Meet our Staff
RainTree is proud to offer an extremely talented and diverse staff!
Jodie Buck - Shop Owner
Jodie and Todd Buck purchased RainTree quilting in the fall of 2016. Jodie's professional experience includes teaching Home Economics in the public school system for 20 years. She also has training and a background in flat pattern design. She loves both quilting and garment sewing. Her early sewing career included designing and sewing custom wedding gowns and formals. She left that business to teach in the public school system. She was fortunate to conclude the last 12 years of her educational career at Dzantik'I Heeni middle school in Juneau, Alaska where she primarily taught comprehensive sewing courses and cooking. She had the privilege of teaching in a sewing lab that boasted of 30 BERNINA sewing machines, 4 BERNINA overlockers, and a bernette embroidery machine. Jodie has been sewing for almost 50 years, and quilting for over 30 years. Actually, her first encounter with quilting was in London England as a middle schooler. She took a hand quilting class with local English women, using fabrics that she purchased from the London based Laura Ashley fabric shop. Jodie retired from teaching early and later purchased RTQ. Teaching is still her great passion. When she has time, she teaches classes at RainTree.
Jodie is also the owner of Jodie's Sewing Studio, a pattern company. Her physical studio is in Tenakee Springs, Alaska. She published the Friday's Kuspuk Pattern, the Kuspuk for Children's Pattern and 2 doll kuspuk patterns. She hope to publish a couple of tunic patterns...... RTQ does consume her time though! She utilizes her studio for the fabrication of shop samples.
Karen Smith
Sales Staff / Notions Manager
Karen came to RainTree in 2017. She has a passion for quilting and especially loves quilts with smaller pieces! She also enjoys English Paper Piecing. Karen's favorite sewing machine is the BERNINA 880 Plus. Her machine actually lives at the shop. You just might find her sewing in the shop's classroom on some of her off days. Karen loves data entry. She manages the notions inventory at RainTree and takes care of fabric data entry. She also manages our BERNINA parts and special orders.
Karen is a lifelong learner and loves to take classes offered at RainTree. She participates in classes for quilting, garments and small projects.
Karen is a true Southeast Alaska girl! Her resume includes commercial fishing!
Karen came to RainTree in 2017. She has a passion for quilting and especially loves quilts with smaller pieces! She also enjoys English Paper Piecing. Karen's favorite sewing machine is the BERNINA 880 Plus. Her machine actually lives at the shop. You just might find her sewing in the shop's classroom on some of her off days. Karen loves data entry. She manages the notions inventory at RainTree and takes care of fabric data entry. She also manages our BERNINA parts and special orders.
Karen is a lifelong learner and loves to take classes offered at RainTree. She participates in classes for quilting, garments and small projects.
Karen is a true Southeast Alaska girl! Her resume includes commercial fishing!
Mary Hunter
Sales Staff / Longarm Rental Program Guide
Mary joined the RTQ team in 2021. She absolutely specializes in customer service. Her authentic care for the customer is inspiring. Her passion for quilting is evident in her work. Mary pieces and quilts many of the quilts hanging on the shop's walls. She probably makes more quilts than any of the RTQ staff as she is determined to create quilts for her many grand children. Mary tends to gravitate towards children's fabrics and Alaskan themed fabrics. She assists in the selection of children's prints for the shop.
Mary sews on the BERNINA 880 Plus, the L890 and the Q24 with Q-matic. She is the shop's Longarm rental guide. She also enjoys learning new skills and often participates in classes offered at RainTree.
Betty Cox
Sales Staff / Kits / Displays
Betty is RainTree's most colorful staff member! She joined the RainTree staff in 2018. Betty's is a master of color. She is exceptionally talented at guiding customers through the process of selecting fabrics that work well together in their quilts. Betty assembles most of the kits you find in RainTree's stock and selects the fabrics for most of those kits. She enjoys both quilting and garment sewing and is knowledgeable in a variety of fabrics.
Betty also is gifted in display management. She is often seen organizing and creating displays in the shop.
Betty sews on the BERNINA 350.
Betty is RainTree's most colorful staff member! She joined the RainTree staff in 2018. Betty's is a master of color. She is exceptionally talented at guiding customers through the process of selecting fabrics that work well together in their quilts. Betty assembles most of the kits you find in RainTree's stock and selects the fabrics for most of those kits. She enjoys both quilting and garment sewing and is knowledgeable in a variety of fabrics.
Betty also is gifted in display management. She is often seen organizing and creating displays in the shop.
Betty sews on the BERNINA 350.
Jan Jerue
Sales Staff / Embroidery Inventory Manager & Educator
Jan joined the current RainTree staff in 2019 with previous experience in the shop. Jan's greatest sewing passions include machine embroidery and quilting. She sews on the BERNINA 790 Plus, the 220 and 200. She routinely operates the store's BERNINA 700 Embroidery machine, creating embroidery samples for the shop. Stop in for demonstrations!
Jan makes many of the quilt tops displayed in the shop. She is our Embroidery enthusiast and embroidery educator. Jan is BERNINA and OESD trained in machine embroidery and manages the embroidery supply inventory at RainTree. If you have questions about your embroidery adventures, stop in and talk to Jan!
Jan joined the current RainTree staff in 2019 with previous experience in the shop. Jan's greatest sewing passions include machine embroidery and quilting. She sews on the BERNINA 790 Plus, the 220 and 200. She routinely operates the store's BERNINA 700 Embroidery machine, creating embroidery samples for the shop. Stop in for demonstrations!
