Through his company, Growing Forward Services, Paul has partnered with his corporate and individual clients to transform their vision, their habits, and their lives. Currently, Paul carries out his mission by contributing daily inspirational growth messages on local radio, writing for the Tri-Cities Journal of Business, and via social media posts. Also, he has inspired thousands of individuals and leaders to grow forward through his soft-skills seminars, team-building off-site retreats, group and executive coaching, and as a keynote speaker. Paul has written 5 books: The Static Cling Principle (on habits and mindsets), Maximizing Every Minute (on time management), Leading the Team You’ve Always Wanted, Leading with Super-Vision, and Leading through the Dark Waters of Conflict. Paul is married to Lovely Laura, has two young adult children named after state capitals, has 2 puppies – a Lhasa Apso (Gizmo), a Shitzu (Nugget), and has lived in the Tri-Cities, WA, for over 25 years. For fun, he enjoys golfing and hiking—and orange slices—and he reads over 40 books per year.

Carrie Perkins, Ph.D. is a Medical Anthropologist and Qualitative Research Scientist with the Washington State Department of Health, where she leads qualitative evaluation for the Center for Access to Whole Person Care. She was previously a Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Soka University, and an ACLS Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Irvine. Her work centers on identity, belonging, and access to care, with fieldwork experience among refugee and immigrant communities in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the United States.

As Development Coordinator for Grace Clinic, Ericka Watson brings energy, creativity, and a deep commitment to community connection. She first joined the clinic more than two years ago as a volunteer interpreter and was quickly hired into her current role, where she has become instrumental in advancing the clinic‚ fundraising and community-engagement efforts. Her work has strengthened relationships with individual supporters, local businesses, and community partners. A certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Ericka is passionate about helping people improve their health and well-being. She and her husband, Tony, have been married for 35 years and share two amazing adult children along with two energetic labs.

Executive Director Avonte Jackson has been part of Grace Clinic's leadership for more than a decade. She believes that building genuine relationships throughout the community is one of the best ways free clinics can secure support, strengthen partnerships, and attract the resources needed to care for patients. Avonte serves on the advisory council for Greater Health Now, the area's accountable community of health, and looks forward to attending her first Christian Community Health Fellowship board meeting in September. She and her husband, Kedrich, recently celebrated 31 years of marriage and enjoy vacationing with their two entertaining adult children.

I help organizations understand who they are, articulate why they matter, align leadership around a shared vision, and build practical systems that allow that vision to endure. I am a versatile professional with expertise in brand/creative strategy, systems development, content creation, brand building, music curation, and organizational success. My passion is rooted in building lasting relationships in everything I do. I am highly organized and treat every interaction as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Elizabeth is a senior strategy and operations leader working inside a traditional industry — the kind of business with field crews, paper invoices, and a workforce that's rightfully skeptical of anything that sounds like a TED talk. She has spent the last decade building strategy and execution systems inside companies that sell through sales teams, move physical goods, and rely on people who are measured by results, not buzzwords. Her experience spans cross-functional planning, customer operations, and internal readiness for AI projects that have to work in the real world. PMP-certified and a regular speaker at PMI chapter events, Elizabeth helps executive teams translate generative AI and automation into practical guardrails, useful workflows, and measurable outcomes — while keeping the day-to-day work of operations front and center.

Dr. Leo Morales, MD, PhD, MPH, is a professor of medicine and assistant dean for healthcare equity and quality in the UW School of Medicine and founding co-director of the Latino Center for Health at the University of Washington.  He is a past recipient of a Robert Wood Johnson Minority Foundation Medical Faculty Development Award and a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Investigator Award. His research focuses on racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in health. He was the 2023 recipient of the Washington State Public Health Association (WSPHA) Annual Secretary's Award and a recipient of a 2021 Washington State Medical Association Grassroots Advocate Award.

