Heather is the Executive Director of The Center for Guardianship Excellence, where she strives to ensure that those in need of guardianship have guardians trained to support their values, goals and preferences.  In her prior role, as the Director of Research for Guardian Community Trust she designed and launched the Guardianship Academy which provided training on issues surrounding guardianship.  It was that work that provided the foundation and inspiration for The Center for Guardianship Excellence and the work she is doing today.  

Heather began exploring guardianship as an undergraduate intern and has continued in the field throughout her educational and professional career.  She is a published author and has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses in aging, sociology and qualitative research methods.  In addition to her work, she serves on the Boards of multiple organizations including the Center for Guardianship Certification, the National Guardianship Association, and the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging.  She is a member of the Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute and serves on the Advisory Committee for Public Guardian Services.  

Heather is a nationally certified guardian.  She earned her Doctorate of Philosophy in Gerontology Policy Studies from the University of Massachusetts Boston where she completed a dissertation titled Autonomy vs. Protection: A Comparison of Physicians, Elder Law Attorneys, and Protective Service Case Managers.  She earned a Master of Science in Gerontology from the University of Massachusetts and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the College of the Holy Cross.  

Maureen Carroll. Certified MHP (mental health professional) Over 30 years in
the field of mental health. Experience collaborating with First Responders as
well as extensive work with people with Intellectual disabilities. Experience
as a CPG so unique understanding of the struggles!

Robert B. Nettleton is a partner in the law firm of Harlowe & Falk, LLP in Tacoma, Washington. He has been practicing law in the state of Washington since 1987. His practice emphasizes probate, guardianship/conservatorships, trusts, and vulnerable adult proceedings.

Dan Smerken is a professional fiduciary and care manager based out of Olympia, Washington. Dan's experience includes services as a professional guardian, conservator, court visitor, guardian ad litem, and Certified Care Manager. He currently serves as a Certified Professional Guardianship/Conservatorship Board member as the Chair of its Regulations Committee.

Mary Shobe of Northwestern Fiduciary Solutions, LLC is a certified professional guardian with nearly a decade of experience.  Her broad experience in management and leadership roles, client services, knowledge of account management, work with local and federal agencies and proficiency with current technology enable her to provide supportive and individualized care for her clients. She is passionate, caring, and dedicated. She is driven to ensure every client is treated with the respect and dignity they need and deserve.

Neil R. Sarles is a 1972 graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a 1975 graduate of the University of Toledo School of Law, in Toledo, Ohio. In the 1970s Neil worked for Ralph Nader to establish a public interest research group (PIRG) in New York. As a law student Neil worked for FLOC, a migrant farm labor organization.  After law school Neil practiced law in San Francisco, California. He later took a position with Legal Aid at Eastern State Hospital, a mental hospital located near Spokane. Neil has practiced law for over 40 years. He has written and lectured in the areas of elder law, guardianship, and end-of-life decision making. Neil is admitted to practice in all Washington courts, and in the United States Supreme Court. He is a former member of the Harborview Mental Health Center Board, and a former president of the Board of Directors of Orion Industries, a non-profit company that trains handicapped workers for the aerospace industry. He is married, has three sons, coaches youth basketball, and lives in north Seattle.

Since her first high school job in food service at a retirement community, Leah Rathwell has always had a passion for working with older adults, family caregivers, and other vulnerable individuals. She earned her B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Human Services from DePaul University. She then received her M.S.W. from University of Illinois at Chicago, focusing on gerontology and community and administrative practice. She interned for Chicago Department on Aging, Metropolitan Family Services, and the Suburban Area Agency on Aging, assisting primarily with programs for seniors, family caregiver supports, and collaborating with various professionals in the field of aging.  Leah has worked in life enrichment and activity planning roles for residents of assisted living and memory care facilities in a variety of settings; most recently, leading a 5-day/week adult day program geared specifically towards older adults with early to mid-stage memory loss.  In her current role, she helps to coordinate The Guardian Institute’s not-for-profit Representative Payee program and assists with the day-to-day administrative operations of Bridge Builders, Ltd, a professional guardianship agency. She is currently enrolled in the University of Washington’s CPGC certification program and expects to be a practicing CPGC in June of 2022.

