Lauren joined the board in January 2020. She first volunteered as an advocate while in college in Dallas, TX. Her passion for child advocacy brought her to volunteer at Family Law CASA in 2015. Lauren has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a graduate degree in management. She has over 20 years of experience in business operations and has spent time in Information Technology, Human Resources, Finance and Legal at various private sector companies. She also lends expertise in project and portfolio management.

Verónica Quiñónez is the owner of Veronica Quinonez Law, PLLC. She joined the board in 2021. Her practice focuses on providing legal representation and mediation services in the area of family law, including civil protection orders and cases involving issues of domestic violence and sexual abuse. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from Seattle University School of Law, and her undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at El Paso. Verónica is a 2017 graduate of the University of Washington Law School Washington Leadership Institute, a 2021 graduate of the Hispanic National Bar Association’s Latina Leadership Academy, and a current Ladder Down fellow. She was an adjunct professor at the University of Washington School of Law in 2018. Veronica was the President of the Latina/o Bar Association of Washington from 2018-2019, previously served as LBAW’s Immediate Past-President, President-Elect, and the Director of Clinics, and she has also served as Region XVI Deputy President of the Hispanic National Bar Association and Representative of the HNBA Young Lawyer’s Division. Verónica enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, traveling, and cooking.

Bryan joined the board in 2021. As a Managing Director at Pathstone in Bellevue, WA, Bryan is responsible for advising families on a variety of wealth management related topics, including financial planning, investment management, tax planning, risk management, and trust and estate planning. By working closely with his clients’ external professional partners, Bryan seeks to integrate these issues into a clearly defined plan and path forward. Prior to joining Pathstone, Bryan acted in a similar capacity as a Managing Director at Cornerstone Advisors. Bryan’s career in wealth management also includes over 23 years with TD Ameritrade where he worked directly with clients, and served in leadership, training and strategic business development in multiple capacities. Bryan graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Business Administration. In addition to being a Certified Financial Planner^TM, Bryan is also a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®), a designation which specially equips him to assist individuals and their attorneys in understanding the complex financial implications of divorce. He serves on the board of the Washington Planned Giving Council. A Pacific Northwest native, Bryan grew up in Seattle developing a love for hiking, climbing, and music. He continues to share these passions with his wife and three children.

Megan joined the board in 2021. She is a senior manager in PwC’s assurance practice, serving clients ranging from early stage startups to pre-IPO and newly public companies to large cap enterprises.  She leverages her public accounting experience to provide a variety of professional services to her clients, and has experience in many industries partially driven by living and working in Denver and Boston prior to moving to Seattle.  Megan received a BS and MS in Business Administration with a focus in accounting and economics from the University of Colorado and holds an active CPA license in Colorado and Washington.  Megan and her husband decided to make Seattle their home, and spend their free time chasing around their young daughter.

Sherri is a family law attorney in Bellevue, Washington who joined the Board in December 2018. She began her career in litigation and family law at Preston Gates & Ellis in Seattle in 1991, where she became a partner. In 2002, she opened her own law office. Ms. Anderson is a proud graduate of the University Of Washington School Of Law (1991). She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyer. She and her family are avid Seattle Seahawks fans and she is always training for the next half marathon.

Hillary joined the board in 2020 and is a family law attorney at the law firm Lasher, Holzapfel, Sperry and Ebberson. She has years of experience litigating complex marital dissolutions and contested parenting matters, including establishing residential schedules and child support, as well as post-decree modifications of parenting plans, child support orders, and relocation actions. Hillary has appeared before courts in Washington State, as well as in the federal and state trial and appellate courts of Virginia and Washington, D.C., where she began her legal career before moving to Seattle in 2013. Hillary lives in Magnolia with her husband, Joaquin, and their two dogs, Molly & Finn. She enjoys travel and outdoor adventures.

