Our Team - Washington

Amy is a 25 plus year non-profit professional with significant expertise in transitional leadership, building organizational capacity, crisis management and strategic planning. She is an inspirational and innovative executive dedicated to staff and volunteers.

During her tenure as Interim Executive Director at University Beyond Bars, Amy was exposed first-hand to prison life and the challenges men and women face behind bars and upon their release. This experience had a profound impact and helped further her understanding of her own privilege and the systemic injustices which exist in our society. With this increased understanding, Amy has worked more closely with boards and staff to recognize and eliminate institutional racism, use a social justice lens for their work and institute diversity, equity and inclusion principles throughout their organizations, especially in hiring.

Throughout Amy’s career in non-profit management, organizational development and redesign has been central to her approach. Amy works extensively with boards and committees, reviewing their structures and making operational changes necessary to achieving their goals. She assesses organizational challenges and opportunities to create positive impact and produce systemic change through both short and long-term action plans and restructure and/or create new and sustainable systems for organizations to improve their service delivery and increase their productivity.

Amy has a BA from Douglass College, Rutgers University, and an MSW and MA in Community Development, both from Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University. Amy has maintained her connection with the men at the Monroe Correctional Complex, as a volunteer Chaplain. She lives with her husband, children and two dogs in Bellevue, WA.

Amy Wheeler is a dynamic leader with 25+ years of experience in the arts nonprofit sector. Amy is known for innovating mission-centric programs and events that inspire charitable giving, creating robust new revenue streams, and bringing boards and staff into strategic alignment. With curiosity, empathy and a sense of play, Amy enjoys supporting organizations through challenging transitions. She is deeply committed to the work of equity and inclusion, creating intentional space and opportunities for people who have historically been marginalized.

Amy served as Executive Director of Hedgebrook for 13 years, the premiere nonprofit artist residency supporting female-identified writers based on Whidbey Island, WA. Under her leadership, Hedgebrook evolved from a private foundation to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a national board, global alumnae community, and influential advisory council chaired by Gloria Steinem. Hedgebrook was recognized by the Seattle Mayor’s Office for Innovation in the Arts, and by the Humanitas Foundation in Los Angeles for supporting women in film and television.

A lifelong theatre artist, Amy is a nationally produced and published playwright with an MFA from the University of Iowa Playwrights Workshop, and an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Cornish College of the Arts. As writing teacher, Amy has mentored hundreds of writers, collaborated with women who are incarcerated and young people who are living at risk. In 2022 she founded Play Club, a book club for theatre goers and students that’s quickly grown to a national membership.
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A fun fact: Amy’s first ventures into nonprofit work began in Development in New York: at the New York Philharmonic, where she got to see Leonard Bernstein conduct; and the Paul Taylor Dance Company, where she’d slip across the hall to watch Paul choreograph new dances.

Angela Bishop is a nonprofit executive director, senior development leader, and nonprofit consultant with more than 20 years of experience guiding organizations through growth, transition, and transformation. She has worked across industries—including housing, healthcare, human services, and advocacy—always with a focus on building stronger, more equitable systems where families and communities can thrive.

Angela has served as a nonprofit executive director and senior development leader with organizations such as Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington & Alaska, Wellspring Family Services, WA CASA Association, and The Sophia Way. As a nonprofit advisor and nonprofit board member, she has helped secure multimillions in public and private funding, cultivated lasting partnerships, and guided teams through complex organizational change.

What sets Angela apart is her ability to align resources with mission. Whether stepping in as a contract interim executive director, providing part-time or project-based nonprofit consulting, or developing a major gifts strategy, she aims to leave organizations stronger, more resilient, and better positioned for their next chapter.

Angela is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a graduate of the Interim Executives Academy, bringing adaptive, value-driven leadership to her consulting and advisory work. She credits her years as a high school teacher with shaping her skills as a communicator, mentor, and advocate for systemic change.

​Outside of work, Angela enjoys watercolor painting, urban hiking with her husband, and staying busy keeping up with her four daughters as they step into adulthood.

Caitlin is an impact-oriented, mission-driven leader and change agent with a decade of experience serving the nonprofit and public sector. Having served as an Executive Director, Interim Executive Director, Interim Development Director, and Board President for various organizations, Caitlin has guided teams through all organizational life cycle stages including startup, rapid growth, crisis, leadership transition, and transformation. Her expertise in board governance and development, budget creation and financial management, and community-centric fundraising have helped her lead successful strategic planning initiatives, build cross-sector partnerships, and drive cultural changes in the workplace.

Her leadership starts with intentional diplomatic coalition building. By creating inclusive, emotionally intelligent spaces, she works to empower her team members with the confidence and resources to make informed decisions and actively participate in organizational growth. Caitlin excels at managing competing priorities, building trust, distributing power, and diffusing conflict to align towards a common goal. She places emphasis on fostering an open-hearted team culture that encourages communication and compassion by holding space for the complexities of humanity and our shared experience.

Caitlin prioritizes disrupting and altering practices, structures, and politics that prevent inclusion and belonging. She has previously helped historically cis, het, white-led organizations move from performative cultural awareness and affirmations to operationalization of their values with day-to-day action. Her approach involves the questioning of routine procedures that demand urgency, perfection, individualism, and a bigger-is-better mentality in efforts to authentically return to an organizations’ prime directive.
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With a background of education in architecture, and layered experiences in design, the arts, and recreation, she brings a playful approach to tackling challenges. Caitlin’s life work centers around a desire for all people to live to the fullest measure of humanity, which drives her professional and volunteer work in urban arts, recreation, parks, and human services. She lives with her partner in Seattle and uses her free time to practice parkour and create art. Caitlin uses they/she pronouns.

