Doreen Cato, Executive Director, First Place
2005 Executive Alliance Leadership Award Recipient

The  Fourth Annual Executive Alliance Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector was presented to Doreen Cato, Executive Director of First Place.   Miss Cato was nominated by Carolyn Hojaboom of Moss Adams.  She says "I see her as one who walks the talk, stands out in leadership, doesn't take 'no' for an answer, does what is needed to make this place better, with a positive attitude always. Inspirational. She is constantly out there, visibile. This is strength."

First Place is a service agency devoted to educating and nurturing children whose families struggle with the risk or reality of homelessness offering housing, culturally relevant education and support services enabling families to achieve permanent stability. The mission of First Place is to educate and nurture children whose families struggle with the risk or reality of homelessness.   The vision: Hope, home, and education for every child, one family at a time.

Doreen has served on the Executive Alliance Executive Committee and founded the EA Leadership award. Doreen Cato is currently chairing the Minority Executive Director's Coalition, King County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners; and State Advisory Council on Homelessness; serving on the Washington State Advisory Council for the Homeless; Seattle University Visiting Committee for the Master's Not-For-Profit Leadership Program; a member of Rotary Seattle Four Club; Her most recent appointment was to the National Association for Housing and Redevelopment Board's Housing Authority Commissioners Committee. She has a diverse background in community and organizational development, including systems theory, nonprofit management, homelessness, strategic fund development, and public policy.   Doreen earned her M.A. in Applied Behavioral Sciences, from Leadership Institute of Seattle/City University. She is currently a student in the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program at Seattle University.    Doreen has received numerous awards and recognitions for her accomplishments, but she believes her greatest accomplishments are her children, Christina and Barron.