Who We Are
Hopelink is the fiscal agent for the King County Mobility Coalition and sub-regional Mobility Coalitions. Hopelink’s Mobility Management team empowers people to change lives by facilitating access to their community. We do this by (1) building cross-sector partnerships to improve special needs transportation services and (2) providing travel education and resources for riders and agencies to build awareness of existing transportation options to best fit individual needs. We work to make it easier for all people to get around King County through innovative and collaborative problem-solving. Learn more about the Mobility Management program at
Hopelink’s website. Also, important documents pertaining to Hopelink's accessibility policies may be viewed
here.
Meet the King County Mobility Coalition Co-Chairs
Antoinette Smith, MSW (she/ella) (2024-2027)
Antoinette works for the City of Kirkland as one of four Human Services Coordinators and has been there since 2021. Her position has a focus on equity which includes outreach and relationship building in the Kirkland community. Her work also involves supporting the Kirkland Human Services Commission, a group of eight community volunteers that help develop recommendations for Human Services Grant funding every biennium. Prior to working at the City of Kirkland, Antoinette went back to college after transitioning out of a more than decade long career as a Registered Nurse working in long-term care and Hospice. She graduated magna cum laude with her bachelor’s degree in health studies from University of Washington (UW), Bothell and then earned her master’s in social work (MSW) from the UW, School of Social Work in 2021. In addition to her MSW, Antoinette holds a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Evan’s School of Public Policy & Governance at UW.
In her spare time, Antoinette and her husband enjoy traveling with their dog, Precious. Now an empty-nester with some extra time, Antoinette has taken up watercolor painting as a hobby.
Lorrie Alfonsi (2024-2027) Lorrie has been with Metro Accessible Services since 2009 when she was hired as a TLT Transportation Planner. Prior to Metro, Lorrie worked with Public Health for 5 years and has been with King County for 20 years! Lorrie is also a trained facilitator and has been a trainer with the King County Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) team. Lorrie has an Masters in Social Work with a background as a clinical therapist and uses her other skills in her position as a Transportation Planner. She is responsible for many operational reporting and tracking of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to analyze trends that impact the Access rider. She is a strong supporter of the Contracted Section staff and the work of ESJ within the team.
Lorrie is an avid tennis player and golfer. She has a wonderful poochie, Kalea, who has kept her busy! And she can tell you jokes non-stop for up to 3 hours!
Meet the Team
Staci Sahoo (Haber), Director - Mobility Management
Phone: 425-943-6769 (office), 425-625-6856 (cell)
As Director of Mobility Management for Hopelink, Staci provides strategic staff support for the King County Mobility Coalition and subcommittees. She firmly believes in the power of collaborative work and BoRPSAT— a "bunch of right people sitting around a table.”
Sara Sisco , Senior Manager - Education & Outreach
Phone: 425-943-6796 (office), 425-625-6945 (cell)
Sara manages Hopelink's Mobility Education and Outreach programs, including Public Transit Orientations and resource tabling events provided by subregional Coordinators. Her programs offer sustainable, consistent opportunities for partners and stakeholders to bring personalized education and mobility resources to their organizations and communities.
Dina Atieh, Program Supervisor - King County Mobility Management
Phone: 425-620-5438
Dina provides day-to-day staff support for the King County Mobility Coalition, subcommittees, and Coalition co-chairs to administer programming, information sharing, and resource collaborations on behalf of the county-wide regional Coalitions. Additionally, the Program Supervisor supports diverse partners to ensure the King County Mobility Coalition pursues needs-first approaches to mobility system improvements.
Laura Loe, Program Manager - Find a Ride
Phone: 425-941-6791
Laura manages the new Find a Ride program, Puget Sound's regional One-Call/One-Click system. She strives to connect community members with transportation options that work for them. Laura facilitates connections between transportation operators and riders in a straightforward and accessible process. A background in advocacy, education, and personal experience as a Metro Bus Driver informs Laura's oversight.
Teresa Ngo , Program Manager - Volunteer Transportation
Phone: 425-943-6721 (office), 425-625-6852 (cell)
Teresa is passionate about serving the needs of vulnerable populations, especially immigrants, children, and people with disabilities. Given her domestic and international background, Teresa works tirelessly with community volunteers to help others utilize services and resources otherwise inaccessible. Teresa manages the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park (LFP) and Duvall-Carnation Community Van programs. This volunteer-driven program works in partnership with King County Metro to provide residents with alternative options for getting around King County when other forms of public transportation are unavailable, inaccessible, or don’t meet personal needs. If you live, work, or play in Shoreline-LFP or Duvall-Carnation, contact Teresa to receive personalized trip-planning support and information on eligible resources and services.
Sandy Phan , Program Manager - Community Transportation Navigators
Phone: 425-943-6731 (office), 425-457-3940 (cell)
Sandy oversees the Community Transportation Navigators program, a peer-to-peer approach providing trusted transportation information and outreach education to hard-to-reach communities, encouraging community champions to utilize their networks to ensure local communities receive culturally inclusive information and resources.
