Welcome to the Center for Women and Democracy

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A few of our delegates shared with us why they are participating in

the Center's Delegation to Rwanda in June:

“I couldn’t miss another trip with the Center, and the opportunity to understand Rwanda better, especially how women are helping to heal and move their country forward.”

–Elizabeth Rudolf

“I’ve always wanted to join one of the Center’s delegations.” – Sharon Smith

“In school, my focus is international and women’s studies. I’m interested in what it looks like to come back from such tragedy, and also observe what happens when women’s agendas are central.”– Maren O’Malley

“This is my 5th trip with CWD, and there is nothing like it.  It’s great to meet and share this experience with other women and get beyond the formalities. This trip will be difficult in many ways, but informative to hear how Rwandans are healing & helping others to heal.”

–Sue Cooper

“I’ve had a lifelong love affair with Africa. It’s a big thrill to take this trip and I’m in awe of what Rwanda has accomplished thus far.” – Karen Valenzuela

“I’m fascinated to learn how the women in Rwanda and non-profits there affect change. I’m looking forward to the experiences with the other women in delegation,

and seeing the gorillas!” –Connie Michener 

“I’ve been on almost every CWD trip.  You can count on meeting women you’ll want to always have in your life.  Each trip has its own lessons, and I’m excited to join this delegation.”

– Connie Niva

“I was initially attracted to Rwanda after learning about their past, but now what gets me excited about this trip is what I’m learning about their opportunities and hopes for the future.” – Alison Peters

Learn more about our delegates:

Cathy Allen

Seattle, WA

President of The Connections Group, Cathy Allen has spent the past 25 years working to elect women candidates all over the world. She now boasts over 650 winning campaigns in the United States, Middle East, Africa, Mexico, South America, Canada and the Balkans. In the 2012 national election cycle, Cathy was a partner in the successful quest to reach 20% women in the U.S. Senate. She is the co-founder of the Center for Women & Democracy. One of the senior women consultants for the National Democratic Institute, Cathy has completed over 40 training missions in the Middle East working recently in Libya, Jordan,  Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar and Yemen. She has helped more than 200  women reach public office in countries where women have seldom sought or attained public office.  Cathy has authored five books on grassroots organizing and political campaigning. She served as the national Vice-President of the National Women’s Political Caucus, and is a frequent TV political commentator.

 

Lisa Brown

Spokane, WA

Lisa Brown is a former member of the Washington State Senate, representing Spokane from 1997 to 2013. After serving two terms in the House, Senator Brown was elected to the Senate in 1996, where she was quickly appointed to serve as chair of the Ways and Means Committee in her first term. In 2002, she was elected minority leader. In 2005, she became the first Democratic woman in state history to hold the position of Senate Majority Leader. Brown earned her PhD in Economics from the University of Colorado in 1996 after receiving a BA from the University of Illinois in 1974, and a MA in Economics from the University of Colorado in 1991.  Brown was an associate professor for Eastern Washington University from 1981 to 2001, and an associate professor in Organizational Leadership at Gonzaga University since 2001. In November 2012, Lisa was appointed Chancellor of Washington State University-Spokane. In her new role,she directs the Riverpoint campus and its medical program.

 

Sue Cooper

Everett, WA

Sue Cooper served on the Everett School Board for 25 years from 1984-2009, and as Board president for about one third of that time. She was a founding board member for the Snohomish County Big Brothers Big Sisters and for LINK, a partnership linking schools and businesses.  She has been Board president of United Way of Snohomish County and on the Board of Campfire Boys and Girls and the Everett Public Schools Foundation.  Currently, Sue is helping to guide strategic planning for

the Everett School District.  She is a trustee for the Gertrude M. Jackson Memorial Fund, which provides scholarships for college-bound students each year. Sue was raised in Boonton, New Jersey.  She earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster and a master’s degree in education at Eastern Michigan University.  She lives in Everett with her husband Tom.  They have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. This is Sue’s fifth trip with CWD (South Africa 2004; Ukraine 2005; Morocco 2009, Vietnam 2011).  She has also been on cultural exchange programs to China (1983), Nicaragua (1987), Russia, Hungary, Poland (1992) and Japan (1997).

