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Click on board member's
name to see bio
Ken
Kleve began his involvement with Little Bit in
1994 as a Volunteer in the arena. His background in Finance
was soon tapped as he was asked to join the Board as Treasurer.
Since then Ken has served in various Board positions including
2003 President. Ken is Vice-President of Sales and Operations
at MaestroSoft, Inc.
John
Merner is the Director of Seattle Center Productions
where he works to produce events and programs that inspire
the spirit and bring our community together. John is the
father of two fine young boys who keep him in touch with
youthful priorities.
Mike
Dunmire has been involved with Little Bit for more
than 20 years. He recently retired as the CEO of Benchmark
Plus Partners a firm which specializes in investing in alternative
(esoteric and complex) investments for institutional and
high net worth individuals.
Lish
Whitson joined the Little Bit Board after attending
an auction and touring the Center during classes. He said
it brought tears to his eyes and joy to his heart to observe
the excitement and enthusiasm of the children when he saw
them get up on the horses and start riding. Lish has been
a trial lawyer for 30 years. He was elected to membership
in the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American
Board of Trial Advocates. He has litigated virtually every
type of civil case, but his practice emphasizes litigation
in commercial, medical malpractice, health care, product
liability, consumer class actions and personal injury law.
Lish is also an experienced mediator and arbitrator. He
is a past Governor of the Washington State Bar Association
and a past Trustee of the King County Bar Association. He
received the KCBA's Pro Bono Award in 1993 and Outstanding
Lawyer Award in 2000. www.WhitsonLaw.com
Morgan
Wheaton joined the board in 2005 as a way to get
involved in the community, having moved to Woodinville with
his family from Colorado the prior year. Based on over eight
years of board service with two other non-profits, he jumped
at the chance to join Little Bit because of the tremendous
impact therapeutic riding has on peoples' lives, and the
opportunity to be involved with such a well run organization
that is poised for ongoing success. He works for Microsoft,
where he is the Director of Worldwide Existing Customer
Marketing for the Dynamics accounting software product line.
Cindy
Swanson and her family have been involved in community
service on a variety of levels and discovered Little Bit
during a search for a program that was helping to improve
the lives of children and animals. What a perfect fit Little
Bit offered. She has a Masters Degree in Education from
Seattle University and taught for a number of years in the
private sector before she decided to stay at home with her
3 children 10½ years ago. She has loved being given
the opportunity to learn and share the Little Bit story
with the people around her.
Sally
Gregg joined the Little Bit Board of Directors
in 2006, with 23 years of real estate experience. Currently
an Associate Broker for John L. Scott, Sally has also served
as co-chair of the Board of Directors for Hopelink, and
is a member of the John L. Scott Foundation. Sally owns
two horses, and looks forward to working with the Little
Bit riders as much as working on strategic planning. During
her tenure on the Board, Sally plans to be able to contribute
in the areas of fundraising and public relations.
Amanda
Madorno joined the board in 2006 after moving to
Woodinville where she owns three Arabians, a rescue donkey,
two rescue goats, and one cat. Her lifelong love of horses
and personal experiences with their healing influences in
human lives, led her to Little Bit as a way to become more
involved in her new community. She serves the nonprofit
sector as a coach and ally to executives and boards, works
periodically as an interim executive, and speaks across
the country on executive transition and organizational development
issues. She is particularly interested in blending leadership
coaching with experiential learning, using horses as teachers
and guides in the process. In a former life, Amanda sang
professionally.
Nancy Lobisser came to us through her
now college aged daughter who volunteered here in high
school. Her daughter has been a horse person since the
third grade. Nancy knows the life benefits that have come
to her daughter through horses and appreciates the chance
to help Little Bit continue to reach as many riders as
possible.
Patricia (Patti) Anderson, former cowgirl,
is a plaintiff's lawyer with the Luvera Law Firm in Seattle
whose clients include children who have benefited from
Little Bit's hippotherapy programs. She grew up in Issaquah,
graduated from Whitworth College and Seattle University
School of Law with honors, and makes her home in Kirkland
with her husband, Mike, and their two teenage sons.
