Local professionals aim “to make a measurable difference”
Bellevue, WA – CFOS Foundation, an organization that provides time, talent and treasure to needy Washington children, announces its first board of advisors.
“Our new board of advisors strongly believes that even small companies have an obligation to re-invest in the communities from which we all earn our living,” said Tom Varga, CFOS Foundation co-founder. “This board is made up of outstanding business leaders, finance and non-profit executives who will direct the foundation’s community-based grants and professional assistance.”
The new foundation earlier this year launched a permanent fund that focuses on grant making in Washington State but spans the nation to recruit the best professionals for in-kind finance assistance.
“Non-profits with fewer resources will now have immediate access to an experienced foundation team member who can offer strategies and solutions that are not otherwise readily accessible. These strategic and operational financial consultants can therefore provide valuable mentoring based on relevant experience,” said Varga.
CFOS Foundation Board of Directors
William J. Palmer – Chairman, joined CFO Selections after a 20-year career in banking and finance. Within the lending groups at Bank of America and US Bank, he led teams that funded hundreds of companies in the Pacific Northwest. He is a proven senior-level executive with strong banking, financial, accounting, and business development skills.
Bill graduated from the Pacific Coast Banking School and earned his M.B.A. from Seattle University after graduating with a degree in business administration from Gonzaga University. Bill has extensive experience in not-for-profit finance.
Joyce Lee, CPA – Treasurer, is a principal at Clark Nuber, an award-winning CPA and consulting firm. As a CPA, she served as controller for a large not-for-profit organization where she supervised financial accounting and reporting, external audits, and accounting software conversions. Joyce specializes in private and public foundations as well as complex accounting and auditing issues including endowments, planned giving, and consolidation of related entities. She is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants. She has served as a past board member for the WSCPA and as secretary and treasurer for the Humane Society for Seattle/King County.
Betsy Koelzer – Secretary has a passion for child welfare and enjoys working directly with children experiencing lack. Her time is focused on children requiring individual mentoring. Special interest include improving a child’s life by assisting parents, facilitating the transition from high school to college when parental support is absent, nurturing personal responsibility and appropriate conflict resolution. Working through neighborhood outreach Betsy has worked extensively with troubled teenage boys through listening, setting goals, introduction to service and lots of brownies.
Betsy completed the graduate program of Spiritual Counseling Psychology at the University of Santa Monica in 2002 and is presently working towards advanced certification in the study of Consciousness, Health and Healing. Betsy lives in Edmonds with her husband of 28 years.
Bill Baldwin – Board Member, is the founder and CEO of Baldwin Resource Group, Inc. (BRG), a diversified professional service company that provides business consulting, risk management and insurance. He held a variety of positions, primarily in the insurance industry. In addition to BRG, Bill has served as the president of Washington Policy Center, a non-profit think tank. . He serves on community boards and committees for education at Seattle Pacific University and Washington State University. He also sits on a publicly traded bank board, Evergreen Bank. . Bill has lived in Washington since 1966, married for 32 years, two children and two grandchildren.
Scott Garrepy – Board Member, currently serves as the director of development for International Programs at Washington State University. Prior to joining WSU he was a Principal at Newbridge Partners, a fund-raising consulting firm.
For the past decade, Scott served as the director of development for INTIMAN Theatre and as director of business development for GreaterGood.com / The Hunger Site. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals where he currently serves on the board of directors for the GreaterGood Foundation, and has served as vice president and director of the Spectrum Dance Theatre.
Sue Sander – Board Member, is currently the Business Development Director for the Infrastructure Unit of URS Washington Divison. In addition, she was the former president of Shapiro and Associates, Inc., and was responsible for management and direction of the Northwest’s largest environmental firm. Her background encompassed studies in the fields of management, financial administration, marketing, and natural resources/planning studies.. Her involvement in a wide range of public and private sector projects including: environmental management services, ecological restoration commercial/industrial and residential projects and, infrastructure/ transportation/ energy projects. She is also currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Eastside Heritage Center and the NHS Alumni Association.
Thomas L. Varga – Board Member, is the founder and managing partner of CFO Selections, a finance and accounting professional services firm. Prior to founding CFO Selections in 2002, Tom served as president of 1NService, Inc. a national alliance of network technology and security companies. He has also held COO and CFO position for Northwest Nexus and Peopleware, in Bellevue.
About CFOS Foundation
The foundation provides resources, both financial and in-kind services, to improve the lives of children in Washington state. It supports organizations that directly affect the wellbeing and improvement of children’s physical, mental and emotional needs in their homes, schools and neighborhoods.
CFOS Foundation e-mail: foundation@cfoselections.com.