Our team
Staff
Karen Schrantz provides leadership as the Executive Director of Safe Crossings Foundation. Drawing on expertise from professional experience in both the private and public sector as a mediator, facilitator, educator, and executive director, Karen unites vision, energy and enthusiasm to her pursuit of bringing partners together to advance Safe Crossings Foundation’s mission. She received her BA in American Studies from California State University, Fullerton, her teaching degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Texas, her Master of Public Administration degree from the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington, and a specialty certificate from the UW’s Non-Profit Executive Leadership Institute.
Anne Thai wears many hats at Safe Crossings Foundation with years of experience in event planning and operations, volunteer management, and communications. In her previous volunteer work at the Center of Philosophy for Children, she found a passion for empowering young people to trust in their own thoughts, and to ask and wonder about the big questions of life. As part of the Safe Crossings Foundation team, Anne hopes to utilize her many skills to ensure as many grieving children as possible have access to a safe space where they may process, explore, and understand their loss. Anne holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of Washington – Seattle, and Certified Nonprofit Professional credential from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance.
Anne Aumell joyfully serves as the Development Director of Safe Crossings Foundation. During her career, Anne has engaged donors and community members in the missions of several Seattle organizations, including UW Medicine, PATH, FaithTrust Institute, and Earth Ministry. She brings expertise in fundraising and nonprofit management to Safe Crossings Foundation, and a passion to sit knee-to-knee with people as they discern the impact of their philanthropy. Anne earned her BA in English Literature from the University of Washington and holds an MA in pastoral studies from the School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University.
zoe ottemiller
Development &
Communications Coordinator
As the Communications and Development Coordinator, Zoe Ottemiller widely supports Safe Crossings Foundation’s team by bringing experience and understanding of social disparities to the work. From the beginning of her career, Zoe’s focus has been on social justice and advocacy for vulnerable communities. While working with communities facing food insecurities and youth within the Washington state foster care system, she engaged stakeholders to decrease barriers impacting underserved populations. Zoe has a BA in Communications from Portland State University and is currently completing a graduate program through the University of Denver to receive an Masters of Social Work.
Board
Officers
Megan Sutherland, Community Volunteer
President
Josephine Vestal, Retired Attorney, Williams Kastner
Secretary
Nicole Storck, Tax Partner, PwC
Treasurer
Directors
Wesley Burns, Principal, Transformational Advisory
Vice President
Lee Carswell, Senior Manager, West Monroe Partners
Annette Clark, Professor and Dean, Seattle University School of Law
Brett Earnest, Vice President, Clark Construction
Vice President
Shawn Hintz, Senior Vice President, UBS
Nathan Hoerschelmann, Attorney, Hoerschelmann Dietz PLLC
Heidi Howard, Director, Equinteractions
Monika Batra Kashyap, Visiting Clinical Professor of Law, Seattle University
Michael Lightfoot, Global Payment Ops PM, Amazon
Jessica Abramson Lott, Principal, Curiosity Works
Avi Negrin, Cloud Product Marketing, Google
Colleen Robertson, Director Digital Marketing, HeadLight
Debra Rubin Levin, Community Volunteer
Mike Turian, Product Architect, Wizards of the Coast
David Cook, Director Strategy & Planning, Nia Tero
UW Board Fellows (non-Voting)
Diana Pugach, UW Foster School of Business
Directors Emeritus
Diane Aboulafia, CEO, Great Work Strategic Communications
Teresa Bigelow, Community Volunteer – Safe Crossings Foundation Founder
Donna Haggarty-Robbins, Owner, You’re My Heroine
Bill Leedom, Community Volunteer
Flip Morse, Community Volunteer
Thomas Hall, Retired CEO, People’s Injury Network NW
Partners
Crockett Family Foundation
D.V. and Ida J. McEachern Charitable Trust
Gunnerson Family Charitable Fund
Hasbro Children’s Fund
Kelly Foundation of Washington
McKinstry Company Charitable Foundation
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
Puyallup Tribe’s Charity Funds
Ruth Anderson Wheeler and Henry O Wheeler Charitable Trust