Board of Directors

Adam Williamson is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Nationally Certified Counselor. He has worked in the field of mental health since 2004. In addition to individual and couples therapy, Adam consults and works with hospitals doing suicide assessments, consultation, and as a designated examiner which includes court testimony in commitment proceedings.

Adam is certified as a Psychological Autopsy Investigator and provides front line service and consultation to individuals and the community at large following a suicide. He works in a private practice in Driggs, Idaho, and at a community mental health agency in Jackson, Wyoming. “I am committed to the overall mental health of our community and honored to be on the board at the CRC of Teton Valley.”

Tom retired from a law enforcement career of over 20 years serving in various supervisory positions in both patrol and investigations having opportunity to work cases at the local, state, and federal levels. Tom saw the opportunity to serve on the CRC Board of Directors as an opportunity to help our friends and neighbors. After attending one board meeting, Tom realized that the team of staff and board were truly a compassionate group dedicated to helping others and guiding those in need to desperately needed resources.

“Joining the board of directors is truly an honor and a privilege. To be a part of something so critical and necessary in our community surrounded by others in this organization who see the same need to serve others and provide opportunity is truly inspiring.”

Teton Valley became Ruth’s home in 2017, though she’d been visiting the Valley for years after her daughter settled here. Ruth is a retired professional nurse and spent most of her career as a staff member and later, administrator of hospice and home care programs in the Midwest. She is also a certified spiritual director. Ruth is very active with St. Francis Episcopal church in Alta and through that association Ruth learned how she could help support the work of the Community Resource Center.

“I have been on the Board of CRC since December of 2019 and am in awe of the commitment and energy of staff to link community residents with resources to overcome crises that present barriers to their continued well-being. The CRC may be a young not-for-profit but its programming and services suggest it already serves a vital role in building resilience of residents to become stable contributors who will enhance the community’s future.

Ed Palacios

Ed’s passion has always been to help people in one way or another. As an immigrant himself, Ed understands persecution, limitations, prejudice, and broken promises. However, these walls did not stop him from pursuing his dreams. He was the first in his family to obtain a bachelor’s degree.

“I cannot express how excited and blessed I was when I found an organization during the Tin Cup Festival of 2018 that would allow me to help this great Teton Valley community. As an immigrant myself, I know far too well the financial and socio-emotional struggles of coming to a new country. I recall how the fear and intimidation of facing the unknown made me feel that my world was closing in. How the language barrier and lack of immigration status became the main obstacles I faced in this new country. Things such as jobs, food, medications, and shelter were hard to come by. However, if I would have had access to and the support of organizations such as the CRC, perhaps I would have had the peace of mind to know that I, the ‘invisible’, could perhaps become more ‘visible.'”

Erica Linell

Erica moved to the Tetons over 20 years ago as an outdoor educator. After hanging up her guiding hat, she stayed involved in that field as the Executive Director of a recreation foundation, as a board member of a local trails organization, and as a volunteer to promote trail development in honor of her late husband.

In 2018 she became a private chef and started her company, Tiny Town Culinary. Growing a business during a global pandemic and navigating life’s trials and tribulations, reminded her how much she relies on the support of this incredible community. Thus, she chose to shift her nonprofit commitment away from recreation and towards an entity that was directly helping her neighbors in need. She is passionate about the CRC mission and is excited to be a part of expanding the organization to serve even more Teton Valley community members.

Melissa Thomasma

Melissa, a Jackson Hole native, earned degrees at the University of Chicago and the University of Montana before moving to Teton Valley in 2018. As a writer, she contributes to a variety of regional publications and collaborates with brands and organizations to tell their unique stories. Her volunteer background includes work with survivors of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, as well as a five-year stint as a firefighter and EMT. She lives in Victor with her husband, two kids, and way too many pets. When she’s not writing or playing in the mountains, you’ll probably find her trying out a new recipe in the kitchen or watching M*A*S*H* (yes, again).

David Fischel

David is a retired Pediatrician, who has been happily married to Melanie for almost 49 years. He's the father of two adult children and grandfather to two blossoming adolescents. As a couple, David and Melanie have embraced the experience of being able to participate in short-term volunteer opportunities in various places around the globe. "Most relevant, perhaps, to my serving on the Board of CRC is that I've been a member of this Teton Valley community for over 40 years. In that span of over 4 decades, I've witnessed lots of change in this valley, a great deal of it positive.