Companis is excited to welcome our new Associate E.D. for Programs, Jillian Harmon. She brings extensive volunteer matching and management to her role directing our program. Jillian began her new role October 1st, and will be based mostly in our Seattle office,...
What does it mean to guide leaders and staff through major transitions? “A leader’s role is primarily to support the work of their teams. My role as a consultant and coach is to help them be successful,” says Debra Gumbardo. Debra is the latest in a long line of...
Mary Hsu is a retired legislative aide and executive assistant who has worked in local and state government, including for former King County Executive Ron Sims and Washington Governor Gary Locke. She’s always been engaged in her community, so volunteering comes...
Sharon Salyer is our latest placement at North Helpline, a nonprofit that provides basic needs including food, housing and utility assistance. Sharon, a retired award-winning journalist who spent more than three decades at The Herald of Everett, is helping the agency...
A former Companis Worker and veteran leader of the Companis model for volunteer support in Seattle and Chicago is the 2021 winner of the Janet G. Newell Award for Community Service. Rev. Dr. Tim Phillips, lead pastor at Seattle First Baptist Church (SFBC), is the...
Viewing refugees through the lens of abundance isn’t what most of us are accustomed to. But Allison Taylor, Clinical Director of Lutheran Community Services Northwest for North Puget Sound, speaks with a sense of awe when describing the strength of those who make this...
My name is Jensen Nida and I’m a sophomore at Bates College in Maine. This fall, I took a leave of absence and found myself back in my hometown of Seattle itching for purpose. I showed up at the Companis office one day to help prepare newsletters for mailing. I heard...
Where do we go to catch the light during these dark, winter months? We asked Companis Workers and staff to send in photos that document a moment in time when light caught their eye and raised their spirits. From giant bubbles to meditation, we received an array...
Having a worker support group makes a big difference for Companis placements. It creates community and holds space for reflection. Volunteers support each other by sharing their experiences through Companis’ monthly worker support meetings (in-person, when possible,...