Our Team
New ventures take people with passion and the willingness to act on it. We hope reading about our team inspires you to join us! Our non-profit mission is only feasible with a large team of volunteers.
Our Team
New ventures take people with passion and the willingness to act on it. We hope reading this inspires you to join us!
Our Founders
Ayla Web
I started skating at Skate King in Bellevue when I was 5. By 16, I was working there — eventually holding almost every position. When Skate King closed, it turned my world upside down. It wasn’t just a job; it was my extended family. I missed making people smile and watching them roll out to the songs I picked.
Since then, I’ve worked in real estate administration. At first, I just dreamed about opening a new rink on the Eastside. But over time, that dream turned into a serious plan.
My goal is to create a permanent rink space owned by our nonprofit. That way, it can’t be shut down when a business park gets sold. While this part-time rink is just the beginning, it’s an important step. After all, everyone needs a place to belong.
Ed Mills and Irene Pasternack
We began skating with Skate Journeys at age 44, alongside our then 7- and 10-year-old kids. Every weekend, we spent time learning to skate and learning how to teach it. This shared experience was transformational for each of us.
One of our children, who is dyslexic, used skating to grasp the concept of incremental learning — a skill that helped with reading. Our other child, who preferred computer games to anything physical, discovered that movement could actually be fun. As a working mom, Irene found sanity by trading long hours in the car for quality time and exercise with the family. Meanwhile, Ed, a stay-at-home dad, found a way to reconnect with the world outside the house.
Professionally, Irene spent 35 years in marketing and technical writing. Ed is an engineer who enjoys building systems and solving problems. Skating inspired both of us to start new careers as Feldenkrais Practitioners. Now, we help people with movement challenges — from severe conditions to everyday skating frustrations like “How do I do a crossover on my hard side?”
We were both raised in families that valued service. Our parents launched programs that had a real impact in their communities. Following that example, we’ve been active volunteers with Social Venture Partners and other nonprofits. Today, we’re excited to apply all we’ve learned to launch our own venture — and make a difference for families on the Eastside.
Our Volunteers
Meet the others who are making this happen, and consider joining in on this project!
- Mudra Machewad, As a student leader at Issaquah School District I’ve been actively involved in organizing and leading across several school and community clubs focused on service, leadership, and youth development. At the rink, I help mobilize volunteers and lead strategic social media campaigns to boost visibility and deepen community engagement. For me, this is about more than skating – it’s about empowering young people to lead, connect, and create joyful, inclusive spaces. I’m passionate about helping build a culture where youth feel seen, supported, and inspired to contribute. I’m proud to be part of this incredible effort to reignite skating culture and youth involvement in Issaquah.
- Kelli Diann Gordon, a supervisor in Issaquah Parks and Recreation and a passionate skater and supporter of getting families moving and playing together. Kelli Diann worked with the city for six months to get our program approved.
- Trish Alexander from Skate Journeys who has generously shared her wisdom and experience, and loaned us use of their inline fleet and large bins of protective gear.
- Iain Campbell-Smith, sound system technician and one of the founding Board members.
- Aoeife Campbell-Smith, Board member.
- Leha and Anay, Skate IA certified instructors, who help with teaching beginner skaters and take shifts as floor guards.
- Parents of kids who volunteer: Vishal Machewad and Kavitha Perla, helping with our website, rink setup/breakdown, and running the rink at skate times.
- Mollie Launer for risk assessment and running our rink merchandise store.
- Spencer Webb for helping with the rental counter and logistics.
- Everyone in the skating community who spread the information about our opening night!