Board of Trustees

Gary Fluhrer has been an attorney 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 results-driven board member and technical advisor with over 25 years of experience leading large-scale services and mission-critical solutions with global reach and strategic impact. As a recognized expert in operating systems, scale, performance, reliability, privacy, security, compliance, and compatibility, he has received numerous technical awards, including Microsoft Outstanding Technical Leadership Award, and he holds 40+ US patents.

In addition to his technical expertise, he has extensive global experience, having formed and led Microsoft’s Africa Development Centers and managed teams across five continents. 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. 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.

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.

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.

Michael Bartley with an entrepreneurial spirit and as an award winning creative, is driven by the stories and experiences that bring brands closer to their customers. He builds account and creative teams to deliver amazing work to companies like Microsoft, Alaska Airlines, Amazon, Google, Apple and many more. With a unique mix of business, technology, marketing and creative, he can touch CEOs to consumers, translating their needs into work that tells compelling stories in complex environments. In any medium. He knows how to get good work out of people, including clients, and believe in the simple truth that if you don’t love what you’re making, then no one else will.

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Linda Koa as a Business Consultant and Fractional COO, provides consulting services to start-up, small to medium sized businesses in various industries. With over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, she has developed core competencies in business strategy, operations optimization, investor relations and management, business development, compliance, strategic partnerships, and project management. Previously, she was the COO and Assistant Corporate Secretary of Broadmark Realty Capital Inc. (NYSE Ticker: BRMK), a publicly traded REIT, where she managed company operations and launched and led a wholly owned subsidiary private fund. She also has extensive experience in investment management, securities, private banking, and investment & lending operations, having worked for leading firms such as Broadmark Realty Capital, Envestnet | Tamarac, Merrill Lynch, Prudential, and Charles Schwab. She is a FINRA Arbitrator, a NACD Certified Director, and holds Series 7, 63, and 24 licenses. Her mission is to leverage her expertise and skills to help businesses grow, optimize, and succeed.

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Jeff Lehman is a retired healthcare executive, manager, and consultant specializing in kidney disease management and treatment. Jeff has lived in Seattle for more than 50 years and enjoys spending time with his two grandsons, gardening, walking, skiing, and travel. He lives close to the Arboretum, allowing easy access for late afternoon and evening walks.

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Marge Levy has worked in clay for over sixty years, taught and held academic and organizational leadership positions at major schools, universities and museums concurrently. She is an adventurous traveler, underwater and above, and in her mind. She was professor of ceramics and fine arts at Purdue University (1969-1985) and the University of Michigan (1986-1991) where she was also Dean of the School of Art and Design. She moved to Seattle in 1991 to serve as Executive Director of Pilchuck Glass School and soon after joined Arttable where she was program coordinator and later chair of the NW Chapter and on the national board.

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