Board Service

• Board President, Member, Associated Recreation Council. 2022 – Present
• Board President, Member, Friends of the Conservatory, 2022 – 2024
• Board President, Parkour Visions, 2021 – 2022
• Board President, Founding Member, United States Parkour Association, 2017 – 2021

Dr. Catherine Cushinberry, originally from Memphis, is a seasoned nonprofit executive working in the Seattle area with almost thirty years of experience in nonprofit within youth development, education, and social services. She has led nonprofits with budgets as large as $94M, served in roles as the CEO, National Executive Director, Executive Director, Director of Research, and other roles. Her experience and knowledge come from working across national, local, federated, and non-federated organizations. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia in Human Development and Family Studies in 2004. Her Master of Arts, from the University of Memphis, and Bachelor of Science from Murray State University, are in Organizational Communication.

She has served as the CEO of Hopelink in the Seattle area, Vice-President/Executive Director of City Year Memphis where she founded the site for the national office, National Executive Director of Parents for Public Schools, and Director of Research for the National Office of Girls Inc. where she created and led research and evaluation initiatives for the more than 80 affiliates in the U.S. and Canada. For four years she led as the Executive Director of a Boys and Girls Club in Tennessee. She has worked in other nonprofits such as Children’s Home Society of California in Los Angeles and for the Missouri State 4-H. Additionally, as a consultant, she worked with clients in the U.S. and the Philippines, where she lived for a year.

As a nonprofit advocate and independent consultant, she began consulting with Valtas to assist organizations using her experience in a variety of areas including executive coaching, board/staff retreats/trainings, development/fundraising, organizational culture and change management. She is also the founder of Nonprofit Is Business, a brand that advocates for the value and importance of nonprofits operating with business acumen to improve their services and advance their missions.

Chris brings over a decade of experience in the mission-driven sector, including his early experience as an Executive Director of a growing nonprofit in Ghana, West Africa. This pivotal experience helped shape both his educational and professional aspirations, eventually leading him to a career in executive recruiting and nonprofit consulting as well as board and volunteer service.

Chris comes with previous national nonprofit search experience as an Engagement Manager at Waldron, Senior Associate at NPAG, and as a search consultant to both nonprofits and client service organizations. His work includes engagements with Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity, Healthier Here, Childhaven, the Seattle Aquarium, Stanford Law School, Disability Rights CA, Landesa, LOR Foundation, Raikes Foundation, Treehouse, A Way Home WA, and the American Indian Graduate Center.
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Graduating from Brigham Young University, Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a Communications minor, and a master’s degree in Public Administration. There he oversaw a student-led consulting firm that advised family foundations and corporations on grantmaking and impact assessment. Chris now resides in Portland, OR with his husband and four-year-old daughter. In his free time, Chris enjoys photography, cooking, and exploring the Pacific Northwest’s beautiful wine country.

Christine has over 25 years of experience as a strategic business leader and has held a variety of senior leadership roles in organizations ranging from large public companies to early-stage start-ups and non-profits. Christine founded her consulting business, HR Strategies International in 2000, and after 18 years of independent consulting, was a founding partner at Valtas in 2018.

Christine consults with clients and serves as the practice manager for our Interim Executive and Projects work, supporting our team of 20+ consultants and helping ensure that our consultants and our clients receive all the support needed for the most effective engagements. She has served as an Interim Executive for eighteen organizations over the past fifteen years. She has led the development of a wide variety of strategic and business plans and has also led executive hiring efforts for clients across the country.

After a successful career as an executive leader in a number of technology and telecom ventures, Christine pivoted her business in 2008 to primarily support of best business practices in the non-profit sector. She brings a unique blend of extensive board service, education, training and coaching of nonprofit leaders. Christine’s passion for creating and developing leadership capacity in the nonprofit sector is evident across her client engagements.

Elizabeth Lunney is an accomplished business and community leader, with deep roots in the outdoors and conservation sectors, where she has helped build and expand the capacity of nonprofits around the country for more than 25 years. During her tenure as executive director at Washington Trails Association, she built a strong, statewide model of volunteerism and community engagement. She has since held multiple interim executive director positions with organizations such as The Mountaineers, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, and Earth Share of Washington.

Elizabeth facilitates collaborative leadership and approaches organizational transition as an opportunity for inquiry, discernment, and growth. She brings a solid portfolio of management and organizational development skills, including executive transition, human resources, budgeting, finance, and donor stewardship. Her practice begins with listening and focuses on conversations that illuminate new perspectives and help organizations identify their best path forward.
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Elizabeth serves in a variety of nonprofit board and advisory roles, including with Resource Media, the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust and Braided River Publishing. When she is not in the office or the boardroom, you will find her, happily, outdoors.

Erica is an accomplished executive, advisor, board member, and non-profit leader with a passion for helping mission-driven organizations reach the next level of growth and performance. Throughout her 25+ years of tenure in both non-profit and for-profit leadership roles, she has “walked the talk” and amassed a deep toolbox of best practices that she enjoys sharing with philanthropic leaders to help them operate at their peak potential.

