Board of Directors
Meet the members of our board
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Frances Donegan-Ryan, President
Frances is the Co-Founder and Chief People & Strategy Officer for Indicio. She oversees the company’s growth planning, recruitment and onboarding, human resources processes and policies, and team culture. She prides herself in ensuring the inclusion and success of Indicio's people and clients.
Frances’ years of business experience runs the gamut of search technology, communications, advocacy, and storytelling. She’s held global positions at Microsoft and Amazon, launched a marketing agency, and worked with tech startups from seed to unicorn stage.
She received her Bachelors in Entrepreneurship & Leadership from the University of Washington. She’s a supporter of the arts, Seattle and Irish sports teams, and local wineries. She’s visited over 55 countries, holds tri-citizenship, and has worked in Australia, India, EMEA, and North America.
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Charlye Tran, Vice President
Charlye Tran is a civic technologist who focuses on product strategy and user research to streamline and enhance digital transformation efforts in government agencies including the US Air Force, CDC, and Department of Veterans Affairs.
Beyond her government service, she founded a non-profit organization, Footprints Around the World, focused on physical rehabilitation and access to prosthetics where she worked with amputees in Haiti, India, and with Burmese refugees in Thailand. Her commitment to service extends to her volunteer work as a court appointed special advocate with King County CASA, where she helps ensure children in foster care have proper representation in the court system.
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Loren Villarreal, Treasurer
Loren is an experienced commercial banking professional with eight years of expertise in credit and treasury management. She currently serves as a Treasury Relationship Manager at WaFd Bank, building strong partnerships with commercial clients and delivering strategic financial solutions. She earned a Master of Business Administration from Gonzaga University in the summer of 2024. Originally from Colombia, Loren brings a unique global perspective and a deep appreciation for diverse experiences and voices.
She is particularly passionate about empowering women through financial independence, firmly believing that financial literacy and access to resources are key to unlocking opportunities. Her work is driven by a vision to build a more inclusive and equitable future - one in which future generations of women are equipped to take control of their financial lives and thrive in all dimensions of society.
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Crystal Rowland, Secretary
Crystal is driven by a deep passion for creating spaces where every woman can feel empowered, valued, safe, and heard. As a woman in the LGBTQIA+ Community, she believes in the importance of lifting voices and addressing issues that affect people, not only in Washington, but around the world.
Crystal’s journey from healthcare office management to real estate was fueled by a desire to bring people together where they can build community and thrive. This passion for inclusivity and empowerment continues to guide her work and advocacy.
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Phyllis Levy
Phyllis is a former Director of UX Design at CGI Solutions & Technology, a worldwide IT consulting company. Her area of expertise is UX design and she spent many years working as a UX Project Manager helping developers and designers communicate with the shared goal of creating world class customer experiences.
Prior to that she spent many years working for local technology companies including Microsoft and Adobe in UX, program management, and training. She excels at cross-team communication and driving alignment across complex issues.
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Jackie Love
Jackie is a healthcare administrator with over 36 years of working in the healthcare industry in various roles as an employee, supervisor, manager and director. She values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and believes change can only happen when we not only talk about it but be about the change which require action steps. “We must all do our part.”
Supporter of the CWD mission of providing a platform and space for woman of all ages and ethnicity that is safe and welcoming to discuss social issues that impact them and their communities.
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Christina Sciabarra
Christina currently teaches Political Science at Bellevue College where she also manages the Women's Center and Veteran's Program. Christina graduated with a B.S. in History from the United States Naval Academy and is a veteran of the Iraq War. She also holds a B.A. in Russian and Political Science from the University of Arizona and an M.A. in International Diplomacy from Norwich University.
She completed her Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Arizona and her research focuses on post-civil war peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Christina conducted fieldwork for her dissertation in Bosnia and Northern Ireland and recently conducted research in Malawi and Kenya for a project on poetry and peacebuilding.
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Jade Mweemba
Jade is an operations-driven event strategist, community builder, and advocate for women’s leadership whose work centers on elevating voices, strengthening networks, and creating spaces where women can grow, influence, and lead. With more than a decade of experience in program management, large-scale event production, and organizational logistics, Jade brings a strong blend of strategic thinking, people-first leadership, and execution excellence to the Center for Women & Democracy.
She currently manages high-impact programs and internal events for Amazon, while also leading Allure Event Management — a brand known for designing intentional, elevated experiences across the Pacific Northwest. Her work consistently highlights women’s stories, cultural diversity, and legacy building, aligning directly with CWD’s mission to develop and support women leaders locally and globally.
Driven by service, community, and the belief that women are strongest when they rise together.
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Karina Patel
Karina is the Chief Operating Officer at Her First $100K, leading a mission-driven team focused on building women’s financial literacy, self-worth, and net worth. Her passion for women’s leadership and civic engagement runs deep—she brings a blend of nonprofit experience, strategic and operational expertise, and a commitment to elevating women’s agency and voice.
With 15 years in marketing, organizational design, leadership development, and business operations, she’s excited to support CWD’s continued growth—and to contribute to a community of women dedicated to advancing equity and civic engagement.
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Miriam Macias Rios
Miriam is a community advocate and strategic leader committed to expanding civic participation and strengthening democratic representation. Her work centers on supporting individuals and communities navigating complex systems, with a focus on access, stability, and long-term wellbeing.
She brings a background in strategic communications, community engagement, and organizational development, partnering with mission-driven initiatives to amplify underrepresented voices and translate values into action. Her approach blends systems thinking, storytelling, and practical execution to create inclusive pathways to leadership and participation.
Miriam is dedicated to advancing women’s leadership, fostering meaningful civic engagement, and building spaces where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed, but empowered to lead -

Lucretia Robertson
Lucretia is an experienced HR strategist, speaker, and consultant with a passion for building workplaces where people and purpose thrive. For over 13 years, she has led Clarity Partnerships, a consultancy focused on workplace culture, people operations, and HR solutions across public, nonprofit, and mission-driven sectors.
In addition to her consultancy work, Lucretia is the founder of a nonprofit initiative that prepares and connects women—especially women of color—for meaningful service on nonprofit boards.
The daughter of immigrant parents and the first in her immediate family to attend college, Lucretia’s personal journey shapes her commitment to expanding access and opportunity for others. Her advocacy for education and leadership development is rooted in a belief that when women rise, communities thrive.
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Stephanie Wilder
Stephanie is a globe-trotting consultant, project manager and leader who values community, connections, communication and teamwork to help individuals and organizations achieve their dreams. She is a grateful alumna of the CWD Leadership Institute and enthusiastic to carry forward its positive legacy.