Patti has served a wide variety of non-profit organizations,
including:
- Environmental stewardship through Denny Creek Neighborhood
Alliance, www.dennycreek.org, as 2004-2006 President
and Immediate-Past President, 2003-2004 At-Large;
- Human rights advocacy through Amnesty International
Local Group 624, www.amnestyusa.org, co-founder and
chair 1999-2004; and
- Enjoying Korean-American adoptive families through
Korean Identity Development Society, www.koreanidentity.org,
as a parent, as Director of 2002 Teen Summer Camp, and
as Co-director of 1998 Summer Camp for preschoolers
through teens.
Kate Riffle Roper joined the Little
Bit board in April 2007. She has been active in and served
on the board of a variety of non -profit organizations
that have moved their organizations to "the next
level" in providing services. Trained as a lawyer,
Kate gave up her practice to negotiate motherhood of five
active children and support the entrepreneurial efforts
of several family members, while extending her volunteer
and charitable efforts. She is excited to join Little
Bit in their effort to make a real difference to their
clients' lives.
Barbara Burnett was born and raised
in San Diego, CA, and graduated from San Diego State University
with a degree in Psychology. Barbara spent 15 years in
the retail industry — as a buyer for the Fed Mart
Corporation, the May Co., and the Navy Resale System.
Barbara moved to Woodinville, WA in 1986 when her husband,
Charlie, joined Costco Wholesale. Barbara took on her
most rewarding and challenging career in 1987 when she
became Mom to daughter Alyssa.
In 1989 when Alyssa's developmental disabilities began
to unfold, Barbara became and advocate for children with
special needs. Throughout the years, she has been very
involved in all aspects of Alyssa's special education
program, working with the school district to ensure an
appropriate program for Alyssa. Barbara has served in
many volunteer positions within her community of Woodinville,
The Northshore School District, including PTA and the
Special Education Parent's Advisory Council.
She spent 4 years as a member of the Little Bit board
of directors, where she was active in fundraising efforts
as the Reins of Life Auction chair, and co-chair of the
golf tournament. Barbara continues to serve on the Little
Bit Advisory Board.
In 2004, Barbara and Charlie started the private, non-profit
organization, the Northwest Academy for Exceptional Children,
in order to provide an appropriate education and lifelong
community setting for children with autism. Barbara has
been married to Charles V. Burnett since 1979. In addition
to their daughter Alyssa, Charlie has two daughter, Valerie
and Vicki, grandchildren Scott, Lance, Lizzy, and Jake
and two grandchildren of the heart, Drew and Matteo.
Charles Burnett is the co-founder of
Northwest Academy for Exceptional Children and a Senior
Vice President, Pharmacy at Costco Wholesale Corporation,
which he joined in 1986. Charles graduated from the University
of Arizona, College of Pharmacy in 1959 and in 1969, graduated
from law school at the University of San Diego. Charles
was a Vice President of FedMart Corporation where he was
the General Manager of The Pharmacy Division from 1971
to 1982. Mr. Burnett was President of SavMart of San Diego
Corporation until 1986, a small Pharmacy chain that he
founded in 1982.
Charles is married to Barbara Burnett and is the father
of three children. His youngest child, Alyssa was born
in 1987 and is severely affected with Autism. She is a
rider at Little Bit, and is Charles' inspiration for the
development of NWAEC, a school for severely-disabled children
not adequately served by the public school systems. Charles
and his wife currently serve on the Advisory Board.
Dr. Charles A. Cowan, MD is the clinical
director, Care Coordination Services at Children's Hospital
and clinical professor of Pediatrics at the University
of Washington. He specializes in developmental pediatrics
and works on issues related to autism. As an advocate
for children with disabilities, Dr. Cowan serves on the
Advisory Board of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center
as well as the board of the Kindering Center.
Stephen T. Glass, MD is a child neurologist
specializing in developmental neurology and currently
treats children in his private practice at Northwest Child
Neurology in Woodinville, Washington. Dr. Glass is an
honors graduate of Harvard College and the University
Of Vermont College Of Medicine. He completed both his
residency in Pediatrics and residency in Neurology/Child
Neurology at the University of Washington Hospitals and
Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center and
is board certified in both disciplines. Dr. Glass is an
active staff member of both Swedish Hospital and Medical
Center and Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center.
He has served as the Medical Director of Children's Therapy
Center of Kent since 1984. Dr. Glass has prescribed hippotherapy
as a supplement to traditional physical and occupational
therapy for more than 20 years and has been a longstanding
supporter of Little Bit. Currently, Dr. Glass serves on
the Advisory Board and Capital Campaign Cabinet at Little
Bit.
