Meet The Team

Northern Star is built by people who show up because this work is personal.

Every member of our team has invested their time, talent, and leadership not for recognition, but because something close to their heart compelled them to serve. Each carries a deep commitment to be a light in life’s darkest moments and a source of direction for what’s ahead; strengthening families, walking with others through grief and growth, and helping people not just move forward, but build lives that last.

United by a shared calling to bring both care and guidance, we work together with humility, purpose, and a commitment to impact that reaches far beyond ourselves. Through every conversation, every program, and every relationship, we help people find their way and lay foundations that endure, for this generation and the next.

Founder & Grief Program Director

Rochelle Holmes

Rochelle provides visionary leadership and mission stewardship for Northern Star, championing the organization’s culture, values, and long-term direction.

She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and brings lived experience as a former foster care youth, along with professional experience in grief programming, behavioral health, and academy leadership, grounding the organization’s work in compassion, stability, and family-centered, generational transformation.

Executive Director

Jason Holmes

Jason provides organizational leadership across strategy, operations, partnerships, and program development for Northern Star, ensuring alignment between vision and execution.

As an experienced organizational leader and Creative Director, he holds a Master’s degree in Creative Writing and a Bachelor’s degree in Film, leveraging storytelling, design, and narrative strategy to help shape the voice, culture, and mission of the organization while advancing sustainable growth, creative impact, and deep community engagement.

Board President

Karen Chipchase

Karen provides strategic leadership and board-level oversight of the organization’s direction, partnering with executive leadership to ensure alignment across operations, programs, partnerships, fundraising, and long-term goals in accordance with the Foundation’s mission and values.

A decorated strategic leader, she has served within the Pentagon, been instrumental in major U.S. Army programs, and worked extensively with the counseling community as a civilian, while continually pouring into her community through mentorship, advocacy, and service.

Board Director – Community & Family Engagement

CJ Bates

CJ brings community insight and relational leadership to the Board, advocating for accessible, family-centered support while strengthening partnerships and community trust.

With over 15 years in human resources focused on talent development, he is currently completing an MBA in Organizational Management and has eight years of experience supporting local nonprofits serving children and teens in foster care, grounding his leadership in both professional expertise and community impact.

Board Treasurer

Chelsea Hayes

Chelsea oversees the financial health and stewardship of the organization, including budgeting, financial reporting, compliance, and fiscal accountability, ensuring transparency, integrity, and long-term financial sustainability.

She brings multiple years of experience in accounts payable and administration for nonprofit organizations, and as a current nonprofit founder, she actively serves the community through local ministry, grounding financial leadership in mission-driven impact and trust.

Board Secretary & Governance Operations Lead

Nicole Guerrero

Nicole serves as Board Secretary and Governance Operations Lead, stewarding governance with integrity, clarity, and excellence. She manages board and committee operations, maintains governance records, ensures compliance, and supports effective communication between the board and executive leadership. In partnership with board leadership, she safeguards institutional memory and supports strong board continuity.

Grounded in her faith, Nicole loves God and is deeply family-oriented. She brings humility, diligence, and purpose to her work, striving to make a lasting impact that reflects both professional excellence and her faith-driven values.

Chief of Staff

Harry Chipchase

Harry serves as Chief of Staff & Strategic Operations, ensuring alignment between vision, people, and execution across Northern Star. He partners closely with executive leadership to translate strategy into action, strengthen organizational systems, and maintain clear communication across teams, programs, and community partnerships.

With extensive military leadership experience, Harry has led and developed personnel in high-responsibility environments, bringing a disciplined yet people-centered approach to operations, accountability, and organizational structure. His background also includes overseeing curriculum implementation and operational training initiatives on a national level within the human resources sector, helping organizations create scalable systems, leadership alignment, and consistent standards across diverse teams and environments.

Combined with years of community involvement and nonprofit board service, Harry offers deep insight into governance, organizational development, and sustainable growth. His ability to blend structure, strategic execution, and relational leadership helps build the kind of operational foundation that families, partners, funders, and organizations can trust with confidence.