Board of Directors - Northwest Center

Allan Munro, CHAIRPERSON
Director since 2004
Allan has been advocating for the needs of people with disabilities since the middle 1960s, when he met Northwest Center’s founders and embarked on four decades of collaboration with the organization. During his distinguished career as an attorney, he has held the positions of Assistant Attorney General for Washington State, Counsel for the Washington State Senate Judiciary Committee and Civil Service Commissioner for the City of Seattle. He is member of the King County and Washington State Bar Associations and has shown his steadfast commitment to inclusion through his leadership of the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council and the Governor’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. Allan was a Director on the Northwest Center Board during the 1970s and began his current tenure in 2004; he has held the positions of Secretary, Vice Chair and Treasurer and is currently Chair of the Finance Committee. Allan has a daughter and two sons; one of his sons has autism and the other has developmental delays. His wife, Eleanor also has two children.

Mary Maddox, VICE CHAIRPERSON
Director since 2004
Mary Maddox is President of Washington Learning Systems, which teaches parents and educators how to interact with young children in a way that promotes learning. She has worked in the areas of state and federal policy, service integration, professional development and research in special education. Before founding Washington Learning Systems, she was a Senior Researcher at Washington Research Institute and also earned an M Ed. in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Washington in 1979. Mary is the parent of two young men, one of whom has autism.

John Cantalupo, TREASURER
Director since 2010
John Cantalupo brings a strong financial analysis and banking background to the Board of Directors. He is currently a Senior Vice President for Wells Fargo Bank, based in Bellevue, where he manages a team of commercial banking professionals who provide financial services to middle-market companies. His customers are located in east King County, as well as Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, and San Juan counties, and in British Columbia, Canada. John joined Wells Fargo in 1998, beginning his career in the Tacoma Commercial Banking Office as a Relationship Manager. He earned a BA and MBA from the University of Washington, and previously served on the Advisory Board of the University of Washington Tacoma campus. John is married, with a daughter and four stepchildren.

Marti Louther, SECRETARY
Director since 2009
Marti Louther is a Senior Environmental Analyst at Sound Transit, where she specializes in natural resource mitigation, maintenance and monitoring. She has also worked as a wetland scientist at Seattle-based environmental consulting firms Parametrix and Adolfson Associates. Marti and her husband, Rik, have a daughter named Nora who has Down syndrome and epilepsy. After Nora was born, they knew she needed a place that could provide the support she required, and Northwest Center became that place. Nora received early intervention therapy services and attended the inclusive childcare program on Queen Anne. Marti has seen and understands the value of our natural environment therapy model and joined the board in order to advocate for Northwest Center and people with disabilities.

Parul Houlahan, PAST CHAIR
Director since 2004
Parul Houlahan became the Chair of the Northwest Center Board of Directors in 2008. Her first introduction to Northwest Center was in the 1980’s through Katie Dolan, a founding member and close friend. Since then, she has been a fierce advocate and guardian for countless people with disabilities. Her service to our community includes leadership roles at the Washington State Protection and Advocacy Agency and the United Cerebral Palsy Association (now PROVAIL), where she sought funding to deinstitutionalize a residential facility. Parul holds an MA in Social Work and joined the Board at Northwest Center in 2004, in order to refocus our energies and resources toward programs and basic human rights. “I do this work because I believe in the Constitution, which guarantees equal protection and equal rights to everyone,” she says.

John Emerson
Director since 2007
John Emerson's three decades in the public sector have focused on special education/disability practice and policy innovations. He is currently the Postsecondary Education Advisor for Casey Family Programs, which serves children, youth and families in the child welfare system; he also directs the Casey Family Scholars Program, a national scholarship program for college students from foster care. John holds an M Ed. from the University of Washington and has worked in the Washington and Hawaii public education systems, as well as at the Washington Research Institute and the University of Washington. John came to Northwest Center because he is passionate about the rights of people with disabilities and believes in the organization’s leadership and vision.

