Donald Brinkman
Product Manager, Artificial Intelligence and Research, Microsoft | Board member since 2017
Donald Brinkman is a product manager for Microsoft AI & Research, where he drives the development of various conversational intelligence and chatbot-related products and technologies. Over the last ten years he has held a variety of roles at Microsoft, primarily focused on natural language processing, game design, and AI. In 2013 his project ChronoZoom, an infinitely-scaling and interactive HTML5 representation of the history of Everything, was awarded the top educational resource award at South by Southwest. In his role as research program manager of Games for Learning and Digital Humanities at Microsoft Research, he helped to fund and design the CHOICES Challenge cellphone game.
Richard Cordova
CPA, Executive Director, Internal Audit, University of Washington | Board member since 2008
Richard Cordova is the Executive Director of Internal Audit at the University of Washington. His role also includes audit responsibility for the University of Washington Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center. Previous to the University, Richard served as Director, Internal Audit for Starbucks Coffee Company, leading a team of 12 professionals in execution of the approved Internal Audit Plan there. His prior experience also includes a 24-year career at Pricewater-houseCoopers, and spans a wide range of responsibilities, including internal audit, business assurance & advisory practice, senior audit manager and senior accountant. Cordova holds a bachelor of science in biology from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA in accounting and finance from the University of California Graduate School of Management in Irvine, CA. He is a licensed CPA in California and Washington. Cordova was a Seattle Chairman’s Award Winner in 2007 and Coach of the Year PwC West Region in 2002.
Aileen Cronin
Vice President, Compliance Officer, F5 Networks | Board member since 2016
Aileen Cronin is Vice President, Compliance Officer for F5 Networks, a firm specializing in application delivery networking (ADN) technology that optimizes the delivery of network-based applications and the security, performance, availability of servers, data storage devices, and other network resources. Prior to F5 Networks, Aileen was with Alaska Airlines for 18 years, most recently as Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of Information Management & Compliance. She was the legal advisor and led the strategic growth and development of the data privacy, enterprise records and compliance programs for AAG. During her career at Alaska, Aileen also led the environmental affairs and sustainability programs, along with Senior Attorney responsibilities for Regulatory & Commercial Law and Employment & Labor Law. Prior to Alaska Airlines, Aileen was Assistant Attorney General at Washington State Attorney General’s Office, assigned to the Labor & Industries Division. While there, she practiced in the areas of wage & hour and worker’s compensation. Aileen previously spent two years as the In-house Labor Counsel with the Washington State Nurses Association. Aileen earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and Political Science from UC San Diego, and her Doctor of Law from Gonzaga University School of Law. She is an advocate for education by serving on the St. Francis of Assisi School Parent Commission and formerly on the Highline Schools Foundation. She recently was selected and served on the City of Seattle Privacy Advisory Council as thought leader for the Advisory Committee on data privacy. Her memberships include the Washington State Bar Association, Association of Corporate Counsel, American Bar Association Air & Space Forum, International Association of Privacy Professionals and Association of Records Managers & Administrators.
Tiffany DeHaan
Senior Associate, Organizational Effectiveness, Point B | Board member since 2016
Tiffany DeHaan is a Senior Associate in the Organizational Effectiveness practice at Point B. Tiffany has over 14 years of experience leading strategic business and information technology initiatives to improve business results for clients in a variety of sectors including non-profit, healthcare, insurance, software and travel. Tiffany is a results driven, strategic thinker and innovative leader. Her focus areas include project and program management, communication, change management, business readiness, process and operations improvement, and facilitation. Tiffany holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree (magna cum laude) in Business Administration – Management Information Systems from Oregon State University. Tiffany has a deep interest in supporting efforts focused around children and education. She has volunteered at several nonprofits including Program for Early Parent Support (PEPS), Junior Achievement (JA), Eastside Baby Corner, WithinReach and CHOICES. Tiffany is married with two sons and enjoys spending time with her family and being active.
Sana Gebarin
Managing Director of Maintenance, Horizon Air, Alaska Air Group | Board member since 2017
Known for her strategic mindset and acumen for team building, Sana Gebarin has spent her career helping companies solve complex business problems that quickly impact their bottom line. Currently, she serves as Managing Director of Maintenance Operations for Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group. She oversees Horizon’s line maintenance technicians, as well as the maintenance repair and planning organizations. Sana first joined Horizon in 2015 as the Director of Strategy Planning and Execution and was later promoted to Managing Director. She has run several company-wide initiatives, including Commit to Compete, the E175 Jet Induction Project and a program that led to improved flight operations processes. Prior to joining Horizon, Sana served as Manager of Americas Sales Operations for Tektronix Communications; and at American Airlines, held several positions in the marketing, program management, lean and engineering departments. She also worked as a consultant engineer in the oil and gas industry. Sana earned her electrical engineering degree at Oklahoma State, and she’s lived in four countries and 10 states. She says the Pacific Northwest is her chosen home, and favorite place by far. When not exploring the surrounding area, she enjoys traveling, running and climbing. As part of an immigrant family, Sana especially appreciates the opportunities education affords. It was through her father’s educational opportunities and accomplishments, that her family found freedom and a home in the United States and she’s excited about playing a role, through CHOICES, in helping young people people unlock their potential.