 

Elizabeth Cara

Berkeley, CA

Professor Liz Cara is a faculty member at San Jose State University. Her clinical and academic expertise includes the rehabilitation of people with mental disabilities. She is the co-editor and co-author of a popular text with both students and professors, Psychosocial Occupational Therapy: A Clinical Practice, currently in its 3rd. edition. She has published papers on clinical fieldwork, infant mental health, and Dian Fossey, the occupational therapist and primatologist, one of the program's most famous graduates. Liz received her Certificate of Proficiency in occupational therapy from the University of Pennsylvania. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Santa Clara University, a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from John F. Kennedy University and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate University.

 

RaShelle Davis

Tacoma, WA

RaShelle Davis is a Policy Advisor for the Governor of the State of Washington. Her work is centered on ensuring that all children and families have access to quality early learning programs and child care.

She previously served as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Communities in Schools Seattle, a nationwide organization dedicated to improving educational results for economically disadvantaged students. Ms. Davis currently serves on the AnBryce Foundation’s Advisory Council where she provides recommendations for programs that assist Washington DC youth. She is actively engaged in the local legal community by serving as the Vice President of the Pierce County Minority Bar Association, At-Large Trustee for the Washington Young Lawyers Committee, and Committee Member for the WSBA Committee for Diversity. In 2000, the City of Tacoma recognized Ms. Davis with the City of Destiny Award for her community service work.  In addition to her commitment to education and public service, Ms. Davis is also passionate about international issues. She speaks Chinese and has lived and studied in Taiwan, China, and the Netherlands. She has been recognized for her international studies by receiving the US Department of Education Scholarship for Chinese Studies and the Gilman International Scholarship. She also served as a delegate to China with Stanford University’s FACES Program and as a delegate to Morocco with the Center for Women and Democracy.  Ms. Davis received her B.A. from the University of Puget Sound in Business Administration with Honors and her J.D. from New York University School of Law.

 

Beth Doglio

Seattle, WA

Beth is the Campaign Director for Climate Solutions where she is responsible for integrating campaign strategy into the organization’s flagship programs. She currently serves as the Regional Director for the Power Past Coal campaign. She was the founding Executive Director of Washington Conservation Voters and served in that role from 1991 – 1995. In 1996 she was a field organizer for National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL). She also served as a campaign organizer and later the development director for Audubon Washington.  Beth has worked in public, private, non-profit sectors and served in leadership staff positions in numerous political campaigns. She has managed communications, has extensive organizing and direct advocacy expertise, and significant fundraising experience.  Beth has a BA from Indiana University in Political Science and Telecommunications. A mom of two young boys, she enjoys the outdoors, cycling, yoga, running, and traveling.

 

Meaghan Driscoll

Spokane, WA

Meaghan just completed her first year of law school at Gonzaga University and and plans to graduate in 2015. She completed her undergraduate degree from Seattle University in 2010. Upon graduating, she spent two years in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) serving low-income people in Washington State, living in community with other JVC volunteers and budgeting on a small stipend - similar to the way of life for families she served. 

 

Iris Friday

Bremerton, WA

Iris is a Native American Program Specialist in the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development’s Northwest Office of Native American Programs. She serves as a liaison between tribes, lenders, and housing partners to ensure smooth delivery of the Section 184 Indian Housing & Title VI loan guarantee programs. Iris has worked to bring homeownership to Native families through homebuyer fairs, homebuyer education counseling, and promotes financial education as a tool for achieving homeownership success. Iris Friday is a founding member of the Native Action Network (NAN), a grassroots organization dedicated to political empowerment through increased civic participation, leadership development, and the building of strong, healthy Native communities. As a

Native Action Network volunteer, she has organized six Annual Native Women’s Leadership Development Forums which resulted in honoring 26 Native women for their lifetime commitment to Native communities. In addition, she is Treasurer of the American Indian Women’s Service League where she volunteers her time as a fundraiser and event coordinator and is currently working on an oral history project entitled “Our Life, Our Words, Our Story” which highlights 50 years of Native women in leadership.