To date, Erica’s background includes serving as the President at FIRST Washington, an innovative statewide (youth based) STEM advocacy organization, in addition to holding senior-level sales and partnership management positions for top private-sector technology organizations including Cisco, UiPath, and Impinj. What’s more, she served as a representative to the State of Washington STEM Innovation Alliance and volunteers as an advisory board member and mentor to a handful of additional nonprofits, startups and early-stage business incubator groups.

In terms of her consulting focus, Erica is passionate about advising non-profit leaders on effective management and fundraising concepts, as well as around how to build highly positive, functional relationships with boards, strategic partners, donors, governmental officials, and community stakeholder groups. She can serve in interim executive capacity, when needed, as well as lead the charge on recruiting board members and key leaders to address critical organizational talent gaps. An accomplished change agent, she also excels at helping leaders catalyze transformation within their organizations and create the buy-in, momentum, and organizational development structures needed to unlock next-level performance.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Erica enjoys spending time with family (including those that are four-legged), friends, cooking, reading and exploring this great state.

Jackson Cooper is a nationally recognized leader with over 15 years of experience advancing equity, innovation, and sustainability in the nonprofit sector, with experience being a Nonprofit Executive Director, Fundraiser, Nonprofit Consultant, and Nonprofit Board Advisor in full-time and consulting roles. His work spans nonprofit fundraising, executive leadership, and nonprofit board advisory services, having held leadership roles at the American Genre Film Archive, Mary’s Place Seattle, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the North Carolina Museum of Art, North Carolina Theatre, PlayMakers Repertory Company, and the Town of Cary.

Jackson’s approach to fundraising and executive leadership is rooted in the belief that strategic planning, philanthropy, and the power of giving can transform organizations and society. He’s led strategic planning processes, fundraising program development, team/operations management, corporate and government giving campaigns, and board management for nonprofits of various sizes across the arts/culture, social services, and higher education sectors. Equally comfortable bridging public/private sector support for nonprofits through government relations, Cooper represents Washington State’s 43rd District as a Washington State Arts Commissioner and has advised government and nonprofit leaders on policy and practices for greater community and stakeholder engagement.

He holds an MFA in Arts Leadership from Seattle University and created an interdisciplinary undergraduate Arts Administration degree while at UNC-Greensboro. He serves on the faculties of both universities, teaching fundraising, individual giving, and nonprofit leadership and has a forthcoming book on fundraising due out by Columbia Business School Publishing in 2026, co-authored with Hannah Grannemann. A practicing performing artist, he has produced over 150+ performing arts events including a filmed concert for PBS/UNCTV and enjoys running half-marathons, listening to Broadway musicals, cooking, and watching the latest horror movie.

Jamie is a trusted and visionary Nonprofit Consultant, Executive Director, and Board Advisor with over 15 years of leadership experience supporting mission-driven organizations through periods of transition, growth, and change. She specializes in reflective, values-driven guidance to strengthen governance and executive leadership; develop strategy and sustainability plans; and invest in healthy organizational culture.

Informed by her dual Masters in Public Health and Social Work, Jamie has held key leadership roles for organizations focused on health, mental health, chronic illness, peer recovery support, and early childhood and family services. She served as the Executive Director for ConnecT1D, creating social connection and support opportunities for children and adults living with Type 1 Diabetes. As the Executive Director of the Washington Association for Infant Mental Health, she led statewide workforce development advocacy, training, and systems building. Her consulting work at Nurtureways has expanded her reach to supporting leaders across diverse sectors and missions throughout the US to build clarity, strengthen operations, and ensure alignment between mission, strategy, and resources — always centering community voice, equity, and impact.

She enjoys life in the Pacific Northwest with her big, beautiful, blended family. In her free time, she can be found enjoying local theater, cheering on youth baseball, playing board games with friends, or exploring the outdoors.

Jane is an accomplished HR professional with experience in the for profit, nonprofit, and higher education sectors.

In her role as SVP, she was responsible for leading the Chamber’s Operations teams – ranging from HR, IT, Facilities, Finance, and Payroll – and implementing strategy that enables the Chamber and its affiliated organizations to recruit, train, support, and retain a high performing and motivated workforce. The role is critical for ensuring the ongoing health of the organization through strategic design and implementation of program and process improvements. Jane also oversees the management of relationships with affiliate organizations and shared services model, while providing support and assistance to the many CEOs leading those affiliate organizations.

Jane’s experience includes working with leadership teams to define and implement training, recruiting, compensation performance management, employee engagement, compliance, workers compensation, benefits and more. She is interested in how generational and societal shifts are introducing new dynamics, challenges, and opportunities for employers and employees.

Julie is a highly experienced and strategic leader with over 30 years of experience in the public and non-profit sectors, driven by an unwavering commitment to creating positive community impact. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated an exceptional ability to integrate business services with broader organizational strategies, ensuring that operational efficiency aligns seamlessly with programmatic goals and mission-driven outcomes.

In her most recent role as Chief Operations Officer (COO) and Director of Human Resources at Compass Housing Alliance (nonprofit), one of Seattle’s largest providers of homelessness services and affordable housing, Julie played a pivotal role in guiding the organization through both the COVID-19 pandemic and a challenging labor market. Her leadership was instrumental in stabilizing Compass Housing financially post-pandemic and facilitating a successful staff transition during a critical affiliation process.

Julie is known for her focus on organizational growth and innovation. She excels in designing and implementing streamlined internal systems and processes that enhance both efficiency and effectiveness, while providing strategic leadership for new service initiatives and program development. Her collaborative and inclusive leadership style fosters a culture of learning, creativity, and calculated risk-taking, empowering teams to exceed expectations and achieve ambitious organizational goals.

