From the Director: Sue Bennett, LT'94
Dear LT Family:

On June 23, the Leadership Tomorrow Class of 2021 was celebrated at their graduation, joined by hundreds of leaders and alumni from around the region and country. The LT'21 cohort is the first class in LT history to meet entirely virtually. None of us knew whether LT’s goals of building community, belonging, and trusted relationships could translate into an online environment. This class exceeded all expectations and leaned into the work in the midst of a pandemic, economic uncertainty, racial reckoning, and disruption in every aspect of our lives. I hope you will watch or (re)watch the video below and listen to the passion, wisdom, and possibilities presented by the class and keynote speakers.

Graduation was followed by an Alumni Reunion. It was gratifying to spend time with leaders who have a deep understanding of the issues that shape our region, use their voice and position to advocate for positive systemic change, and are effectively engaged in and with the community. Even in this time of physical distancing, we have a community of leaders working for change. 

No one knows where our region will be five years from now, much less than one year from now, but what I do know is that we need to access our imagination in how we live in relation to each other. Leadership is not about position or title. It is an action, a verb. It is about taking responsibility to see those around us rise. We all do better when we all do better. Thank you for being a part of this community and working together to move us toward a healthier, more equitable, and just region for all.
LT'21 Graduation and Alumni Reunion Highlights
We recently celebrated the LT Class of 2021 and welcomed them into our alumni community at the LT’21 Graduation and Alumni Reunion. Please join us in congratulating this incredible group of leaders and welcoming them to our 38-year-old family of nearly 2,400 alumni.
This year, for the first time, we commissioned an artist to create an image for the class that represents their leadership journey. The talented artist, Kimisha Turner, created the image on the mug that Sue is holding in the picture to the right, which symbolizes the love and encouragement necessary to leaders everywhere. This special limited-edition mug was a gift to this year's class. Many thanks to Deborah Streeter, LT'09, for leading this effort.

Graduation Resources:

  • Event Recording: Watch (or watch it again for inspiration) the full recording of the graduation program.

  • LT'21 Class Video: Watch this short (5-minute) video to hear reflections from class members about how the program impacted their leadership.


  • LT'21 Graduation and Alumni Playlist: Many thanks to Reese Tanimura, LT'21, Jenefeness Tucker, Honorary LT, and Keiko Chu-Yamada, LT's Operations Manager, for putting together this inspirational playlist featuring BIPOC artists.

  • Event Program: Learn about the class's nonprofit projects, their reflections from the year, and read the bio of the keynote speaker, Sean Goode, Executive Director of CHOOSE 180.
LT Alumni Database Connections:
Trey Chenier, LT'20, and Eric Pettigrew, LT'93
Photo: Trey Chenier, LT'20, Perkins Coie
Photo: Eric Pettigrew, LT'93, NHL Seattle
Trey Chenier, LT’20, an associate at Perkins Coie, is helping lead the Black Boardroom Initiative—a corporate-sponsored effort to increase Black representation on public and high-impact private boards in Washington. Prior to the program’s launch, Trey reached out to LT for potential alumni candidates for the initiative’s first cohort. Using information in the LT Alumni Database, LT worked with Trey to identify executives with backgrounds matching the Black Boardroom Initiative’s selection criteria. One of those leaders was Eric Pettigrew, LT’93 and VP of Governmental Affairs and Outreach with NHL Seattle. Eric was also nominated for the program by members of the community and was selected to participate in the inaugural cohort of the Black Boardroom Initiative.
 
“We are thrilled Eric will be bringing his two decades of civic leadership to our cohort. His many years in the state legislature and his various senior management roles give him the background to be a strong public company director."
-Trey Chenier, LT'20, Perkins Coie

If you want to be found for opportunities like this, make sure to complete your profile in the LT Alumni Database! If you haven't already, complete your profile in the LT Alumni Database using the instructions HERE. If it has been awhile since you've last logged in and you've moved, switched jobs, etc., please log in to update your information.
Alumni Community Updates: Grapevine
Read the updates below to see how folks in our community are growing in their careers, fostering change, and much more. If you have an update (career changes, appointments, new family arrivals, etc.) you would like to share with the LT community, email Megan.

1990: Page Ahead, a nonprofit that started as a result of an LT'90 lab project, received a 2021 State Literacy Award from the Library of Congress. Page Ahead is one of seven organizations nationwide to receive this prestigious recognition this year.

1993: Eric Pettigrew was selected to participate in the first cohort of the Black Boardroom Initiative, a new corporate-sponsored effort to increase Black representation on public and high-impact private boards in Washington. Learn about this initiative HERE. Trey Chenier, LT'20, is helping lead this initiative.

1998: Michael Brown wrote an op-ed about shared prosperity in the Seattle Times. Read the article HERE.

2002: Michelle Sarju is running for Seattle School Board, District 5. Learn more HERE.

2003: Stephanie Lucash has joined the City of Kenmore as Assistant City Manager/ American Rescue Plan Act Administrator.

