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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Patricia joined the board in 2020. She is a native Seattleite who has spent the last 25 years within Human Resources as a Senior Leader developing strategy and implementing policy within a number of industries: Medical, Retail Grocery, Airline, Apparel, Manufacturing, Education and Not-for-Profit. She has worked in Fortune 50 & Fortune 500 companies and specialized in all HR Functions. She joined Family Law CASA based on her passion for children and to give them an opportunity to thrive and succeed. Patricia has a BS Psychology as well as a Masters in Management. One of her passions is to develop talent and share her love of learning. She started teaching both Undergraduate and Graduate courses in a local University and has been a faculty member for the past twelve years. Patricia loves to travel internationally and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Allison joined the board in 2021. She has significant experience as an executive across multiple industries. In addition to gaining experience in investment banking at Credit Suisse and as a management consultant with Bain & Co., she’s founded several companies including a chain of wine bars. She’s also held executive positions for both start-ups and larger organizations including volunteer-based services for children, and a publicly traded B2B e-commerce company where she led a division of 750 employees and completed 12 acquisitions. Allison is an active volunteer who dedicates time to mentor start-up entrepreneurs and work with students on school applications. In addition to serving as a board member for Family Law CASA, she is also a board member for New Beginnings, which mobilizes awareness to end domestic violence. She received a BA from Wellesley College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. In her (very little) free time, Allison enjoys black and white photography, exploring hiking trails in the Pacific NW with her dog, and visiting her two children at college.

Joel joined the board in 2020. He focuses his practice on family law issues, including dissolutions of marriage and domestic partnerships, child custody and support, parentage, modifications, and LGBT specific family law issues. 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.

Gretchen joined the board in 2021 and is an attorney at the law firm Perkins Coie, LLP.  A partner in the Product Liability practice, Gretchen has a national litigation background that includes claims related to aviation, transportation, pharmaceutical products, construction equipment, sports equipment and other products. Gretchen also represents manufacturers, importers, and sellers in Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) matters, including reporting and recalls; and she counsels clients on understanding and managing product liability and premises-related risks. Gretchen has served as national coordinating counsel for Amazon’s product

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.

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.

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.

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.

Christine joined the board of directors in April of 2019. She joins the Board with 10+ years of non-profit experience leading and developing professionally trained volunteers. Prior to Family Law CASA Christine served on the Junior League of Seattle Board of Directors. In 2017, she received the silver President’s Volunteer Service Award, preceded by the bronze President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2016. As a Human Resources Leader, she designs employee programs, leader and organizational development, and focuses on the human element of change management. Christine spends her time with her husband, Jason, and her two young children in the Wallingford community and up north near Mt Baker Wilderness.

Chenese joined the board in 2020. She has a background in education through serving in Teach for America and is passionate about helping low-income kids. She is an HR professional whose work has spanned many sectors and organizations. Currently, she is working at Starbucks in HR, supporting their Customer and Retail Technology organization. She provides coaching, organizational design, leadership capability building, and performance management support to leadership and partners within the organization. Before Starbucks, she supported a Customer Experience firm implementing workforce support practices and programs as they supported their clients, primarily Microsoft Cloud teams. Before Rational, she was an HRBP at Tableau supporting the SVP of Customer Solutions and his team in performance management and development, employee relations, workforce planning, and other HR initiatives. Chenese received her BA from Pepperdine in Public Relations, Psychology and Spanish. She received a MA from UNLV in Early Childhood Education.

Cindy joined the board of directors in 2019. Cindy is a global financial executive, startup investor and passionate advocate for more millennials to get involved in startup investing and non-profit board work. She began her career at J.P. Morgan in Hong Kong, Shanghai, New York and Seattle in various roles within the Corporate Investment Bank and Asset Management divisions. Previously, she was an executive at PitchBook Data. She is actively involved in her Seattle community and sits on the boards of Family Law CASA, the Music Center of the Northwest and Crooked Trails. She is also a Managing Partner at the Seattle Finance Collective and an Advisory Board Member for the Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Course at the University of Washington Continuum College. She lives in Seattle and enjoys tennis, golf, skiing, and boxing.