 

Jan Gelman

Seattle, WA

Jan Gelman is a coach, facilitator and leadership development professional known for her ability to use curiosity and directness to help leaders get to the heart of their challenges quickly. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience as a senior leader in business, media and technology, she has unique insight into the complex demands that her clients face. Jan has been an internal leadership consultant at Washington State Labor & Industries and an external consultant with organizations such as Microsoft, Expedia, Amazon, Bug Music/Windswept, Point B, Peer 1, Whitepages.com, CarDomain, ShareBuilder, SumTotal Systems, King County Metro Transit, and FareStart. Jan has also written numerous business and lifestyle articles for New York magazine, Selling magazine, MSN and MSNBC; and published books for young adults with Alfred A. Knopf and Simon & Schuster. Jan holds a Master of Arts degree in Applied Behavioral Science (Coaching and Consulting) from the Leadership Institute of Seattle at Bastyr University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

 

Melissa Gombosky

Olympia, WA

Melissa McCabe Gombosky works to balance life as full time mother with a government relations practice in Washington State.  Working with clients across the country, Melissa is based in Washington’s capital, Olympia, to provide year-round, on-the-ground advocacy before the Washington State Legislature and state agencies.  Melissa’s clients include Inland Empire Paper Company, Personal Care Products Council, Northwest Agricultural Business Center, The American Academy, and The Association of American Publishers.  Prior to her lobbying work, Melissa worked as a classroom teacher at Mead High School in Spokane, Washington.  Melissa earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature with minors in Communications and Education from Whitworth University. She lives with her husband, Jeff, and their two sons, in Olympia where she volunteers for the Salvation Army and their local church, Evergreen Christian Community.

 

Jaime Hawk

Spokane, WA

Jaime Hawk is an Assistant Federal Defender currently on detail in Washington, D.C. She began her legal career as a women’s rights fellow on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee staff of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Prior to working in federal court, Ms. Hawk received the President’s Award from the Washington Defender Association for her work as a juvenile defender with the Washington Office of Public Defense. She has presented at several conferences and is an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University School of Law. Ms. Hawk is active in a range of equal justice initiatives and serves as a leader within several bar associations and organizations that provide access to justice.  She is a past president of the Washington State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and has served on the boards of Washington Women Lawyers and the ABA Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence. Currently, she serves on the Standing Committee on Public Education, as a liaison to the Criminal Justice Section, and a member of the House of Delegates. She co-leads an ABA effort to recruit and train pro bono lawyers around the country to represent children in immigration proceedings. Ms. Hawk is a board member for the Center for Women and Democracy and has participated as a member of several international delegations. Ms. Hawk is passionate about promoting women’s leadership development and recruiting more young women to be engaged in public service. 

 

Lisa Hoyt

Seattle, WA

Lisa Hoyt is the founding director of Renton Academy, a therapeutic public school for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities. A native New Yorker, Lisa moved to the West Coast to pursue her graduate work. She completed her PhD in special education from University of Washington in 2010. After 11 years teaching special education for the Seattle School District, she took a position with the UW College of Education teaching graduate students. In 2006, Lisa was hired to develop and open a new school in the Renton area. Always passionate about alternative ways for children to learn, Lisa has provided consultation and professional development for many school districts in the Puget Sound area, has presented at national conferences, and is a founding member of the Washington Re-Education Association.

