M. ALEX VON KESSLER

With a rare blend of personal passion, professional experience, and strategic insight, Markus brings both heart and leadership to the board of UNITY. A longtime advocate for equity, inclusion, and dignity, he founded UNITY with a strong history of supporting causes that mirror its mission—particularly those focused on housing and individuals with complex, long-term needs.

For Markus, this work is more than a calling—it’s personal. Growing up with a brother who has intellectual and developmental disabilities, he witnessed firsthand the gaps in systems and the struggles families face navigating them. That early exposure instilled a deep sense of responsibility and a lifelong drive to advocate for better, more compassionate solutions

His commitment to this work began in high school, when he enrolled in a college-level early childhood education program and gained hands-on experience in the classroom. Even then, he chose to work with students others found “too difficult,” showing a natural instinct for meeting people where they are and advocating for those often left behind. That foundation evolved into systems-level advocacy—most notably in the school transportation sector, where he worked to ensure students with special needs had equitable, respectful access to essential services.

Later, his focus expanded to transitional housing and support services, where he worked directly with individuals navigating extended and overlapping challenges. His approach has always centered on practical compassion and the belief that lasting change happens when support is holistic and human-centered.

Professionally, Markus brings over a decade of experience as a business owner and entrepreneur, with ventures based in the United States and abroad. His leadership across multiple industries has sharpened his skills in operations, sustainability, and strategic planning. While his business reach includes international markets, his focus remains on building resilient, scalable systems—skills that are deeply valuable as UNITY lays its foundation and prepares for long-term impact.

Though UNITY is a new organization, Markus is no stranger to this space. Over the years, he has consistently supported and helped fund initiatives that serve vulnerable populations and promote overall stability. Now, he brings that same generosity, vision, and business acumen directly to UNITY, helping guide its growth and ensuring its mission has the infrastructure and insight to endure.

DAGNY LORD

Dagny brings a long history of advocacy, care, and adaptability to UNITY’s mission. As the eldest of six children, she learned early how to lead with compassion—an instinct that led her into nursing, a field she has navigated with skill and dedication for decades.

Throughout her life, Dagny has lived and worked in diverse places across the globe, shaping a deep understanding of nuance, culture, and human need. Her work as a nurse—high-pressure by nature—has placed her in complex, often emotionally demanding environments that required calm, clarity, and quick thinking. Wherever she has been, she has shown up with steadiness and purpose.

After moving to the Olympic Peninsula in the early ’90s, her focus shifted to in-home care for medically fragile children. That work led her to Katie, a child she first cared for professionally, then fostered, and ultimately adopted. Through that journey, Dagny found herself navigating the complicated intersections of the medical, foster, educational, and housing systems—all while advocating for the rights and needs of a child with complex challenges.

Her experience fueled a broader passion for systems-level change. Dagny has supported a range of organizations addressing special needs, and has even founded a nonprofit previously, always focused on bridging the gaps she has seen firsthand. Her advocacy has never been abstract—it’s been built on lived reality, hard choices, and an unshakable sense of purpose.

Dagny brings to UNITY a rare blend of practical experience, global perspective, and quiet resolve. She is both a steady hand and a fierce advocate—someone who listens deeply, adapts quickly, and moves with purpose. Her insight and determination help shape a vision that is as grounded as it is forward-thinking, built on the belief that real change happens through both compassion and persistence.

ROBERT GRATAN

Robert Grattan—Bob— brings to UNITY a lifetime of community connection, quiet leadership, and unwavering service. The youngest of five children and a graduate in Early Childhood Education, Bob has always had a heart for people—especially those who need extra support, care, or simply someone who will show up. 

He came to Port Angeles decades ago to take the helm of his family’s beloved restaurant, The Bushwacker, which he ran for over 40 years. More than just a local business, the restaurant became a gathering place—woven into the fabric of the Port Angeles and known for its sense of welcome and community spirit. Through that space, Bob built lasting relationships across generations, becoming a trusted and steady presence for countless individuals and families.

That same spirit of connection later led him to join the board of Clallam Mosaic, where his early passion for education came full circle. He became an active volunteer in local classrooms, working closely with special education programs, supporting reading development, and even introducing students to the game of chess as a way to build focus and confidence. His commitment has always been hands-on, heart-first, and deeply human.

Bob has also been a quiet source of comfort and strength for those around him, including during the final chapters of life. He has helped friends pass with dignity and care—showing up not just in the good times, but when presence truly matters most.

Now, Bob brings that same compassion, steadiness, and lifelong investment in people to UNITY. With his deep roots in Port Angeles, long history of service, and unwavering values, he is a generous and grounding force helping to shape UNITY’s future.

LORI RICHARDSON

Few bring the depth of lived experience, frontline insight, and unapologetic advocacy that Lori offers. A longtime champion for individuals with extended needs, she has dedicated much of her life to creating systems that are not only more inclusive—but more effective.

Her passion is deeply personal. As the mother of an adult son with and intellectual disability , her journey through education, care systems, and community support has been hands-on and hard-won. From the early days of navigating services to today—more than 30 years later—she has remained a tireless presence in the IDD community. Her commitment is not seasonal or symbolic; it is lived, every day.

Professionally, she has served as a house manager for a shared living home, providing day-to-day leadership in environments that require compassion, structure, and deep understanding. She’s also served on the board of a similar organization, lending her voice and perspective to governance decisions that impact people who need support.

But one of her most impactful contributions came during her son's school years, when she successfully combined community advocacy and insurance funding to overhaul and modernize the district’s special needs curriculum and tools. That effort didn't just benefit her son—it reshaped access for an entire generation of students. Her work serves as a reminder that meaningful change often begins with a parent refusing to accept “good enough.”

Now, she brings that same tenacity, insight, and hard-earned wisdom to UNITY. Her leadership style is direct, clear-eyed, and refreshingly unfiltered. She is known for cutting through red tape, challenging the status quo, and saying the thing that needs to be said—qualities that make her an invaluable voice at the table as UNITY works to confront real issues and drive real results.

Whether she’s challenging outdated systems or building bridges for the next family walking the same road, Lori brings courage, clarity, and decades of lived expertise to everything she does.