Jan makes many of the quilt tops displayed in the shop. She is our Embroidery enthusiast and embroidery educator. Jan is BERNINA and OESD trained in machine embroidery and manages the embroidery supply inventory at RainTree. If you have questions about your embroidery adventures, stop in and talk to Jan!
Elvia Koolen
BERNINA Certified Technician
Elvia joined the RainTree staff in 2021 as an apprentice to the Sewing Machine Tech. She later was trained by BERNINA. She is a BERNINA Certified Technician for Machines and Longarms. She has also participated in BERNINA's BU Summer Training, in-shop Technical Training and BERNINA's advanced training for 7 and 8 series machines.
Her aptitude for mechanical work is amazing and she loves learning. Her favorite machine is the BERNINA 880 Plus.
She is specializing in the Top-of-the-Line machines. Her co-workers call her "The Machine Whisperer!"
She LOVES being an Alaskan! And, enjoys fishing too!
Elvia joined the RainTree staff in 2021 as an apprentice to the Sewing Machine Tech. She later was trained by BERNINA. She is a BERNINA Certified Technician for Machines and Longarms. She has also participated in BERNINA's BU Summer Training, in-shop Technical Training and BERNINA's advanced training for 7 and 8 series machines.
Her aptitude for mechanical work is amazing and she loves learning. Her favorite machine is the BERNINA 880 Plus.
She is specializing in the Top-of-the-Line machines. Her co-workers call her "The Machine Whisperer!"
She LOVES being an Alaskan! And, enjoys fishing too!
Fabienne Peter-Contesse
BERNINA Certified Technician
Fabienne enjoys creating art quilts with dense machine quilting. Or, replacing a zipper on a favorite jacket, she loves it all! Fabienne joined the RainTree staff in 2021 and is BERNINA trained in sewing machine and longarm technical work.
Fabienne is well known for her modern art quilts and RainTree is proud to have her on the team. She sews on her BERNINA 440, 780 and Q20 machines. She is available for Q20 Free-motion by-appointment demos.
Fabienne also enjoys golfing, cooking and fishing (if you could not tell by the photo!)
Fabienne enjoys creating art quilts with dense machine quilting. Or, replacing a zipper on a favorite jacket, she loves it all! Fabienne joined the RainTree staff in 2021 and is BERNINA trained in sewing machine and longarm technical work.
Fabienne is well known for her modern art quilts and RainTree is proud to have her on the team. She sews on her BERNINA 440, 780 and Q20 machines. She is available for Q20 Free-motion by-appointment demos.
Fabienne also enjoys golfing, cooking and fishing (if you could not tell by the photo!)
Stephanie Hall
Sales Staff / Specializing in 880 Plus, L890s and Machine Embroidery
Stephanie joined the RainTree staff in 2021. She loves quilting and clothing construction. Most, if not all, garments she makes features machine embroidery. Stephanie works on Saturdays and can be found working on shop samples. She is readily available for machine demonstrations. Her favorite machines are the BERNINA 880 Plus and the L890.
She honestly wears clothing that she has made EVERY time she is in the shop!
Stephanie joined the RainTree staff in 2021. She loves quilting and clothing construction. Most, if not all, garments she makes features machine embroidery. Stephanie works on Saturdays and can be found working on shop samples. She is readily available for machine demonstrations. Her favorite machines are the BERNINA 880 Plus and the L890.
She honestly wears clothing that she has made EVERY time she is in the shop!
Becky Gonce RTQ Marketing
Becky joined the RTQ staff in January 2023 as the Marketing Manager. She loves learning on her own and from others! She always maintained that she would not sew, until she was given an old Singer sewing machine. After making curtains, she decided to try a simple quilt. Then, she was hooked! She also enjoys sewing her own clothes. After seeing designs she loved but wanted them in other colorways, she was inspired to learn how to design her own fabrics. She started her own little business in 2020 selling various fabric items with her designs on them. At RainTree she works primarily behind the scene on social media content and website content.
Becky joined the RTQ staff in January 2023 as the Marketing Manager. She loves learning on her own and from others! She always maintained that she would not sew, until she was given an old Singer sewing machine. After making curtains, she decided to try a simple quilt. Then, she was hooked! She also enjoys sewing her own clothes. After seeing designs she loved but wanted them in other colorways, she was inspired to learn how to design her own fabrics. She started her own little business in 2020 selling various fabric items with her designs on them. At RainTree she works primarily behind the scene on social media content and website content.
Krisi Selvig
Krisi was born and raised in Juneau. She lives in Gustavus 6 months of the year. Do you see that smile? It is permanent! She started quilting 25 years ago and LOVES to sew. Her new venture includes English Paper Piecing. Her favorite fabrics are Batiks. Krisi is a great teacher and teaches several classes at RTQ. She loves to fish and play volleyball.
Krisi was born and raised in Juneau. She lives in Gustavus 6 months of the year. Do you see that smile? It is permanent! She started quilting 25 years ago and LOVES to sew. Her new venture includes English Paper Piecing. Her favorite fabrics are Batiks. Krisi is a great teacher and teaches several classes at RTQ. She loves to fish and play volleyball.
Edith Morgan
Edith has been quilting and sewing for many years! She brings a WEALTH of knowledge regarding notions and fabrics to our store. We tend to believe that Edith's favorite sewing projects focus on Christmas! Her favorite machine is the BERNINA 220. Edith sincerely specializes in customer service. She primarily works for us in the Summer months. We wish we had her year round!