With 20+ years of combined experience as a Senior Leader in Business Operations, Leadership Development and Finance/Accounting at two Fortune 500 Companies, Taliesha brings a practical approach to ensure activities and operational infrastructure are aligned to attain desired business outcomes. She has a unique ability to blend strategic thinking with hands-on execution. Throughout her career, Taliesha has demonstrated a keen understanding of the importance of aligning activity to outcomes, identifying opportunities for optimization and collaboratively working to implement effective solutions. She has developed expertise in developing executable strategic plans, financial analysis, establishing Management Information Systems (MIS) and operating rhythms, ensuring polices are effective and equitable, scaling implementation across the organization, and engaging teams. 056740_20aef3ba0f6e4479b3704576ad176b85~mv2.jpg In addition to her professional accomplishments, she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and an MBA from the University of Washington. She has also pursued additional certifications and professional development opportunities to further enhance her portfolio. Taliesha has a passion for learning, driving efficiencies, and equitable practices!

Serving as the Multi-Service Center’s Chief Executive Officer from 2012–2024, Robin Corak has over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit management field and holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, as well as a Diversity, Inclusivity, and Equity (DEI) in the Workplace certificate from the University of South Florida. Passionate about DEI, Robin successfully implemented measurable DEI initiatives within MSC that engaged staff at all levels, the MSC Board, and other stakeholders. These initiatives resulted in significant cultural shifts within the organization and improved MSC’s ability to serve customers from all walks of life while recruiting and retaining high-quality talent. Based on measurable achievements, MSC’s DEI initiatives have been recognized by DEI consultants as a best practice. Mrs. Corak also presented as part of a panel on DEI workplace best practices at the Region 10 Community Action Conference. Robin also has proven experience in effective strategic planning, developing strategic partnerships, and developing, implementing, overseeing, and evaluating a wide range of nonprofit programs, including programs specifically designed to benefit diverse and marginalized populations. She has served on a variety of local and national boards, including the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce, Federal Way Advancing Leadership, South King County Council of Human Services, National Community Action Foundation, Communities in Schools of Federal Way, and the Washington State Community Action Partnership. Mrs. Corak has also co-facilitated leadership development workshops for adults and youth and has been an active member of Kent Rotary. In addition to her Master’s degree, Mrs. Corak has a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC). She received her professional life coach certification from Pierce College and also holds certification through the International Association of Professional Recovery Coaches (IAPRC), an organization that provides active certifications and memberships for professional coaches across various disciplines. She is also certified as a Housing Development Finance Professional, a Results-Oriented Management and Accountability trainer, a Washington State Long-Term Care Ombuds, and an End-of-Life Doula. Mrs. Corak is also a graduate of the University of Washington Evans School Nonprofit Leadership Executive Institute and has received awards including Advancing Leadership’s Bob Wroblewski Servant Leadership Award and the Soroptimists’ Federal Way Woman of Recognition Award. Robin is a published author who enjoys traveling and learning about other cultures in her spare time.

Cristina Maestre is an Executive Assistant at 828 Consulting, where she supports leadership operations, client coordination, and internal workflows with a proactive and solutions-oriented approach. She is known for being dependable, detail-oriented, and intentional in helping keep projects organized and moving forward. Cristina brings a multidisciplinary background that includes executive support, operations, design, and accounting support. She is a Filipino Virtual Assistant with nearly a decade of experience working with clients across the US and Australia, primarily as a General Bookkeeper. She is also a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and has a strong foundation in accounting and bookkeeping processes, alongside experience in presentation design, content development, and digital workflow support. Her ability to combine structure, creativity, and thoughtful execution allows her to contribute across multiple areas and support teams effectively.

Danielle (Dani) Smith is a Pacific Northwest native, MBA graduate, and entrepreneur. She pursued a career in community activism and social reform in Washington DC before returning to Seattle to obtain her MBA. Amidst the pandemic, she began her food truck business, Cafe de la Loba & Dirty Dawgz to share her love for specialty coffee and gourmet hot dogs with others. She believes that food trucks should be of high quality, sustainable, and celebrate diversity. Danielle currently serves on the Board of Directors with the Renton Rotary and the Renton Chamber of Commerce where she assists them with her Project Management expertise. Danielle uses her position to elevate the voices of small business owners, creatives and local politicians as she hosts Wild Seed the Podcast. Within all her professional responsibilities, she is dedicated to equity, diversity, inclusion, and excellence as a means of ensuring everyone has access to the resources and opportunities needed to thrive.