Katherine joined the Board in 2022.  She retired as Chief Information Officer at Perkins Coie, a Seattle-based international law firm.   At Perkins, she was responsible for world-wide technology and web strategy, document and data management, telecommunications, legal practice tools, and user support.  Prior to joining Perkins in 1989, Katherine was founder and Principal at Arcadia Associates Inc.  The firm served national and international clients including the Fortune 500, foreign and domestic government agencies, non-profits, professional firms, colleges, labor unions, and small businesses on computer systems as well as with information and records management.  She has served on ten non-profit boards, often focusing on policy and governance issues.  She currently serves on the Boards of Town Hall, the Seattle International Film Festival, Martha and Mary (a children’s and senior care organization in Poulsbo), and the Kitsap Humane Society.  Katherine’s previous non-profit experience has involved working with under-served children in King County and Cambodia.  She is pleased to continue being involved with a mission that engages her professionally and personally.

Brad will be joining the board in January 2022.

Brad Elias is a corporate counsel at Amazon.com, where he manages a large portfolio of commercial litigation and advises on a variety of complex legal issues.  He works closely with many of Seattle’s largest law firms, including Perkins Coie, which introduced him to Family Law CASA.  Prior to joining Amazon, Brad spent thirteen years as a litigator at O’Melveny & Myers in New York, where he specialized in securities, financial services, and technology disputes.  He also maintained an active pro bono practice, with a focus on education and family law, and was honored by the Legal Aid Society on two occasions for his outstanding pro bono service.  He is a graduate of New York University School of Law and Georgetown University, where he earned a bachelor of science in finance.  He lives in Queen Anne with his wife and two daughters and enjoys a variety of outdoor activities.

Melanie English, PhD, MSW, joined the board in in 2018 and is a licensed clinical psychologist who works as a parenting evaluator and Guardian Ad Litem in private practice focusing on divorce, paternity, modification, adoption and third-party custody cases. Dr. English earned her PhD in clinical psychology from Seattle Pacific University and her dissertation research centered on attachment issues and parental support. She also has a master’s degree in social work and worked for King County Superior Court Family Court Services for more than 10 years (and took the CASA training in 1998!). Dr. English is a frequent speaker for the court, bar associations, Department of Judicial Administration, National Business Institute, Washington State Correctional facilities and community mental health clinics and is the president of the Washington Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (WA-AFCC). Besides being a part of the CASA board and time with her family and 2 cats, she enjoys trail running, traveling and treasure seeking.

Helen joined the board of directors in 2019. Helen Halpert served on the King County Superior Court from 1999-2017. During her tenure, she was assistant presiding judge, chief criminal judge, chief juvenile court judge and the lead child welfare judge. Prior to serving on King County Superior Court, she was a member of the Seattle Municipal Court bench. After retiring from the bench, Judge Halpert joined JAMS-Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for Family Law CASA, her community activities include serving on the Advisory Committee for Girls’ Court and the Board for the Hobson Clinic of DESC. Judge Halpert is a long-time resident of Seattle.

Blake joined the board of directors in 2018. He was initially drawn to the organization through its Annual Breakfast, an event that he has attended for the past 10 years, and because of his mother’s work with victims of domestic violence. However, after serving on CASA fundraising committees and becoming more involved, Blake knew that he wanted to make a further contribution. When the opportunity to join the Board of Directors presented itself, the choice was easy. Blake is a family law attorney and partner at Socius Law Group. Outside of work, Blake is an avid runner, competing in 20 marathons and winning the 2017 Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. In February 2020, he completed his first 100 mile ultramarathon. Blake lives in Seattle with his wife, two daughters, and their English bulldog.

Kellie joined the board of directors in 2017. Starting as a Kappa Alpha Theta at Santa Clara University, Kellie has been a long time supporter of CASA. Kellie is a senior manager at Moss Adams LLP, specializing in providing assurance services to growing financial and professional services firms, including venture capital, private equity, specialty finance, consulting firms, law firms, and insurance brokers. She is also an active member of the Frances W. Nordstrom Guild supporting Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Joel joined the board in 2020. He is a former family law attorney who now focuses his practice on civil defense litigation. He is admitted to practice in the federal and state courts of Washington. Joel received his Juris Doctorate from Seattle University School of Law, where he was a member of the Black Law Student Association and the Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity. Before law school, Joel attended Gonzaga University, where he majored in Criminal Justice and minored in Sociology. In his free time, the Gonzaga Alum obsesses over Zag basketball.