Ted Herb is currently Vice President
at GLY construction. He came to Little Bit initially as
a project management helper for the last major expansion.
David O'Brien was the board president and the time and
Linda Kelleran was the Executive Director. Ted's connection
and interest relates to his brother who has Asperger's
Syndrome and developmental delays. In addition to serving
on Little Bit's Advisory Board and Strategic Planning
Committee, Ted currently serves on the Bellevue Chamber
of Commerce Board as well as the Overlake Hospital Business
Development Committee. In the past he has chaired the
Advisory Board for the UW College of Architecture and
Planning. Ted lives in the woods in Redmond with his wife
and teenaged son.
Linda Kelleran, a native of Washington,
Linda was raised in North Seattle, and has had a philanthropic
bent since an early age. Linda came to Little Bit when
a friend enrolled her as a volunteer and she quickly fell
in love. As Linda herself says, "They had me at hello."
In a very short time she went from hands-on to knee-deep
— from a program volunteer, to an Evergreen Classic
volunteer to a Little Bit Board member. In 1983 Linda
decided to suspend her freelance activities for six months
and become an Interim Executive Director at Little Bit.
Over the next ten years, Linda guided the organization
through the Stable Future Capital Campaign, building administrative
offices, a larger arena, and a more accessible barn. Linda
is a huge part of the Little Bit success story and is
pleased to continue her dedicated service to the organization
by sitting on the Advisory Board and Capital Campaign
Cabinet.
Jeff Renner is the chief meteorologist
for KING 5 News, and serves as the weeknight weather anchor
for KING 5 News at 5, 630 and 11 pm. He also writes the
daily forecast for the Seattle Times. After graduating
from University of Wisconsin in 1975 with degrees in journalism
and political science, Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington
in 1988. He has written several books on meteorology,
including Mountain Weather, Lightning Strikes (on thunderstorm
safety) and Northwest Marine Weather. Jeff has been the
Master of Ceremonies at our annual Reins of Life Auction
for over a decade. In addition to his service on the advisory
board of Little Bit, Jeff is on the advisory board of
International Mountain Guides and the University of Washington
department of Atmospheric Sciences. He has also served
on the Pacific Science Center Science Advisory Council.
In addition to being an avid skier, scuba diver, equestrian,
climber and backpacker, Jeff also holds a commercial pilot's
license for land and seaplanes, and is a former certified
flight instructor. Jeff lives in Sammamish with his wife
and son.
Robin Krueger
Krueger is a Partner in the Seattle practice of Tatum,
LLC where she specializes in financial leadership, mergers
& acquisitions, raising capital, CFO mentoring, controllership,
and public and emerging growth companies.
Krueger holds a Post-MBA Certificate in Accounting from
The Seattle University, an MBA International Business
from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of
Business Administration from University of Washington.
She serves as a Trustee for the Seattle Children’s
Theatre and Junior Achievement of Washington and joined
the Little Bit Board in November of 2007.
Mary-Lou Misrahy
serves as President and CEO of Physicians Insurance A
Mutual Company, the largest medical professional liability
insurer in the Northwest. She also serves as the Vice
Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Washington Physicians
Health Program. Both organizations are focused on improving
the quality of medical care in Washington. Her lifelong
personal passion is horses. She is currently riding with
Shelly Kerron at Legacy Hunters and Jumpers, where she
competes in the Hunter Division throughout the Northwest.
Her deep commitment to horses and involvement in the medical
community will allow her to make a meaningful contribution
to the Little Bit Board.
Dr. Jane Todaro
recently retired as a pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr.
Todaro was in private practice at Minor and James Medical
in Seattle and on the staff of Children's Hospital and
Swedish Hospital. She learned first about Little Bit from
her patients. "Their exposure to Little Bit was invaluable."
Dr. Todaro has had a lifelong passion for horses and currently
owns a big, tall, friendly Swedish Warmblood named "BOY".
Todd Cowles
joined the board in the fall of 2009 after being involved
with Little Bit through his biking event, the "Stinky
Spoke". On a bit of a whim, Todd, and a small group of
friends, turned a regular January mountain-biking get-together
into a charity event. Little Bit was a natural choice
as the beneficiary since he was familiar with the wonderful
organization he biked by every day. When Todd's not biking
or trying to help make a positive contribution with Little
Bit, he's the Americas Sales Director at Trend Control
Systems, a division of Honeywell.
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