Executive Board and Steering Committee
Emiko Atherton
Chair, Outreach and Membership Committee
Executive Board and Steering Committee
Emiko Atherton was born, raised, and currently resides in the Seward Park neighborhood of Seattle and considers herself a 'lifer' in the region. She has been working in the nonprofit community since 2001, focusing on development and fundraising. Currently, she works as Projects Manager for the Federation of State Conservation Voter Leagues. Emiko hopes Friends of Seattle will help make this city an economically and environmentally sustainable place for anyone who wants to live here (including herself!).
Anna Boone
Public Events Director
Steering Committee
Anna Boone, a native of Olympia, moved to Capitol Hill two years ago after graduating with honors from Occidental College in Los Angeles. Anna first became involved in politics as an intern on Governor Gregoire's campaign in 2004, and has since interned for the Governor's office doing policy research. Anna worked on the statewide No on Initiative 933 campaign in 2006 and is currently the Special Events Manager for a nonprofit organization.
Dean DeCrease
Executive Board and Steering Committee
Dean DeCrease is President of The Fourth Element and a co-founder of Friends of Seattle. Born in Chicago, he has lived and worked in Europe, Asia and Latin America. He is past Chair of the World Affairs Council, a board member of the Global Business Program at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business, and an advisor to the Bainbridge Graduate Institute's programs in Sustainable Business and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. Dean is a retired Vice President of Weyerhaeuser Company.
His passion is finding business solutions that enable us to choose a lifestyle more compatible with nature. Dean hopes that the work of FoS will allow him to abandon his car - he dreams of a future Seattle where trains, streetcars, and bike trails take him to great little sidewalk cafes with local artisan foods and really good coffee.
Brendan W. Donckers
Chair, Political Committee
Executive Board and Steering Committee
Brendan is in the fourth generation of his family to make Seattle home and a second-generation Seattle Seahawks season-ticket holder.
Brendan's political experience ranges from communications and international policy work for the United Nations to consulting and directing federal and local campaigns. Brendan has consulted with the Seattle Office of Economic Development and has performed legal work for the Ronald Petersen Law Clinic, the Access to Justice Institute, and the General Counsel for Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. He is a board member of the King County Conservation Voters and the Renton / Skyway Boys and Girls Club.
Brendan was the valedictorian of Santa Clara University and received his law degree, with honors, from Seattle University in 2007.
David Fitzgerald
Executive Board and Steering Committee
David Fitzgerald is an attorney with nearly two decades of experience in public policy and lobbying. He is a partner with the law firm Schiff Hardin and professionally based in Washington, D.C. office. However, he much prefers living in Montlake, where he resides with his wife and two young daughters. David supports the efforts of Friends of Seattle to give voice to the grassroots of Seattle's citizens who want elected leaders to make the best long term choices for future generations.
Katherine Fountain
Communications Director
Steering Committee
A Seattle native, Katherine was raised in Wedgwood and is a product of the Seattle Public School system. She graduated from McGill University in Montreal, Canada with a degree is Political Science and English Literature. She works as a legislative aide.
Katherine lives in Belltown, where in her spare time she works to encourage some semblance of shared community there. She is delighted to be part of such a great team of progressive individuals, and looks forward to seeing Friends of Seattle become an influential and ubiquitous player in the Seattle political landscape.
Nigel Herbig
Political Committee
Steering Committee
A life-long Seattle resident, Nigel Herbig has worked in politics since the Howard Dean presidential campaign of 2003. During the 2004 election cycle he ran one of the most successful political phone banks in the state, and in 2005 managed the Dwight Pelz for Seattle City Council campaign. He now works as a legislative aide.
Sean Howell
Vice President and Treasurer
Executive Board and Steering Committee
Sean Howell, lives in the Maple Leaf neighborhood of Seattle. Sean is a Seattle stockbroker and entrepreneur. He believes Seattle is a great city with a wonderful future, so long as we support good politicians and progressive urban development policies. After living in Tanzania, Sean continues to be involved with a number of East African nonprofits and supports a registered non-governmental organization, the Community Development and Relief Agency CODRA. CODRA works on health, education, micro-credits, good governance, and protecting the environment. He has been a Fellow of the World Affairs Council and is a trustee of the Council's board. Sean is an economics graduate of Pacific Lutheran University. His personal interests include socially responsible investments, emerging markets, outdoor recreation, and the arts. He has served as an Arts Commissioner for the City of Seattle. When not trying to effect change, Sean enjoys playing Scrabble at Vivace on Capitol Hill.
Gary Manca
President
Executive Board and Steering Committee
A second-year student at the University of Washington Law School, Gary was born and raised in Seattle. His great-grandfather moved to Seattle in 1900 and operated the Manca's Cafe restaurant on 108 Columbia St. With so much family history here, Gary aspires to one day raise his own family in Seattle.
Gary is a graduate of the Institute for a Democratic Future and served on the boards of Seattle Works and the Jackson School of International Studies Alumni club. When not studying, Gary can probably be found adjusting his fantasy baseball lineups or reading Harry Potter. He hopes that Friends of Seattle will lead a reform movement for change and have a good time along the way by making politics and civic participation fun for regular people.
Bridgette Maryman
Executive Board and Steering Committee
Born and raised in Baltimore, Bridgette moved to Seattle in 2000, and has been interested in local politics ever since. She has a B.A. in Dramatic Arts, and recently graduated from Seattle University School of Law, where she focused on International Law and Criminal Law. She is now a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
Bridgette joined Friends of Seattle because she digs its vision of a more urban, sustainable Seattle, and is excited to help the organization grow into a force to be reckoned with.
Bryan Terry
Legal Director
Steering Committee
Bryan Terry received his B.A. in English from the University of Florida, and recently graduated with honors from Seattle University School of Law, where he served as Editor in Chief of the Seattle University Law Review. He has worked as an intern in the district office of U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, is a member of the 43rd District Democrats, and volunteers as a researcher for the Northwest Progressive Institute.
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Announcements
» Join us at the KCCV's Green Activists Summer BBQ on Saturday, Aug. 23 from 12-3:00PM at Lincoln Park in W Seattle. Come talk to your elected officials, and learn about the fall campaign season. Lunch is on the house!
» We are hosting a Sound Transit Expansion Plan: Q & A on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 5:30PM at McLeod Residence (2209 2nd Ave), with Sound Transit's Executive Director of Policy, Planning and Public Administration, Ric Ilgenfritz.
