our staff
Monika is Thrive’s creator, the magical miracle maker, the woman behind the curtain, the voice of unreasonableness, the “Big Bang” that lit the fierce flame behind what is now Thrive. Monika is a lover and a creator and likes to do things that make her happy. Beyond the immediate world of Thrive, the epicenter of Monika’s Universe, she keeps herself balanced with family and friends, healthful activities, travel, weekend trips, raw foods, and music.
Brian is Thrive’s GM, web designer, menu maker, voicemail voicer, in-bulk-juice-consumer, vitality-assimilator, and generator of bold love and magic. He started working at the cafe in late July 2009 and lost 30 lbs. in 3 months. He now owns a Vita-Mix and a gorgeous, stainless steel Breville juice machine. He’s a fan of completely disregarding any on-repeat-old-broken-record-recordings that say repeatedly that a body can be only this way or that way. In the cafe, he generates pride of body, drunken joy, grace & compassion, fierce love, awe and wonder, trust & fath. He’s recently married to Ann Marie, who makes our pies in the early mornings, and is creating with her a relationship of Love with no ceiling and no floor, always growing and always falling into.
Is a “brownie bonus happy smiley face good job kind of a guy.” Kimo is out living a life in constant soliloquy, so don’t be surprised to find him talking to himself. He’s say what’s on his mind all the time, (all the time) a ‘talent’ that has rubbed more than one with a little bit of ’400′ grit sand paper (for those of you who aren’t fabrication fans… that’s a joke), at first, but do not fear patience will find you in good standing! Kimo is a native of the beautiful islands of Hawaii, but find the cool climate and similar culture of Seattle more to his liking. Being a “Community, Environment, Planning” major at University of Washington finds him in constant contact with important people from various backgrounds. So, that being said, use him up; use him at Thrive to help get your body what it needs, use him in community to help you get the people you need, just let him be of service….. Love…..
Megan is waiting for God to breathe her through the cracked windows of the world as she holds on to her camera, some blank pages, and a pen. She thrives on the poetry of human connections as we all weave through the doorways and building blocks of life, forever tangling ourselves in the beautiful mess of each other. Her yoga and Ayurveda practice keep her in the spirit of radiating God’s love as she tries to always be the best version of herself. Megan gave birth to a baby boy on Mother’s Day and is continuing her work with Thrive from home.
Lindsey is a 5-year Raw Foodie who enjoys learning and sharing about her passion to live with health and vigor, and to help others along their own journey to health. Lindsey is also a Personal Raw Food Coach and is always excited to begin investing in new people! She also enjoys bringing her degree in Art into her work with food by creating beautiful masterpieces and new recipes. Lindsey truly believes in the way she lives out her life and strives to show to others by example how health has changed and shaped her!
Defying the stereotype of the introverted artist, Alisha loves being around people as much as she loves to paint. She’s been inspired by the Seattle community for years in the coffee shops where she’s worked, and in return has shared her paintings in over twenty shows at local venues. Now she’s excited to be witnessing a cultural shift firsthand as she interacts with the growing tide of people choosing to make a stand for their health and their world.
Learning and sharing about raw food and having the experience of working alongside great people is fuel to her creative fire.
Claire is passionate about geography and … maps. Yes, maps. She likes eating food, learning about food, caring about food, mapping food, preparing food, spelling F-O-O-D. She hosts Southern Comfort, a Country and Bluegrass internet radio station through UW’s RainyDawg Radio. She loves birds; but has no birds. She’s full of Minnesota Nice and Seattle Happiness. When in surplus, she passes both on to other people in Mason Jars.
Teresa loves to love people! And does so in all the little ways she knows how. She has a passion for social justice and is a determined advocate and activist! She is committed to spending her life ensuring that all people have a chance to live to their fullest potential in the way that they see fit! In her mind, everyone should have the opportunity to thrive physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally with out barriers. One of her life goals is to create spaces for people to do so!
Jessie has been composing since she was 9 years old…Stories of heartbreak and love, life and loss- Her own stories and those of people she meets.
“You played your Hearts Song, and we danced to the silent beat of a heart that moved a mind to the very edge and then over and down and down into the tips of fingers that made beautiful music that made little girls close their eyes and spin and spin until the world was only a blur of shadows and light and music that broke your heart. And this is how your Heart Song became me.”
Annie has now seen christopher nolan’s new movie, Inception, twice. Her husband Brian, Thrive’s GM, thinks she has the most graceful feet he’s ever seen. She covers them with Chuck Taylor Converse, but mostly wears flip flops, even when hiking up steep mountain grades. She preps Thrive’s food by early morning and takes care of senior citizens at a giant mansion by night. She is the current holder of the Monopoly Family Trophy, for having defeated the entire Enriquez clan the first Christmas she ever met them. She’s a hustler at pool, a kingpin at the alleys, and loves spicy food that makes Brian sweat and her laugh. She loves Tip Tum Thai for their fresh spring rolls and would name her first born son Tom Kah (coconut soup) in a heart beat if only it didn’t clash with Enriquez. And she has dimples.
