Board of Directors

Aggie Clark is a financial services executive with 25+ years of leadership experience. To begin the next phase of her long-term career plans, she left the corporate world in early 2017 to pursue board work and other opportunities. As a passionate UW alum, she recently served as President of the University of Washington Alumni Association and continues to serve on their Executive Committee. She serves on the advisory board of the UW Foster School’s Consulting and Business Development Center and as President of the Des Moines Area Food Bank. She offers small business and cash flow consulting services under the trade name Nexis Solutions. Aggie is a music lover, a science fiction enthusiast, and an avid sports fan who can be found at most UW Husky football and Seattle Storm basketball games. A Pacific Northwest native from Tacoma, she currently lives in Des Moines.

Sharon Cornish-Martin is a business professional with 35 years of experience in the industry. She applied her skills in communications, strategic planning, and project management as an independent consultant working with organizations to improve efficiency and effectiveness. In 2008 Sharon suffered a severe concussion that resulted in significant short-term memory loss and forced early retirement. To help heal her memory, in 2011 she enrolled in the music program at Cornish College of the Arts and graduated summa cum laude in 2013 with a BM in classical piano performance.

Sharon was a founding board member and past president of Cascade Leadership Challenge, a non-profit providing outdoor adventures to underprivileged and immigrant high school teens. She provides pro bono consulting services to small social services non-profits. In 2014, as a means of giving back to Cornish College of the Arts, she volunteered to serve on the Board of Trustees and is currently board chair. In addition to playing the piano and volunteering, she dotes on her two grandchildren, the oldest of which plays violin in the Tacoma Junior Youth Symphony.

Robin Du Brin is the founder, CEO and President of Columbia DuBrin Realty Advisors (CDRA). She works in the areas of senior housing, operations, real estate, investment advising, finance, development, pension funds, business and real estate law, and debt restructuring. Robin is also an investor in several senior-housing properties. She has been involved in asset management, development, and financing the construction and expansion of new and existing senior housing facilities. Robin earned her BA and Certificate in Education at the UW and her Juris Doctorate at the University of Puget Sound/Seattle. She is on the board and founding member of Computers for the World and has been a board member of American Friends of Whistler, the Malaria Rotarian Project. She has been actively involved in Rotary Projects in many countries including building girls’ schools in Afghanistan.

Gary Fluhrer has been an attorney with the law firm Foster Pepper since 1979. His practice focuses on property development, leasing, financing, acquisition, and disposition of projects, portfolio, and multistate acquisitions, as well as workouts of distressed projects. Gary has worked with a variety of developers and investors, including commercial and residential developers, clients in the hospitality, industrial, and healthcare industries. Gary has also worked on loan restructurings in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, Texas, and California. Gary has been named a “Washington Super Lawyer” for many years. Seattle Business magazine rated him “Best in the Business” in the real estate category in 2013. Washington Law & Politics has rated him a “Super Lawyer” and “Top 100 Lawyer.” Originally from Iowa, Gary holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Iowa State University and a Juris doctor degree from the University of Washington.

Michael Fortin, Ph.D. is a Microsoft Corporate Vice President focusing on Operating Systems products and technologies and is one of three VPs responsible for the Core OS that powers Windows, the Xbox, the HoloLens, the Surface line of PCs, embedded devices as well as the Azure cloud. The Core OS team develops and delivers technology including the kernel, deployment tools, virtualization technology, data science, fundamentals, storage, filesystems, networking technology, and more. Fortin has a Ph.D. and Masters in Computer Science from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Xavier University. He is a member of Xavier University’s Board of Trustees, has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus from The Ohio State University’s College of Engineering, and has authored over 20 U.S. Patents. Fortin lives in the Seattle area with his wife of 30 years, his four daughters, two grandchildren, and an extended family.

Marianne Sorich Francis is a Global Real Estate Advisor and Broker for Sotheby’s International. She is an alumna of Cornish College of the Arts and received a BFA in sculpture in 1996. She has had regional leadership roles in environmental politics protecting our parks and Puget Sound’s water quality. Marianne has co-chaired the Cornish Gala five times raising scholarship monies for our students. She previously worked in the luxury fashion world for both designers and retail stores and has been serving as a trustee since 2007.

