Executive Director Reflections

Dear LT Community:

September was a busy month at Leadership Tomorrow! We kicked off the LT’25 program year, welcomed two new board members, and hosted three incredible alumni events.

The LT’25 class started the year strong at the Fall Retreat, where they built community and fostered a sense of belonging. They set norms and explored collective leadership as an approach for building healthy communities.

We welcomed Dean Allsopp, LT’24 and Nykeesha Griffin, LT’20 to the LT Board of Directors. Both bring critical expertise and a passion for our mission of educating, inspiring, connecting, and catalyzing cross-sector leaders for collective impact.

It was wonderful to connect with dozens of alumni at our September events. Be sure to read below for highlights and reflections. We hope to see you on October 30 at Meet Your LT Neighbor!

Thank you for being a vital part of our community. Together, we can continue to make our region a place where everyone thrives.

In community,

Bindiya Patel, Executive Director

P.S. Know someone who should apply for LT's next cohort? Nominate them here! It's never too early to start thinking about recruitment!

We partnered with LT alumni to plan three unique events, bringing together nearly 100 alumni to explore important issues and build meaningful connections.

At the AIDS Memorial Pathway Artwalk, Lonnie Lusardo, LT’90 guided alumni on a special tour of the AMP, where public art creates a place for remembrance and reflection.

Women in Politics: Matinee Show at ACT Theatre + Panel Discussion featured local women in politics, including Sarah Clark, LT’24, Monisha Harrell, LT’11, Stephanie Pure, LT’11, Edna Shim, LT’94, and Janice Zahn, LT’17.

Special thanks to Shana Bestock, LT’21 from ACT Theatre who made this event possible. When asked about LT’s role in building thriving communities, she replied: “This event demonstrated the power of cross-sector collaboration. Forging relationships and identifying common priorities across sectors create smoother runways for future conversations. One of our collective challenges is the feeling of not having enough capacity. LT addresses this by building capacity—not only through individual knowledge but also through shared action and possibility.”

The BIPOC Leader Happy Hour Mixer was filled with connection, celebration, and fun. Special thanks to Vivian Phillips, LT’93 for hosting the event at ARTE NOIRE and Jamila Conley, LT’16 for providing the delicious WeRise Wines. Many thanks to Maria McDaniel, LT’14 and Michael Martin, LT’17 for your leadership in helping this event come to life!

Connect with the LT alumni who live or work in your neighborhood on October 30 at Meet Your LT Neighbor! It’s free to register, but you need to pay for your own food and drinks. If your neighborhood isn’t on our list and you would like to host a gathering, email Erica. We will confirm the gathering place for each meet-up in the next week.

Ballard, hosted by Bindiya Patel, LT's Executive Director
Bellevue, hosted by Dylan Rhoads, LT'20
Columbia City, hosted by Ben Spicer, LT'24
Kent, hosted by Shirlene Evans, LT'21
Mercer Island, hosted by Kimberly Frank, LT'22
Shoreline, hosted by Josh Walker, LT'18
Tacoma, hosted by Angela Compton, LT'21

Nonprofit Board Opportunities

Serving on a nonprofit board is an excellent opportunity to champion the causes you care about, build your leadership skills, and create lasting impact in our region. The organizations below are seeking leaders to join their boards of directors. Click on the organization's name to learn more. If your nonprofit would like to be featured in future newsletters, please complete this short form.

Alumni Community Updates: Grapevine

Discover how LT alumni are advancing in their careers and partnering to build a more resilient and equitable Puget Sound region. If you have an update to share, email Megan.

LT'85: Senior Circuit Judge M. Margaret McKeown of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the

9th Circuit will receive the prestigious 2024 American Inns of Court Lewis F. Powell Jr. Award for Professionalism and Ethics. Learn more here.

LT'91: John Schoettler received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Puget Sound Business Journal's CRE Leadership Awards ceremony on September 19. He will retire at the end of 2024 and will be succeeded by Shannon Loew, LT'17. Learn more here.

LT'01: Steve Dubiel joined Washington's National Park Fund as its Chief Executive Officer.

LT'10: Ben Nimmergut was promoted to Vice President, Functional Chief Engineer of Production and Industrial Engineering at Boeing.

LT'12: Jen Martin recently released her new book The Creative Way Forward: A Guide for Navigating Change in Work and Life.

LT'12: Myranda Miller was promoted to Principal Engineer at King County Information Technology.

LT'12: Brady Walkinshaw started a new position as Publisher and Founder at Noisy Creek.

LT'15: Amanda Koster started a new position at Sinelec USA as a UI Developer.

LT'18: Kelly Ciotti was promoted to Senior Vice President at CCS Fundraising.

LT'19: Jeremy Ross was promoted to Director and Associate General Counsel, WW Aviation at Amazon.

LT'19: Ann Marie Summerhill started a new role as Director, Organizational Development at Tyler Technologies.

LT'20: Andrea Anderson was selected for the Puget Sound Business Journal 2024 Women of Influence Awards. Learn more here.

LT'23: Jay ONeal started a new role as Senior District Manager at Atlas Disposal Industries.

LT'23: Saba Rahman joined Greenprint Partners as Assistant Program Manager/ Sustainability Specialist.

LT'23: Alexandra Zelle Rettman started a new position as Director of Institutional Advancement at Northwest Yeshiva High School.

LT'24: Megan Stanley's team at King County partnered with Minority Veterans of America to open the nation's first transitional housing for LGBTQ+ veterans. Learn more here.

LT'24: Kaela Worrall joined the Data & Research Fellowship Program at Community Center for Education Results (CCER).

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