EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board President Ame Wellman Lewis is an associate at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. Ame holds a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies and Political Science from the University of Washington, and a Juris Doctorate degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri.

Ame’s practice focuses on Business Transactions and Securities. Ame joined the board of Art with Heart several years ago and is now back.

She is excited to be on the board again in order to combine her love of children and the arts. She is a newlywed and enjoys music, traveling and cooking.

Vice President Linda Baker is a Business Coach for The Taylor Group. Prior to joining the Taylor Group she spent 30 years with PMI Mortgage Insurance Company as Vice President of Sales. Linda was very active in Seattle Mortgage Banker Association, serving as Past President and also a Director with Washington Mortgage Lender Association. She brings strong board experience and also a background in marketing and sales.

She is very excited to be serving on the Board of Directors and being able to make a difference in children’s lives through Art with Hearts therapeutic tools and programs that promote emotional health and well-being. Linda is married with two daughters and a son in law; in her free time she loves spend time with her family cooking and enjoying the outdoors!

Treasurer Elena Howell, CFP, is a Financial Advisor with UBS Financial Services Inc. She has been in the financial services industry since 2000 and became a Certified Financial Planner in 2004. Elena develops customized financial and estate planning strategies for clients to help them pursue their life goals. Financial planning services are provided in our capacity as registered investment advisors. Elena was born and raised in Russia, and received her master’s degree in teaching and linguistics from Irkutsk State University in her hometown of Irkutsk. In addition to English, she is fluent in Russian, Japanese and conversational in French. Elena is an active volunteer in the community, as a treasurer for Art With Heart and as a member of Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club. She also enjoys outdoors activities with her husband and son, and is passionate about ballroom dancing.

Immediate Past President, Christine Jackson, is a founding partner of Canopy LLC, a print, packaging, signage and promotional project management company. Before venturing out on her own, Christine literally “grew up” in the printing industry, starting as a press operator at the tender young age of 20. She eventually found her home within business development, where she received many awards for outstanding performance. Christine has been involved in Art with Heart since 2000 and served as Board President for three years. She has a strong connection to the Art with Heart mission be cause she feels “We are not living until we are truly giving of ourselves to make the world a better place.” In her spare time, Christine enjoys camping and riding Quads in the wilderness with friends and family.

Board Secretary Sacha Stjepanovic currently works at WaMu in Compliance and Community Affairs. He is trilingual, speaking fluent Spanish, Croatian & English. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Washington.

Sacha leads a Spanish conversation group for the World Affairs Council, is a member of the Washington State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is involved with many nonprofits, community centers and schools. He joined the board after helping translate the Spanish version of Oodles of Doodles. Sacha enjoys traveling, volunteering, teaching, snowboarding and photography.

Dawn Austin was raised on Martha’s Vineyard and began her sales and marketing career at a very young age. Managing her first boutique at the age of 15, it seemed only appropriate that she would earn her BS in Consumer Studies form Syracuse University in 1989. With some post graduate travels under her belt she made Seattle her home in 1991. For over 15 years she led a successful career in business development, sales and marketing with roles at Barneys New York, Computech Systems and Blue Nile. For nearly the past six years Dawn’s focus has been raising her two sons. Throughout her career, Dawn has been involved in various non-profit organizations and fundraising efforts. Dawn personally experienced the healing power of art therapy in 2007, when her son was hospitalized with a traumatic injury and the staff at Boston Children’s Hospital engaged him in art as a way to ease the post-traumatic stress he was dealing with.

Bob Bowen serves as the Area Director for the Pacific Northwest Region for World Vision. Bob also serves his local community as a Chaplain for Eastside Fire & Rescue, and the city of Bellevue Police and Fire departments, certified in CISM and PTSD. Bob has a passion for helping children and families in need around the world and right here in the local community.

Bob is an active member of the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary club. Bob is married to Janice and they have two sons, Aaron and Sam, and their two golden retrievers, Angel and Caleb.

To find out more about joining Art with Heart’s Board of Directors, please visit http://artwithheart.org/about/leadership/board