PALOUSE HABITAT STAFF
Jennifer Wallace, Executive Director
Jennifer Wallace grew up in Moscow, ID, and is a third-generation University of Idaho Vandal. She started with Palouse Habitat for Humanity as a volunteer member of the Homeowner Support Committee in 2007. Two years later, she was hired as the first Executive Director, and it has been her heart's work to help grow Palouse Habitat's home-building ministry ever since. In addition to her work with the local Habitat for Humanity, Jennifer serves on the Board of Directors for Washington State Habitat for Humanity and as Chair of the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Idaho. After serving on the Board of Directors for the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center, where she helped re-launch the Chamber Ambassador program, Jennifer was accepted to the Moscow Fair and Affordable Housing Commission. When not at work, she can be found roaming the Palouse hills with her two dogs, volunteering with local Scout troops as a merit badge counselor, and attempting to learn ukulele and photography. She and her husband, Ray, are proud parents of three young adults.
Maja Jovanovich, Construction Manager
Maja is a Pullman native. After sticking close to home and receiving a BA from the College of Business in Entrepreneurship and Management Operations from WSU, her first years in project management were spent with METER Group, Inc. Where she worked with product development teams and system implementations. She later made a career change and went to work for her family’s business, R.B. Olson Construction, LLC, as a construction manager building custom homes. She says her favorite part of project management has always been the people, which is a good thing since they say project management is ten percent managing the project and ninety percent managing the people! As the Palouse Habitat Construction Manager, Maja oversees our new builds and home improvement projects. She feels that joining the Habitat team was a perfect way to combine her passion for people with her career in residential construction. Maja and her husband live on a small hobby ranch in Idaho with their son and daughter. In their spare time when not chasing kids, they enjoy tinkering around with their horses and cattle, loving on their big Labrador, and spending time outdoors as a family.
Brendan Cassleman, Construction Site Supervisor
Mary Silvernale Shook, Development & Communications Specialist
Mary Silvernale Shook was raised in Kirkland, WA. After graduating from Tufts University, she moved back to the Seattle area, starting her nonprofit career at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation. While getting her master's degree in public administration at the University of Washington Graduate School of Public Affairs, she met her husband, Steve. Mary worked for four years as the Campaign Coordinator for Earth Share of Washington, managing public and corporate workplace giving campaigns in Washington State. The family moved to Moscow in 1998, and Mary enjoyed many years as a stay-at-home parent raising their three kids. Mary has volunteered quite a bit with many local groups, such as the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute, Palouse Patchers, the Latah County Community Foundation, and several parent organizations at schools. Mary began working with Palouse Habitat for Humanity in 2013 as an Office Manager and now holds the Development & Communications Specialist position. Her work includes organizing Habitat's annual fundraiser, Beans 'n' Jeans, social media marketing, and donor relations. When not at work, Mary is in front of her sewing machine quilting, reading the latest book club book, or enjoying time at their family place on Lake Coeur d'Alene.
Natalie Hoke, Marketing & Operations Coordinator
Natalie grew up in Tacoma, WA. She left the city to study at Washington State University, initially wanting to obtain a degree in zoology. She quickly learned that this wasn't the right field for her and switched her studies. Natalie will graduate in May 2025 with degrees in marketing and human resource management, as well as a behavioral business research certificate. Channeling her creativity and communication skills, Natalie is able to make a meaningful impact in her role as Marketing Coordinator. In her spare time, Natalie enjoys all types of puzzles, watching movies/TV, and listening to music. Amid her busy schedule, she always finds time to be with friends, family, and her cat, Linguini.
Virginia Martinson, Outreach Coordinator
Virginia grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, where she worked as a Real Estate Agent. She got her degree in Business Administration with a Marketing major from Boise State University. She moved to the Palouse in 2009. One of the first organizations she reached out to was Palouse Habitat for Humanity. While volunteering at a home build, she met Jennifer Wallace and was recruited to contribute to the Beans 'n' Jeans planning committee. She has worked as a volunteer with the organization in many capacities since that time and is excited to transition over to non-profit work full time as an employee. Virginia lives in Pullman with her husband Alan, two cats, and two dogs. When not working, she loves to garden and work on projects around the house.
Josh Paparazzo, ReStore Manager
Josh grew up in the Inland Northwest of Eastern Washington and graduated high school in Colville, WA. Josh continued his education at North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene, ID, where he was a walk-on athlete for the wrestling team. From there, he attended the University of Idaho, completing his undergrad and Master's in Recreation and Facilities Management. Since then, Josh has served nearly 20 years with various nonprofit organizations, including Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Clubs of Lewis Clark Valley, YMCA of the Palouse, and now Palouse Habitat for Humanity. His passion for service began when he worked as an Assistant Program Director at a summer resident camp during college. That first experience greatly impacted finding his purpose in doing mission-driven service for others. Josh has three children named Jeremiah, Angela, and Chloe, all born at Gritman Medical Center, who are all now young adults. You can often find Josh enjoying the outdoors in every season or his woodshop making sawdust. He and his wife, Jessica, live near Genesee, Idaho, where they enjoy the country life on a small farm. Josh's wife, Dr. Jessica Bunch, works at WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine as an Assistant Professor in integrative medicine. They both share a love of the Palouse area and always look forward to the opportunity to serve together in such a great community.
