Meet Our Staff & Volunteers

Rich Kallenberger – Yakima Valley Habitat Store Manager: Rich Kallenberger, currently serving as the Yakima Valley Habitat Store Manager, has been a volunteer for Yakima Valley Partners since 1996.  He created the Yakima Valley Habitat Store at Yakima Valley Partners as his Americorps/VISTA project, modeling it after successful Habitat stores in Canada and Texas.  Rich oversees all aspects of the Yakima Valley Habitat Store operation and  is a stipend volunteer.

Robert Rubio – Product Manager: Roberto joined the Yakima Valley Habitat Store staff  in 2006,as a donation pickup driver.  He has developed that assignment into a much larger function, receiving most of the incoming donations, pricing and preparing material for sale, working with customers on store days, and maintaining a neat and orderly sales yard.  Roberto recently obtained his U.S. citizenship and speaks both English and Spanish.  He is a Habitat homeowner who lives with his wife and two children on 8^th street.  He is a full time employee of the Yakima Valley Habitat Store.

Richard Quine – Floor Manager: Richard is a Yakima Valley Habitat Store Floor Manager, responsible for all store operations during business hours.  Richard brings many skills to the Yakima Valley Habitat Store including years of store management experience and a solid knowledge of home improvement products and materials.  He lives with his wife and musically talented daughters in a house they are refurbishing on Roosevelt Avenue.  Richard is a part-time employee of the Yakima Valley Habitat Store.

Gladys Fila – Floor Manager: Gladys is also a Floor Manager, alternating days with Richard.  She has proven to be a great asset to the Yakima Valley Habitat Store, combining a cheerful personality with a level-headed approach to business. She developed specific skills in selling used products while working for a professional estate sale manager.   She and her husband Jim are now tackling a whole house remodeling of  their home in the west valley.  Gladys is a part-time employee of the Yakima Valley Habitat Store.

Volunteers: The Yakima Valley Habitat Store is blessed with a cadre of volunteers who perform all of the essential jobs needed to keep the store running.  The volunteers, who work a few hours or a few days per month, enable the Yakima Valley Habitat Store to turn a profit.  Without them, Yakima Valley Habitat Store expenses would just about equal sales income and there would be no money left to support our homebuilding program.  The volunteers also make the Yakima Valley Habitat Store more than just another thrift store.