Erin Dahlman-Oeth leads by example. Cascade Connections’ program coordinator started at the nonprofit in 2021 after navigating through a strange job market during the pandemic.
“I was working for the Border Policy Research Institute at WWU as a Research Analyst and had also agreed to do some temporary work for the Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG),” they said. “I graduated from Western that December, and a few months later was when the pandemic started. Luckily, both of those jobs could be completed remotely, so I moved back to Kirkland to live with my family and save money.” Eventually, their workspace grew to be a little stifling, so Dahlman-Oeth started another job at Value Village.
“I did that for about six months, and in mid-2021, I decided it was time for me to come back to Bellingham and look for my first full-time job,” they said. “I saw a job posting for an employment consultant at Cascade Connections. I didn’t have family members or family friends with intellectual or developmental disabilities, I didn’t have experience supporting people with disabilities, but I did know that I needed to work with people and that I could learn what I needed to.” Dahlman-Oeth has had a wonderful experience ever since and is grateful for the community’s welcome.
In 2025, Dahlman-Oeth attended Emerging Leaders training with the Center for Continuing Education in Rehabilitation at the University of Washington with Paul Dziedzic. “Throughout the three-session course, he encouraged us to select one idea we had for change in our organization that could realistically be moved forward,” they said. “What came out of that training for me was to start producing videos highlighting inclusive employers and their supported employee(s) in our community. Storytelling is so impactful, especially when it comes from the right people.”
Dahlman-Oeth worked with Cascade Connections’ Advocacy Committee, marketing team and other departmental leadership to draft their ideas into an actionable plan. They were able to identify workplaces they wanted to celebrate and coordinate with interviewees, successfully producing the first in October 2025. Since then, they’ve created four more.
“This accomplishment stands out from the rest because this kind of project is hard to complete in our field as a supported employment provider,” they said. “Supported employment is state-funded and doesn’t leave a lot of room in the budget for public engagement or marketing, yet it’s exactly the kind of work that needs to be done. We know that the more familiar people are with disability, the more open they are to hiring people with disabilities and the benefits that come with that. Familiarity, education, and reduction of stigma are foundational to our work, and that is what this project is accomplishing.”
For Dahlman-Oeth, engagement in community is an important value for strong leadership. “I believe kindness, curiosity, integrity, and actively supporting your community are foundations for leadership,” they said. “When you have these things, you have all the tools and support systems for personal growth and change in your community. I encourage everyone to volunteer in their free time if it’s reasonable to do. It is a great way to model your values and make an impact on the local level.”
When Dahlman-Oeth was still living with their family during the pandemic, they experienced a setback that, at first, left them feeling crushed. They were able to move on and realize the significance of the moment during their application process with Pacific Northwest Economic Region. “I studied up on the company, made a LinkedIn account, and practiced interview questions for multiple days leading up to the interview,” they said. “I had one interview, and then another, and then another. I was so excited about this job. I felt like it was my next chapter. I had already planned what days I would drive to Seattle from Bellingham, what time I would need to leave at, and what kind of nice clothes I would need to buy to fit into the trade and economics world. And then I received an email thanking me for my time and letting me know that they had offered the role to the other final candidate. I was devastated. I felt like the next rung on my career ladder had broken.”
Now Dahlman-Oeth realizes the job would not have been a good match for them, taking away their chance to work primarily with people one-on-one, what they enjoy most. “That experience taught me that there are other opportunities out there that we don’t even know about yet,” they said. “We have to be resilient and patient to continue on the journey.”
Dahlman-Oeth’s advice for people starting in their careers? “Be curious and put yourself out there,” they emphasized. “Who you know can take you very, very far. Join the Chamber, join Whatcom Young Professionals, volunteer regularly, call people who are doing jobs you admire, ask for informational interviews to learn more. Meeting people, asking questions, and being genuine can take you a long way.”
You May Be Surprised to Learn…
- Dahlman-Oeth wears hearing aids, though they often forget them at home on the bathroom counter.
The Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and Whatcom Young Professionals have announced the 2026 Top 7 Under 40 honorees, recognized annually for their contributions as young professionals in Whatcom County. The awardees will be celebrated at the Barron Home Services-sponsored Top 7 Under 40 Awards on October 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, where one will be named Young Professional of the Year. Click here for event details and tickets.
