ALF Fellows Class XXXI

Todd Blodgett, JD (Criminal Justice/Law & Business)
Partner
Eisenhower Carlson PLLC

Todd Blodgett is a trust and estates attorney and partner at Eisenhower Carlson in Tacoma, where he serves on the firm’s Executive Committee and Finance Committee. He grew up in Roy, attended the Yelm schools, and received his degrees from Whitman College and Harvard Law School.

In his legal practice, Todd represents individuals, financial institutions, and nonprofit organizations with respect to estate planning, trusts, charitable giving, nonprofit governance and complex gifts.

He is the past co-Chair of the South Sound Philanthropy Summit, the past Board Chair and current Board member of Friends of the Children Tacoma, and the past President of the South Sound Planned Giving Council, as well as a 2018 recipient of the South Sound 40 under 40 award.

He spends his free time playing soccer and coaching his kids’ teams.

Jason Bosh (Corporate / Healthcare)
Vice President, Leadership Effectiveness
DaVita

Jason Bosh spends his time thinking about how to build institutions and ecosystems that spur human flourishing.  He has worked with DaVita (A Fortune 300 Healthcare company) for 17 years-  originally as an executive running a $300M division and now in leadership effectiveness, where he teaches operating exectutives how to build culture and process and helps shape DaVita’s approach to its holistic impact on its teammates.

His half-scope role at DaVita has given him time to work on The Flourishing Communities Project- an effort to foster a replicable ecosystem that provides the ingredients for human flourishing:  wisdom, financial stability, and a caring community.

He has several long-term communities important to him, including:  friends from college (UPS) that live in the same neighborhood in Tacoma, and friends from business school (Stanford) that are active with each other despite being spread out globally.   He has been married to Emily Bosh for 23 years and they have 3 awesome teenagers that keep them busy and full of joy.

Dianna Caber (Criminal Justice/Law)
Communications Center Manager
South Sound 911

Dianna Caber, was appointed Communications Center Manager for South Sound 911 in January 2019. She brings more than 13 years of experience in 911 Communications.

Dianna serves ni a leadership role, overseeing the operations of the 91 center for Pierce County serving 19 law enforcement agencies, 17 fire agencies, processing over a million cals and over 3,800 texts-to-911 annually. Most recently, Dianna has worked ni partnership with Volunteers of America ot research, develop, and launch the 988/911 Mental Health Crisis Cal Diversion Pilot Program.

Dianna and her husband Tim have five children who keep them busy ranging in age from 18 years to four months. They enjoy serving their community and attending their children’s activities and events. When possible the family escapes to their family cabin ni the woods, with no service or electronics to enjoy family time with no distractions.

Noemi Cagatin-Porter (Community Activist / Entrepreneur)
Founder
CJK Community Homes

Noemi, the founder of CJK Community Homes, a nonprofit organization committed to providing affordable housing, onsite mental health services, financial literacy, and rental reporting, is a dedicated advocate for community well-being. Beyond her professional endeavors, she actively supports CJK as it strives to build capacity and attain self-sufficiency. 

CJK Community Homes is currently serving 107 individuals, including 21 families and 28 single adults, Noemi’s passion for fostering positive change extends into her personal life. She shares a loving marriage with Lamont Porter Jr., navigating the dynamics of a blended family with four adult children. 

In the face of unforeseen challenges, Noemi and has opened their home to her parents due to a medical situation, creating a supportive environment alongside her husband and their cherished dog, Red. Her journey reflects a harmonious blend of professional commitment, familial devotion, and a deep sense of community. 

Nicholas Carr (Non-Profit / Politics & Government)
Intergovernmental Affairs Manager
Tacoma Housing Authority

Nicholas was hired as the Intergovernmental Affairs Manager for Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) in August of 2022. He brings more than a decade experience in government relations, policy evaluation, project development, and community relations/engagement.

