GTCF Welcomes Three New Board Members

Trio of Local Leaders Join Greater Tacoma Community Foundation’s Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 14, 2018

TACOMA, WA – Greater Tacoma Community Foundation’s Board of Directors approved the addition of  three new members during their annual meeting on December 12th.  Lori Forte Harnick, Seong Shin, and Art Wang will officially begin their terms in January 2019.

Lori Forte Harnick 

As President and Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region, Lori oversees an $80 million job training, thrift retail, and recycling nonprofit covering 15 counties in western and southwest Washington.

Lori came to Goodwill from the Microsoft Corporation where she served as Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft Philanthropies, a $1 billion+ annual giving program dedicated to increasing digital inclusion and empowerment.  Her prior work at Microsoft included her position as General Manager of Citizenship and Public Affairs, where she led the company’s corporate citizenship team and initiatives. Lori is also a member of the Washington Women’s Foundation. 

“Since beginning to work in Pierce County, I’ve been so impressed with the collaboration for good in this community. As a member of the GTCF Board, I’m looking forward to supporting GTCF as it identifies even more ways to support and serve the people of this region.”

Seong Shin

As Principal for Interior Design at McGranahan Architects, Seong collaborates with all the firm’s project teams to create human-centered and meaningful built environments. Inspired by people and instructed by nature, her work draws on the collective intelligence of users and designers, as well as the stories of project elements– surrounding nature, local culture, and community history– into the built space. 

Seong’s professional goal to achieve the balanced unions of function, design, and human connection led her to found a community-based non-profit organization, WILLO (Women’s Intergenerational Living Legacy Organization) in 2014. WILLO’s mission is to cultivate community connectivity and inspire youth through storytelling.  WILLO celebrates all women and girls of any culture, ethnicity, nationality or sexual orientation. 

“I look forward to being a part of GTCF’s ongoing legacy and genuine efforts to serve in the best interest of the people and organizations of this community.”

Art Wang

Art is a retired state legislator and judge. He served in all three branches of Washington State government, including as State Representative from the 27th Legislative District, on the Court of Appeals, and as Chief Administrative Law Judge. Art is also a retired law professor and former attorney with Davies Pearson.  

He currently serves on the boards of the National and Tahoma Audubon Societies and TVW. Among other nonprofit boards that he has chaired are the Pierce County AIDS Foundation, the Legal Foundation of Washington, Planned Parenthood of Western Washington (now PP of the Great Northwest and Hawaiian Islands), and Planned Parenthood Votes.  

“I joined the GTCF Board to help make a difference in our local community. I want Pierce County to be a complete community with our own schools, arts, sciences, and workplaces; where people can enjoy urban, suburban, and rural neighborhoods and natural areas.” 

GTCF’s board also ratified its slate of officers for 2019, confirming Dwight Williams as Board Chair, Mary Thomas as Board Vice Chair, Ali Modarres as Board Secretary, and Scott Limoli as Board Treasurer

GTCF’s Board of Directors governs the organization, establishes policy, sets priorities, and approves grant recommendations. All members are volunteers.

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Since 1981, Greater Tacoma Community Foundation (GTCF) has connected donors, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and members of the community with causes and actions that build a thriving and vibrant Pierce County. Through financial stewardship and strategic investments in the community, GTCF supports the region in realizing its full potential. As a nationally accredited nonprofit organization, GTCF supports generosity across generations within Pierce County. Learn more at gtcf.org.