Rebecca joined the board in 2021. A senior program manager in supply chain, Rebecca currently works at Nordstrom. She was born and raised in Seattle, received a business degree from Montana State, and has a diverse work background. Over the course of her career she’s worked as a buyer at Nordstrom, an accounting manager at a ski resort, a caregiver in Wales, a program manager for the Montana Office of Community Service, and upon returning to Seattle she moved back to Nordstrom. She’s known for being a courageous, fun, and tenacious processional. With a successful track record on projects, compassion for others, and always striving for excellence she is often pulled in to advise on programs outside her area. Rebecca delivers critical assets with integrity by driving tech teams to successful outcomes. She is focused on strategic thinking, data driven decisions, and building positive relationships with leaders and business partners.

Jean A. Rietschel was appointed as a judge at King County Superior Court by former Governor Christine Gregoire in 2010. Judge Rietschel received the 2011 Vanguard Award from King County’s Washington Women’s Lawyers. In 2001 she received the 2001 Seattle Works Award. She was the co- chair of the Best Practices Committee and was the Chief UFC judge prior to retiring in 2019.  She has chaired the King County Trial Court Coordinating Committee and the Regional Law Safety and Justice Committee. Prior to her appointment to Superior Court she served as a Judge and as the Presiding Judge in Seattle Municipal Court. As an attorney she worked in her own solo practice, for Institutional Legal Services and for the Public Defender’s office. Judge Rietschel received an undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester in philosophy and a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.

Gary joined the board of directors in 2020. Gary Sampson, MSW LICSW has a Master’s Degree in Social Work, a School Counselor Certification and an Elementary Teaching Credential. He is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and an approved social work supervisor. He has worked as both a Director of Social Services and Adoption Social Worker for international adoption agencies as well as a medical social worker for children with disabilities, an elementary school counselor and a primary school teacher for the Renton School District. Gary is married and has two adult daughters, including one adopted from Korea. He is a volunteer guardian ad litem and board member with the Family Law CASA, and also volunteers at the Seattle World School, a public middle and high school for new immigrant students. He serves on the board of directors of Renton Area Youth and Family Services and has been volunteer citizenship tutor with the St. James Citizenship Center.

Mei will be joining the board in January 2022.

After graduating from the University of California Davis, with an B.A. in International Relations and East Asian Studies, Mei moved to Beijing China to learn to speak Mandarin Chinese. When she returned to the United States, she began working at a law firm in downtown San Francisco and soon realized that the legal field was the path for her. She earned a law degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego, California in 2010.

Little did Mei know, she had been preparing to be a lawyer from a young age. As a first generation Chinese-American, she helped her non-English speaking parents navigate cultural barriers that affected many aspects of their lives in the United States. From an early age, she translated legal documents, explained technical terminology, and experienced first-hand the challenges that my parents faced as new immigrants. Now she has a translational skill that makes her legal practice unique.

Mei is dedicated to educating people and arming them with resources to make the best choices in their situation. Throughout her legal career, she has been involved with many non-profit legal clinics providing legal advice to low income and indigent communities. She has served on various boards for children’s daycares and schools, and volunteers with ABAW and JAJEC. Today, Mei is a board member of the International Families Justice Coalition, a non-profit organization that provides legal assistance and representation to immigrants and foreign nationals that do not speak English who are involved in issues that require a family law attorney. Mei also served as a member of the board of her local Parent Teacher Student Association.

Mei grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area with her large extended family. Mei and her husband love exploring the Pacific Northwest – hiking, kayaking, and discovering all the many parks in the area with their two boys. They love traveling as a family and learning about different cultures. Some of the amazing places they have explored include Indonesia, Turkey, Czech Republic and Cuba. Mei’s other passion is baking delicious desserts for her friends and family.

Lorna joined the board in 2020. She is an MD and public health specialist and currently works at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She started off her career as a physician in Uganda with the US Embassy and the Mulago National Teaching & Referral Hospital. She has worked with the UN and many non- profit global organizations including CARE, International Youth Foundation and ChildFund International. She was a diplomat prior to relocating to Seattle, working with 26 governments in South East Asia, Africa and South America to advance south to south cooperation for health, population and development. She got her medical and public health education from Makerere University Medical School Uganda; Boston University School of Public Health; UC San Francisco & UC Berkeley. Lorna is most passionate about contributing to achieving dignity and quality of life for especially the most vulnerable and marginalized. Lorna is a Rotarian and member of Seattle Rotary Club 4.