Lawrence E. Hard has served as interim Deputy General Counsel – Real Estate for the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA). He also worked as an Asset Manager/Deputy General Counsel for the SHA until 2007. In addition, Lawrence was a private-practice lawyer with LeSourd & Patten, P.S. from 1970 until 2000. At various times during his legal career, he has served as counsel for several nonprofit organizations, the City Attorney for the City of Tukwila, counsel for the Puyallup Fair, counsel for the nation of Cuba and its national bank, and the Chancellor for St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Seattle.

Volunteer efforts include board positions with Medic One Foundation, the Epiphany School, University Preparatory Academy, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Endowment Committee, Pratt Fine Arts Center, and Environmental Works. Lawrence holds degrees from Amherst College and the University of Michigan Law School.

Mr. Jordan has been a trustee of Cornish College of the Arts since 2000. He has also served on the boards of a number of local arts organizations and early-stage companies.

Previously he was Director and Senior Vice President International Business at Wizards of the Coast, an innovative game company startup that published Magic: The Gathering and Pokemon trading card games.  Mr. Jordan was the architect of its international business strategy from its inception in 1993 until it was sold to Hasbro in 1999.

Prior to Wizards, Mr. Jordan worked for Boeing Defense & Space Group for 14 years as a systems engineer in Advanced Launch System Design, including the Sea Launch commercial launch vehicle program.

He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with an S.B. in Aeronautics and Astronautics

Kathleen Le Coze creates immersive and intuitive scenic environments as an 3D Experiential Event Designer. As a graduate from Cornish College of the Arts in 2013 she now calls the Pacific Northwest home and has more than 10 years of experience in designing productions and events for the corporate, non-profit, educational, film, and theatrical industries. Her most recent recognition was receiving an EX Award for BEST B-TO-B Conference or EVENT ENVIRONMENT 2020-Starbucks Leadership Experience, with her design team.

Kathleen also has a passion for arts education and mentors for the Starfish Project with Intiman Theatre teaching, serving, and empowering underrepresented youth voices in South Seattle’s public high schools and communities.

Leslie Mays has led significant culture transformation efforts for more than 30 years across
industries and sectors. She established and led the creation of innovative diversity and inclusion strategies for some of the world’s largest firms including Avon Products, Kimberly Clark, Pfizer Inc., Royal Dutch Shell, and General Mills. She currently serves as chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer and is responsible for ensuring the integration and impact of diversity, equity and inclusion across all areas of the foundation including culture, talent, grantmaking, and ultimately, program outcomes. Prior to joining the foundation, she was a partner at Mercer Consulting, based in New York City.

Leslie has been a pioneer in the practical application of advanced workforce analytics to effectively build future-focused HR and DEI strategies that deliver measurable results. A respected thought leader, she has extensive experience developing human capital plans for advancing women, managing generational differences, maximizing the impact of D&I Leadership Councils and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and de-biasing HR and talent processes to achieve desired outcomes. She is regarded as a trusted advisor to Executive Leadership Teams, Corporate Boards, and management teams. With a long history and commitment to community service, she is an active member of the Executive Leadership Council, an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow, and a former board member of the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York. Leslie is a proud graduate of Texas Southern University where she earned a B.A. in Communications

Karl Moehring is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with over 20 years in the footwear industry. In 2015 Karl became CEO of his 130-year-old family-owned and operated business, Washington Shoe Company, home to three brands: Chooka, Staheekum, and Western Chief. Skilled in business development, trend analysis, sales, international business, sourcing, and multi-channel retail, during his time as CEO, Karl has grown the business rapidly as recognized by Puget Sound Business Journal fastest-growing small businesses (2019, 2020) and named Footwear News Top 40 Under 40 rising star (2018). A fourth-generation family-owned company committed to delivering world-class footwear and accessories with value and fun, Washington Shoe Company has proudly been recognized as a Seattle Business Magazine Family Business of the Year (2017 – Silver winner).

A fourth-generation Seattle-area native, Karl graduated from Washington State University. He is an active chapter member of both Entrepreneurs Organization and YPO. In 2015 the Moehring family launched the Wear A Big Smile Foundation, donating footwear to communities in need. Karl enjoys wine collecting, traveling, running, and being the self-proclaimed Seahawks twelfth man. He currently resides in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood.

Emily Parkhurst is the Vice President of Content for 6AM City, the fastest-growing local media company in the country. 6AM City is the parent company for SEAtoday, PDXtoday, and two dozen other local publications. Prior to 6AM City, Ms. Parkhurst was the Market President and Publisher of the Puget Sound Business Journal (PSBJ). She joined the PSBJ in 2012 and served as a reporter, managing editor, and editor-in-chief prior to being named publisher in October 2018. Prior to 2012, she was an education and government reporter in her home state of Maine.