Julie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Puget Sound. Outside of her professional life, Julie enjoys exploring Seattle’s vibrant art scene, spending time outdoors, and embracing the restorative practice of “forest bathing,” which she finds to be both relaxing and rejuvenating.

Julie’s career is a testament to her dedication to strengthening communities through thoughtful leadership and innovative solutions, and she remains deeply passionate about creating lasting, positive change in the lives of those she serves.

Kate’s career has spanned three decades of work as an executive, consultant, and board member to nonprofit organizations. She is committed to building powerful organizations that can serve their communities and meet their missions through engaged employees and rigorous impact tracking.

Since moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2003, Kate has worked in international development nonprofits as a CEO (Executive Director), COO, and Chief Development Officer. She is a fierce believer that global poverty is not inevitable, and that market forces and individual resolve are some of the sharpest tools available to us in that fight. She has led organizations during periods of dramatic growth, building both systems and organizational cultures to propel them to new levels.

Along with her commitment to ending global poverty, she is also passionate about creating equal opportunities for all in the US. She has consulted with nonprofit organizations expanding educational access and funders looking for leverage points in the education ecosystem. Her first love in the nonprofit sector was the arts and she remains an avid theatre goer and supporter.

She is a frequent speaker on social entrepreneurship and the intersection of markets and mission at business schools and conferences. Kate holds a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA Anderson where she focused on nonprofit management and organizational behavior.

Outside of work, Kate is a huge tennis fan (watching more than playing) and has so far managed to attend three of the four tennis Grand Slams (Wimbledon, US Open, and Australian Open).

Koua Franz was part of the Hmong refugees that resettled in the United States in the early 1980s and learned firsthand about the inequities that exist in education, economic, and community support systems. She knew early on that she wanted to solve those problems (for the better part of her childhood, which meant wanting to be an FBI agent). As an adult, she found leverage in collaborating with leaders to help bring the best out of their teams and scale their impact in solving these complex societal challenges.

A champion of equity and access for underserved children and communities, Koua has worn many hats during her career. She started off in the field of social science as a senior researcher studying social determinants of health, later becoming an Executive Director for the Hmong community in California, where she helped organize and facilitate coalitions toward improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged communities. She was the previous Chief of Staff and Chief Family and Community Engagement Officer at one of California’s top 10 largest urban school districts and a previous Chief Strategy Officer for a global educational tech non-profit.

With two decades of executive experience, she has been instrumental in nurturing passionate leaders, achieving operational excellence, piloting new emerging technologies, and building inclusive organizational cultures that support and retain exceptionally talented, diverse individuals. Koua’s expertise in executive management and operations has led her to become a highly sought after consultant, advisor for boards, and executive leader by organizations interested in transformative growth.

Koua holds a master’s in public administration with an emphasis in finance from National University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in business management from the University of the Pacific. Her academic foundation complements her professional experience, equipping her with a strong analytical and financial lens to drive strategic, mission-aligned decisions in complex organizational settings. Committed to lifelong learning, Koua actively refines her expertise by participating in executive leadership programs and engaging with industry leaders to stay at the forefront of emerging trends and best practices. She embraces a growth mindset, continuously seeking opportunities to sharpen her critical thinking and leadership skills, ensuring she remains adaptable and innovative in an ever-evolving professional landscape.

Koua currently resides in Redmond, Washington with her three daughters and two cats (Journey and Captain Tiger).

Lainey’s passion lies in collaborating with teams and organizations to get the right things done! She began her career at Seattle Children’s driving change in healthcare, while pursuing her graduate degree at UW’s Evans school. That early experience working on a hospital transformation captivated her, and she fondly remembers the team environment and how some leaders can cultivate thriving and efficient teams by embracing a culture of belonging. It was back then that she realized that only by recognizing the unique strengths that everyone brings will organizations truly thrive in the modern world.

Lainey joined ECG after graduating from University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, for a few years, and learned about healthcare technology, and improving medical records quality as a result, then on to Point B from there.

Point B gave Lainey a variety of opportunities to branch out from healthcare technology, starting with Lean Operations and Process Improvement, which led to her becoming a Certified Lean Professional.
She led larger and larger programs and teams with more significant clients, culminating in leading Business Readiness and a crisis management effort for a 40,000 user Order Entry system implementation at UW Medicine and Harborview Medical Center.

After 25 years as a Management Consultant, leading numerous programs across different organizations, Lainey decided to bring her extensive experience driving change through processes, technology, and people to support non-profits and community-based organizations.

​She joined the board of Plymouth Housing, a non-Profit organization focused on the development and operation of Permanent Supportive Housing. She quickly joined the executive committee, becoming chair of the board of trustees for two years from 2022-2023 during a critical time for growth and transition with a CEO change and post Covid. While Lainey is no longer board chair, she will remain a Plymouth Trustee through 2028.

​Lainey has a BA from the University of California Berkeley and an MPA from the University of Washington.

Laura has served the Seattle nonprofit sector for the past 15 years, including as a full-time employee, a consultant, and a board member. Since 2019, Laura has primarily served in interim leadership roles – for organizations working on diverse issues, including homelessness, food security and access, commercial sexual exploitation, senior independence, and more. Laura has deep experience in leading organizations through transition and in recovering from financial difficulties. In addition, Laura is a gifted manager of people and actively encourages her staff’s growth and development.

