Board of Trustees

Art Vertner, Chair

Art serves as Chair of the Board and has served on the Facilities Committee. He is the parent of two Billings alums: Anna, class of 2007, and Garrett, class of 2008. What Art brings to Billings is a passion to "work with people who are engaged in creating best-in-class environments, in this case, for educating our children."  He is an experienced business executive, who understands real estate development, and has experience in architecture and engineering.

Stephen Starling, Vice Chair

Stephen chairs the Board Steering Committee and the Facilities Committee. He is the parent of a Billings alum and a current student (Ranleigh, class of 2005 and Abbey, class of 2011). With a degree in architecture from Montana State University, Stephen has been an architect for more than 20 years. He currently is a principal at Schreiber Starling and Lane Architects, a design firm with a primary focus on public sector architecture and a particular emphasis on higher education facilities. Stephen has served on the board of the Spruce Street School, where he chaired the Facilities Committee. Both of his daughters are Spruce Street alums. An avid baseball fan, Stephen says he sees design excellence in a well-thrown curve ball. He has been described as being able to "find his nirvana from his seats on the first base line, with a sausage in hand, and his beloved M’s on the field."

Patti Pearce, Treasurer

Patti Pearce serves as Treasurer, chairs the Finance Committee, and serves on the Advancement Committee. She is the parent of Billings alum Colin, class of 2008. Patti is a CPA with 20+ years of accounting experience in both for-profit and non-profit environments. She currently holds the position of Associate Director of Finance, Accounting Services for PATH. In this capacity, she leads PATH’s Domestic Accounting Services, International Accounting Services and Reporting & Analysis teams. Over her career, she has worked for several other non-profit organizations including Chief Financial Officer for the Northwest AIDS Foundation and Executive Director of Financial and Administrative Services for Cornish College of the Arts. She graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a B.A. in Accounting. Patti also volunteers for Page Ahead, a children’s literacy program that places new books into the hands of at-risk children.

Diane Osland, Secretary

Diane serves as chair for the Board Development Committee and also serves on the Advancement Committee. She is the parent of Billings alum Connor Atkinson, class of 2007. With a Liberal Arts degree from the University of Washington, she spent several years in the 1970’s developing and implementing program models that were instrumental in prison reform. After a career shift, Diane joined Russell Investments and became the director of Product Development, responsible for the development and management of investment products. She retired from Russell in 2003. Her interest in the people of other cultures and related travel was the catalyst for founding an import company that specializes in fine art. Following her retirement from Russell, Diane and two Seattle artists started a small gallery featuring the work of Northwest artisans. Diane is a long time community activist. She chaired the board of the Giddens School and has been involved in fundraising for multiple non-profit organizations.

Luanne Billings

A native of Wenatchee, Luanne moved to Seattle and became the founding Head of The Intermediate School, which evolved into Billings Middle School in 1996. The school is named for Luanne. Luanne is currently retired from education and lives with her husband, Jon, in Ballard. She retains a love of late elementary education, skiing, sailing and dogs. After her retirement from Billings in 1999, Luanne served on the Board of Trustees for the Little School in Bellevue for six years.

Mark Foote

Mark serves on the Finance Committee and Advancement Committee. He is the parent of Billings alum Mika, class of 2008, and Rowan, class of 2012. Since graduating with a Master of International Management degree from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Mark has accumulated 25 years of financial management, financial planning, and MIS project experience in both the public and private sectors, stateside and overseas. Mark also spent several years as a stay-at-home dad, performing work he describes as "specializing in diaper changes under extreme conditions." Currently he does budgeting, data modeling, and some IT project management for King County Department of Transportation. Mark has an interest in education with an international perspective that encompasses foreign language study, travel abroad, and awareness of current events beyond domestic borders.

Carol Borgmann

Carol Borgmann is the director of major and planned giving at Lakeside School, a position she’s held since February 2004. Prior to that, she served as director of development and communications at Music Works Northwest and as director of development at the Northwest AIDS Foundation. Her 28 years as a fundraising professional also include 12 years in the performing arts. Carol serves on the board for the Washington Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, where she is on the Communications Committee and the Mentorship Committee. Carol and her husband, Steve Sorensen, have one daughter, Lynn, Billings class of 2010. Steve organized the “Honey-Do” Dads as an auction item this year and last year, and is a frequent facilities volunteer at Billings. Carol is a key member of Billings Major Gifts and Advancement committees. She was part of the selection task force that recommended consultant Nan Garrison.

Nina Crocker

Nina Crocker is past co-chair of Billings Parent Association. She has helped bring a new level of enthusiasm and structure to the organization. Under her leadership, many new social events and parent education evenings have been initiated. She has helped the Parent Association fulfill its goal to build community among Billings families. Nina is well acquainted with PNAIS schools. Her husband Stephen Gillett teaches at The Little School in Bellevue, where both of their daughters attended elementary school. Their oldest, Maya, is a recent 8th grade graduate of Billings. Their youngest, Josie, is a 7th grade student at Northwest. Maya will attend Northwest next fall. Originally from California, Nina has a culinary background; is part of the slow food movement in Seattle; and is well-known for her felt-hat making. Nina’s felt-hat making parties as well as the family’s weekend home in the San Juans are popular items at Billings annual auctions. Nina and Stephen have graciously hosted Billings events including the 8th grade Wine & Nibbles reception at their home in Ravenna last summer.

Peter Conard

Peter Conard is a principal at Sullivan Conard Architects, an award-winning firm named one of the Top 50 Northwest Architectural firms by NW Home Magazine. The firm focuses on high-end residential and retreat homes, and takes pride in creating timeless, site-appropriate buildings that resonate with clients' values while supporting their way of life and practical needs. Their work has been described as a balance between innovation and tradition, with careful consideration of scale, proportion and detail. With a BA in Geology from Middlebury College and a Master in Architecture from the University of Oregon School of Architecture and Allied Arts, Peter began his career in 1991 and has worked in Seattle for more than 15 years, except for 1996 to 1998 when he briefly returned to his New England roots and worked for an architectural firm in Burlington, Vermont. Peter has shared his experience and expertise as a key member of Billings Facilities Planning Committee since 2008. His other community involvement work includes serving as a Table Caption since 2006 for the annual Habitat for Humanity Benefit Breakfast and serving as an assistant coach since 2004 for the Seattle Junior Hockey Association. Peter and his wife, Laura Appell, have two sons: Sam (Billings '09; Northwest '13) and Eli (Billings '12).