MEET THE BOARD
We deeply appreciate the invaluable time and effort our Board members devote. Their visionary leadership and unwavering commitment inspire us all to strive for excellence and reach new heights. Their guidance, oversight, and unwavering dedication make them the backbone of our organization. We are honored to have them as part of our team, and we are committed to supporting their efforts in every possible way.
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PENW's Board of Directors comprises diverse individuals from various backgrounds, united by a shared goal of achieving the organization's Mission and Vision. They invest countless hours, going above and beyond their professional and personal commitments, to ensure our organization thrives. Their extensive knowledge and strategic insights play a pivotal role in steering our organization toward greater impact and sustainability.
Thanks to our exceptional Board for empowering and creating positive change in the organizations and communities we serve in the Pacific Northwest through their contributions, selflessness & dedication.
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PENW Board, President
John Dickson
Eastern Regional Director, Retired
Employment Connections Division
WA Employment Security Department (ESD)
Utah
I love the Malcolm Baldrige framework and have used it in organizations I’ve run in
the past to help us perform at a much higher level. A few years ago, I contracted with PENW to train 20 of my Spokane County department leaders on the Malcolm Baldrige framework. It worked out very well, and when I was given the opportunity to serve on the PENW Board a couple of years ago, I excitedly jumped at the
opportunity!
PENW Board, Vice President
Maryruth Butler
President, North Division
Cascadia Healthcare
Kellogg, Idaho
Maryruth’s healthcare passion has led her to be Director of Quality and Integrity for Cascadia Healthcare. As the previous Executive Director at Mountain Valley of Cascadia, her team became the first-ever skilled nursing facility to achieve the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2016, the highest level of National recognition for performance excellence. She enjoys sharing her quality journey, encouraging others to achieve performance excellence through continuous improvement and innovation. She holds a Master of Business Administration in Health Care Administration, is a QAPI Certified Professional, 2017 AHCA’s National Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award recipient, and 2019 national recipient of the Baldrige Foundation Award for
Leadership Excellence.
PENW Board, Treasurer
Paul Fisher
Retired Professor/Educational Leader
Ashland, Oregon
Paul has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Labor Relations, and a doctorate in Education. In addition to consulting with small businesses, he has taught accounting courses for over thirty years and negotiated numerous labor contracts as chief bargainer and team member representing both management and union interests. For thirty years he has been teaching business courses in higher education. His dissertation explored the value of using graphic organizers in teaching and learning accounting
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The Baldrige Framework is a consistent systematic method to help organizations reach better successes. I found that each organization that I worked with had a different language and method for writing strategic plans and implementing those plans. The Baldrige Framework gives the next steps to this process and gives every organization a blueprint to greater success. PENW is key in spreading that message and helping others to identify and attain their goals.
PENW Board, Secretary
Bruce Requa
Senior Business Program Manager
Microsoft
Seattle, Washington
Bruce is a Seattle-based professional with a wealth of experience in business. He holds a BS in Engineering from the University of Colorado, an MBA from the University of Southern California, and a DBA from Walden University. With over seven years of experience at Microsoft and 10 years of experience in management and marketing consulting, Bruce brings a unique perspective to the table. He is passionate about being of service to others and is dedicated to helping organizations on their excellence journey. Bruce currently serves as a board member for Performance Excellence Northwest, a regional nonprofit that uses the Baldrige Excellence Framework to help companies improve their sustainability. He has also served in multiple roles with NIST's Baldrige Performance Excellence program, most recently as a national judge, and has participated in seven site visits with high-performing organizations.
PENW Board, Executive Director
Laura M Kinney, MBA
Executive Director
Performance Excellence Northwest & Partners in Performance Excellence
Halifax, Massachusetts
First and foremost, a Baldrige Geek
Laura enjoys working with leaders, organizations, and communities to use the Baldrige Framework to improve and become the best versions of their Mission, Vision and Values while delivering benchmark-level results. She is the Chair of the Board and acting President for Partners in Performance Excellence - a regional Baldrige non-profit that serves MA, NY, RI, DE, NJ, Eastern PA, and CT. In June 2025, Laura was recruited back to the original region and program where she discovered her passion for this work, the Pacific Northwest. Laura started her Baldrige career in 2002 as a first year WSQA Examiner and has taken (or taught!) examiner training either at the regional or national level almost every year since. Laura is now the Executive Director for Performance Excellence Northwest (PENW) serving AK, WA, ID, and OR. In the past, Laura had the privilege of being an executive in healthcare where she was able to use the Baldrige framework and lean transformation to develop and execute the organization's strategic plan (MultiCare (WA), Yakima Valley Memorial FOS (WA), Geisinger (PA), and Signature Healthcare (MA)). Laura enjoyed her time in the PNW from 2002-2017. She has been both on-staff and an external consultant (Performance Excellence Mentor - PEM) for health systems and organizations to learn how to use the Baldrige Framework to develop leaders and create aligned and integrated organizations. Laura is also the Marketing Chair and a member of the Board for the Alliance for Performance Excellence.
For over 10 years, Laura served as the Chair of ASQ's Conference Council and on the World Conference Technical Program Committee for years prior. Laura served as the chair for both Spokane and Seattle Sections for ASQ in the past. She is also active in ACHE – The American College for Healthcare Executives.