Prior to her work with Valtas, Laura proudly served as the Executive Director of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility for five years, leading the organization through a substantial reinvigoration. She helped rebuild the organization’s membership base, refocus programs, establish dozens of partnerships, and attract significant new financial support – more than doubling revenue over a 5-year period. As a result, the organization started its fifth decade on strong footing to meet its mission of abolishing nuclear weapons and stopping climate change. In her role as Executive Director, Laura was responsible for all aspects of the organization, including fundraising, staff management, and strategic planning.

Laura also served as a Program Director for two national education-focused nonprofit organizations. At Alexander Hamilton Scholars, Laura was responsible for all seven of the organization’s programs, directly supporting hundreds of high-achieving, low-income youth in realizing their full potential. At Facing the Future, Laura authored over twenty published curriculum resources, including one of the nation’s first climate change resources for classroom teachers, as well as the nation’s first comprehensive sustainability textbook for high school students. She supported thousands of teachers across the US and abroad in implementing that curriculum. Laura’s career began as a science teacher, where she applied her passion for environmental sustainability.

Laura holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in ecology. She also holds a certificate from the Interim Executives Academy, a program of Third Sector Company.

With over 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Lisa has been privileged to work in the youth development, P-26 education, and social service practice areas. She’s been drawn to areas of concern for low income, BIPOC, and other underserved communities. Through the lens of collective impact, each of Lisa’s roles as an ED and CEO have focused on bringing many communities together with needed resources. She strongly believes that people are uplifted, and communities thrive when our services center the needs of those who are most in need. Lisa actively engages in volunteering through board service and has served with gratitude and humility on the boards of Bellevue College, United Way of King County, Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and Social Venture Partners Seattle.

As a senior executive coach and strategic advisor, Lisa’s key areas of focus include executive leadership development, change management, organizational transformation, social impact, and corporate governance—with an emphasis on applying strengths-based models to help senior leaders (particularly women leaders and BIPOC executives) grow, develop, and excel in their roles. She is able to provide critical insights into leadership gaps and blind spots, as well as guide leaders in enhancing their executive presence, decision-making, emotional intelligence, and multi-cultural team leadership capabilities.

Lisa sees each day as an opportunity to bring joy and invest in our local communities. Lisa hopes that her work in the nonprofit sector sends positive ripples into the world. When not serving her local communities, Lisa loves to scratch cook and bake, as well as read with three different book clubs.

Liz is a nonprofit professional, consultant, leader, and educator who has been serving and advancing mission-driven organizations for over 30 years. Her experiences as an Executive Director, Interim Executive Director, Development Director, Board President, and Non-Profit Consultant at a wide range of nonprofits has given her a unique perspective of the ins and outs of organizations and the challenges nonprofit leaders face.

Liz is passionate about all things nonprofit and helping organizations achieve their goals towards long-term success. Being optimistic, inquisitive, and trustworthy are part of her DNA. With business know-how, integrity, a steady style, and sensing ability, Liz takes a highly collaborative approach in partnering to help guide organizational development and build leadership capacity during times of change, transition, and growth.

Liz has been actively engaged in the community since moving to the Pacific Northwest with her family in 2000. She enjoys reading historical fiction and non-fiction, hiking and exploring our beautiful corner of the world, and enjoying good food, wine, and conversation with family and friends (as well as exercising so she can continue to enjoy good food and wine!).

Madelaine is a nonprofit leader with 30 years of experience leading advancement programs where she created and implemented comprehensive resource development, marketing, and communications plans. Her areas of expertise include major gifts, annual campaigns, corporate and foundation support, planned giving, donor and funder communications, marketing, event planning and implementation, staff capacity building, board development and support, and donor database oversight. Madelaine is committed to promoting practices that value diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, grounded in respect and appreciation for diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Madelaine has motivated and guided high-performing teams to achieve strategic and sustainability goals while supporting their growth as professionals. Madelaine enjoys collaborating with boards and organization leaders to create and connect strategic plans with advancement programs that will ensure continued growth and sustainability for the benefit of the communities they serve.

In 2022, Madelaine launched her consulting practice. Projects have included interim development leadership, development assessment, annual/multi-year planning, staff hiring, onboarding, and coaching, board fundraising training, campaign management, and event planning and execution. She resides in north Seattle with her furry family and regularly stays in touch with her large and geographically far-flung human family.

Mari Offenbecher has spent over 35 years as a non-profit leader as CEO, Interim Executive Director, and Board Member. She has served as a leader advancing quality, equity, and innovation in non-profit programs across Washington state. Mari has led efforts to build local, statewide, and national coalitions and initiatives that impact systems change for children and youth. She has dedicated her career to bringing educational opportunities and critical developmental support to children and youth, particularly those who are furthest from opportunity. Mari has guided organizations through assessment and capacity building to improve internal and external anti-racist policies and practices, and has deep experience supporting organizations through change, growth, and transformation. She has served as a board member of a statewide and national organization and currently serves on the Board of a local non-profit.

Mari holds a bachelor’s degree in child development from California State University Sacramento and has conducted research on advanced child development systems at University of California Berkeley and Edinburgh University.

After a successful career as an attorney at one of Seattle’s largest law firms, Mary began working in nonprofit leadership in 2010. Since then, she has served as an interim or permanent Executive Director at both large and small nonprofits. She has expertise in assisting organizations that are dealing with difficult leadership transitions or financial instability.

