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Board of Directors

Yvonne Freitas McGookin, MEd, President
Director of Training and Development, Bellevue College

As a leader, trainer, consultant, and coach, Yvonne Freitas McGookin is in the “development business”. For over fifteen years, she has worked with nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies to develop staff, managers, and their organizations so that they can recognize and achieve their fullest potential and desired outcomes. Yvonne is passionate about learning and creating stronger, more sustainable communities.

Currently, Yvonne serves as the Training & Development Director for Bellevue College. In addition, she engages in independent consulting and career coaching projects. Some of Yvonne’s previous leadership roles include: Director of Staff Development & Retention for the YMCA of Greater Seattle; Human Resources Manager for the Compass Center in Seattle; Human Resources Manager for the Christian Science Center in Boston; and Director of Human Resources Management and Manager of Information Technology Training for the Massachusetts Public Defenders agency.

Yvonne has served on the faculty and as an academic advisor for Cambridge College School of Management. She taught courses and workshops in management, leadership, communication, human resource development, and research methods. Presently, Yvonne teaches career development and learning portfolio fundamentals classes at Bellevue College.

Yvonne holds a Master’s degree in Education, with an emphasis in Organizational Development and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She has a certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), is a qualified administrator of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI), and is trained in the use of Dependable Strengths®. She received professional coaching training at the Academy for Coach Training. Yvonne is an active member of many professional associations, including the American Society for Training and Development, National Career Development Association, Organizational Development Network, and the Society for Human Resources Management.

An ardent supporter of the local and global community, Yvonne actively volunteers with several organizations. Currently, she is the President of the Board for the Executive Services Corps of Washington where she also provides volunteer consulting support to area nonprofits and educational organizations. She served as a Lead Volunteer delivering training and supporting the recent Seeds of Compassion events. During the winter months, Yvonne serves as a volunteer snowshoe instructor for OutdoorsForAll, a local nonprofit helping people with disabilities. In 2005, the Seattle City Club recognized Yvonne’s passion for civic/community involvement by naming her one of the “Voices and Faces of Seattle”.

Michael Bisesi, EdD, Vice President
Director, Masters in Nonprofit Leadership Program, Seattle University

Michael Bisesi is Director of the Center for Nonprofit and Social Enterprise Management at Seattle University. Previously, Michael served as Managing Director of Program Services at the Greater Houston Community Foundation, as Senior Vice President at the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast, and as Associate Dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Houston. He has held an array of community leadership positions on numerous public and nonprofit boards and commissions. In addition to ESC, he currently serves on the boards of the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, the United Way of King County, and the Washington Technology Center. He holds a BS from the University of Texas at Austin, MS from Indiana University, and EdD from the University of Houston.

Sheldon Kleine, PhD, Treasurer
Professor, Capella University

Shelly Kleine, PhD, LP has been associated with ESC for more than 11 years. During that time he has volunteered as a consultant and board member. During his tenure on the board at ESC he has served two terms as board president and two terms as board treasurer.

Shelly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he lived for 30 years. He earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Temple University, his master's degree in counseling from Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey) and his PhD in counseling psychology from Purdue University. He has been licensed in Washington State as a psychologist since 1983. He has enjoyed his careers as an elementary school teacher and for more than 35 years as a psychologist. His work as a psychologist has included providing and supervising mental health services, mostly in nonprofit settings, professional/personal coaching, consulting to nonprofit and for-profit companies and government agencies. He has been core faculty in clinical psychology at Capella University for more than 10 years. His latest professional challenge has involved providing pro bono psychological services at the Providence Everett Healthcare Clinic in Everett, WA.

Of all the endeavors that have brought joy and excitement to his life, being husband to Barbara and father to Kim and Liz are the best of all.

Liahann Bannerman, Secretary
Director of Volunteer and Agency Relations, United Way of King County

Liahann R. Bannerman is Director of United Way of King County’s Volunteer Center, which addresses mobilization of volunteers, building non-profit infrastructure for nonprofit and corporate volunteerism, and strategic volunteerism. Liahann received a BA in Psychology from Harvard University and an MBA from Seattle Pacific University. She is a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow and member of their board and Curriculum Committee. She is past chair of the HandsOn Network’s Neighboring Task Force, which focuses on community involvement of underrepresented people, and the Basic Grants Committee for Social Justice Fund Northwest.

Liahann is a member of United Way of America’s Volunteer Engagement Strategy Advisory Council, the leadership team of People of Color in Philanthropy, the board of Executive Service Corps, the Partnership Council of Washington State Mentors, the YWCA’s Communities of Color Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee, Volunteer Centers of Washington, Minority Executive Directors Coalition, and volunteers for a variety of other community-based organizations and initiatives in the area including Children’s Alliance, CityClub and others.

Jeanne Large
Equal Rights Officer, FEMA

Reza Khastou, MEd
Founder and Director, Bright Future Program

Reza was born and grew up in Tehran, Iran. After receiving his degree in Political Science in Iran he moved to the U.S. and received his master’s degree in education from Eastern Washington University. He has been working with high school students as a teacher, advisor, and administrator for almost thirty years, mostly in Seattle.

Reza personally invested the necessary finances and did the research and planning to create the pilot Bright Future Program in 1998 at John Marshall Alternative High School. By allowing access to advanced workforce education programs at community colleges, the Bright Future Program creates meaningful options for those high school students who are not on a four-year college track. The academic and career advising and comprehensive case management component of the Bright Future Program helps students and parents navigate the ever-complex high school and college system. Since its inception, the Bright Future Program has served more than 250 students from 24 high schools from 5 school districts. In 2007, the Bright Future Program received the Golden Apple Award. Reza is an advisor to the Board of Bright Future Dollars for Scholars and a member of Governor’s Health Workforce Diversity Advisory Committee.

Kathleen Pierce, JD
Managing Trustee, Kirkpatrick Family Foundation
Former Lecturer, Masters in Nonprofit Leadership Program, Seattle University

Kathleen Pierce has served on the ESC board since 2008. She is the managing trustee of a small family foundation, the Kirkpatrick Family Foundation, and recently retired as an adjunct faculty member of Seattle University's Executive Masters of Nonprofit Leadership Program, where she taught a course on Public Policy, Advocacy, and Collaboration. Currently, Kathleen is a member of several nonprofit collaborations, boards, and committees: Neighbor-to-Neighbor Fund (collaborative, small grants program); Family, Friend & Neighbor Statewide Leadership Team (early learning funding and policy); Washington Park Arboretum Foundation Board; Legal Action Center Board; and Philanthropy Northwest, Public Policy Committee.

Kathleen was a founder of the SOAR Opportunity Fund, a public-private collaboration that made strategic investments to enhance opportunities for King County children and youth. She is past chair of the Municipal League of King County and, in the early 80’s, was the executive director of a statewide nonprofit, Citizens Education Center, which engaged citizens in improving public school finance and governance. She also practiced law in Eugene, Oregon, and Seattle. Kathleen was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, and has a B.A. in political science from Stanford University, and a J.D. degree from the University of Puget Sound/Seattle University.

Carl Donovan, MBA
Former President/CEO, Education Assistance Foundation

Carl Donovan has over thirty years of leadership in the public and private nonprofit sectors. He founded the Education Assistance Foundation, and served as its President and CEO for 22 years. He has professional experience in corporate governance, business strategy, agency administration and public policy. Carl has served on several state advisory boards on higher education and currently is a member of the visiting committee of Seattle University's Masters in Nonprofit Leadership Program. He is actively involved in the International Service and Environment Committees of the Rotary Club of Seattle.