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Passionate people working for a unified purpose.

Meet Akin President and CEO, 
Dave Newell.

In January 2024, Childhaven and Children’s Home Society of Washington merged to become Akin. Dave became the first president and CEO of Akin at that time.

Dave joined the leadership team of Children’s Home Society of Washington in June 2019. At that time, he also joined the board of directors of the Children’s Home Society of America.

Prior to Children’s Home Society of Washington, Dave served as president and CEO at Promise Ship (2010-2019), in various senior executive roles at EMQ Families First (2006-2010) and as executive director at Denali Family Services…

In January 2024, Childhaven and Children’s Home Society of Washington merged to become Akin. Dave became the first president and CEO of Akin at that time.

Dave joined the leadership team of Children’s Home Society of Washington in June 2019. At that time, he also joined the board of directors of the Children’s Home Society of America.

Prior to Children’s Home Society of Washington, Dave served as president and CEO at Promise Ship (2010-2019), in various senior executive roles at EMQ Families First (2006-2010) and as executive director at Denali Family Services (1999-2006).

Dave currently serves on the boards of the Children’s Home Society of America (CHSA). Dave served on the board of the Washington Association for Children and Families (2020-2024). In 2012 and 2014, Dave was appointed by Governor Heineman to serve on the Nebraska Children’s Commission (NCC). In 2016, Governor Ricketts reappointed Dave to the NCC, and in November 2016, he was elected as its vice chair and chair in July 2017. In May 2013, Dave was selected to join the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) Children and Family Fellowship. In Alaska, Dave was the chair of the Alaska Behavioral Health Association (2002-2005).

Dave received his Certificate of Nonprofit Management and his Master of Social work degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and his Bachelor of Science degree in education from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He is also an alumnus of the Alaska Humanities Forum’s Leadership Anchorage program. Dave has served on the boards of directors for the Alaska Behavioral Health Association, Family Focused Treatment Association, Voice for Adoption, and the Washington Association for Children and Families. Dave is a member of the AECF Children and Family Fellowship and National Association of Social Workers Academy of Certified Social Workers.

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Akin Board of Trustees

Secretary
Sherilee Coffey
Director of Creative Operations, Coffey Communications
Treasurer
Paulette Lemon
Retired, EVP Retail Banking, HomeStreet Bank
Chair
Blake Marks-Dias
Co-Managing Partner,


Corr Cronin LLP
Vice Chair
Gayle Murdock
Managing Director, 360 Connections International
President and CEO, Akin
Dave Newell
Foundation Board Secretary
Kristie Garrett
Vice President & Advisor,

EP Wealth Advisors
Foundation Board Treasurer
Roy Koegen
Retired, Attorney,
Kutak Rock LLP
Foundation Board President
Bareq Peshtaz
Senior Vice President,


Morgan Stanley
Foundation Board Vice President
Daniel Smith
Regional Manager,

Community Health Plan
Gini Beck
Professional Coach
Genevieve Caruncho-Simpson

Chief Transformation & Innovation Officer, Community Health Plan of WA
Karen Collins
Senior Executive Human Resources, PACCAR
John Cottrell
Daddy Can Do It Too
Derel Finch
Internal Medicine Physician, MD2 Concierge Medicine
Abby Grant
Pediatrician, Harborview Pediatric Clinic
Betty Hanna
Specialist Leader/Senior Manager, Deloitte
Quentin Hubbard
Client Service Associate, Columbia Pacific Wealth Management
Barbara Jirsa
Owner, A La CART Arts Consulting
Rod Kaseguma
Retired, Attorney
Shayla Kern
Early Head Start Policy Council Co-Chair, Student at Walla Walla University
David Lawrence
Community Volunteer
Albert Lirhus
Retired, Attorney, Lirhus Keckemet Annest PLLC
Andy MacDonald
Retired, ECG Management Consultants
Joan Matheson
Retired, Seattle Education Association
Dave Mentz
Community Volunteer
Dan Merlino
Retired, Principal, ECG Management Consultants
Tye Minckler
Acting Executive Director, Centers for Spiritual Living
John Mosby
President, Highline Community Collegec
Mike Rodden
Attorney, Cascade Asset Management Company
Anthony Washington
CEO, Thoughts Cost LLC

Leadership Team

Vice President of Early Learning
Meagan Anderson-Pira
Senior Vice President of Quality and Administrative Services
Lynn Castrianno
Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Knox Duncan
Director of Organizational Inclusion and Accessibility
Nick Flett
Senior Vice President of People and Culture
Jeff Galipeaux
Vice President of Public Policy
Jon Gould
Knowledge Management Consultant
Kai Guterman
Senior Vice President of Development
Jason Keen
Senior Vice President of Strategy and Impact
Janica Lockhart
Senior Vice President of Programs
Dr. Daniele Lyman-Torres, Ed.D.
Executive Director/Vice President of the Center for Early Relational Health
Meg McNulty
Senior Vice President of Finance
Marlena Torres
Vice President of Behavioral Health
Andy Tucker
Director of IT
Kari Zamora

Family Support and Directors

Walla Walla
Shawniene Bingham
Regional Director
Statewide
Karlee Calvin
Senior Director of Early Learning
Wenatchee/North Central WA
Kris Collier
Regional Director
Vancouver/SW WA
Reuben Cottingham
Regional Director
Spokane
Nick Flett
Regional Director
Statewide
Sam Pike
Director of Family Support
Puget Sound
Sharon Remaize
Director of Clinical Services, Puget Sound

In becoming Akin, we are seizing an opportunity to create a wholly new organization and magnify our impact so that all children and families can thrive in the communities they call home.