Executive Director
Frances E. Pennell, J.D., was the Policy & Funding Specialist for the Washington Assistive Technology Alliance from April 1995 to December 2000. This position provided a first-hand opportunity to observe the financial barriers that make it difficult if not impossible for many people with disabilities to obtain the assistive technologies needed to live independently and to succeed at work, at school, at play or as active participants in community life. Prior to joining WATA, Ms. Pennell was an attorney in private practice in Seattle.
Email: fpennell@watf.org

Program Director
Kathy Gilman, WATF's Program Director, joined WATF in 2008 after serving on the Board and Loan Review Committee for almost three years.  Kathy also works as a Business Development Specialist with Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) working on bringing microenterprise development programs to both urban and rural areas.  Prior to joining MEDA she worked for more than seven years for the Washington Community Alliance for Self-Help (Washington CASH), a community based microenterprise development and peer lending organization in Western Washington.   She was also a Peace Corps volunteer, teaching business in the Russian Far East.  Kathy's educational background includes an MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Chicago.
Email: kathy@watf.org

Program Manager
Kevin Meirose, WATF's Program Manager, did his graduate studies at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at University of Washington with a focus on community development and disability advocacy.  He also has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Marquette University.  Prior to graduate school,  Kevin participated in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and worked in a L'Arche community with  people with developmental disabilities.  Born with a profound hearing loss,  he brings an enthusiasm and passion for using assistive technology to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. 
Email: kevin@watf.org

Program Assistant
Libby Pickthorn, WATF’s wonderful Program Assistant, is a student from the University of Washington where she is finishing her BA in Social Work.  Libby brings 10 years of nonprofit experience to the position.
Email: libby@watf.org

Bookkeeper
Pam MacRae, WATF’s Bookkeeper, has worked as a nonprofit bookkeeper since 1997. She spent 10 of those years as the bookkeeper for Cascadia Revolving Fund, a community development financial institution that provided small business loans. Pam has spent the last five winters volunteering with Outdoors for All, skiing and snowshoeing with people with disabilities. She spends the other part of her work-week as the finance manager for Sightline Institute.
Email: pam@watf.org

WATF Board of Directors
June 2007

Ron Adams, President and Treasurer, has many years of experience in economic development.  Until his retirement in October 2006, Ron was Manager of the Kitsap County Community Development Block Grant Program.  The Block Grant program works with non-profits, government agencies, and individuals to identify, address and fund long term solutions to increase the socio-economic vitality of Kitsap County communities.  

Jeffrey Burnett teaches at the Washington State University School of Architecture and Construction Management.  He has worked actively in the fields of universal design and assistive technology for many years.  Jeff has special expertise in technology relating to computer access for individuals with paraplegia including access to and use of computer assisted design (CAD) programs.

Debbie Cook is the Director of the Washington Assistive Technology Act Program.  The program provides statewide assistive technology services including device demonstration and loan, device reutilization, and technical assistance on issues regarding assistive technology and access to information technology for Washington residents of all ages with disabilities of all types.  Debbie is a nationally known expert and frequent presenter on electronic and information technology accessibility issues.

Abby Cooper has been involved in initiative programs for individuals with disabilities through out her career. She created Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) for public rehabilitation customers in Washington State  using Social Security  reimbursement dollars.   Currently she  is in private practice working on issues of economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities and teaches at Western Washington University.  

Rob Honan is Executive Director of the Washington State Independent Living Council.  The SILC promotes independent living services in Washington and supports the state’s eight Independent Living Centers.  Rob has been involved in the disability rights movement for over 15 years – as a recipient of independent living services, as an IL Center Board Member and as IL Staff.  As an individual who is hard of hearing and uses assistive technology on a daily basis, Rob understands the vital role of technology in both the independent living and disability rights movements.

Karen Johnson, Secretary, is a retired speech language pathologist who worked for many years with individuals with severe speech and physical disabilities.  Karen has long been an active member of United Blind of Seattle and currently volunteers with several other community programs including teaching English as a Second Language.  As an AT user, Karen understands the financial barriers that make it difficult to acquire and effectively use these important tools.  Karen’s goal in serving on the WATF Board is to do whatever she can to improve access both to technology and economic opportunity for individuals with disabilities in Washington state.

Margaret Mortz, PH.D, is retired from teaching in the Engineering and Computer Sciences Department of Washington State University in Spokane.  Dr. Mortz is active in the Spokane Chapter of the Washington State Hearing Loss Association and in efforts to improve the technology and availability of open-captioning for the hard of hearing.  Her latest project is the development of an internet based system to provide open captioning for hard of hearing students using computer speech recognition and remote captioners.  She has also been working on image processing in collaboration with a nursing research project related to diabetes.