At THA, he is responsible for agency advocacy, community engagement and representation, and managing agency innovations through federal and state partners. Prior to his hiring, Nicholas worked in conservation acquisitions and special projects at a large nonprofit. Before that he worked in the office of US Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06), as a District Representative for Tacoma, and Mason and Grays Harbor Counties. He was just appointed to Tacoma’s Charter Review Commission and serves on the Advisory Board for SSHA3P.

Nicholas and his spouse have been married for 16 years. When not at work, he enjoys cooking, hanging with his family watching movies and sports, hosting friends and extended family, and watching his son play competitive volleyball across the region. His two dogs, Emily and Elliot, are basically human and run the house.

Gretchen Caserotti (Politics & Government)
Executive Director
Pierce County Library System

Gretchen Caserotti became the Executive Director for the Pierce County Library System in 2022. She brings more than 15 years of public library leadership and innovation. Prior, she was the Library Director in Meridian, Idaho.

Gretchen is responsible for ensuring the Library delivers high quality resources and experiences to the residents of Pierce County and providing an inclusive, safe work environment for about 350 employees. She regularly served on various Boards and supports local arts organizations. Since moving to Pierce County, Gretchen contributes to her children’s school by serving as the Bookfair and Membership Chairs on the PTSA Board.

Gretchen and Henry Caserotti have been married for almost 15 years now and are raising two school-age boys in a house filled with music, art, literature, and games. They enjoy taking their two mutts for hikes and exploring their new home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. All four invested in quality rain jackets with the move.

Michael Dehner (Professional)
Senior Manager, Labor and Employee Relations
Port of Tacoma

A Portland native, Michael and his wife moved to Tacoma in the Fall of 2017 when he accepted a position with the Port of Tacoma. Prior to that, he worked in union-side Labor Relations for Oregon AFSCME and LIUNA Laborers 483 and, later, in Employee and Labor Relations and in Compliance at Kaiser Permanente.

Michael regularly volunteered in Amara’s Tacoma sanctuary (until it closed) where he spent hours rocking, comforting, playing with, feeding, and supervising bedtime routines for children who had been removed from their homes. He now volunteers building and maintaining trails, re-packing food at the Emergency Food Bank, and serving on the City of Tacoma Bicycle Pedestrian Technical Advisory Group (BPTAG).

In his free time, Michael enjoys travel, hiking, soccer, biking, backpacking, and gardening. He and his wife also enjoy weekends on the Oregon coast, day trips around Puget Sound, and seeking out new restaurants.

Dr. Nora Flemming de Sandoval (Non-Profit)
Executive Director
Safe Streets Campaign

Nora has worked as the Executive Director of Safe Streets Campaign since September 2022. A lifelong educator with a varied career, Nora has taught Spanish at Annie Wright Schools, English at Tacoma Community House, and worked as Education Manager at both LeMay-America’s Car Museum and Girl Scouts of Western Washington. She has lived, worked, and studied in New York, England, and Guatemala before settling back home in Pierce County.

Recently, she earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from UWT, writing her dissertation on bell hooks’ love ethic in a holistic work environment as a series of letters to six female ancestors who served as both role models and cautionary tales. As a leader, she is committed to creating human-oriented spaces that encourage people to embody their full, complicated selves while supporting one another in achieving common goals.

Having met in Guatemala, she and her spouse, Harley, have been together for 28 years. They live in University Place with their dogs Jira and Charlie. Their two adult children live in Portland and Seattle with their partners and the extended family enjoys getting together at their cabin on Lake Mayfield in Lewis County.

Christine Garner (Non-Profit)
Chief Operations Officer
Boys & Girls Club of South Puget Sound

Christy was recently appointed Chief Operations Officer for Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound December 1st, 2023. She brings more than 20 years of experience in non-profit, youth development leadership.   Previously, she held multiple positions with BGCSPS (Site Coordinator, Program Director, Area Branch Director) since 2010. In 2019, she became the Director of Operations at BGCSPS

She is responsible for managing the Operations Department of  more than 90 staff across Pierce, Kitsap and Mason Counties.  Her skill sets and experiences are rooted in the management and strategic development of diverse teams and quality youth programs, identifying and removing barriers to equitable opportunities for the youth and families in our community.   