Jeff Dade is a Community Economic Development (CED) professional in the movement for social justice who specializes in built environment solutions and relational engagement. He operates in a nexus between affordable housing, cultural conservation, anti-displacement strategies, and belonging care work. Colleagues often note his passion for collaboration and drive to aid regional economic mobility and stability. For JD, contributing to community well-being often looks like bridging private-sector dollars, public-sector policy, and third-sector ideals into attainable initiatives for priority populations. Whether speaking on a sustainability panel, creating a Community Land Trust, teaching alternative underwriting models, or working as an Adjunct Professor, you will find JD in generative spaces working to create the conditions to eradicate America's Racial Wealth Gap with restorative economic equity that's good for everyone. JD's thirty-year career in finance has integrated his experience as a business banker, commercial lender, mortgage banker/broker, wealth manager, business owner, financial coach, and nonprofit director - including leadership positions with Fortune 500 organizations. He is an Accredited Financial Counselor certified by the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE) and holds advanced degrees from the University of Washington. He's an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. with a 25-year marriage, 4 daughters, and 3 grandchildren that keep him grounded. He likes to have options, soulful music, delicious food, profound epiphanies, and celebrating others - in no particular order.

Having originally studied and worked in the traditionally male dominated fields of science and math, Cate brought that lived experience to her DEI work as an anti-racist math educator before transitioning to leading professional trainings. In the educational sphere she strives to center equity, diversity, and relevance, and seeks to decolonize education. As an 828 consultant she positions DEI at the center of maximizing team potential and outcome success. Her activism began while growing up as a young queer woman in the early 90’s, and the feminism course that introduced her to the truth that no one is equal unless everyone is equal. Since then, Cate has developed a philosophy to combat oppression by forging unification through empathy and connection. She understands that the white-supremacist-patriarchy’s most effective tool has always been to divide, and that if we each push against our oppression from only our side, we will be pushing against each other and effectively holding up the very systems we want to dismantle. Cate’s DEI philosophy is that: Equal isn’t equal until it’s everything, that’s how equal works. In addition to her diverse careers in science, education, and outreach, Cate has been an elite and professional athlete and coach in the team sport of Ultimate for over 25 years. She thrives in a team environment, combining her experiences as an athlete, coach, and educator to help create other powerful team cultures in classrooms, on the field, and with colleagues. The hard work for social justice and DEI is best accomplished as a team, and can advance the development of a team. Our deepest relationships, and relational equity, are formed when we enter into shared struggle, be that in a project, creation, sport, or fight. Cate uses, builds, and strengthens these relationships in an interactive approach to DEI training. Cate sees a strong team as an effective way to make change and build personal development towards social justice, and that teams are made more effective by participating in this work.

Chenoa is a PhD student in University of California: San Diego’s Transforming Education in a Diverse Society program. Their undergraduate degree is in US history with an emphasis on Indigenous history. Before starting the PhD program Chenoa was a secondary public school teacher. As part of their work in the Franklin Pierce district they served on the equity and leadership teams and helped start a Gender and Sexualities Alliance and a Native and Indigenous Community Club. In their capacity as a teacher-leader they have led trainings on implicit biases, Indigenous curriculum, anti-racism, and schools’ responsibilities to their LGBTQ+ students. They are currently working on initiatives related to climate change, anti-hate messaging, and land acknowledgements. Their teaching experiences as well as being a member of the Kumeyaay and LGBTQ community have informed their work and fueled their passion to assist others in their anti-racist and decolonial efforts.

Jesse Johnson is the oldest of 4 siblings and was raised in Federal Way by Kenneth and Lucrecia Johnson.  He is a double graduate from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Masters of Education.  At the UW, Jesse interned for Congressman Adam Smith and volunteered for the Obama campaign.  Johnson was the youngest City Council member in his hometown Federal Way history when he first took office at the age of 27 after winning the election over a 2-term incumbent. He then ran and serve as the youngest member in the Washington State Legislature, where he worked on community safety issues sponsoring the most comprehensive police accountability legislation in the nation in addition to juvenile justice reform, addressing workforce development in the trades for young people and families struggling with housing insecurity across the state.  Johnson’s values are rooted in equity and social justice. His focus comes from his close partnership with community in the South King County region, where he has also worked as a High School Career and College Counselor and in Workforce Planning and Development for Highline Public Schools. He now serves as the Director of Outreach and Community Engagement for the Office of the State Treasurer working to address wealth inequity and close generational wealth gaps for historically and currently marginalized communities.  Jesse is a proud husband to his wife Epiphany, a Family Medicine doctor, and father to two boys 3 year old Elijah and 1 year old Ezra.

Krystal Monteros was born in Anaheim, California, and now resides in Tacoma, Washington. Living with Spina Bifida and using a wheelchair for mobility, Krystal has developed a strong passion for advocating for the rights, inclusion, and independence of people with disabilities. She currently serves as a member of the Tacoma Area Commission on Disabilities and previously held the role of Chair. Krystal is also actively involved with the Disability Mobility Initiative and the BIPOC Mobility Action Coalition. Her work is grounded in the belief that equity must remain at the forefront of every conversation, policy, and decision.

