OUR Side by Side TEAM

Wendell and Kelly Verduin live in Poulsbo, Washington. Wendell is the President of the Board of Side by Side. While Kelly runs the family business, ownership and management of real estate investments through their private company, Northwest Communities, Wendell is busier than ever as President of Side by Side. Prior to the establishment of Side by Side, Wendell’s professional experience was as founder and Director of the Community Action anti-poverty program in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Director of the Planning, Budget and Evaluation Division of Region 10 (Great Lakes) Office of Economic Opportunity, and subsequently a Presidential appointee as the Executive Director of that office.In 1973 he moved to Seattle to take the position of Executive Director of the Washington Education Association and later became an entrepreneur in real estate syndication. Side by Side fits their background and passion perfectly. How better to couple anti-poverty programs, community organization, and business administration experience with social workers’ hearts and a Christian commitment to service.

Brenda is a successful business woman who enjoys helping others. She is the Regional Manager of Western Washington for LegalShield, with a growing business team that covers North America.

She is the mother of 3 grown children of whom she is extremely proud. They inspire her to continue to work hard and help heal this incredible world. Brenda is a Rotarian with Poulsbo Rotary Club and served as president from 2010 to 2011; she presently serves on the International Services Committee. It was through this incredible organization that she was given the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia and Uganda in the fall of 2011. That’s where she found her purpose for the second part of her life, starting her non-profit, Wall of Hope, which serves in Gandar, Ethiopia.

Brenda joined the Board of Side by Side in January, 2017.

Craig Torstenbo has a background in marketing and fundraising. He has spent his career developing communication strategy and materials for Christian organizations involved in relief and development work, global evangelism and inner-city outreach to the poor and homeless. His experience includes more than 25 years working at nonprofits, the marketing agencies that serve them, and also as a freelance copywriter. He spent 12 years at Focus on the Family, including 5 years as the agency’s in-house creative director. He is currently creative director at Masterworks, a nationally recognized firm serving Christian ministries. A graduate of Seattle Pacific University, Craig began his career in radio broadcasting, doing drive-time news in Long Beach, California. He lives with his family in Poulsbo, Washington. Craig traveled to South Africa in 2005 and has since had a heart for the nation and its people. He’s honored to be involved with Side by Side as a Board Member.

Shelly is a native of the Pacific Northwest, having grown up in Oregon, but she has called Poulsbo, Washington home for the past 30 years. Her background includes working in real estate as a broker and managing broker, and more recently in the internet technology industry, specifically website design and internet and social media marketing. Currently, she works remotely as the Brand/Content/Product Manager for Clever Investor LLC.

Shelly has been involved in community service for many years and has volunteered with many organizations. She currently volunteers for a nonprofit animal rescue organization in Phoenix and recently joined SidebySide:South Africa as a board member helping with the website and social media marketing.

“My goal is to use my skills and some of my time to help Side by Side increase its assistance to those in need in South Africa.”