Ms. Parkhurst is a national award-winning journalist. The PSBJ won the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi award for public service journalism in 2018 for its Price of Homelessness package, the 2018 SABEW award for real estate reporting, and her series of stories on restraint of school children in Maine won the Sigma Delta Chi award for investigative reporting in 2010.

She holds a master’s degree in creative writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a Bachelor’s of Music in Clarinet Performance from the University of Southern Maine. In the early 2000s, Ms. Parkhurst played clarinet, flute, and saxophone professionally for the Bangor Symphony Orchestra (Maine), Seacoast Repertory Theatre (New Hampshire), and in the Boehm Wind Trio. She also maintained a studio of clarinet and saxophone students.

Ms. Parkhurst was the classical music columnist for the alt-weekly newspaper the Portland Phoenix for five years, where she covered the classical music scene in Portland, Maine. She also wrote reviews for the Classical Voice of New England magazine.

Joel Petersen, for over sixteen years, has been applying his broad financial and business experience in a wealth planning and advisory capacity working with high and ultra-high net worth individuals and families, along with foundations, nonprofits, and endowments. First at Bernstein Global Wealth Management then at Bank of America Private Bank (formerly U.S. Trust) and now as the leader of Sound Legacy Wealth Advisors, Joel continues to be sought out to provide trusted and thoughtful financial guidance to his clients. Joel is passionate about enabling his clients to live their very best financial life and advising them in forging a life and legacy of impact within their family and their community. Prior to his move to the financial services arena, he spent over twenty years driving and advising the strategic, marketing, and operational efforts of market leaders, small to mid-sized privately held companies, as well as startups.

Joel earned a BA degree in Business Administration with a Finance Concentration from Western Washington University. And Joel is highly engaged in the local community. Beyond his role at Cornish, Joel is President Elect of Rotary Club of Emerald City where he has been a member for over 12 years and he is a past President and current member of the Board of Trustees of Bellevue Arts Museum. Joel also is an Advisory Board Member for WWU’s Center for Innovation in Education. With all his extra time, Joel loves skiing, hiking, fly fishing, travel, yoga, and playing drums in a local garage band (and he’s not that bad!).

Sherry Raisbeck received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Special Education from California State University. A prolific visual artist, she also received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Cornish College of the Arts in 1988. Sherry is involved with Seattle Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Artists Trust, and is active philanthropically with her husband, James Raisbeck, of Raisbeck Engineering.

Sherry has served on the Allocations Committee of the Corporate Council of the Arts and has been involved with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, Hope Heart Institute, Seattle Conservatory of Music, and the English Speaking Union. She is co-trustee of the James D. and Sherry Raisbeck Foundation.

Anastasia “Tracy” Raissis is a Global Executive and Board Officer. She is a Director of strategic sales and business development at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where she focuses on international and inter-government public sector organizations to enable them in achieving their missions through innovations in cloud technologies.

Prior to joining AWS, Tracy most recently held compliance risk management roles at Amazon.com, American Express, and Citibank. She is considered a thought leader and mentor, skilled in influencing, building, and leading effective teams responsible for governance, risk and compliance programs, and digital innovations for domestic and international institutions. She has served on industry advisory, community, and business boards. Tracy is also a recognized speaker at industry events, has been featured and quoted in industry media.

Outside of work, Tracy has knowledge of and a passion for the Restaurant, Aviation, and Music Industries and is an avid art collector. Tracy earned a BA from New York University where she studied Politics and Economics and an MBA from Auburn University. Tracy is a Certified Risk Professional (CRP) certified by the Bank Administration Institute. She is also a Certified Cloud Practitioner certified by Amazon Web Services.

Lisa Scribante joined the board of Cornish in 2020 and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Facilities Committee and represents the College on the Seattle Center Board Advocacy Committee. With more than 20 years of experience in the design and management of large corporate, hospitality, and public sector projects, Lisa’s passion is transforming the way people, work, live, and learn. As project director for numerous complex, high-tech corporate clients, Lisa leads project teams in the creation of ground-up campus work as well as innovative and cost-effective transformations of existing buildings to suit modern demands. Lisa received her Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from the University of Southern California and her Masters in Architecture from the University of Washington.