 

Laura Lippman

Seattle, WA

Laura C. Lippman, M.D. completed her family practice residency at

Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, a University of Washington Residency site, in 1978.  Since then she has been in private practice in North Seattle and Edmonds until 2007.  During that time she served as President of the Board of Edmonds Family Medicine, Medical Partners Northwest, and Chief of Family Medicine at Northwest Hospital.  She was an instructor in the Family Medicine Department at the University of Washington. Since retiring in 2007, she has worked on the Navajo Reservation, the Zuni Pueblo and with the underserved in the Highline Medical System and at NeighborCare Community clinics.  She has become a Native Plant Steward, volunteered in the National Forest Service, and was an attending physician on Semester At Sea, sponsored by the University of Virginia, and taking students around the world.  Laura is a native of New Jersey, and attended Bryn Mawr College and the Medical College of Pennsylvania before moving to Seattle in 1975.  Currently she is writing, traveling, and serving on the Customer Review

Panel for the Seattle Public Utility Commission.  She is married and has two grown children.

 

Connie Michener

Olympia, WA

Connie Michener has over 25 years of executive state government

and non-profit experience. Connie has been appointed by three Governor's to serve as a Commissioner on the Judicial Conduct Commission and is also employed as a Senior IT Management Consultant for the Washington State Chief Information Office.  Her extensive background in state government includes service with Governor Booth Gardner for seven years in a variety of positions,

as an Executive Policy Advisor to the Director of the Department of Revenue, as an Executive Director for Washington's K20 Education Network prior to pursuing a career in information technology.  Michener has also been active in the local community as a volunteer and leader with the South Sound YMCA Board of Directors, Adopt-a-Soldier Program, and Information Processing Management Association Education Committee.  Along with her husband, she founded an economic development non-profit with her husband in Cambodia to assist rural villages.  Connie attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government for Senior Executives and earned her Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of Washington.  She is also certified in Mediation, Project Management, Change Management and Quality Management.

 

Connie Niva

Seattle, WA

Connie Niva is the current chair of the Washington State University Board of Regents.  She retired in 2009 from the Commission of the Port of Everett.  Connie served two terms on the Washington State Transportation Commission and is a founding member of the Board of the Center for Women and Democracy. She served as a member of the City Council of Everett from 1986-1990 and was the Congressional liaison for the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority from 1990-93. 

Connie worked many years in a variety of capacities as a microbiologist at the University of Washington Medical School and the University of Maryland, and taught microbiology to Arab staff at St. John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem. She graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in bacteriology in 1962 and received a master’s degree in public administration from Seattle University in 1992. She was awarded the Everett Area Chamber of Commerce Henry M. Jackson Citizen of the Year Award in 2003 and the United Way of Snohomish County Women Leading the Way Leadership Award in 2002.  

 

Maren O'Malley

Seattle, WA

Maren is a senior at the University of Washington pursuing undergraduate Comparative History of Ideas and Women Studies degrees.  She is passionate about improving the status of women globally, and societal oppressions that limit the opportunities of many. Her area of study is International Development, with a particular focus on women’s presence in politics.  Maren recently completed a semester abroad in Northern India, which focused on Social Change and Sustainable Development. The program incorporated Indian history, cultural exploration and beginning Hindi language courses. She conducted research on the Panchayati Raj Institution and the reservation system for women's political representation in local government. Maren is currently an intern with the Seattle World Affairs Council’s Global Classrooms, working to bring global engagement to K-12 classrooms by providing curricular resources, professional development programs for teachers, and leadership activities for high school students.

 

Alison Peters

Bellevue, WA

Alison Peters is the founder and Principal Researcher of Alison Peters Consulting, a Northwest-based public opinion research firm serving

the region's key decision makers and organizations. After founding the firm in 2002, Alison has advised dozens of leaders from government, business, and the nonprofit community on the current trends in public opinion. She remains one of a handful of women pollsters in the United States, working tirelessly to ensure that voices of women and working families are heard around the decision-making table. Alison was raised in Olympia and lived as an exchange student in Kobe, Japan during her freshman year of high school. Alison attended Santa Clara University as an undergraduate and completed her master's degree in political science at Boston College. As a college student, she was selected to participate in the White House Intern Program under President Clinton. Alison cheers for many client causes in her spare time, and serves as Vice Chair of the Center for Women and Democracy. She and her two young sons are active outdoor enthusiasts, and enjoy cooking, team sports and making music together.