Jason Hepp
Director since 2010
Jason Hepp is an executive with a local technology firm. He has over 20 years of executive management and leadership experience in the technology sectors, including positions at Nazca Solutions, Inc., McLeodUSA and IBM. His community-focused work has included board positions with the Fraser School in Minneapolis and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. Jason’s commitment to Northwest Center stems from his first visit to the children’s program on Queen Anne. He saw the incredible work of the teachers and children and decided to do everything he can to ensure the health and longevity of Northwest Center’s services for people with disabilities. Jason resides in Newcastle, WA, and enjoys activities with his wife and two children.

David McRae
Director since 2010
With over two decades of leadership experience in financial decision making, management and operational analysis, David McRae brings critical expertise and perspective to the Northwest Center Board. He currently works as Relationship Manager for Banner Bank. His previous experience includes leadership positions at Access Business Finance, Global Ventures, Inc., Key Bank/McDonald Investments and U.S. Bank. David earned a BA from Central Washington University and an MBA from the University of Washington. He joined Northwest Center’s board in 2003 and served as treasurer before leaving due to term limits in 2009. His other service affiliations include the RMA Association, Seattle Children’s Museum and Rotary Club of Lake Union. When he’s not focused on his community and business responsibilities, David enjoys spending time with his three children.

Brian Volkert
Director since 2010
Brian Volkert’s business expertise includes accounting, finance, sales, marketing, logistics, information technology, transportation, manufacturing and distribution. He is the Chief Financial Officer for Health Resource Services and National Purchasing Partners—two entities that are connected with Virginia Mason Medical Center. Brian has also served as director on the board of private businesses, and is a former CEO and COO. His nonprofit activities include service as a volunteer business counselor at Score and an account director for the Taproot Foundation. He is a CPA, and earned an MBA from the University of Washington. Brian is married with three adult children, including a daughter with multiple disabilities.

Laethan Wene
Director since 2010
Laethan Wene is a distinguished alumnus of Northwest Center Works, where he started at age 21 to develop the skills to succeed in a community employment position. Since 1996, he has excelled as an outstanding employee at Arby’s in Edmonds, where he has won the Employee of the Quarter and the Arby’s Red Hat awards. His leadership and community involvement include membership on the Shoreline City Council and the Washington State Disability Council, where he served with Governor Christine Gregoire. Laethan is also very involved in his church and is a tireless advocate for people with disabilities and Northwest Center, which presented him with the Employment Achievement Award at the 2007 Golden Hearts Luncheon. He also generously lent his story and voice to Northwest Center’s it’s what’s inside that counts public service announcements in 2009.

Tony Williams
Director since 2010
Tony Williams is a Partner and Chairman of Washington2 Advocates, a consulting company that offers strategic planning, government relations and executive counsel services. Tony has been a lobbyist for many causes, and spent six years in Washington D.C. as chief of staff for Senator Slade Gorton. In 2008, he was nominated by President Bush to the National Council on Disabilities, where he helped shape policies for people with disabilities throughout the country. Tony earned a BA in journalism from Oregon State University. He and his wife have two sons, one of whom has physical and developmental disabilities. Tony is devoted to helping his son lead an independent life when he is adult and is proud to be associated with Northwest Center, which shares his commitment to inclusion and independence.

Rick Bingle
Director since 2011
Rick Bingle is the director of Global Supply Chain at REI. As a recent graduate of Leadership Tomorrow, he has already worked to connect Northwest Center with Leadership Tomorrow where Northwest Center will benefit from their work in the future. Rick hasd a daughter with Autism. Rick and his family strongly believe in Northwest Center's mission of inclusion.

Northwest Center Foundation Board of Directors

Herb Blackinton - Chairman
President, Emerald City Graphics, Ret.

Dan Heffernan - Vice Chairman
Attorney, Heffernan Group

Jeff Roush - Treasurer
Principal, Martin Smith

Anne Bremner - Secretary
Attorney, Stafford Frey Cooper

John Cantalupo
Commercial Banking, Wells Fargo

Tom Everill
CEO, Northwest Center

Sheri Marzolf
VP Marketing, Savers

Patrick McGuire
President, Ruth

Tom Mormino
VP, Turner Construction

Allan Munro
Attorney

Cindi Williams
Director, US Program Communications, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Gary Pollock
Executive Director, Northwest Center Foundation