Michael Grohman
CPA, Tax Manager, PwC | Board member since 2015
Michael Grohman is a Tax Manager at PwC with a broad base of experience in individual, flow-through, corporate and non-profit taxation. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Washington Society of CPAs. Passionate about youth education, Michael has been heavily involved in PwC’s commitment to broadening and delivering financial literacy to youth in local communities. Michael earned his Master’s Degree in Professional Accounting – Taxation from the University of Washington, where he also received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, with a Major in Accounting.
Robert Luciano
Relationship Manager, Commerce Bank of Washington | Board member since 2013
Robert Luciano is a Relationship Manager for Commerce Bank of Washington. Prior to joining Commerce Bank, he was Senior Vice President at Bank of America with a focus on global commercial banking. Bob has over 24 years of bank experience working in various capacities in both the retail and commercial bank. Bob holds a bachelors of arts degree in business economics from Seattle University. He has been active in the community for many years. He has served as volunteer presenter for CHOICES for 15 years. He currently serves as board member and treasurer for the Breakfast Group and is on the board of directors for Leadership Tomorrow. Bob is married with two sons and enjoys spending time with his family and volunteering in the community.
Bert Markovich
Attorney, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt | Board member since 2011
Bert Markovich has tried over 100 cases through verdict, and has won more than 90 percent of the cases that he has tried. He has focused his practice on the defense of maritime claims, complex litigation (including class action and mass tort litigation), and the defense of claims involving product liability. Bert also represents insurance carriers in coverage work and bad faith litigation as well as Northwest commercial vessel interests, a large tanker operator, and numerous marine underwriters. He represents several manufacturers in product liability litigation including: Atlas Copco, Bayer, Nacco, and Merck. Much of the product liability work that he does involves the pharmaceutical industry. He also has extensive experience in professional liability litigation. Bert represents clients in federal and state courts in Alaska, Washington and Oregon. Bert has been recognized as a Washington Super Lawyer, which is an annual listing of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement and he is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest acknowledgement for legal ability and ethics. Bert holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from Montana State University, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Oregon School of Law. He is a member of the Oregon State Bar Association, the Washington State Bar Association, and the King County Bar Association, and has given numerous speeches and presentations on trial practice, maritime law, products liability, and complex litigation. Bert is a former middle school teacher, and has coached youth sports for many years.
Leo Muller
Executive Director, CHOICES Education Group | Board member since 1993
Leo Muller is Executive Director of CHOICES Education Group, provider of the nationally distributed CHOICES stay-in-school workshop for middle and high school students. Leo has 31 years of non-profit social enterprise leadership experience developing and executing cause-marketing relationships, business-education partnerships and volunteerism programs with Fortune 500 companies, chambers of commerce, service clubs and school systems. As Executive Director of CHOICES Education Group since 1996, Leo has also fulfilled fundraising responsibilities for CHOICES, with a primary focus on program development, fund development and community development. Leo is a coach and judge for the Seattle Pacific University Social Venture Plan Competition, and a national conference speaker and panelist. He is an active member of the Lake Union Rotary Club, and has served as a member of the Nordstrom Scholarship Selection Committee and has been on the Board of the Children’s Music Foundation, the Washington Association of Partners in Education, the National Alliance of Business Task Force on Teacher Quality, the Washington State Partnership for Family Involvement in Education and the Alliance for Education School-To-Work Community Planning Group. Leo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business from Seattle Pacific University. He is married and has two adult children that both attended Seattle Public Schools.
Erika Schmidt
Principal, Sappington | Board member since 2017
Erika Schmidt, APR, is a principal at Sappington, a Seattle-based agency that empowers ambitious leaders by giving them the confidence and tools they need to advance technology, business, and culture in today’s established companies. She is Sappington’s evangelist, client service champion, and communication expert. She is responsible for minding the brand, spreading the word, and attracting great companies to work with Sappington. In her role as communication counselor, she resolves clients’ internal and external communication challenges that result from significant organizational changes. Erika is a highly skilled in guiding company leaders to success through communication strategies that break down the traditional barriers which often divide groups. For more than two decades, she has provided consulting services to company leadership across multiple industries, including architecture, construction, insurance, legal services, environmental, manufacturing, hospitality, and professional services. A change-embracer and a change-maker, her 20+ years of award-winning communication and coaching experience are invaluable for mid-market leaders facing company-wide technology and business transition and cultural shifts.