Most recently, Mary was the Interim Executive Director at The Arc of King County, a leader in disability services. While there, she oversaw construction of a new facility for the organization, combining disability housing, community gathering spaces and The Arc’s main office. Before that, she was the Executive Director of Compass Housing Alliance, one of the largest providers of homelessness services and affordable housing in Seattle. At Compass, she led the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, creating new protocols and procedures that minimized risk for the organization, its staff, and the people it serves. She also led a transformation in Compass’s fundraising and business practices that helped create more financial stability and opened new programs to expand the organization’s geographic and programmatic reach.

Mary takes particular interest in mentoring young leaders and supporting cultural change to create inclusive organizations. She has experience in strategic planning, fundraising, board development, finance, program design, and human resources and often relies on her legal training to identify areas of risk and opportunity for the organizations she advises.

Merica Whitehall brings over 25 years of experience empowering teams, strengthening organizational operations, improving financial performance, planning infrastructure reinvestment, and planning and implementing long-term strategy. Merica is an experienced consultant whose clients include ArtsWA, STG’s Paramount Theater, Seattle Center Festal Cultural Festival Series, the Seattle Community Law Center, the Seattle Police Department, and SouthEast Effective Development.
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Most recently Merica has served on engagements with YouthCare and Hugo House as interim COO/CEO. She also previously served as the Executive Director of Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue, Nebraska. While at the helm of Fontenelle Forest, spearheaded the creation of a 20-year master plan and completed development of new revenue streams, capital projects, and acquisitions including the $1.6M Treerush Adventures aerial park and the 37-acre Camp Wa-kon-da overnight campground. Prior to leading Fontenelle Forest, Merica served as Executive Director of the Nature Consortium in West Seattle. There she led a team that engaged over 3000 volunteers annually in the Green Seattle Partnership and dramatically strengthened the organization’s financial profitability before negotiating for DNDA’s acquisition of Nature Consortium.

Merica earned an Executive Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University where she taught frameworks for community engagement as a faculty member following completion of her degree. While serving at Seattle University she also led the Treehouse Tutoring Corps providing year-round academic support and mentorship to youth living in foster care. As an executive director she has championed the integration of DEIJ into organizational values, culture, planning, and operations. And as a volunteer she serves as a member of the Association of Nature Center Administrators DEI Committee to advance DEI nationally.

Peter began his career as an educator and foundation program officer focused on access to quality education for students from low-income, working families and empowering them to advocate for systemic change.

From there he jumped to the front line of advocacy. After several years as founder and holding board roles, Peter became Executive Director of the Latino Community Fund of Washington (LCF) & Progreso: Latino Progress. While at LCF he increased resources to enhance community leadership, build capacity of non-profit organizations, and advocate systems change to improve the well-being of Latine residents across the state. As head of Progreso, he coordinated with LCF to increase Latine voter registration and civic participation and engaged Latine community voices to lobby for racially equitable policies at the state and local levels. His leadership with LCF and Progreso was honored when he received the American Society of Public Administration northwest chapter’s Billy Frank, Jr. Award for Race and Social Justice in 2017.

To round out his experience and impact in the community, Peter moved to the public sector to focus on economic equity and justice by supporting neighborhood business districts in BIPOC communities to improve safety, placemaking, and community building events.

Peter is passionate about advancing racial equity and addressing climate change through movement building of BIPOC communities for systemic change. He is also dedicated to moving the nonprofit sector to improve their internal organizational cultures to match the values of their mission and become authentically anti-racist.

He serves on the Seattle Foundation Community Programs board committee, the board of Evergreen Social Impact, and as treasurer of Sustainable Seattle. He co-hosts a podcast Adelante Leadership to encourage more Latinx/e people to step into leadership roles. And he provides consulting services to support BIPOC nonprofits.

Rick began his career in Southern California in personal lines insurance sales before being promoted to agency marketing director. He then joined a start-up sports management company in Newport Beach where he procured athletes and promoted events before being invited to turn around a struggling business forms manufacturer in San Diego. His team set profitability standards with KPI’s including time, quality and materials and was promoted to corporate headquarters in Southern Oregon where he grew two regional facilities as a division general manager with multiple product lines, $11M budget and 95 employees.

Rick was asked to jumpstart enrollment and re-establish intercollegiate athletics as the director of admissions and assistant director of athletics for a private, Portland-based, liberal arts college. When provided an opportunity to jump on the tech bubble for a product launch, he returned to Orange County as a marketing consultant. He was then requested to fill an opening as an NCAA D-1 assistant basketball coach which took him to the Bay Area.

Returning to the Pacific Northwest, Rick created the department of marketing and communications as an executive director for a private, liberal arts university. His institutional rebranding efforts bolstered admissions and development results while his MarCom team garnered unprecedented regional and national recognition from CASE, et al. As an adjunct faculty member for the school of business, Rick taught undergraduate and graduate courses in marketing, strategy, leadership and managerial communications. He then commuted back to Newport Coast as the director of enrollment and marketing for a NAIS high school before starting his Oregon-based consultancy.

For over a decade, Rick has applied his success in both corporate and nonprofit arenas providing fractional and interim executive leadership services, transforming organizations and advising boards. Featured clients include the University of Oregon (twice), the City of Hillsboro, the Atlantic Street Center in Seattle, and the End Brain Cancer Initiative in Redmond. Additionally, he was retained as the managing principal of OneAccord Nonprofit in Kirkland where he grew revenue, expanded services and diversified segments.

