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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 and the Washington Association for Children and Families. 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, and Voice for Adoption. 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

Chair
Rod Kaseguma

 

Vice Chair
Blake Marks-Dias

 

Treasurer
Andy MacDonald

 

Chair, Governance
 Committee
Gayle Murdock

 

Secretary
Sherilee Coffey

 

President and
CEO, Akin

Dave Newell

 

Abdi Ahmed

 

Tom Ambrey

 

Curt Anderson

 

Gini Beck

 

Genevieve Caruncho-Simpson

 

J.C. Cottrell

 

Derel Finch

 

Kristie Garrett

 

Abby Grant

 

Quentin Hubbard

 

Barbara Jirsa

 

Shayla Kern

 

Roy Koegen

 

David Lawrence

 

Paulette Lemon

 

Albert Lirhus

 

Andy MacDonald

 

Joan Matheson

 

Dave Mentz

 

Dan Merlino

 

John Mosby

 

Tom Oldfield

 

Bareq Peshtaz

 

Deborah Purce

 

Mike Rodden

 

Daniel Smith

 

Tim Walsh

 

Anthony Washington

 

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.