Amanda Wilson is owner and sole practitioner at Northwest Estate Planning & Probate, PS with offices in Jefferson County and King County. Amanda practices law in Estate Planning, Probate, Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, and Guardianships and has done so since 2010 when she opened her own solo firm in Jefferson County, Washington (the firm was called Olympic Peninsula Law Offices, LLC). Amanda has run a thriving practice since 2010, pausing briefly to work as a deputy prosecutor in Jefferson County, where she handled cases that included protection orders and financial abuse of elders. In private practice, Amanda has worked as a Title 11 Guardian ad Litem and petitioner/guardian attorney for guardianship cases in King, Snohomish, Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam counties.   

Joe Cunningham is a public affairs consultant with a state and federal
lobbying practice, including representing Northwest Estate Planning &
Probate.  He has years of experience as a development and advocacy
professional for a variety of non-profit causes helping children and adults
with developmental disabilities. Formerly the Director of Advocacy at the Arc
of King County, he formerly was on the development staff of the Legal Aid for
Washington's LAW Fund and Endowment for Equal
Justice.  Previously, Joe served as the human services analyst on the staff of
King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci and has served as a legislative
assistant to two members of the State House of Representatives.

Sarah Tremblay is the current DSHS ALTSA HCS Guardianship Program Manager overseeing the HCS Guardianship Pilot Project.  Sarah holds dual credentials as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Certified Professional Guardian in the state of Washington which she has utilized to serve in various social services, complex care management, and mental health positions over the past 22 years to assist in the care and stabilization of multiple individuals across all walks of life.  Sarah has a passion for advocacy work, both professionally and personally, to ensure equal access and inclusion for all individuals.

Judge Robert Lewis is a graduate of Western Washington State College and the University of Washington Law School. After admission to the Washington State Bar in October 1981, he worked for Eastside Defender Association in Seattle as a trial attorney. Judge Lewis practiced law in Camas from 1984-2004 with the firm of Knapp, O’Dell, Lewis and MacPherson. He was appointed to the superior court bench in November 2004. For several years, he was responsible for Clark County’s Guardianship Monitoring Program. He is currently a member of the Certified Professional Guardian Board.

Sam Jungwoo (he/him) is a queer, trans, first-generation Corean immigrant and artist. He believes in creating intentional spaces to center marginalized voices & creativity to move towards liberation for all. sam is an uninvited settler on unceded Duwamish land, currently working as the training and technical assistance coordinator at Seattle's LGBTQ+ Center, inviting and holding space for conversations & educational spaces to better show up for LGBTQIA+ folks.

Kai (they/them/theirs) is a non-binary, transmasculine, queer, mixed race, child of immigrant parents poet and queer joy advocate. They are the Co-Executive Director - Programs at Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center where they oversee the internal programs from youth advocacy to health services and program innovation for the future. They have a background in equity-centered, anti-oppressive leadership and have spent much of their career working as a DEIA consultant. They believe that rest, healing, embodiment, and deep relational tending are vital to the well being of their teams and community. They are devoted to cultivating spaces of joy and liberation for the LGBTQIA+ community and, most specifically, QTBIPOC folx. 

Phillip is an experienced Reverse Mortgage Specialist who has helped numerous senior homeowners throughout Washington achieve their personal financial and lifestyle goals. With almost 27 years of legal practice and now in the lending industry, Phillip is unique among Reverse Mortgage professionals. He works closely with Financial Planners, Attorneys, Accountants, Realtors, In-Home Care Providers, and Bankers to develop tailored strategies that prioritize the best interests of his clients. Phillip's expertise in the Reverse Mortgage program has been especially valuable to seniors seeking sound retirement planning options such as delaying taking Social Security or balancing out an investment portfolio.