GTCF Welcomes Six New Board Members

Released 12/16/20 5:00pm
Media Inquiries Contact:
Megan Sukys, 253.345.4173
VP Communications, GTCF

TACOMA, WA – Greater Tacoma Community Foundation’s Board of Directors approved the addition of five new members during their annual meeting on December 16th. Jacques Colon, Josh Dunn, Kim Fisher, Ahlmahz Negash, and Wayne Williams will officially begin their terms in January 2021.

Lyle Quasim joined the GTCF Board in July to serve out the term of another member who stepped off the Board.

Jacques Colon

After teaching Middle School science in Miami, FL, Jacques went on to get his Masters in Environmental Sciences and Policy in Washington, DC. He then worked in DC as a climate change policy analyst with a focus on health inequities for the National Association of County and City Health Officials.

Since coming out to the NW, Jacques has consulted for Front and Centered on the impacts of climate change on communities of color, worked for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department as Health Equity Coordinator, and now serves as the 2025 Strategic Manager for the City of Tacoma. Jacques currently manages initiatives including the Tacoma Anchor Network, the Tacoma Equity Index, Tacoma’s Affordable Housing Action Strategy, and facilitating the development of biannual City Council Priorities.

Josh Dunn

Josh Dunn is the founder and CEO of Premier Media Group, the creative leadership behind 425 Magazine, South Sound Magazine, 425 Business Magazine, and the new South Sound Business magazine-formerly Business Examiner! His 22-year career has focused on building creative media brands within the regional magazine arena. Since the opening of his business the week of September 11, 2001, Dunn and his team have been supporting more the 100,000 loyal readers. He excels in building trust in marketing, identifying key niches, and building strong relationships.

Dunn has an impressive history of working hard for his team and his community as he was recognized as the community volunteer of the year by the MBA of Pierce County. Premier Media Group has been named a Top Company to work for several times. He is also the founder of TEDxTacoma for the last 6 years. You will find Dunn giving back countless hours in his civic community leadership with various non-profits. Dunn has been featured on Evening Magazine, Q13Morning News, KBTC, and HGTV. Additionally, he is a recipient of “40 Under Forty” and was named as one of Pierce College’s “Distinguished Alumni.” His persistence, optimism, and a strong moral compass are guiding influences in his personal and business life. Dunn is a devoted family man. He lives with his wife Michelle and their three wonderful children in Lakewood.

Kim Fisher

Kim is a managing director and wealth advisor located in the Tacoma, Washington Wells Fargo Private Bank office. Ms. Fisher is responsible for working with high-net-worth clients to assist them in effectively managing their wealth, first by identifying each client’s unique goals, then by coordinating a team of specialists to implement custom, comprehensive wealth plans to help accomplish those goals.

Ms. Fisher currently serves on Greentrike’s board and on the Professional Advisors Committees for Greater Tacoma Community Foundation and Multicare. She is a member of the South Sound Planned Giving Council, Tacoma Estate Planning Council, FPA, and the Society of Financial Services Professionals. Kim has also served as a board member for many philanthropic organizations including but not limited to: University of Washington Tacoma, Pediatric Interim CareCenter, YMCA, Tacoma Arts Live, the AHA Go Red for Women (Chair). Kim and her husband Paul live in the South Sound where they raised three children, are avid sports fans, and enjoy community events.

Ahlmahz Negash

Ahlmahz Negash is an educator, entrepreneur, engineer, public servant, world traveler, and lover of all things coffee and cats. Originally from California, Ahlmahz spent 10 years traveling throughout Asia and Africa volunteering, teaching English, and experiencing new cultures. Upon returning home, she moved to Washington and completed her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington in 2015. After completing additional research at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim Norway, she then accepted a position at Tacoma Power.

In addition to her role as an energy resource-planning analyst for Tacoma Power, Ahlmahz is also the co-founder of N-Cubed Solutions, a local start-up that develops community-focused energy and economic development solutions. In her free time, Ahlmahz balances managing a free legal clinic for the Muslim Community Resource Center, traveling, hiking, enjoying all the local cat cafes, and spending time with family and friends.

Lyle Quasim (Joined in July 2020)

Lyle Quasim was born in Chicago, IL in 1943 and came to Tacoma, WA in 1966 as a member of the United States Air Force. He served as the Director of Washington State Psychiatric Hospitals and the Washington State Director of Mental Health from 1979 to 1983 and 1983 to 1987 respectively. He also served as the Director of the Safe Streets Campaign for Tacoma and Pierce County from 1989 to 1993.Lyle was a Cabinet member for two Governors as the Secretary of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services from 1995 to 2000. DSHS was the largest department in state government.

In Pierce County, Washington he served as the Chief of Staff for the Pierce County Executive from 2001 to 2009 overseeing 16 county departments. He then became President of Bates Technical College, one of the 34 Community and Technical Colleges in the state of Washington from 2009 to 2012. His last position prior to retirement was the Senior Advisor to the Chancellor of the University of Tacoma.

Wayne Williams

Wayne’s experiences and knowledge led him into a career as a product innovator with the Xerox Corporation. As a teacher and administrator with Tacoma Community College and Metro Parks Tacoma, he turned his knowledge and experience into a twenty-one-year involvement with the Elizabeth Wesley Youth Merit Incentive Award Program through the Urban League, supporting the retention of African American public high school students.

Williams has also served as Director of Business & Operational Support at Metro Parks Tacoma. In a volunteer capacity, he has served as President of the Tacoma Public Library Board of Trustees, a member of the Black Collective leadership team, President of the National Council for Continuing Education and Training, community volunteer for the Tacoma Community House Capital Campaign, and a member of the “30 Americans Advisory Committee” for the Tacoma Art Museum.

GTCF’s Board also ratified its slate of officers for 2021, confirming Art Wang as Board Chair, Lori Forte Harnick as Board Vice Chair, Priscilla Lisicich as Board Secretary, and Brian Green as Board Treasurer.

GTCF’s Board of Directors governs the organization, establishes policy, sets priorities, and approves grant recommendations. All members are volunteers.

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Greater Tacoma Community Foundation connects people, knowledge, and funding to build a thriving Pierce County, now and into the future.  

Through financial stewardship of more than 450 funds, with over $100 million in assets, as well as strategic funding and partnerships with the community, GTCF provides philanthropic support to meet the community’s needs and achieve its opportunities. 

As a nationally accredited nonprofit community foundation, GTCF has inspired generosity across generations within Pierce County since 1981. Learn more at https://dev.gtcf.org