Susan (she/her) has been involved with the nonprofit sector for most of her career. At the start, with a BA in theatre, she worked in theatre costume shops and “constructed” costumes for performers of all types—actors, singers, and dancers. Susan soon discovered her interests and strengths as a manager, and took courses through UW’s Extension on starting and operating a small business. She developed her organizational and finance skills as an entrepreneur, starting and running two successful costume-related businesses for a total of 16 years.

For 18 years, Susan honed her team leadership and finance skills at Seattle Opera where she was in charge of their costumes department. While serving as their costume director, she developed, managed, and reported on the department’s annual $500,000 to $1 million budget. In spite of program changes and other challenges, Susan consistently met or exceeded budget goals.

Her philosophy of work is centered in clear and direct communication, mutual respect, and supporting others in doing their best work by providing guidance, resources, and training. She brings this same mindset and leadership to our Financial Services team and nonprofit partners.

Susan has a life-long interest in supporting her community, particularly through her work as a board member and volunteer. She has been a board member of the South Park Neighborhood Association, supported ongoing education as an advisory board member at Seattle Central College’s Apparel Design Program, and during the pandemic, she worked with Crafters United, a nonprofit making masks for underserved communities across Washington.

While Susan has made Seattle her home for many years, she moved often as a youth. Born in Japan, she attended grade school in Taipei, Taiwan, lived for one year in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and then attended high school in Cairo, Egypt.

Fun Fact: Susan loves teaching others to use power tools, which she learned volunteering with Sound Foundations NW, building tiny homes to assist in transitioning the unhoused into permanent housing. She is an avid OC6 paddler (6-person outrigger canoe), paddling year-round on Lake Washington with her club.