Christy and her partner have been together for more than 7 years.   At home, she enjoys spending time with her partner and 15 year-old stepson watching Bob’s Burger (the 15 year-old’s fav!) , some type of comedy or watching some type of sports or just about anything on the Food Network.  Additionally, she enjoys exploring new walking and hiking trails, sporting events, concerts and exploring all the PNW has to offer!

Malik Gbenro, JD (Criminal Justice/Law & Education)
General Counsel
Tacoma Public Schools

Malik Gbenro serves as the General Counsel for Tacoma Public Schools (TPS), where he is responsible for overseeing the District’s legal affairs. Malik has been with TPS for seven years, and worked as an attorney in private practice in Seattle and Tacoma before coming to the school district. Malik’s perspective on education law is enriched by many years of experience as a classroom teacher, during which time he taught Algebra 1, Life and Earth Science, and the AVID elective.

Deeply committed to his community, Malik has dedicated many years to volunteer service in Tacoma and Pierce County, including time on the Board of Directors for YWCA Pierce County and Tacoma Community House.

Malik has been married for 12 years and is a proud parent of two children, both attending elementary school within TPS. In his spare time, Malik enjoys cooking, traveling, and supporting his children’s youth sports interests.

Cindan Gizzi (Healthcare)
Interim Director of Health
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department

Cindan Gizzi has worked at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department for more than 20 years, starting as an Epidemiologist and now serving as the Interim Director of Health. Cindan has worked in public health for more than 30 years with expertise in strategic planning, data analysis, community health assessment, program evaluation, quality improvement, strategic communications, and public health leadership.

Cindan is President-Elect of the Washington Association of Public Health Officials; is on the Pierce County Birth to 25 Advisory Board and Pierce County Child & Youth Centered Communities Visionaries team; and sings in the choir and is the capital campaign co-chair at Immanuel Presbyterian Church.

Cindan and her husband John live in Tacoma with their 2 Lhasa Apso dogs, Homer and Maggie. Their daughter Anna attends college in the other Washington, so Cindan and John continue to practice being empty-nesters.

Teresa Green (Politics & Government / Professional)
Senior Business Services Manager, Finance Division
Tacoma Fire Department

Teresa Green was appointed to manage the Finance Division for the City of Tacoma Fire Department in July 2019. She brings more than 20 years of experience in budget, accounting, financial stewardship, staff management, and operational curiosity to the role. She is responsible for leading a dynamic team of financial and customer service professionals, with tasks ranging from accounts payable, payroll, contracting and risk management, and Emergency Medical Services billing valued at over $30 million per year in City revenue.

Prior to her appointment, Teresa spent seven years in the City of Tacoma’s Office of Management and Budget where she developed budgets for all areas of the City’s operations, including acting as a member of public safety labor bargaining, creating and updating internal rate models and allocations, and leading a group of budget analysts as they established budgets for operating and internal service departments. She was an accountant for Russell Investment Group and a Project Coordinator for The News Tribune prior to becoming a public servant.

Teresa and her husband have been together for 10 years and share custody of two children – a 14-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter. At home, they enjoy family games and movies, video games, walking the neighborhood trails, and driving their two cats crazy with a laser pointer.

Stephon Harris (Education)
Associate Director, New Student & Family Programs
University of Washington, Tacoma

Stephon Harris is the Associate Director of New Student and Family Programs for the University of Washington Tacoma. He has worked in education over 15 years in K-12 and in higher ed roles focusing on community-based college access, co-curricular programming, persistence and student-facing DEI work.

