Seattle Co-chairs
 annette jacobs
Annette Jacobs is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer for Door To Door Storage and Moving, Inc. in Kent, Washington. Door To Door pioneered an environmentally-friendly container design to provide a convenient, secure and cost-effective alternative to traditional self-storage and household moving. Today, Door To Door operates in more than 20 U.S. metropolitan markets and her leadership will position the company for growth and expansion.
Previously, Ms. Jacobs served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SafeHarbor Technology Corporation in Seattle, Washington. During her tenure, SafeHarbor transformed from a dot-com company to a technology leader serving Fortune 100 enterprise clients. Its primary solution, SmartSupport™, developed under Ms. Jacobs’ leadership, combined software and business services to dramatically improve Web product support and was recognized with more than 16 industry distinctions. SafeHarbor received a Stevie Award for “Best Overall Company” in June 2007, while Ms. Jacobs was honored with 2 Stevie Award finalist distinctions as CEO and Chairman of the Year.
In addition, Ms. Jacobs had a 24-year executive career, managing multi-billion dollar business units in wireless and telecom with GTE Wireless, Verizon Wireless, Qwest Communications and AT&T. Ms. Jacobs' positions, as well as her board involvement, have spanned the country. She is currently lead independent director for Alaska Communications Systems (NASDAQ:ALSK), serves on the board executive committees for the National Association of Corporate Directors-Northwest (NACD) and the Seattle Humane Society. She is a member of the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board for the Albers School of Business and Economics and has been an adjunct professor for Seattle University.
 catherine walker
In 2003, Catherine Walker co-founded the Seattle-Northwest Chapter of the NACD and currently serves as President. She is Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary for Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) in Kent, WA, the largest consumer co-operative in the U.S. Prior to joining REI, she was Vice President for Administration/ University Counsel for Seattle University and Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary for Westin Hotels & Resorts.
While at Westin and Seattle University, Catherine served for nearly eight years on REI’s Board of Directors, chairing the Nominating & Governance Committee and the Audit & Finance Committee and serving as Vice Chair of the Board. She also served as a mayoral appointee for nine years to the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, chairing that board twice during her tenure.
Catherine is co-founder and director of Plymouth Healing Communities, a non-profit human services organization; she also served six years as the founding Board Chair. Catherine earned her BS degree from the UW and her JD degree, cum laude, from Seattle University. She holds a certificate from Seattle University’s Executive Leadership Program.
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Portland chair
 brendan mcdonnell
Brendan McDonnell counsels clients of K&L Gates on corporate and securities laws, mergers and acquisitions and public and private financings, including private equity and venture capital transactions. His practice focuses on the legal and business issues affecting public and private growth companies, both in the technology and non–technology sectors. He also regularly represents some of the regions most active private equity funds.
Mr. McDonnell counsels companies on a variety of everyday business issues including advice on securities laws, corporate laws (including director and officer duties), executive compensation plans and general corporate contracts. He has worked with clients at every stage of development, from initial formation to Fortune 1000 status.
Mr. McDonnell understands the importance of learning a client's business before providing business critical legal advice and works directly with his clients to implement tailored solutions to their complex business problems.
Mr. McDonnell’s accounting background affords him an advantage in understanding his clients’ business and financial objectives. He served on the board of directors of Hollis Eden Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: HEPH) from 1996 to 2008, including service on the compensation, audit and nominating committees. In 2000 and 2001, Brendan served as an adjunct professor of law at Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College.
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