Board Of Directors

OPHS Board Of Directors

Marti Oldham

Board President

Marti has had animals for as far back as she can remember. Growing up she had cats... lots of cats! After she graduated from high school, she took a year off to work full-time and save money to go to Cosmetology school. She got a job at a pet store where she met her best friend and future husband. They married in 1990 and since then, they have had many "kids" together; all of them either scaled, feathered, or furry.
The Oldhams moved to the Olympic Peninsula in 1994. Marti's husband started a landscaping business while she owned a retail beauty supply and salon for 21 years. In 2016, Marti decided to downsize (aka have a life outside of work), so she closed the retail store and opened a small salon where she continues to work as a hairdresser today. This change has allowed her time to volunteer at OPHS where she joined the board of directors in January 2017.
Over the years, Marti and her husband have had fish, hamsters, gerbils, finishes, canaries, a citron crested cockatoo, and several dogs. Currently, they have a Blue Heeler named Betty and two teacup Chihuahuas, Señor Ruben Hector Sanchez and Lola.

Diana Erickson

Board Vice President

Diana Erickson grew up in the Northwest, but has lived on the East Coast, in the Midwest and in Northern and Southern California, always accompanied by her feline (and sometimes canine) companions on her moves. All of her cats and dogs have been rescues.
Diana’s first career was as a Presbyterian minister. While serving her congregation in Cleveland she decided to attend law school part time. After a year and a half, she recognized her calling had changed and chose to finish her degree at Seattle University, becoming a Public Defender in King County. She and her late husband, Lee, moved to Port Angeles when they retired in 2019, along with their cats Sam and Stewart.
In 2020, Diana began volunteering at OPHS, fulfilling her longtime desire to volunteer at an animal shelter. She focuses her time at Barkhouse, helping with Volunteer training, adoption events and community outreach programs as well as supporting staff in their tireless work with the animals. In 2022 she joined the Board of OPHS.

Martha Ireland

Board Secretary

Martha Ireland escaped from Federal Way to a small farm in the Carlsborg area of Clallam County in 1988, with her husband, Dale.
Originally from Idaho, Martha is the mother of two adult children and grandmother of four. In addition to her ongoing writing career, she was a Clallam County Commissioner (1996-1999), and retired in 2017 as executive coordinator of Serenity House of Clallam County.
She wrote and self-published The Trail of the Snake, an action-adventure western murder mystery set in the 1880s (two-volumes), under her full name, Martha McKeeth Ireland; and provides editing, proofreading, formatting, design and assistance with self-publishing.
Martha joined the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society Board in 2021, rounding out commitments with Peninsula Evangelical Friends Church, the local Republican Party, Olympic Peninsula Christian Writers, and Sequim Prairie Grange.
After loving a life-long succession of wonderful dogs, cats, and horses, she currently enjoys life with three cats—Zipper (pictured), Cricket and Pumpkin—plus welcoming visits from her nearby grand-puppy, Twilight.

Nicole Perez

Board Member

Until recently, Nicole had made it a point to keep her distance from pets. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas to parents who only recently developed a love for animals, Nicole grew up in a home with only a few outdoor pets and not much of a relationship or understanding of people's love of pets...especially cats!

Everything changed after meeting her husband Jeffrey in 2015, when she met her husband's then 9 year old cat Marilyn "Snugs" Thompson, so named for her love of cuddles and her one white dot marking near her nose (a la Marilyn Monroe). Although it took years to admit it, Nicole became a bona-fide cat lady almost immediately. Through the cat distribution system, her and her husband have acquired two more cats, Noodle "Doodle Doo" and most recently an abandoned rescue- Oscar "Little Joker" del Guero (Guero for short).

Soon after admitting the true nature of her love of animals, Nicole joined OPHS in order to help nurture and foster the love of animals throughout the community. With her background in Early Childhood Education, Behavior Science, and passion for art- Nicole hopes to create innovative experiences for children and families through exciting events and opportunities to connect with the wonderful and deserving animals in our care. She is a welcome addition to our Board of Directors.

Megan Overton

Board Member

Megan and her family decided to move from Tacoma to the beautiful Olympic Peninsula in the fall of
2021. She and her Autistic daughter began volunteering at the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society early
2023. They found their niche working and helping not only with the animals, but also the staff. Her
families previous experience with volunteering was 3 years helping at a horse rescue that saved starved
and neglected horses. Being involved with people dedicated to saving animals has become an invaluable
experience for her family. Not only helping to find a pet a forever home but help an animal build trust
and security. To witness the sacrifice, love, and compassion that the team has for helping animals and
people in need is truly rewarding.
On her free time, she enjoys her pets two dogs, one cat and three guinea pigs, cooking, art, reading,
music, friends, family and Disney.

Tom Backe

Board Member

Tom has worked 20 years as an Accountant and 20 years as a Real Estate Appraiser (Half of which he owned my own company) He has built two homes on the Olympic Peninsula in the 21 years he has been in the area. Tom has quite a bit of practical knowledge concerning building and septic maintenance. At the urging of his neighbor Marion Wagner (a Vet Tech at Blue Mountain Vet Clinic), Tom joined the OPHS Board. Marion also got Tom's wife and himself into fostering kittens until they were old enough and large enough to be spayed/neutered and adopted out by OPHS. Tom was on the OPHS Board for 4-5 years ending in 2017. He left the Board because his wife and he began traveling much more and he didn’t feel he was around enough to do a good job. Tom and his Wife have had cats for the 21 years on the Olympic Peninsula including two black cats, both of which were adopted from OPHS.