He has volunteered for organizations such as Tacoma MESA, the College Success Foundation, Jack and Jill of America, Palmer Scholars and sat on the Board of Directors for Peace Community Center prior to the pandemic and is reestablishing his involvement in community work.

Stephon grew up in Sacramento, California (Light the beam and go Kings!) where his love for all thing’s athletics began. He and his wife Tiffany have been married almost 10 years and enjoy raising and hanging out with their two elementary school aged children, dog, and extended family. When not at home, you can find the Harris crew traveling to the Oregon coast, at the YMCA or on random adventures. 

Jonathan Jackson, MBA (Entrepreneur)
Chief Executive Officer, Principal
Thought Partner Solutions, LLC

Jonathan is a Pierce County native, born and raised in Lakewood, WA. His professional experience has revolved largely around providing young adults with access to resources they need in order to be successful in both their personal and academic/professional lives. In his current role as CEO/Principal for Thought Partner Solutions, LLC, Jonathan brings over 15 years of leadership experience to his clients, offering professional coaching and strategic advising with a deep understanding of organizational governance.

Most recently, Jonathan served as the Executive Director for Palmer Scholars, a Pierce-County non- profit that takes a holistic approach to serving young adult of color in pursuit of their educational and career goals after high school. Prior to this role, Jonathan served as the Executive Director for the Fair Housing Center of Washington, Director of Development for the Foundation for Tacoma Students, and Program Director with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Jonathan holds an MBA from Pacific Lutheran University, where he’s also pursuing an M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy. He is an active board member in various educational and community organizations, including Pacific Lutheran University’s Alumni Board, and the University of Washington-Tacoma’s School of Education Advisory Board. In his free time, Jonathan enjoys family time, weight training, and audiobooks.

Lisa Jaret (Arts)
Program Manager, Tacoma Creates
City of Tacoma

Lisa Jaret joined the City of Tacoma’s Arts & Cultural Vitality Division in 2019 to lead the implementation of Tacoma Creates, the state’s first voter-approved, tax-supported cultural access program. She brings 30 years of experience in arts management in the non-profit and public sectors.

For Tacoma Creates, Lisa oversees funding processes to support over 60 arts, culture, heritage, and science nonprofits, with a focus on expanding equitable access to cultural events and youth education programs. She manages a variety of partnerships and projects designed to sustain and expand our local cultural sector. Previously, she worked for the Washington State Arts Commission, where she managed funding programs and worked to strengthen K-12 arts education as part of basic education in Washington State.

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master’s in Not-For-Profit Leadership from Seattle University. She has lived in the Pacific Northwest since 1992, and loves being near water and trees and great places for long walks.

Rosa McLeod (Politics & Government)
Regional Relations Manager
Tacoma Public Utilities

Prior to Tacoma Public Utilities, Rosa McLeod worked as Senior Government Affairs Advisor for the City of Tacoma from February 2021 to January 2024. She also worked for U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell from 2015 to 2021, first as the South Sound and Olympic Peninsula Outreach Director and more recently as Deputy State Director. Before moving to government, Rosa worked for 2 Washington State reproductive rights political organizations for 7 years. She also served on the board of the Northwest Abortion Access Fund (formerly known as the CAIR Project) for 5 years.

Rosa is a first generation American. Born and raised in Tacoma, Rosa lived in Mexico City and the Yucatán Peninsula as a teenager before returning to Tacoma to finish high school and attend Pacific Lutheran University. Rosa is very close with her family and enjoys spending time with her twin sister. When at home, Rosa relaxes by herding 6 naughty backyard chickens and 2 dogs.

Roderick Morrison, JD (Education / Professional)
Vice President of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
Tacoma Community College

Roderick Morrison, JD joined Tacoma Community College as Vice President of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in August 2021. Roderick brings more than 10 years of experience in higher education, specifically in working to remove barriers for historically excluded populations.

