Consultants

Dr. Gene Sementi

Dr. Gene Sementi recently retired after a 31-year tenure with West Valley School District. Throughout his career, he held roles ranging from teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal to superintendent, while serving as an adjunct professor in Education Leadership at Washington State University for 18 years. Gene co-founded the Eastern Washington Quality Schools Coalition, advocating for public education statewide, and continues to contribute by teaching at Gonzaga University, managing the Almira School Rebuild project, serving on a Charter School Board, serving on nonprofit boards, and aiding school districts in leadership searches through NorthwestLeadership Associates.

Laurel Browning

Laurel Browning is the former superintendent of the Burlington-Edison School District with 35 years of experience in Washington education. Her professional experience ranges from work as an assistant superintendent, director, principal and elementary teacher. Laurel has been extremely active in community and civic development as well as establishing herself as a leader in professional administrator organizations and training.

Jada Rupley

Jada Rupley is the former superintendent of Clackamas Educational Service, OR, and the Associate superintendent of Educational Service District 112, WA. She was also the former Oregon Director of Early Learning for Oregon State and currently works as a consultant for PointNorth Consulting in strategic planning. Jada has more than 35 years in the field of education with a wide range of experience in teaching and administration. She has also served on the Board of Trustees for Clark College, Vancouver, as well as a Portland State University Education Department Advisory member.

Dr. Dave Novotney

Dr. Dave Novotney recently retired after serving 38 years as an educator and school administrator in Oregon.  Dave began his career as a high school history teacher and coach. He has worked as an assistant principal, high school principal, HR director, deputy superintendent, school district superintendent, and as an ESD superintendent.  In his role as an ESD superintendent, Dave was instrumental in establishing the Willamette Career Academy (a regional CTE high school) and passing legislation to create the Statewide School Safety and Prevention System in Oregon.  In retirement, Dave conducts investigations for school district, serves on the Western Oregon University Foundation Board of Trustees, and supports school districts in conducting executive searches through Northwest Leadership Associates.

Jon Peterson

Dr. Bill Jordan

Dr. Bill Jordan is the former superintendent of the Kelso School District and a former Deputy Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction. More recently he has served as the interim superintendent of the Prescott and Walla Walla School Districts.

Sergio Hernandez

Sergio Hernandez retired as superintendent of the Freeman School District after 45 years in education. His experience has taken him across the United States and he has worked in K-16 settings. Currently he is Executive Director of the Washington Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents and also serves as a trustee for Walla Walla Community College.

Dr. Pam Veltri

Dr. Pam Veltri recently retired after a 38-year career in K-12 Education as well as higher education.
Throughout her career, she held roles ranging from teacher, coach, Special Services Director,
principal, Curriculum/ Assessment Director, Assistant Superintendent, to Superintendent, while serving as an adjunct professor in education leadership programs at Washington State University, Whitworth University and Eastern Washington University. Most recently, Pam has worked with principal interns through EWU’s principal preparation program and aiding school districts in leadership searches through Northwest Leadership Associates.

Dr. Tom Rockefeller

Dr. Tom Rockefeller is the Chief Operating Officer of Northwest Leadership Associates. He is the retired superintendent of the Mead School District and previously served as superintendent of the Pullman School District. He also is a past faculty member in WSU’s Superintendent Certification Program, and has mentored numerous new superintendents in the state and region. With more than 41 years of experience in education in the State of Washington, Tom has vast knowledge of the Inland Northwest, and in particular the State of Washington.

Dr. Dennis Ray

Dr. Dennis Ray, Emeritus is president and owner of Northwest Leadership Associates. His primary work is conducting superintendent searches for school districts in the Pacific Northwest and working with school boards and administrative teams to develop peak effectiveness. From 1996 to 2007, he directed Washington State University’s Superintendent Certification Program, the largest superintendent preparation program in the country. Dennis’ experience also includes service as superintendent of the Northshore School District for four years and the Walla Walla School District for ten years. He was Washington State’s Superintendent of the Year in 1987, and the state’s nominee for National Superintendent of the Year in 1990.

Mark J. Venn

Mark J. Venn retired in 2013 from the Sedro-Woolley school district superintendent position after a 37-year tenure in education. Throughout his career he held many positions ranging from teacher, coach, athletic director, CTE director, assistant principal, high school principal, assistant superintendent to superintendent (2004-2013). Mark has served on the ESD 189 board for 10 years, has been an active Rotary Club member for over 20 years and volunteers for Meals on Wheels and the Skagit County Civil Service Commission and SMART team. He helped facilitate the establishment of the Northwest Career and Technical Academy (Skills Center) as well as planning and building the Skagit County Community Justice Center (jail). As a way of “giving back” to education, he has assisted school districts in finding and hiring candidates in leadership searches for principals, assistant superintendents and superintendents. For the past 10 years he has been a member of the Northwest Leadership Associates team; involved in over 45 searches.

Bill Motsenbocker

Bill Motsenbocker is the former superintendent of the Cascade and Liberty School Districts and recently retired after 37 years in K-12 public education. Bill has extensive experience as a middle school principal, and superintendent as well as serving as an adjunct professor to Washington State University’s Teaching & Learning Department for 11 years. Bill also led three districts in passing construction bonds and facilities planning to build four new schools all in Eastern Washington.

Chris Rust

Chris Rust recently retired as superintendent of Toledo School District after a 35 year career in K-12 education. Serving as teacher, mentor, building administrator and superintendent, Chris worked in both large and small system in primarily rural areas of Washington State. He has been on the board of a regional health care center and several non-profits. He currently is the substitute interim superintendent for Griffin School District, supervises student teachers for Centralia College and does superintendent searches for NWLA.

Dr. Wayne Robertson

Dr. Wayne Robertson has over forty years of public school teaching and leadership experience, including 23 years as superintendent of three districts ranging in size from 400 to over 20,000 students. In addition to his superintendent search work for Northwest Leadership Associates, Wayne is currently a faculty member in the Education Leadership Department of Western Washington University.