Leadership Award Info

First Annual Executive Alliance Leadership Awards Presented to
Mike Heinisch of Kent Youth & Family Services
and
Rita Ryder of the YWCA of King and
Snohomish Counties

Seattle, WA – June 13, 2002 – Executive Alliance is pleased to announce the first recipients of the Executive Alliance Leadership Awards. Executive Alliance is a membership organization of over 130 Puget Sound not-for-profit human service, health and housing organizations, whose mission is to enhance and promote the sector by increasing the capacity of not-for-profit leaders to carry out their roles and by shaping the external environment to respond positively to the not-for-profit sector. Awards were presented at the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Executive Alliance.

2002 Executive Alliance Leadership Awards Award winners were Mike Heinisch, Executive Director of Kent Youth & Family Services and Rita Ryder, Executive Director of YWCA of King and Snohomish Counties.

“Mike has been a mentor for me, said Jon Botten, Executive Director of Children’s Therapy Center in Kent, who nominated Heinisch for the award. “He is always there for the community… he works to improve not only his agency and the clients they serve, but the whole sector and the general community. His desire to learn, listen and lead is truly inspiring.”

Heinisch is Executive Director of Kent Youth & Family Services which provides professional counseling, education and support services to children, youth and families in the South King County region. Kent Youth & Family Services takes an innovative approach to develop programs that meet the evolving challenges of the diverse community in culturally sensitive ways. Their goal is to empower youth and their families to meet their needs while being committed and responsive to the citizens of the Kent and Covington communities.

Heinisch currently serves on the Kent Human Services Commission, and the Board of United Way of King County. In addition, Heinisch was also elected Chair of the Executive Alliance Board at the Annual Meeting.

“Rita Ryder represents the consummate human services and civic leader”, says Ruthann Howell, Executive Director of Family Services of King County. “The passion and focus she brings to every endeavor is transmitted to those around her; her generosity of spirit in sharing her expertise and experience provides opportunities to lift the whole not-for-profit sector. Her stellar reputation throughout the Puget Sound region translates into increased understanding and community support for essential not-for-profit services and resultant changed lives.”

Rita Ryder has been Executive Director of the YWCA since 1978. The YWCA provides services to 35,000 people in more than 35 locations in King and Snohomish Counties. Rita is on the boards of the Downtown Seattle Association, the Housing Resources Group, and the YWCA of the USA. She is an Assistant Affiliate Professor at the University of Washington School of Social Work, and a member of the Seattle University Masters of Non-Profit Visiting Committee. Rita was also a founding member and a continuing Board Member for Executive Alliance.

Click here to find out more about the EA Leadership Award.