Laura has also served as an examiner for Communities of Excellence 2026 and AHCA-NCAL - Both Baldrige-based programs and partners within the Baldrige Ecosystem.
Recently, Laura has spoken or been on panels for ASQ's World Conference on Quality and Improvement, Quest for Excellence, ASQ's Lean and Six Sigma Conference, and the Medical Device Innovation Consortium in Boston. Laura hosted her first PENW Annual Learning Symposium in 2025 and looks forward to hosting many more!
Laura lives next to a cranberry bog in Halifax, MA and you can find her walking her Labrador, Basil, each night or tending her garden. Laura loves the Maine Coast as it most reminds her of the Pacific Coast with all her energy, ruggedness and beauty.
PENW Board, Director
Jennifer Capps, MA
Chief Development & Communications Officer
Mason Health
Shelton, Washington
Jennifer Capps is the Chief Development and Communications Officer for Mason Health. Capps joined the District in 2008 and has been serving as the Chief Development Officer and overseeing the philanthropy, marketing, and communications of the District since 2009. She has a Master of Arts degree in Philanthropy and Development from St. Mary's University of Minnesota and has received several certifications in executive non-profit leadership and management. Capps has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in Studio Art from Hollins University.
In 2022, Capps was elected as Vice-President of Performance Excellence Northwest's (PENW) Board of Directors. She has received a 2021 LifeNet Health Hospital Administration Award in addition she has won four awards from Practice Greenhealth recognizing the District’s Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability efforts, which include a prestigious Greening the OR recognition in 2023. Capps serves on PENW’s board of directors because, in her 30-plus years of experience in the non-profit sector, she appreciates the extraordinary value brought forward for organizations of all sizes and sectors of service. She is proud of PENW’s achievements within the regions they serve!
PENW Board, Director - New 2026!
Karissa Craig
Lean Change Agent, Senior
Geisinger Health Plan
Spokane, Washington
Karissa Craig is a seasoned Lean practitioner with over 25 years of experience in Healthcare. She has been involved with the Baldrige program at the state level from 2013-2018, then transitioned to the national level from 2018-2022. Karissa was instrumental in helping Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital and Family of Services with their successful Baldrige Journey, 2012-2016. Karissa currently works with the Geisinger Health Plan, helping facilitate improvement with lean transformation and process improvement approaches. As a passionate advocate for process and organizational improvement, Karissa brings a unique blend of strategic expertise and enthusiasm to the PENW team. She joined the board to support the mission of achieving sustainable performance excellence and lives in Spokane, Washington.
PENW Board, Director - NEW 2026!
Aphriekah DuHaney-West, MBA, MSN, FACHE
Regional Chief Operating Officer
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan & Hospitals of the Northwest
Portland, Oregon
Aphriekah Duhaney-West, FACHE, is the Regional Chief Operating Officer for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan & Hospitals of the Northwest and a distinguished National Baldrige Executive Fellow. A nationally respected healthcare executive, she is known for leading with clarity, purpose, and disciplined operational excellence. In her current role, Aphriekah drives systemwide performance across hospitals, ambulatory care, and integrated service lines, advancing high reliability, aligning strategy, and strengthening leadership capability. She is a key architect of the region’s Journey to Excellence, guiding the integration of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework, Daily Management Systems, Lean, Kata, and high-reliability principles. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President and Area Manager for Kaiser Permanente’s Central Valley Area, overseeing the Modesto and Manteca Medical Centers, joint operations with St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton, and a broad continuum of
health plan services. With more than 35 years of healthcare experience and 20 years in executive leadership, including roles as Chief Nurse Executive, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Executive Officer, she is recognized for delivering business efficiency, exceptional consumer experience, strong physician partnerships, and top-decile performance.
Aphriekah also serves on multiple boards spanning economic development, healthcare, education, and civic leadership. A devoted mentor and leadership coach, she is guided by a servant-leadership philosophy rooted in valuing people, fostering learning, and leading with grace, not perfection.
PENW Board, Director - New 2026!
Pamela Taylor
Human Resources Director
City of Walla Walla
Walla Walla, Washington
Pam has a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Central Washington University. She has served at the executive level in Human Resources in K-12 education, healthcare, and city government for over 35 years. Having experience in both private and non-profit organizations, Pam brings a unique blend of goal-oriented, get-down-to-business sense, with compassion and a desire to serve the community.
Pam currently serves as the Human Resources Director on the Leadership Team for the City of Walla Walla. As a certified facilitator, Pam has worked with various committees on quality improvement projects and focuses on transformational leadership to build relationships and develop strategic partnerships throughout the organization. It was an honor for Pam to participate in the first PENW Executive Collaborative in 2019-2020, and she received training to serve as a site visit examiner in 2021. It is important for Pam to ‘be a part of something bigger than yourself.’ Pam looks forward to serving on the PENW Board and continuing her journey to excellence with the Baldrige framework.
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Interested to Share Your Talents with the PENW Board?
If you are interested to join the PENW Board of Directors, please contact anyone above on the board or the Executive Director for more information. We're always looking for professionals driven to performance excellence.
952-964-5244