
The LeadingAge Washington Leadership Institute vision is to develop leaders who will serve their organizations, state affiliates and the field of aging services in an exemplary, dynamic and innovative fashion. Our past and future class of leaders will be the pioneers for the future of aging services. Applications for our 2023 Leadership Team has closed! 2023 Fellows to be announced.
Our Mission
The LeadingAge Leadership Institute provides meaningful leadership and growth opportunities which emphasize the vital importance of relationship building, emotional intelligence and transformational leadership skills.
Values
- Integrity and Honesty
- Collaboration and Commitment
- Responsiveness and Open Communication
- Respect and Generous Listening
- Trust Building
- Innovation
Benefits
- Learn how leaders become more authentic through clarification of personal values and their own leadership philosophy.
- Understand the concepts behind distributed leadership and empowerment.
- Explore how paradigm shifts occur, supporting environments of creativity and innovation.
- Become aware of how a leader’s emotions influence the workplace and everyone in it.
- Discover the secret of building trust at multiple levels-with others, within organizations, and communities at large.
Meet our 2021-2022 Coaches and Alumni
Coach Jonathan Boyer, Executive Director, Judson Park; Coach Rob Lanouette, Community Relations Director, Wesley Des Moines; Christine Hall, Marketing and Public Relations Sr. Director, Franke Tobey Jones; Coach Dave Foltz, CALA, Retired, Transforming Age |
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Alumni: Katelynn Houck, Herons’s Key, Gig Harbor, Executive Director; Joel Camp, Consonus Healthcare Services, PTA/Rehab Director; Casey McCoy, Northaven Senior Living, Operations Director; Chris Eager, Fred Lind Manor, Dining Services Director; Erica Gaertner, McKay Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Administrator; Robin Abt, Optum, Sales Account Manager; Kayla Hawkins, Bayview, Staff Scheduler and Central Supply; Kristina Singh, Cascade Park Gardens, Administrator |
Meet our 2020 Graduates
Congratulations to our 2020 graduates and their organizations for supporting their journey through COVID! Alumni

