
Laura Pierce (She/Her)
Executive Director
Laura became Nonprofit Association of Washington’s Executive Director in May 2017 after serving as the organization’s Interim Executive Director and having been a member and partner with the organization for many years. She has been the owner and principal consultant of Laura Pierce Consulting. Laura has worked in and with nonprofit organizations since 1989, including fund development, community organizing, and executive management positions. Since 1998, she has consulted with a wide range of nonprofit organizations, assisting with strategic planning, board development, organizational assessment and capacity building.

LeeAnne Beres (She/Her)
Deputy Director for Operations
LeeAnne brings over 30 years of experience to Nonprofit Association of Washington, including 16 years as Executive Director of Earth Ministry, and another ten as the Associate Director of Save Our Wild Salmon and Outreach Director of the NW Energy Coalition. She has expertise in leadership development, strategic decision making, fundraising, financial management, community engagement, organizing, and advocacy. LeeAnne is dedicated to forging authentic relationships and delights in building strong organizations and ensuring people have the tools to enact real change in their communities. She is a published author, has served on numerous nonprofit boards, and survived two years working as a biologist on commercial fishing boats in Alaska’s Bering Sea. LeeAnne has a Master’s degree in Marine Fisheries Management from the University of Washington and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Whitman College. Outside of work, she is a passionate hockey fan and walks 3-5 miles daily with her dog, Bones.

Jennifer joined the Nonprofit Association of Washington team in August 2020. She brings ten years of nonprofit experience and community-centered work in the South Puget Sound region to our team. Her experiences include serving as a nonprofit executive director, overseeing the transition of a funder managed program to an independent nonprofit, supporting watershed-based community collaborations, and leading urban green space restoration projects. Jennifer looks forward to supporting the continued growth of NAWA’s offerings and connecting with nonprofits across the state to cultivate learning opportunities and resources that meet their evolving needs. At the University of Washington, she received a Master of Public Administration from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance as well as a Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences. Jennifer is from Tacoma, Washington and she enjoys going for walks, quilting, and gardening.


Operations Associate
Erika joined Nonprofit Association of Washington in 2019. She grew up in Sequim, Washington where she experienced the importance of resilient community networks. During the 2008 recession, she saw rural support systems continually pushing to do more with less. She used her dual citizenship to earn a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of British Columbia and a Master’s in museum studies at the University of Toronto. Currently she serves as Washington Museum Association’s ex officio member representing Emerging Museums Professionals. She is drawn to the museum field because it offers lifelong, free choice learning for adults. She brings this insatiable curiosity to NAWA. She is always looking for ways to infuse food justice and hospitality into her work. Erika enjoys biking from her home in Fremont to her climbing gym and NAWA’s Seattle office.


Anna joined Nonprofit Association of Washington as a Policy Fellow in November 2021. With nonprofit experience spanning direct service, development, finance, and operations, she is excited to support the work of NAWA in strengthening government-nonprofit partnerships and advocating for public policy that enables nonprofits to carry out their missions. Alongside her work, she is passionate about organizational culture and how to create supportive and accessible workplaces. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Boston University and a Master of Public Administration from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Washington. A true PNWer, she loves the outdoors and obsessing over her dog, Velma.

Deputy Director for Partnerships
Lianna comes to Nonprofit Association of Washington with 10 years of development and community support work with nonprofit organizations in both Pierce County and North Texas. Her expertise includes fund development, community outreach, board development, and volunteer management. Lianna is committed to equity and education, volunteering for the Equity Committee of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and teaching Public Administration and Nonprofit Management as an Adjunct Faculty member. She is excited to use her strategic approach to work with nonprofits across the state in identifying what they need to thrive and supporting them in achieving access. Lianna has a Master’s in Public Administration from Evergreen State College and a Bachelors in Journalism from University of Idaho. Lianna lives in Lakewood with her husband and two dogs (Boomer and Adele). She can most frequently be found experimenting in her kitchen or curled up with a sci-fi novel in her favorite chair.



Membership Manager
Elyse Ke’ala Rickard joined Nonprofit Association of Washington in August 2021. She received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from California State University, Fullerton and her Master of Public Administration from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance at University of Washington. She has worked for a variety of nonprofits, ranging from higher education to social services, and is passionate about advocating for equitable and sustainable solutions in the sector and beyond. In her free time, Elyse enjoys listening to music and podcasts, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

Sarah joined NAWA in spring 2022. Prior to joining the team, she worked in the nonprofit world serving immigrants and refugees as a Case Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, and Systems Specialist. She holds her BA in Exercise Science from Seattle Pacific University. Sarah has lived in Washington her whole life, and currently resides in Spokane. In her free time, she enjoys climbing, camping, going on long walks with her dog, and gardening.

Administrative Assistant
Pets of NAWA!

Addy

Bones

Boomer

Cedar

Ebbe

Lucky

Nora

Nymeria

Princess

Sam

Velma

Waffle