With over 20 clients served, Rick has successfully merged a K-8 and high school to form a stronger, singular K-12 enterprise in Tacoma. While there, he renovated, rebranded and restored a failing 60-year-old K-12 school, providing operational leadership and board guidance to remain open through the pandemic. In Rose City, he has provided organizational assessment and comprehensive strategic plans for higher education institutions, along with establishing the Portland Referral Partner Network, a group of community-minded business leaders and cause-related nonprofit executives.

A former collegiate basketball scholar-athlete, Rick went on to play competitive beach volleyball and USTA tennis. He has bicycled across the country from Los Angeles to New York, and from Canada to Mexico down the Pacific Coast Highway. Participating in two Hood-to-Coast relays, he also completed the Los Angeles and Portland marathons in under four hours each. As a former athlete, Rick brings a strategic mindset to every engagement and values teamwork in accomplishing individual and collective goals.

Rick earned degrees in behavioral (B.A.) and social (M.A.) sciences. He resides in Vancouver, WA, with his wife, a career high school English teacher, their daughter, and Duck Tolling Retriever. They enjoy boating on the Columbia River, the performing arts, and having long conversations with friends and family over good food and wine.

Sharonne Navas is a nationally recognized nonprofit executive, racial equity advocate, and coalition-builder with more than 30 years of experience driving systemic change in education and public policy.

A trusted leader across government, philanthropy, and community organizations, she is known for building durable partnerships, scaling organizations, and advancing equity-focused strategies that deliver measurable impact.

Sharonne is the Co-Founder of the Equity in Education Coalition (EEC), Washington State’s only statewide public policy and advocacy organization focused on advancing racial equity in education. Under her leadership, the Coalition grew from a 10-person collective to a multimillion-dollar, statewide powerhouse, engaging over 150 organizations, 50 state agencies, and 40,000 parents and students. She has successfully shaped and passed 15 omnibus education equity bills in the Washington State Legislature, helping secure over $900 million in public investment for historically underserved students.

Her leadership extends into governance and philanthropy. She serves as a gubernatorial appointee on the Green River College Board of Trustees, providing fiduciary oversight, presidential selection, and strategic guidance for the institution. She has also served on multiple boards and commissions, including the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs, advising governors and legislators on policies impacting the Latinx community.

Sharonne’s personal and professional journey reflects her deep commitment to equity. A proud Latina who has lived in Central America, she brings cultural fluency, lived experience, and unwavering dedication to uplifting marginalized communities. She attended St. John’s University and pursued a dual degree in Psychology and Sociology and completed executive training with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. She also attained a Certificate in Education Finance from Georgetown University and earned an Executive Certificate in Education and Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Stephanie is a visionary leader with over 30 years of diverse experience in a wide range of organizational roles, from non-profit organizations and board memberships to large media and public companies, as well as early-stage startups. With a proven history of driving successful transformations in both large and small organizations, Stephanie has been a guiding force through numerous organizational and systemic changes.

Her career encompasses roles as a nonprofit Executive Director, Operations Officer, and Development Officer, and she has consistently excelled in advancing internal operational systems, enhancing partner and stakeholder development and engagement, amplifying development and fundraising efforts, and aligning advocacy and policies to advance equity and community well-being at local, county, and state-wide levels, particularly in support of children, youth, and young adults.

Stephanie excels in devising effective strategies for organizational growth and integration, including creative approaches to revenue generation. Stephanie is not just a partner, but a dynamic force who combines unwavering dedication with strategic insight, action-oriented thinking, and a resilient spirit. What truly sets Stephanie apart is her unyielding passion for harnessing the collective power of individuals to create transformative and equitable outcomes. She embodies values such as honesty, empathy, integrity, openness, and a healthy dose of humor in all her endeavors.

Part of a military family growing up, Stephanie has been to every state in the United States, continues to be a world traveler, and loves the Pacific Northwest where she currently lives. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University. She loves to cook, is revitalized through hiking and being outdoors, is inspired by her family, and destresses daily by rubbing her black lab’s super-soft ears.

Stephen advises boards, CEOs, and executive directors on every aspect of nonprofit governance and operations, including entity formation; board development and evolution; performance assessments; leadership transitions; strategic planning; the creation, use, management, and dissolution of advisory boards; and the effective integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion into governance practices and organizational culture.

An attorney who began his career as a judge advocate and defense lawyer in the U.S. Navy, Stephen is currently a partner at Cascadia Law Group, where he focuses his practice on environmental litigation. He received his B.A. in biology and environmental science from the University of Virginia and his J.D. from the University of Colorado.

Board Experience:

• Board of Directors, Pacific Public Media (KNKX-FM), 2016 – present; (Chair, 2016 – 2019)
• Board of Directors, Audubon Action Fund (501(c)(4)), 2018 – 2023
• Board of Directors, National Audubon Society, 2014 – 2023; (Vice Chair, 2021 – 2023)
• Board of Directors, Braided River, 2014 – 2020; President, 2016 – 2018
• Board of Trustees, PCC Community Markets, 2006 – 2015, 2017 – 2020; (Chair, 2008 – 2010)
• Advisory Board, Cascade Public Media (KCTS 9 Public Television), 2013 – 2017
• Board of Directors, Washington Trails Association, 2008 – 2017; (President, 2014 – 2016)
• Advisory Council, KPLU-FM, 2013 – 2016; (Chair, 2013 – 2016)
• Board of Directors, Salish Sea Expeditions, 2000 – 2005; (President, 2001 – 2004)
• Board of Trustees, Academy of Music Northwest, 1997 – 2001

Sue is a collaborative leader with over 35 years of experience working across diverse sectors, geographies, and demographics. She excels in ensuring diverse perspectives are considered, fostering environments of inclusion and belonging, and solving complex challenges with multiple viewpoints. Her expertise includes strategic planning, board and staff development, nonprofit management, and advancing equity. As a nonprofit Executive Director, Board Member, and Consultant, Sue has successfully led initiatives that strengthened organizational capacity, established strategic direction, empowered board and staff, and embraced change for nonprofit and public agencies.

