Relay Resources Adds Three New Members to Its Board of Directors

Relay Resources, the leading social enterprise nonprofit in the Pacific Northwest advancing disability inclusion in the workplace, has added three professionals to its Board of Directors. The new members are Nick Braaten, Senior Vice President of Finance at e-commerce shipping and logistics company Auctane; Nicole Hess, Director and Financial Business Partner at Standard Insurance Company; and Lucas Diaz, CEO of Ludia Consulting.

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Relay Resources welcomes three new Board of Directors Members: Nick Braaten, Nicole Hess, and Lucas Diaz.

“I’m thrilled to welcome these three respected and proven leaders to our Board of Directors,” said Dr. Jennifer Camota Luebke, CEO, Chief Disability Inclusion Officer, and President of Relay Resources. “In their work across logistics, finance, and beyond, Nick, Nicole, and Lucas have a wealth of knowledge and experience in many sectors, and are well equipped to offer the crucial guidance we look to from our board.”

Nick Braaten

Nick currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Finance at Auctane, where he leads a global financial organization supporting the company’s fiscal fidelity and continued growth.

With almost 25 years of financial leadership and experience, Nick has held senior finance roles at leading organizations, with a strong foundation in both public companies and private equity-backed environments. He spent 11 years at Best Buy in senior finance leadership roles and 11 years at Amazon as a finance director, which included an international assignment in Luxembourg.

Nick has a bachelor of arts in Accounting from the University of Dakota. In joining the Relay board, Nick will bring his experience in strategic finance, operational leadership, and scaling businesses as the organization continues to expand its impact and advocacy for disabled people in the workplace.

Nicole Hess

Nicole Hess, who currently serves as Director and Financial Business Partner at Standard Insurance Company, has 15 years of experience in finance and accounting, leading strategic financial initiatives that drive organizational efficiency and long-term value.

Before joining Standard Insurance Company, Nicole spent two and a half years at Schnitzer Steel in Portland, serving as Staff Accountant and then Senior Accountant.

Nicole’s commitment to inclusive communities connects strongly with Relay’s mission. Earlier in her career, she served as a certified referee for the Paralympic team sport of Goalball, working closely with athletes who are blind—an experience that shaped her dedication to supporting accessibility and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Nicole is a graduate of Portland State University with a bachelor of arts in Accounting and is a certified public accountant. Nicole lives in Portland and is honored to contribute her financial leadership to the Relay Board of Directors’ Finance and Accounting Committee.

Lucas Diaz

Lucas Diaz is the CEO of Ludia Consulting, a company that works at the intersection of Microsoft technologies, Dynamics 365, and AI-powered transformation. Under his guidance, Ludia Consulting empowers organizations to embrace digital modernization and achieve sustainable growth through Microsoft Dynamics 365 solutions.

Lucas previously served on the Board of Directors of TechFluent, a nonprofit that aims to reduce income inequality in under-resourced communities, and on the board of Raphael House of Portland, which helps domestic violence survivors and their families.

Beyond business, Lucas champions social responsibility as a core value and supports initiatives that promote equity and inclusion. He is also committed to global humanitarian efforts, including the Ukrainian War Animal Relief Fund (UWARF).

He studied Computer Science, Software Engineering, and Entrepreneurship at Washington State University and holds several Microsoft professional certifications.

Through bold vision and purpose-driven action, Lucas is shaping a future where innovation fuels progress for businesses and communities alike, and he’s eager to bring these skills and mindset to Relay’s Board of Directors.

About Relay Resources

Relay Resources is the leading disability social enterprise nonprofit in the Pacific Northwest, with a mission to transform workplaces and communities by championing disability inclusion. The organization employs over 950 team members in four lines of business: Building Solutions, which includes janitorial, landscaping, and floor care services; Document Solutions; Supply Chain Solutions; and Disability Inclusion and Accessibility Consulting Services. Additionally, Relay operates three programs: Competitive Integrated Employment, which places and supports disabled people in competitive jobs in the community; abilIT, a cybersecurity and technology training and job placement program; and Affordable Housing, which manages 760 units for 1,500 residents, 27% of whom have a household member with a disability. Learn more at relayresources.org.

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