Brice McLaughlin, Assistant ReStore Manager
As the Assistant Manager for the Palouse Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Brice is passionate about building homes and helping people with their crafting and repair project needs. With a background in physics and engineering, along with experience in retail logistics, Brice brings a unique blend of skills and enthusiasm to the ReStore.
Brice's journey with Habitat for Humanity began in 2024 when he was looking for wire to build a tomato trellis for his garden. A long-time volunteer, George, started talking to him about the need for more volunteers at the store. Four months later, Brice took a job as our Assistant ReStore Manager and has dedicated his time to making a positive impact in the Palouse community. Brice is excited to be a part of Palouse Habitat's mission and believes that together we can reach the goal of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Jay Harris, Pick Up & Delivery Lead
Jay Harris was born and raised in Ridgefield, Washington but fell in love with the Palouse while studying at WSU. He and his wife moved back to Pullman about seven years ago to raise their kids following stints in Southern California and around the Portland/Seattle areas. After previously working numerous jobs, primarily in and around athletics, Jay felt it was time to make a change. He joined Palouse Habitat for Humanity in early 2024. His hope is to give more to the region & communities that have given so much to his family. Jay is also an active volunteer in his kids’ PTA, Pullman Parks & Recreation, and PYBA (Little League). When not at the PHfH ReStore or out on the truck, you’ll likely find him mountain biking, camping, or at a Coug game with his kids.
Quentin Taylor, Pick Up & Delivery Crew
Quentin or as friends call him "Q," grew up in the small town of Declo, Idaho. He graduated high school there and went on to earn a Bachelors at the University of Idaho in Recreation, Sports, and Tourism Management. His first job was with the City of Moscow Parks and Recreation Department. He was hooked instantly on work that served the community, the after-school program, and summer camp, as well as hosting the city's first skateboard/scooter competition. This is also where he met his wife. You can typically find Q out camping with friends and family during the summer or hitting the slopes during the winter with his wife. After several moves, he is very excited to be back in the Palouse serving the community with Habitat for Humanity!
Sam Smith, ReStore Assistant
Sam grew up in Lapwai, Idaho; she left her hometown to start a new chapter in life and to be closer to her family. As a high school student, she started her journey at the Palouse Habitat For Humanity, where she found herself helping others. After showcasing her dedication to the Habitat mission, she quickly became a Restore Assistant. As her friends call her “Sammy,” she plans to attend LCSC next fall for Automechanics, where she finds her passion. In her free time, she loves to play basketball with her friends or stay at home with her family. She looks forward to meeting new people and to seeing Palouse Habitat grow together.
Rachel Borgen, ReStore Cashier
Rachel Borgen is a student at Washington State University, majoring in interior design and minoring in construction management. She is currently in her senior year at WSU and is a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. Rachel grew up in New Jersey and then moved to Florida when she was fifteen. Rachel has danced for the majority of her life and was on both the competition and high school teams. Rachel is excited about all the new ReStore changes to come and is glad to be a part of it.
Meghan Douglass, ReStore Cashier
Originally from Idaho Falls, Meghan Douglass is a senior at the University of Idaho, majoring in psychology with a minor in sociology. Her passion for community service led her to join Palouse Habitat for Humanity, where she works as a ReStore cashier, directly connecting with the community and encouraging involvement in the Habitat mission. With a strong commitment to supporting vulnerable populations, Meghan aspires to work with the elderly and individuals with behavioral disabilities, aiming to make a meaningful impact in their lives.
Mikayla Pratt, ReStore Cashier
Mikayla Spencer, a Palouse native, graduated from Pullman High School in 2012. After high school, she moved north to the Spokane/Post Falls area, where she spent the next few years. During that time, she earned certifications in EMT training and phlebotomy, while working various jobs that gave her valuable hands-on experience and strengthened her customer service skills.
Eventually, Mikayla returned to Pullman and gained construction experience working alongside her father. She later became a vet tech at a local clinic, where her adaptability earned her the nickname 'the versatile one.' When she wasn’t caring for animals, she was handling any other task that needed attention.
After discovering Palouse Habitat for Humanity, Mikayla quickly became a frequent ReStore shopper, sourcing materials for her crafting and renovation projects. Each interaction at the ReStore helped her build meaningful connections, and she feels grateful for the opportunity to be part of the organization. To Mikayla, it feels like Palouse Habitat and the ReStore chose her, and she’s honored to give back to the community she loves.
Want to see your name on this list? Check our Careers page for openings, or contact us to be notified.