2004: Carey Crutcher Smith was selected to Chair the Board of Trustees at Lakeside School.

2007: Brian Surratt has accepted a new position as Executive Director for Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Puget Sound. He was also appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to the Seattle Colleges Board of Trustees.

2008: Felicia Kline has joined the Board of Directors of Bank on Women, Incorporated.

2008: Chris Mefford is serving as Interim CEO of Greater Seattle Partners.

2009: Anne Baunach has accepted a new position as Chief Development Officer for Mary's Place.

2010: Shomari Jones was featured in an article about the difficult work of "doing equity work while Black in a culturally white district." Read the article HERE.

2011: Solynn McCurdy has accepted a new position as SVP, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer at Symetra. Read the announcement HERE.

2012: Josephine Wong has accepted a new position as Chief Financial Operating Officer at Seattle Foundation.

2013: Lisa Mayfield has started her new role as the President of the Board of Directors of The Rainier Club.

2014: Amanda Daflos has accepted a new position as Executive Director, Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University.

2014: Daniel Robbins was featured in National Geographic for his response to the Race Card Project. Read the article HERE.

2014: Wellington Troncoso was promoted to Senior Environmental Inspector at Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

2015: Mercy Daramola was promoted to Interim Director of Postsecondary at Puget Sound ESD.

2016: Saudia Abdullah is running for King County Council District 7.

2016: Leilani Lewis has joined Seattle University faculty as an instructor for Nonprofit Marketing and Communications.

2016: Meghann McCann has joined the Seattle Municipal Court team as the Court Administrator.

2016: Becky Witmer reflects on her time as Managing Director at ACT Theatre HERE.

2017: Philip Deng's startup, Grantable SAAS, was accepted into the Lighthouse Labs spring 2021 cohort and was the winner of the Mentor Choice award. Learn about Philip's startup, which is designed to simplify and streamline the grant writing process, HERE.

2017 and 2021: Bryan Helfer, LT'17, and Paul Heer, LT'21, were featured in the Portland Business Journal for their role as co-chairs of Foster Garvey’s Opportunity and Progress Council. Read the article HERE.

2017: Timothy Miller was promoted to Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Blokable, Inc.

2017: Kate Morrison has accepted a new position as Strategic Policy And Business Plan Advisor at Seattle Public Utilities.

2017: Chisulo Mulenga has accepted a new position as Project Manager at Sellen.

2018: Evan Bennett was promoted to Deputy Director at 501 Commons.

2019: Rebecca Chan has accepted a new position as Managing Director at Seattle Foundation.

2019: Derrick De Vera wrote an article for The Recorder about the vital power of local government that embraces collective momentum. Read the article HERE.

2019: Monica Parker has accepted a new role as Director, D&I and Community Outreach at Bracewell LLP.

2019: Carla Moreira Strickland has joined the Refugee Women's Alliance (ReWA) Board of Directors.

2019: Ann Marie Summerhill has accepted a new position as Director, Organizational Development at BECU.

2020: Rachel Azaroff has launched 312 Society and is the company's founder and CEO.

2020: Nykeesha Griffin was selected to Chair the Puget Sound Chapter of Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Resource Group.

2020: Courtney O'Neill was recognized as one of the Top 20 under 40 Engineers in the Nation by ENR (Engineer-News-Record) magazine. Learn more HERE.

2020: Desiree Wilkins Finch was selected for inclusion in the South Sound Business 40 Under 40. Read more HERE.

2021: Gina Aaftaab has accepted a new position as Language Services and Community Engagement Program Supervisor at King County Elections.

2021: Jason Eastman has accepted a new position as RSJI Communications and Operations Coordinator at City of Seattle Office for Civil Rights.

2021: Sara Lazkani was promoted to Public Policy and Community Engagement Manager, State & Local at Facebook.

2021: Jessica Marquardt has accepted a new position as an Associate at Front Inc.

In Remembrance: Alumni Obituaries
We are saddened to learn the passing of three LT alumni:

1987: Jack Williams recently passed away. From his obituary: "Many who knew Jack would describe him as accomplished, intelligent, generous, and compassionate. He was a mentor, an advocate and a loyal friend. All who knew Jack would agree that he was a man of integrity." Read the full obituary HERE.

2003: Karen Besserman recently passed away. From her obituary: "At the time of her death Karen was in the midst of her latest successful journey in the world of progressive politics as executive director of Emerge Washington - focused on encouraging women to run for public office, an issue Karen was deeply passionate about. " Read the full obituary HERE.

2005: Cathy Garrison recently passed away. From her obituary: "Cathy was a unique individual, with independent thinking and judgment. She was personable and engaging and would easily respond to humor. Cathy was married to Ronald Melnikoff, her husband of 46 years. They lived in the same house on Boyer Avenue East for 45 years where they lovingly raised Tara and Jordan and a cat or two." Read the full obituary HERE.
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