (Go Cougs!). After graduating from WSU, Erin moved to Portland, OR, and worked in hospitality and healthcare. After nearly a decade in Portland, Erin moved back to the valley and currently works as an Executive Assistant for CVCH, a community health center in North Central Washington, where she assists the CEO, Executive Team, and Board of Directors. In an effort to align her actions with her beliefs, Erin became vegan in 2021 and has never looked back. She is grateful to further advocate for animals and the planet through her work on the Ridge 2 River Board and volunteer team. In her spare time, Erin enjoys camping with her husband and dog, trying new vegan recipes, and hiking to explore local geology.

  • ANN ROBIN

    BOARD MEMBER

    As a past Chief Strategy Officer for the Educated Choices Program, Ann Robin plans, executes, manages and guides program initiatives, policies, partnerships, new programs and the academic lab. From the early days of the program, Ann has worked to build ECP into a highly professional educational organization, presenting now to hundreds of thousands of students across the US and Canada every year.

    As a lifelong health, environmental, and animal advocate, Ann has actively promoted a healthy, sustainable and compassionate lifestyle. A former high school and college educator, she understands the imperative to connect with students and communities and provide critical information that encourages informed and thoughtful food choices. Ann’s additional experiences as a business owner and consultant in the nonprofit world bring a unique perspective and skill-set for strategically expanding educational outreach.

    Ann has worked with advocacy groups and organizations throughout the United States. She has lobbied lawmakers, testified for and promoted important bills and was a key contributor to advancing public school opportunities for high school science students. Ann has been a licensed high school teacher and college instructor, with advanced degrees in Sociology and Education.

  • KIMBERLY VENTRE

    BOARD MEMBER

    Specializing in brand identity and marketing operations, Kimberly Ventre spent a career in advertising for some of the world’s best known companies. Kim’s current focus is on conservation, environment and animal protection. She co-founded Aldrich Browne Winery and serves as an advisor to the Whale Sanctuary Project and Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation. Kim completed her undergraduate (B.A. iLiterature/Political Science) and graduate studies (M.A. Urban and Regional Planning) at the University of Florida. Home is San Francisco, California.oes here