Leadership Snohomish County head elected to national board

EVERETT — The head of Leadership Snohomish County will use her expertise and skills to help a national organization achieve its goals.

Kathy Coffey, executive director of Leadership Snohomish County, has been elected to the board of directors of the Association of Leadership Programs, a nonprofit that promotes leadership programs throughout the U.S.

Coffey will serve a three-year term, joining newly elected board members from Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, Rhode Island and South Carolina.

She will continue to serve as LSC’s executive director.

“The nominating team focused on adding diversity based on demographic regions, program size, budget/membership level, affiliation … as well as gender and age,” said Cynthia Knapek, the ALP’s board chairwoman.

Coffey said she is excited “to give back through my board service.”

The new role will allow her to learn “from programs that are more established and have been making a difference around the country,” she said.

Coffey has served as Leadership Snohomish County’s executive director for five years. Before that, she worked in academics for 16 years.

The nonprofit supports and trains people through its various leadership programs. In 20-plus years, more than 700 people have participated, Coffey said.

The program took its current form in 1997 when representatives of several local organizations, including the Boeing Co., the Chamber of Commerce and the United Way, came together to develop a leadership program.

LSC offers two classes for applicants: its Signature class for mostly upper-level managers, and a young professionals class for people who may be in a mid-level management role.

In May, the group will begin offering a five-month program on diversity, equity and inclusion, Coffey said.

For more information about Leadership Snohomish County, go to leadershipsc.org.

Janice Podsada; jpodsada @heraldnet.com; 425-339-3097. Twitter: JanicePods.