Chief Executive Officer, she/her
425.282.0354
Kate was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center in October 2023. She leads a staff of more than 70 employees, and works closely with the 22-member Board of Directors to meet KCSARC’s vision and mission.
Kate brings almost two decades of experience in nonprofit human services, developing, implementing and expanding programming for underserved and underrepresented communities.
Previously, Kate was the Executive Vice President at the New York City-based Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), supporting the organization to meet ambitious programmatic and fundraising goals. There, she was instrumental in the creation of innovative programs, such as a nontraditional childcare pilot and a green construction program, that established NEW as a national model for advancing female-identifying and nonbinary individuals in the building and construction trades.
Kate’s dedication to human services, gender equity, and racial justice is evident throughout her career. Prior to joining NEW, Kate raised critically needed funds that aided survivors of domestic violence, empowered veterans with employment opportunities, and assisted those experiencing homelessness. She has served as board vice chair of the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Kate holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Seton Hall University, a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University, and is a graduate of the inaugural New York City Institute of Nonprofit Practice cohort.
Larraine oversees, leads and plans client services programs, and supports a team of directors in clinical, advocacy, and prevention services. She started at KCSARC in 2007 as Clinical Manager, overseeing and supervising KCSARC’s therapists until joining the leadership team in 2022. She remains committed to providing research-based, leading-edge and high quality services for trauma survivors.
Prior to KCSARC, Larraine provided evaluation and therapy services for children and adolescents with sexual behavior problems.
Larraine received a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of British Columbia, a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Victoria and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Washington. Larraine is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider in the State of Washington. She is also a Child Mental Health Specialist.
Larraine is a professional member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
Karen oversees human resources, operations and external relations. She joined KCSARC in August 2018 as Chief External Relations Officer to lead the fundraising and communications team in the creation, implementation and evaluation of the agency’s private sector fundraising campaigns. Karen was named COO in 2024, expanding her role to include organizational growth and development.
Karen has spent most of her career working in nonprofits, including 19 years at Seattle Children’s Theatre (SCT) where she served as Education Director, and later, as Managing Director, responsible for all administrative functions of the theatre, including development and marketing.
Karen has taught locally, nationally and internationally and has been an adjunct faculty member at Cornish College for the Arts and Seattle University’s MFA Arts Leadership program. Karen serves as board president of the Winifred Ward Memorial Fund, is a Childrens Theatre Foundation of America board member and vice president for grants, and is a member of the Rotary Club of the Pacific Northwest Ending Sex Trafficking. In addition, Karen is the former board president of Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA/USA).
She is a graduate of the Goodman School of Drama in residence at DePaul University.
In her spare time, Karen loves to tell interactive stories, especially to her favorite audience members, her grandchildren.
Veena oversees finance and human resources staff at KCSARC. Prior to joining KSCARC, she served in a similar capacity at Sightlife, the largest nonprofit eye bank in the world. Veena has held positions in finance and operations management over the past 15 years at various organizations such as Seattle Symphony, Lozier Homes, Friends of Youth, and Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations.
Veena originally hails from India and was raised in Atlanta, Georgia since the age of 8. She is a graduate of Communication, Finance and Accounting at Georgia State University. She is also certified in nonprofit management and is working on her CNP.
She volunteers at various nonprofits around Seattle, including Farestart, Hindu Temple Bothell and the Muslim Association of Puget Sound.
Veena’s passion for numbers and analysis has drawn her to spend all her free time on billiards and fantasy football.
Agustina oversees and provides supervision for all of KCSARC’s therapists and parent educators. She joined KCSARC in 2015 as a bilingual therapist at KCSARC, part of the Dando Voz (Our Voice) team that provides KCSARC’s services to clients in Spanish. Agustina also co-chaired the agency’s Anti-Racism and Equity Initiative.
Agustina is passionate about serving those who have experienced trauma, especially those in marginalized communities. She believes in bringing evidence-based practices to life in ways that are culturally relevant and honor clients’ communal and personal wisdom.
Following a diverse career in education, languages, and parenthood, Agustina obtained her master’s in social work from the University of Washington.
Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Agustina has lived in the Pacific Northwest long enough to call it home. When not at work, she can be found reading anything that comes her way, enjoying live music or practicing new dance steps.
Megan directs all client advocacy services, including KCSARC’s 24-hour Resource Line, Legal Advocacy, and client support/intake programs. Prior to 2023, Megan was manager of the Legal Advocacy program and oversaw a team of 20 legal advocates who assist clients as they navigate the criminal justice process. Megan first joined KCSARC in 2000 as a Legal Advocate.
Prior to KCSARC, Megan was a residential supervisor and counselor working with youth involved in long-term treatment for criminal, behavioral, and mental health issues. Megan has long been an advocate for youth, with experience implementing the positive peer program, group therapy and recreational therapy.
Megan has a bachelor’s degree in sociology with an interdisciplinary in criminal justice.
Kim provides supervision and coordination of the 24-hour Resource Line and the advocates that staff the line to support and provide crisis counseling and resources to callers.
Kim joined KCSARC in 2001 as a Client Care Specialist, Case Manager and Parent Educator. In this capacity, she was the first point of contact for clients seeking services after they have been sexually or physically assaulted.
Prior to working at KCSARC, Kim was a para-educator in a local school district working with children with emotional and behavioral challenges. She also has a business/banking background.
Chris oversees KCSARC’s prevention education program, a cornerstone piece of KCSARC’s mission to end sexual assault by shifting norms and behaviors that contribute to violence.
Chris began his career at KCSARC in 2002 as a prevention education specialist. In 2009 he left to attended graduate school at the University of Washington, earning a master’s degree in social work. Chris returned to KCSARC in 2016 as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and worked for five years as a trauma therapist, serving children and adult victims of sexual assault and abuse. In 2021, Chris jumped at the opportunity to apply a clinical lens to KCSARC’S prevention and education work in his current role.
In addition to KCSARC, Chris has worked as a counselor at Youth Care, a clinical care consultant with the Alzheimer’s Association, a mental health clinician for Full Life Care and a social worker for Providence Hospice of Seattle.
Laurel joined KCSARC in 2017, and oversees agency communications strategy, media relations and public policy. Prior to relocating to the Seattle area from New England, she was a communications consultant for nonprofits seeking to change public policy in the areas of affordable housing and homelessness, children’s oral health, gun violence, economic justice and taxation. Laurel’s background also includes public relations and advertising account management at agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Laurel earned a dual bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism and English from Syracuse University, and a certificate in digital marketing from the University of Washington.