 

Debra Ricci

Medina, WA

Debra Ricci is Managing Partner at Ricci Grube Breneman, PLLC with offices in Seattle, Portland and Las Vegas. Her law practice is centered in construction, real estate, land use and environmental law. Prior to becoming a lawyer in 1991 she was a project manager for a major international architectural firm specializing in airport planning and design. She is a Professional affiliate of the American Institute of Architect and the American Institute of Certified Planners. Debra earned undergraduate degrees from the University of Washington in fine arts and urban planning, a master’s degree in urban planning and architecture and is a law school graduate from University of Puget Sound. Debra has traveled extensively with the Center for Women and Democracy and has an interest in the fine arts and architectural history. For the last two years, Debra has been Chair of the Center for Women and Democracy. Debra and her husband Mike have three sons.

 

Elizabeth Rudolf

Seattle, WA

Elizabeth was born and raised in New York and received her B.A Degree from Columbia University in 1974. Actively involved in theatre throughout her student years, she toured with several Broadway shows after college.  While raising her four children in New York City, she taught Drama at the Nightingale Bamford School and also served as Executive Director of the Off-Broadway Theatre and Dance Company, Theatre of The Open Eye. Twenty years ago, she moved to Seattle where she has been active in numerous civic and cultural organizations, including Seattle Art Museum Supporters, SAMS (President 1996-97) ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) and nine years as a Trustee on the Seattle Repertory Theatre Board. She presently serves on the Seattle Repertory Theatre Foundation Board as well as the Board of The Center for Women and Democracy and recently joined the board of Hedgebrook, a writer’s retreat for women on Whidbey Island, WA.  Through The Elizabeth D. Rudolf Fund at The Seattle Foundation, Elizabeth actively supports numerous organizations that work with disadvantaged children, such as Rainier Scholars and Treehouse, where she serves on the Advisory Board.  Elizabeth produced the documentary film “Sweet Crude” about the devastation in the Niger Delta of Nigeria in 2009 and “Ira Finkelstein’s Christmas” a family feature about a Jewish boy who loves Christmas in 2012.  She is also an investor in the movie “Sold” about the human trafficking trade which will premiere in fall 2013.

 

Sharon Smith

Spokane, WA

For 25 years, Sharon led national operations and marketing for hotel brands. While living in Arizona, California and Washington, she was involved in a variety of community efforts focused on poverty and homelessness.  In 2003, Sharon left her career to volunteer with her partner on his campaign for U.S. Congress providing solid political, local, state and federal knowledge.  Sharon served as Chairwoman of the Spokane County Democrats in 2005/6 leading to election victories unparalleled in Eastern Washington in decades, as Vice Chair of the Washington State Democratic Party in 2009/10 and was instrumental in the Obama for America campaign in 2008.  Sharon founded the Inland Northwest Leadership PAC and remains very politically and civically active including currently serving on the board of Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest. She resides in Spokane with her domestic partner, Don Barbieri. Together they founded and manage the Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund, a 501(c) 3 charitable foundation that focuses on eradicating poverty, expanding affordable housing and other quality of life issues in the Inland Northwest.