Aida Hidalgo A., PhD, MS, CHW is a bilingual clinical microbiologist, public health professional, community health worker, and diabetes educator originally from Mexico. She has led community-centered health initiatives serving Latino communities throughout the Pacific Northwest through her work with the University of Washington's Latino Center for Health, Ventanilla de Salud at the Mexican Consulate in Seattle, and the Seattle/King County Clinic. As Manager of Community Health Initiatives and Coordinator of the Mi Salud mobile health program at the Latino Center for Health, she works to improve access to care and promote health equity across Washington State.

Dr. Paul L. McLain, MD, is an experienced family medicine physician with over 55 years of medical practice in Washington state. He currently acts as the Medical Director for SOS Health Services, a dedicated volunteer safety-net clinic. Throughout his career, which includes three decades as a rural family doctor, Dr. McLain has been recognized with multiple civic honors for his commitment to community health and providing care to underserved populations.

Noemi has served as the SOS Clinic Director for the past five years. She originates from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Her life experiences have directed her towards exploring ways to engage with the community and provide direct assistance to individuals. She holds a degree in Architecture as well as a Master's degree in Architectural Sciences. Her experience managing her own enterprise in Mexico has enhanced her ability to oversee clinic administration efficiently. Noemi has been engaged in triathlon training since her early twenties, acquiring valuable insights into the human body through her athletic pursuits. Upon returning to Walla Walla, she began employment at the YMCA and received training as a Lifestyle Coach in the Diabetes Prevention Program. Currently, she is focused on implementing further improvements and serving the SOS clinic.  

Michael Lloyd is one of the few remaining Seattle-area natives. A graduate of the University of Washington and the Edinburgh Business School, he has been working since 1983 doing healthcare risk management, quality, patient safety, compliance, liability insurance and malpractice claims defense for healthcare clinicians and organizations. He is board certified in insurance, quality, risk management, and healthcare risk management. His clinical experience includes emergency medical services and oncology research. He has worked at Williams, Kastner, and Gibbs; Physicians Insurance; the Everett Clinic; Community Health Center of Snohomish County and International Community Health Services; and semi-retired in 2024 as the corporate risk management director of the Providence Clinical Network in western Washington. He has a private practice in risk management, claims, and quality consulting.

Lea Gutiérrez  is a registered nurse and Clinic Manager of the Free Clinic of SW Washington. She has been in this position since March 2022 but has previously worked in home health and med-surg.

Josh is a Senior Account Manager. He was born and raised in Tri-Cities, Washington where he and his wife still reside and raise their three daughters. Josh is fluent in English and Spanish. Josh loves using his energy and enthusiasm to help people in his community access healthcare and other social supports they may need to be their best.Josh loves spending his time watching youth and professional sports and plays golf in his spare time. Growing up around sports he’s grown a passion for the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Mariners and Washington State University Cougars. Josh is a first-generation college graduate from Washington State University where he earned an undergraduate degree through the Edward Murrow College of Communications.

Brisa Guajardo is the Manager of Business Development at Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW), with more than 20 years of experience in healthcare outreach, enrollment, and community engagement. She works closely with community health centers, healthcare providers, and community-based organizations across Washington to improve access to healthcare coverage and resources.
Brisa has extensive experience educating partners and communities on Medicaid eligibility, enrollment, and policy changes that impact underserved populations. A licensed insurance agent and certified medical interpreter, she is passionate about making complex healthcare information understandable and helping organizations better support the communities they serve.

Kathy Brault earned a Bachelor of Nursing in 2001 and a Master of Nursing in 2005 from WSU Tri-Cities. Beginning her career as a registered nurse in 1997, Kathryn served at local hospitals and taught nursing at Columbia Basin College. Kathryn began practicing as nurse practitioner in 2005. She was drawn into her specialization in the medical field by her experience as a parent of a son with Type 1 Diabetes. She was the owner of Tri-Cities Diabetes for 18 years, where she served as a diabetes specialist, and she retired from private medical practice in 2023.  For more than 20 years, she has volunteered as a medical provider at Grace Clinic, and for the last 14 years, she has served as the clinic’s volunteer medical director. Outside of her professional life, Kathryn enjoys traveling and cycling with her husband, Mark Brault, and finds joy spending time with their 13 grandchildren, working in her garden, and playing her piano.