Mr. Morrison joined TCC after serving as the Senior Associate Director of Diversity, Equity & Admission at Seattle University School of Law. He earned his BA in English from the University of Michigan and his JD from the University of Illinois College of Law. Mr. Morrison is a licensed attorney in the state of Illinois and has served in various teaching and administrative capacities at the University of Michigan, University of Illinois, Seattle University, and now TCC.

Mr. Morrison has a strong passion for social justice and equity and has attended the Annual Meeting of Law School Diversity Professionals Conference for several years. He is a member of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) and has attended the NADOHE conference yearly. In 2019, Mr. Morrison was inducted into the inaugural National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Ujima Institute where he received intensive training regarding working in Student Affairs and DEI in higher education.

In his free time Mr. Morrison enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 daughters, reading, and taking part in any sporting activity available. He is also an avid concert goer and enjoys travelling and is an aspiring foodie.

Rady Oum (Education)
Assistant Director, English Language Learners
Tacoma Public Schools

Rady Mey Oum is the Assistant Director of Multilingual Learners for Tacoma Public Schools.  She has been in the education field for 34 years in various roles and programs. She is a positive and enthusiastic leader that focuses on equity and accessibility. Rady’s strength is gathering and analyzing student data to generate instructional strategies to assist at-risk learners as well as challenging those who perform above grade level. Through her work, she has been able to support refugee students and families from Afghanistan and Ukraine. She shows passion in facilitating professional development, modeling, and coaching GLAD strategies to teachers.  She speaks Khmer fluently and offers solid comprehension of cultural diversity.

Rady is the founder and president of the Cambodian Classical and Folk Dance of Northwest.  She has more than 35+ years in instructing Cambodian Royal Ballet to youth across Pierce and King County. She has hosted many arts and cultural events across the state. She has seen the way arts and culture has provided a sense of acceptance and identity to many in the community. In addition, she is the vice president of the Khmer Theravadin Buddhist Association of Tacoma and Pierce County.

Rady is a refugee survivor of the Khmer genocide and fled from a war-torn country to find freedom and hope in America.  She has been married to her wonderful husband for 36 years, Vuttha Oum, and they have three amazing children.  She is a grandmother to three beautiful grandchildren, two girls and a boy.  During her spare time, she enjoys dancing and spending time in the outdoors, especially fishing.

Dr. Kristofer Radcliffe (Healthcare / Military)
Medical Director, Neurosciences
MultiCare Health System

Kristofer Radcliffe was appointed as the Medical Director for Neurosciences for MultiCare Medical Associates in April 2021 following 22 years of active duty service in the US Army and over 30 years of Army affiliation. He has over 25 years of experience as a neurologist, including experience as an educator, leader, and clinician.

He currently oversees the Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Sleep Medicine carelines for MultiCare Medical Associates in the Puget Sound Region. Prior to his current position, Kris served in multiple leadership positions for the Army, culminating in service as the Chief of Neurology at Madigan Army Medical Center and as the Neurology Consultant to the Army Surgeon General for his last four years in uniform.

Kris and his wife Andrea have been married for over 25 years. They have two children, a 23-year-old son, Hayden, and an 18-year-old daughter, Charlotte. Kris enjoys spending time with the family. A prior college hockey and lacrosse athlete, Kris enjoys watching sports and previously coached youth and high school lacrosse for over ten years, serving for five years as an assistant coach for Bellarmine’s boys varsity lacrosse team. He and his family have a dog, Dapne, and two cats, Ocean and Klaus.

Jennifer Rittenhouse (Business / Media)
Brand Manager
SiteCrafting

Jen Rittenhouse has been the Brand Manager at SiteCrafting since March 2020. She is a journalist turned marketer with more than 20 years experience. Her skills include copywriting, channel marketing strategy, branding, website management/analytics and creative.

