About Us

Our team at 501 includes:

VICKY SCHARLAU - PRESIDENT/CEO
Scharlau has 30 years experience in developing and managing organizations, projects and programs across the US and Mexico. Her skills include non-profit association and project management, non-profit board training, facilitation, strategic planning, organization and project budgeting, grant writing and managing, marketing and communications.

Scharlau has extensive experience in grant management which includes a collaborative multi-year $500,000 grant to the Washington State Horticultural Association from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and The Pew Charitable Trust and multiple US Department of Agriculture risk management education and research projects totaling over $1,000,000 (two multi-state partnerships for wine and juice grapes in OR, ID, and WA, one multi-state research partnership and one multi-crop partnership in WA with tree fruit, potatoes, and wine grapes for a total of over $1,000,000). She also has worked on cooperative agreements including those with the Center for Agricultural Partnerships and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Scharlau's work experience includes stints with the Washington Apple Commission where she held several management positions (including president) in nine years; the Washington State Horticultural Association, where she served as President and built all aspects of new association management; the Washington and Wisconsin State Department’s of Agriculture; Gerald Dryer and Associates of Madison, WI where she served as a Communications Specialist on Cooperatives; and Aide to Representatives Jim Harsdorf and Dave Paulson of the Wisconsin State Legislature.

Scharlau was raised on a farm in Wisconsin and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Journalism and a minor in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a Class X graduate of the Washington Ag and Forestry Leadership Program. She has served in volunteer, board and officer positions with numerous organizations.

CINDY FIELDS - PROGRAM MANAGER
After earning a Bachelor’s degree in communications from Sonoma State, Cindy’s career took her from Sonoma to Dallas to Tucson and now to the Evergreen State where she settled into a 1904 Victorian farmhouse in Cashmere with her husband and daughter. Cindy is a seasoned professional with over 18 years’ experience in all aspects of communications, public relations and marketing, strategic planning and management in both corporate and non-profit environments. Her credentials include strategic planning, brand identity and development, public relations and marketing, print and electronic advertising production and management, internet marketing, sponsorship and event management. Past clients include AlphaGraphics, Inc., the American Gem Trade Association, the American Society for Clinical Pathology, and most recently the Lake Chelan Wine Growers Association where she served as Executive Director.

ANDREA BAKER - COMMUNICATIONS / EVENT COORDINATOR
After graduating from Central Washington University with a Bachelor's degree in public relations, Andrea moved to the Oregon coast where she began her career at Worldmark Resort as Event Coordinator, then accepted a position as Special Events Manager for the Visitor and Convention Bureau of Lincoln City. After having a child, Andrea and her family relocated back to Washington settling into Wenatchee. Her credentials include public relations and event marketing, print and electronic communication, event management and organization. Past projects include assisting in the development of the Pacific Coast Center for Culinary Art, serving on the Board of Directors of the Depoe Bay Chamber of Commerce for three years, and event coordination for CWU's Career Development Service.

DEBBIE SANDS - BUSINESS MANAGER
Debbie was born in Bakersfield and has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of accounts payable, accounts receivable, monthly financials, payroll, taxes and yearly auditing in addition to owning her own bookkeeping service in that time. She has an AA degree in Accounting from the Wenatchee Valley College as well as two years of upper level accounting from WSU. She is fluent in QuickBooks, QuickBooks Pro, Delp Farm Accounting and AS400. She has provided payroll and bookkeeping services for the 400 person staff of Blue Star Growers in addition to their technology needs as administrator. Debbie has also worked with Timberland Custom Homes, Cashmere Fruit Exchange, Schmitten Orchards and Pine Shadow Orchards. She lives in a vintage 1908 Bungalow-style home near the Wenatchee River and has two sons; one attending Wenatchee Valley College and the other lives nearby in a yurt.

EILEEN WILKINSON - ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Eileen hails from New York State where she began her career in the legal field, working for attorneys for the largest bank in New York State. She was employed by several law offices and a local radio station for a few years before she married and started a career in raising three boys. She attended college in Dayton, TN and in 1978, her family moved to the West Coast settling in Everett, WA. She continued in the legal field, working in Superior Court of Snohomish County. She lives in Wenatchee where she - in her spare time - plays with her grandchildren.