As the former Executive Director of Leadership Tomorrow, Sue led efforts to educate, inspire, and connect cross-sector leaders for collective impact. She grew the organization’s budget by 60%, expanded staff by 25%, and doubled alumni programming, participation, and donations. Under her leadership, the organization secured its largest grant in history and implemented robust racial equity values and operational policies. Additionally, Sue has designed and delivered engaging learning programs for over eight hundred grant makers in six Pacific Northwest states and created strategies to enhance civic engagement for thousands of alumni and program participants.

Sue is deeply committed to community service and is an active board member and volunteer. Her roles include serving on the boards of the Washington Women’s Foundation, the National Community Leadership Collaborative, and the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. She has also been a mentor with Year Up and contributed to educational and nonprofit initiatives. A Stanford University graduate and Leadership Tomorrow alum, Sue believes in the power of collective action to build a healthier, more equitable community for all.

Susan Trabucchi is a creative, collaborative, and results-driven leader who has dedicated 30+ years to creating lasting, transformative change in communities across the U.S. and around the globe. She has a proven record of success in consulting with nonprofits and boards, running foundation grantmaking programs, building successful coalitions and alliances, and creating large-scale, mission-driven marketing and media campaigns.

Susan’s success is thanks, in no small part, to her deep understanding of the essential role of nonprofits in our communal and civic life. She has contributed to mission-driven organizations – large and small – on nearly every level: board member, executive director, senior staff leader, consultant, volunteer, donor, and grant-maker. Her work has spanned the fields of policymaking, higher education, public service media, philanthropy, and community building.

Prior to her consulting work, Susan helped create and grow an innovative blend of communications and programming for the Fetzer Institute, a private foundation in Kalamazoo, Michigan. At Fetzer, she managed a portfolio of $15 million in investments and built partnerships with public radio’s StoryCorps, PBS’s Frontline, and media leader TED. Susan honed her communication and storytelling skills alongside some of the nation’s finest journalists and filmmakers for PBS’ The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and the award-winning PBS history series, American Experience.

In higher education, Susan managed fundraising programs for Georgetown University, Macalester College, and the Minnesota Private College Fund. She began her career working for the U.S. House of Representatives, where she served as a legislative assistant to Congressman Judd Gregg.

Susan is well versed in best practices in nonprofit governance and management, and she also knows that one size doesn’t fit all. She begins her work with every client with a deep dive – listening, observing, researching, asking questions, and understanding what is working and where there might be opportunities for change. Susan has a knack for building authentic, trustworthy relationships with clients and stakeholders, fostering collaboration across historic divides, and creating connections and community through small groups, storytelling, and retreats.

Prior to her arrival in the Seattle/Puget Sound area, Susan was based in southwest Michigan where she provided counsel to a variety of national and local clients. She also took on a 24-month assignment as Interim Executive Director for We Care Inc, a nonprofit serving more than 900 families living in poverty in rural Michigan. While there, she helped the board assess and prepare the organization for its next leader. It was that work that led to her interest in helping nonprofit boards during leadership transitions – and to Valtas.
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Susan received her B.A. in political science from Mount Holyoke College, and a M.A.L.S. in American Studies at Georgetown University.

Boards & Professional Affiliations
Member, The Communications Network | 2011-present
Board of Trustees, South Haven Public Library | 2015-2018
Board of Directors, South Haven Community Foundation | 2013-104
Board of Directors, Grantmakers in Film and Media | 2008-2010
Michigan Council on Foundations, Communications Committee | 2008-2010

Tonya M. Peck brings over 30 years of leadership experience guiding mission-driven organizations through growth, transition, and transformation. Her career spans design, technology, consulting, and nonprofit sectors, with a consistent focus on building high-performing, equity-centered teams and strengthening leadership at every level.

Tonya’s nonprofit leadership includes serving as Executive Director of Dress for Success Seattle, where she transformed a 20-year-old suiting boutique into a modern, cloud-based workforce development agency. Under her leadership, the organization doubled its service capacity, launched multilingual digital equity programs, and exited the pandemic financially strong without closing or furloughing staff. She later joined Dress for Success Worldwide to lead the strategic spin-out of its New York and Chicago affiliates into independent, sustainable entities.

As a seasoned Interim Executive, she applies a systems-focused approach to strengthen governance, build leadership capacity, and drive operational excellence during pivotal transitions. Leading with vision and heart, she helps mission-driven organizations navigate change through her expertise in organizational development, board governance, and strategic planning.

Tonya holds a Master’s in Applied Behavioral Science and multiple certifications in board governance, interim executive leadership, and organizational performance. She also serves as Board Chair of Seattle Girls’ School, where she champions equity and empowerment for girls and gender-expansive youth.

Tonya’s work is grounded in service, inclusion, and a belief that thoughtful leadership can transform organizations and the communities they serve.