Amarnath Srinivasan
Senior Software Engineer, Layer | Board member since 2011
Amar Srinivasan is a senior software engineer at San Francisco mobile startup Layer. Previous to Layer, Amar worked on the email team for the Windows Phone at Micro-soft, designing and developing email and text-messaging applications. Upon first joining Microsoft he worked for the Internet Explorer team. Prior to Microsoft, Amar worked for the Center for Advanced Imaging for West Virginia University, where he designed and developed computer control systems and user interfaces for medical devices used in detecting cancer. Amar was part of Microsoft’s Seattle Works Day organizing committee, which organizes an event that draws 300 volunteer participants annually. He also served as lead and volunteer for projects that involve helping local organizations such as schools and parks. Amar teaches climbing courses as a volunteer instructor, and also leads climbing and other outdoor activities. Amar holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and Engineering from SRM Engineering College, University of Madras, India, and a Master of Science in Computer Science from West Virginia University, where he also served as School Student President, Class President, and as lead and member for various committees, and organized and managed large cultural and technical events, trips and seminars. Amar enjoys alpine climbing, travel, running, volunteering and programming.
Carsten Stehr
Senior Vice President, Regional Director, Bank of America | Board member since 2016
Carsten Stehr is the Pacific Region Director for Bank of America’s Real Estate Services Division, overseeing a portfolio of bank occupied retail and administrative properties with more than 10 million square feet across nine western states. His responsibilities include oversight of the implementation of real estate strategies in support of Line of Business and enterprise goals, financial oversight of $400 million in operating expenses, and governance and control over the Integrated Facility Management services provided by outsourced Facility Partners. Carsten is a graduate of United Way’s Leadership Tomorrow, class of 2004. He has supported community outreach organizations dating back to his senior year at Oregon State University where he volunteered at the local United Way Community Outreach Center with the Crisis Line. Carsten has devoted his volunteer time supporting CHOICES Education Group, Habitat for Humanity, NW Harvest and Boys and Girls Club. Carsten is married and is a father to two daughters. He enjoys hiking, biking and spending time with his family.
Donald Tefft
Southern California District Manager of Human Resources, United Parcel Service | Board member since 2011
Donald Tefft, Jr. is the District Manager of Human Resources for United Parcel Service for southern California. Prior to this role, he served as the Human Resources Operations Manager for UPS in six northwestern states. Don has over 25 years of HR experience. He holds a Bachelors of Science degree from Puget Sound University in pre-law and a Juris Doctorate degree from the Northwestern School of Law. Don has been extremely committed to serving his community throughout his career. He was one of three people selected from more than 350,000 to receive special recognition for his involvement in his local community. Don joined the board of CHOICES in 2011. He has also served on the boards of the Youth Employment Institute and the Serendipity Center. Don has also served as a volunteer for several nonprofits, including Children’s Cancer Association, Rebuilding Together, Oregon Food Bank, House of Umoja, and coaching youth sports. Don is married and they have two boys. His favorite activity is spending quality time with his family.
EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERS
James Elias
Founding Director, CHOICES Education Group | Board member since 1985 
Jim Elias has been on the board of CHOICES Education Group since the organization’s inception. Prior to his retirement he was Executive Director of Technology Assessment for U S WEST Communications. Previous positions with U S WEST included roles in marketing, public relations, construction, customer service and corporate resource management. Elias has also worked extensively with the Human Interface Technology Laboratory at the University of Washington on applications of Virtual Reality for education. He speaks internationally on the future of technology, serves on several boards of community organizations, and has managed a successful U.S. Senate campaign.
Michael Repass
Investor | Board member since 2009
Mike Repass is an investor who has owned and managed apartment buildings and other real estate and financial investments for more than 35 years in Seattle. He also worked for the U.S. Department of Labor for seven years evaluating employment and training programs in New England and the Pacific Northwest. Mike was a Vista (Volunteers in Service to America) Volunteer in south Georgia and a Vista Supervisor in the Appalachian Mountains of Georgia in the late 1960’s. He has a BA in Business from the University of Washington and a MA in Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota. Mike is currently on the Board of the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) and the UW Press Advisory Board. He was a founding Board member of the University of Washington School of Business Administration Alumni Association, and has also served on the University of Washington Foundation Board, the Board of Trustees of the Municipal League of King County, the Friends of the University of Washington Libraries Board, and the boards of the Pacific Northwest Friends of the Carter Center, Scripps College, Seattle Country Day School, Seattle Center Fund and Seattle Emergency Housing Services. Mike was co-chair of parent fundraising for Scripps College and Wellesley College, and has done fundraising for other organizations as well.