At SiteCrafting Jen is responsible for turning the volume up on the story of the company, its clients, and the caliber of its team and work. Prior to SiteCrafting she managed the social media program for six years at a Tacoma-based health system. Before that she was a copywriter for 3 years at a local pr/communications agency. She voluntneers her time in her community for organizations, causes and campaigns that bring people together and work to dismantle racism, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. She is also a HIlltop Artists Board member.

She and her spouse Teague have two children, Stella Mae and Drew. The family has one dog (Bruno), two cats (Lafa and Billie) and one bearded dragon (Nacho).

Josette Ross (Healthcare)
Director of Client Success
Indigenous PACT PBC

Josette has dedicated her education and work to the betterment of tribal health. Transitioning from an educational background in Indigenous Studies to focusing on tribal health administration over the past 12 years, Josette knows her work is crucial in order to reduce barriers to Native people accessing the care they need and improving the quality of life for our tribal communities.

As a Nisqually, Salteaux, and Haudenosaunee descendant – and as someone who studied access to healthcare in grad school – Josette knows how hard it can be to get the care needed close to home and with an ease that should be standard for everyone in this country. The work Josette does is important because it helps reduce barriers to Native people accessing the care they need and improving the quality of life for our tribal communities.

At home, Josette enjoys spending time with her partner and three boys. They enjoy taking day trips to Portland, OR or the beach, or relaxing with their two cats, Loki and Mop.

Megan Smedsrud (Non-Profit / Professional)
Senior Impact Officer
Greater Tacoma Community Foundation

Megan Smedsrud has been working at the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation as a Senior Impact Officer since 2019.  She brings with her over a decade of experience working with youth and families as a clinical social worker and program manager.  Within this role she has supported the development of a city-wide afterschool program in Tacoma Public Schools and is currently  co-designing a grant process to disseminate funds for the Black Homeownership Initiative’s goal of 1,500 new black homeowners.

Megan also serves as the Co-Chair of the Pierce County Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board and the newly reestablished Tacoma Public Library Foundation Board as a board member.  Megan and her husband Cody have been married for over 10 years and enjoy living in Central Tacoma with their giant pup Beau. When not working in community, Megan enjoys taking part in the Extreme Reader challenge at the Tacoma Public Library and exploring Tacoma’s great eats.

Bucoda Warren (Politics & Government)
Chief Policy Analyst
City of Tacoma

Bucoda Warren was appointed as Chief of Policy Analyst for the City of Tacoma in April 2022, where he is responsible for providing direct executive level support to the Mayor, advising on current issues, managing partnerships and special initiatives, and providing responsive research and analysis and strategic facilitation in support of decision making.

Bucoda has worked professionally in local government for about 5 years, having earned his MPA in 2018 from the University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy and Governance in Seattle. Bucoda is very involved with his professional associations at the state and national levels, volunteering time to support the advancement of peer support networks and more diverse representation of public leaders in local government.

Outside of his work, Bucoda lives with his partner of four years with their two cats, Nova and Shizuku. He enjoys long-distance cycling, playing tabletop and board games, and grabbing a drink with friends.

Jayla Watje (Corporate)
Program Manager, Learning
Amazon

Jayla Watje stands out as a dynamic community leader in Tacoma, celebrated for her influential roles with Queer City Sports and the Rainbow Center. In her role at Amazon, she brings over two decades of expertise in program management, skillfully overseeing projects with a keen eye for organization and strategic planning.

Her leadership truly shines in her volunteer work. As the regional manager for Queer City Sports, Jayla is pivotal in promoting inclusivity in sports. Her board membership at the Rainbow Center further underscores her commitment to the LGBTQ+ community in South Puget Sound.

Jayla and her wife Georgette, together for seven years, are deeply involved in local LGBTQ+ initiatives and fundraisers. This involvement is a testament to their shared dedication to community nonprofits. Away from their community work, they enjoy rejuvenating through sports, travel, and spending time with their beloved dogs, embodying a balance of professional dedication and self care.