Meg Cronister, Program Specialist - Community Transportation Navigators
Phone: 425-505-5744
Meg assists with the Community Transportation Navigators program, a peer-to-peer approach providing trusted transportation information and outreach education to hard-to-reach communities, encouraging community champions to utilize their networks to ensure local communities receive culturally inclusive information and resources.
Dean Sydnor, Program Supervisor - RARET (Regional Alliance for Resilient & Equitable Transportation)
Phone: 425-429-5995
Dean provides emergency management perspectives to guide the Hopelink Mobility team through coordination for the Regional Alliance for Resilient and Equitable Transportation (RARET) workgroup. This workgroup aims to plan and strategize for improved outcomes related to transportation operations during emergency events, mainly how those mobilization efforts work for individuals with specialized needs. Dean brings valuable experience from previous work with Hopelink's Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Brokerage team while managing hospital partnerships.
Heather Clark, Program Manager - Coalitions
Phone: 425-943-6771 (office), 425-625-6784 (cell)
Heather provides staff support for the Eastside Easy Rider Collaborative, the Eastside branch of the sub-regional Mobility Coalitions. She works alongside local stakeholders to improve mobility options and coordinates transportation-related education programs. Heather's efforts empower individuals and organizations with the necessary transportation tools, resources, and training for regional accessibility.
Lyn McCarthy, Snoqualmie Valley Mobility Coordinator
Phone: 425-466-3442
Lyn as a Sno-Valley resident brings a wealth of experiences and knowledge. Lyn has a passion for community involvement and is looking forward to forming partnerships in support of the Snoqualmie Valley Mobility Coalition. She brings together stakeholders from across the Valley to evaluate and advocate regarding transportation gaps for those living and working in the region. She coordinates transportation-related and educational programs and raises awareness of the complexity of transportation challenges throughout the Valley region.
Erin Funk, Eastside Mobility Coordinator
Phone:
(425) 495-3191
Erin Funk brings a background in public health and emergency management to her role as Eastside Mobility Coordinator. Through her experience in disaster management, she has witnessed how limited access to transportation impacts individuals in both daily life and critical situations. Erin is dedicated to ensuring community members have reliable transportation by working with stakeholders to expand mobility options on the Eastside and educating the public on available resources. Motivated by personal experience supporting family members with transportation challenges, she is passionate about making mobility accessible to all.
Ka-'Ohu Kane, South King County Mobility Coordinator
Phone: 425-516-5418
‘Ohu, a proud native of Honolulu, Hawai’i, is dedicated to uplifting and supporting her local and Native Hawaiian communities. With a bachelor’s degree in public affairs and business administration from Seattle University, ‘Ohu has developed a deep interest in transportation and its potential to link people to more significant opportunities. ‘Ohu supports the regional Mobility Coalition, which includes Renton, Maple Valley, Kent, and Enumclaw, among other area cities, and local stakeholders to improve mobility options. The Coalition works tirelessly towards looking toward better-coordinating transportation opportunities as a resource—not a barrier—for everyone, including older adults, people with disabilities, refugees, immigrants, and those with limited English proficiency. As the Coordinator, ‘Ohu hosts travel ambassador training, educational programs, and outreach to empower everyone to utilize regional accessibility and transportation options effectively.
Jose Manuel Mendoza, North King County Mobility Coordinator
Jose Manuel Mendoza or Manny is a passionate advocate for efficient transportation. He brings both enthusiasm and expertise to his role as a Mobility Coordinator at Hopelink. His background in volunteer coordination and travel training has fueled his dedication to improving access to transportation for all. He loves to teach others, being fluent in Spanish and English. Previously worked for Ben Franklin Transit in Easter Washington as a Travel Trainer for the company. In his free time he likes to explore new transit routes and find something new along the way. He likes to hike and play with his dogs. He considers himself a transit nerd, and loves to travel to new cities and check out their transit system for fun.
Nicole Porcello, Mobility Specialist Volunteer Transportation
Phone: 425-577-0008
As a Mobility Specialist, Nicole helps coordinate the Community Van program across King County, ensuring that community members have access to vital transportation resources. With a background in creative writing, media, and accessibility, she strives to connect people and organize projects with empathy and clarity. Nicole is passionate about storytelling and brings her love of languages, cultures, and community engagement to her role at Hopelink.
Rozalia Novikova, Greater King County Mobility Specialist
Phone: 425-943-6760, extension #2
Roz is dedicated to making a positive impact within her community. Through Roz's position, she leverages partnerships with social service organizations, governmental agencies, and community transportation providers to expand outreach efforts across King County. Roz equips partners with resources to help underserved communities connect to mobility options. Additionally, she staffs the Mobility Transportation Resources Line, providing personalized counseling and referrals to individuals needing transportation guidance. (Russian language services available.)