Kristine is the CEO and Founder of STRUO Strategies, LLC.  After spending nearly two decades in public sector government positions promoting community and economic development; efficiently managing millions of dollars in state and federal funding resources; and leading complex inter-jurisdictional projects, she now serves as a principal consultant, where she brings her expertise in organizational development, project management, and cultural humility and social equity engagement to supporting communities and organizations in fully realizing their big ideas, building bold solutions, and empowering systems change. Kristine has since also founded The Political Equity Project, which provides individual elected coaching and governance support, general legislative organizational tools, and DEI change-management resources to combat systemic oppression and exclusion in public policy development and political institutions as places of work. Outside her consulting roles, Kristine serves as a WA State Representative, is pursuing her doctorate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from a Seattle-based university, and lives with her husband, Camron, and their two elementary-age children in Federal Way, WA.

Nila Griffin brings over a decade of experience in education, with expertise in student intervention, program development, and program management. Her work is centered on restorative practices, mental health, and behavioral interventions, with a strong commitment to creating systems of support that serve diverse communities. As a parent and active community member, Nila is passionate about driving sustainable change that uplifts individuals, families, and organizations. She also provides coaching and consulting services to help teams strengthen cultural competency and build more equitable, inclusive spaces for all.

Dr. Jashon Banks Sr. is a Criminal Justice Professor at Green River College, where he devotes time and effort to contribute to the students of knowledge and skills of the changing criminal justice system of America. He joined Green River College in September 2019 as a tenure-track faculty member in the business and law division. His most recent activities have been working in community with the Washington State Patrol (WSP) as a Non-Law Enforcement Community Representative reviewing in-custody deaths and use of force incidents. Also, he is creating strategic partnerships and community relations for Green River College and developing practices with King County Pretrial Services to create a pathway for re-entry of individual seeking to complete some education. Also, he is authored in the new 2021-2022 Green River College Tenured Faculty Process Handbook. His research revolves around victims of urban violence and post-traumatic stress disorder. He is also conducting research on toxic masculinity in the African American community and racial profiling in the African American community. He has been also publishing articles with the Criminal Justice Encyclopedia and in progress of other journals that would benefit the criminal justice system of Washington State. In his previous role with Tacoma Community College, he served as a Retention Specialist in the Center for Academic Support and Achievement (CASA) Center for Multi-Ethnic and Cultural Affairs (MECA) department working with first generation and lower income students of color in various program such as: Men of Distinction, Passport, and First-Generation students coming into college. Dr. Banks was responsible for recruiting the largest class for Men of Distinction to date, which was 50 students and was responsible for creating the data to represent each class entering into this program. While at Tacoma Community College, Dr. Banks served as an Adjunct Professor under the Counseling Services department and Sociology department and taught various classes ranging from Human Development and Crime and Deviance. Before joining Tacoma Community College in June 2017, Dr. Banks served in the United States Army as a Human Resource Manager for the 4th Infantry Division Executive Officers. Dr. Banks was responsible for creating strategic plans for executive management to ensure accountability of global personnel and managed a budget in excess of 300M for training missions and equipment for military operations. Dr. Banks completed two overseas tours to the Middle East for Operation Enduring Freedom in 2013 and Europe Atlantic Resolve Mission in 2015. While at Kankakee County Sheriff’s Department, Dr. Banks led the department’s human resource innovations by creating a new system for electronic record keeping for efficiency with cases and reducing paper waste by 75% and digitizing traffic citation into electronic database. He partnered with County Sheriff to create financial ledgers and budgets for multiple departments to stay cost efficient with supplies. Dr. Banks was also responsible for tracking records such as police reports, accidents, sex offenders, and civil processes. Dr. Banks is a proud graduate of Kankakee High School, class of 2007. During his time in high school, Dr. Banks played football all four years, ran track his sophomore year, and was the treasurer for Student Council. Dr. Banks received an award for leadership from Terrance Martin, principal for the outstanding work he did in the classroom and around the school. Dr. Banks was a part of the Business Partnership Academy where he served as an advocate for the program recruitment. Dr. Banks was elected in the Kankakee High School Hall of Fame on February 13, 2013. Dr. Banks holds a PhD in Criminal Justice – Law & Public Policy from Walden University, a master’s degree in criminal justice from Colorado Technical University, and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Saint Joseph’s College.

Patricia has served as the Washington State Long-Term Care Ombuds since August 2011. A native Washingtonian she has worked in the field of aging for over two decades, advocating for elders and individuals living with disabilities and for their family caregivers. She serves on several statewide workgroups and committees focusing on improving the long-term care system through better policies and laws. Patricia has worked as a consultant specializing in translational research, helped to develop best practice models in Alzheimer’s care and education and has worked on systems change on the state and national levels. Ms. Hunter earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Central Washington State University and a master's in social work from the University of Washington in Seattle. She is a graduate of both Leadership Tomorrow and Project Lead. Patricia currently volunteers as the DEI subcommittee lead for the National Association for State Long Term Care Ombudsman Programs.