Congratulations! 2013-14 Leadership Institute Graduates
Jay Aguas. Nikkei Concerns – Nikkei Manor; Brooks Brainerd, Sage Architectural Alliance; Jonalyn Brown, Consonus Healthcare; Rosalinda Fernandez, Nikkei Concerns – Seattle Keiro; Phyllis Gearring-Anderson, Optum Post Acute Services; Suzanne Gollhofer, Nikkei Concerns – Seattle Keiro; Tim Graves, Crista Shores; Lawana King, Gardens at Juanita Bay; Kathy Knutzen, Christian Health Care Center; Robby Lanouette, Tacoma Lutheran; Wendy Li, Nikkei Concerns – Seattle Keiro; Chris Manio, Northaven; Kate Quebe, Franke Tobey Jones; Deanna Simpson-McNeal, Tacoma Lutheran; Bob Taylor, Sodexo/Tacoma Lutheran; Thea Van-Houl, Wesley Homes; Laura Williams, Garden Village; Roberto Yranela, Covenant Shores
2013 Leadership Institute Alumni
Alumni: Diana Buckalew, Garden Village; Annika DiNovi, Cristwood Nursing and Rehab; Karen Gamble, Covenant Shores; Mary Hindall, Consonus Healthcare Services; Anthony Laflen, Consonus Healthcare Services; Chris Magill, Franke Tobey Jones; Julie Martin, LeadingAge Washington; Carlene Marquis, Tacoma Lutheran Retirement; Annie Morningstar, Franciscan System Services; Cynthia Pack, Evercare; Edwin Pasion, Nikkei Concerns – Seattle Keiro; Catherine Reis-El Bara, Christian Health Care Center; Cindy Sears, Columbia Lutheran Home; Tracy Starcher, Nikkei Concerns – Seattle Keiro; Valerie Thiel, SAGE Architectural Alliance; Scott Wotring, Sodexo (Warm Beach) Coaches: Karmen Hudson, The Kenney; R. Kevin McFeely, The Hearthstone; Glen Melin, Crista Shores; Mark Mullen, Fred Lind Manor; Facilitator: Michele Holleran, DeArment Consulting
2012 Leadership Institute Alumni
Becky Bearden, Consonus Healthcare Services; Yoko Berthet, Nikkei Concerns – Seattle Keiro; Valerie Blanco, Garden Village; Sheryl Breidenbach, Evercare; Meagan Clark, The Gardens at Juanita Bay; Kristine Grant, Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Community; Jean Henkels, Covenant Shores; Twila Lorenzen, University of WA, Tacoma; Jerry Nelner, Consonus Healthcare Services; John Storz, CRISTA Senior Living; Eugenia Vinyar, Emerald Heights; Karen Lee Werner, Sodexo Senior Living.
2011 Leadership Institute Alumni
Alumni: Sherlyn Bessette, Judson Park; Jessica Chow, Nikkei Concerns – Seattle Keiro; Ben Coffman Infinity Rehab; Susan Cottrell, Timber Ridge at Talus; Linda Coulson, Evercare; Pete Del Signore, Consonus Healthcare Services; Jan Dion, Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Community; Pamela Gill, Cristwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center; Karmen Hudson, The Kenney; Mark Linden, Exeter House; Janice Pate, Covenant Shores; Naniofa Poulivaati-Mounga, Wesley Homes Des Moines; Alisa Sands, Warm Beach Senior Community; Kelly Scott, Living Care Retirement Community; Joanie Vivaz, Wesley Homes
2010 Leadership Institute Alumni
Alumni: (Back L-R) Nikole Jay, Emerald Heights; Joy Del Calzo, The Kenney; Sharon Christor, Tacoma Lutheran; Kevin McFeely, The Kenney; Dan DeBoise, Riverview Retirement Community; Deneen Richardson, Evercare; Lynette Ladenburg, Tacoma Lutheran; (Front L-R) Anne Arakaki-Lock, Covenant Shores; Tracy Fritts, Consonus Healthcare Services; Shelley O’Brien, Caroline Kline Galland Home; Christine Bachman Hall, Franke Tobey Jones; Marlita Basada, Covenant Shores; Lisa Meinecke, Wesley Homes; David Heyer, Columbia Lutheran Home; Darlene Storti, Northaven; Russ Akiyama, Judson Park; Pat Sylvia, Aging Services; Michele Holleran, Holleran & Associates – (not pictured) Manisha Desai, Sodexo Senior Services; Laura Hofmann, Warm Beach.
The LeadingAge Washington Leadership Institute vision is to develop leaders who will serve their organizations, state affiliates and the field of aging services in an exemplary, dynamic and innovative fashion. This new class of leaders will be the pioneers for the future of aging services.
2023 Dates
Participants will engage in four face-to-face learning experiences that include visits to member communities, intimate conversations with aging services leaders and self-exploration of leadership styles through exercises and readings. Dates & themes are as follows:
- January 11-12, 2023 * Judson Park, Des Moines – Values Based Leadership
- March 15-16, 2023 * Consonus Healthcare, Milwaukie, OR, – Innovation and Change Management
- April 26-27, 2023 * Northaven Senior Living, N. Seattle, – Relationship Management
- June 13-14, 2023 * Semiahmoo, Blaine, – Self Management

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Questions?
Contact Pat Sylvia, Director of Education and Member Development, LeadingAge Washington
PSylvia@LeadingAgeWA.org |
2023 Faculty:
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- Tracy Fritts, Vice President of Leadership Development, Consonus Healthcare, Facilitator
- Karmen Hudson, Marketing & Sales Director, Judson Park, Co-Facilitator
Coaches:
- Jonathan Boyer, Executive Director, Judson Park
- Brooke Kasten, Associate Executive Director, Skyline Seattle
- Dave Foltz, Principal, Rhythm Senior Living Consulting, (Retired Executive Director)
- Christine Hall, Marketing and Public Relations Sr. Director, Franke Tobey Jones
Sponsored by:

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