 

Mary Pat Treuthart

Spokane, WA

 Mary Pat Treuthart is a Professor of Law at Gonzaga University.  She received her J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law-Camden and her LL.M. from Columbia Law School. She is a member of the Pennsylvania bar. After clerking in the Family Division of the Superior Court in New Jersey, Treuthart served for six years as a staff attorney and the Director at Warren County Legal Services in New Jersey.  She has been a member of the faculty at Gonzaga Law School since 1989. She teaches and writes in the areas of Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure, Family Law, International Human Rights, Mental Disability Law, Professional Responsibility, & Comparative Women’s Rights.  Mary Pat is the former Director of the Gonzaga Public Interest Law Program, the Thomas More Scholarship Program and the Gonzaga-in-Florence Summer Law Program. She was a Fulbright Scholar and Lecturer at Marie Curie Sklodowska University in Lublin, Poland and a pro bono legal specialist for the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative in Kosovo. For more than 20 years, Treuthart has been a volunteer advocate with Disability Rights Washington where she served two terms as Chair of the Board of Directors. She also volunteers with Spokane Public Radio co-hosting “Movies 101,” a ½ hour weekly film review program.

 

Karen Valenzuela

Tumwater, WA

On January 22, 2009, Karen was appointed by Governor Gregoire to fill the unexpired term in the 3rd district vacated by former County Commissioner Bob Macleod.  She was elected to the seat in November 2009, and re-elected November 2010 to a 4-year term. Karen served nine years on the Tumwater City Council, and three years on the Tumwater Planning Commission prior to becoming County Commissioner. Commissioner Valenzuela was a co-founder of the Interjurisdictional Forum on Homelessness in 2003, and now represents Thurston County on the Thurston County HOME Consortium. She helped establish Tumwater's Farmers Market as well as Tumwater's sister city relationship with Mubende, Uganda. She was a leader in the adoption of Tumwater's ordinance to designate and protect a manufactured home park zone.  Commissioner Valenzuela was a public health worker for 20 years, and concentrates her work on preservation of agricultural lands and critical areas in the county, climate change, and sustainability issues.

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Governor Inslee with alumnae from CWD's Women's Leadership Institute

Kicking Up Our Heels 2013

Celebrating the New State Elected & Appointed Women of Olympia

by Mansion Co-Chairs Cathy Allen & Simone Boe

Despite the threats of snow and the reality of stalled traffic en route down to the Governor’s Mansion, more than 150 Washington women leaders (and 11 equality-minded men) celebrated the advances women have achieved in the state. With 30 women state legislators in attendance, The Center for Women & Democracy held its 11th annual salute to women making a difference in the Evergreen State, celebrating the new women decision-makers appointed by Governor Jay Inslee in his new administration.

 

Governor Inslee and his activist wife, Trudi, were both in attendance as he explained that it was a woman who first asked him to run for office – and that he had placed women in the highest posts on his team, both on his campaign and now as Governor.

 

CWD officially honored Secretary of State Kim Wyman, the only woman statewide executive official and the two women who now are the Chiefs of Staff for Governor Inslee (Mary Alice Heuschel) and Attorney General Bob Ferguson (Mamie Marcuss). These women are powerful examples of the range of experience and hard work it takes to break through the glass ceiling still in place throughout public service.

 

Our thanks to all of the attendees.

 

The Center for Women & Democracy especially would like to thank

our wonderful sponsors for making the night so memorable:

Best Friends

Muckleshoot Tribe

SEIU 1199

Great Friends

Elizabeth Rudolf

Peterson Sullivan

Swedish Medical Center

Virginia Mason Hospital

Vulcan

Washington Dental Service Foundation

Washington Education Association

Washington Federation of State Employees

Washington REALTORS ®

Good Friends

Banner Bank

Boeing Company

Comcast

Group Health Foundation

Robin Knepper

Moxie Media

Michelle Quackenbush

Roz Solomon

Seattle Firefighters Local 27

SEIU 775

In addition, there were more than 60 individual donors, with major in-kind donations

of food and wine from Bernie Dochnahl and Denise Kraft.

 

The Center is especially appreciative of Governor Inslee and First Lady Trudi for their

warm hospitality, Frances Munez Carter, the Mansion’s great organizer, and our own “center” of the Center for Women & Democracy, Michele Lyon, without whom we would not have been able to so finely and rightfully kick up our heels!

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Join the discussion at Book Club