Peg Marckworth, Chair

Peg has a Masters of Social Work from the UW and has worked as a family therapist, in fund development for a social service agency, as lobbyist for child and family issues and in public relations for a social services agency.  She currently has her own public relations firm.  Her daughter, Amelia, graduated from Billings in 2003 and Peg served as co-chair of the Billings Parent Association for two years.  She has served as Board President for the North Cascades Institute with a focus on board development and served on the Advisory Board of University Cooperative School.

Colleen Taucher, Vice Chair

Colleen is the parent of Billings alumni Matt, class of 2002, and Kevin, class of 2006.  She is a strong supporter of excellence in and the importance of middle school education.  Her business background is in sales, marketing, and graphic design.  She has vast volunteer experience in the area of development for a number of nonprofit schools and arts organizations including Happy Medium School, Villa Academy and Seattle Art Museum.  This is her third year as a trustee.

Art Vertner, Treasurer

Art comes to the Board as a new member and is also the parent of two Billings students:  Anna, grade 8, and Garrett, grade 7.  He is an architect and executive of TAC Americas.  TAC provides facility upgrades designed to pay for themselves with the energy cost savings created.  They study, design, construct, finance and monitor the projects through their typical 10 year contract term.  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 and understands real estate development.

Dee Frankfourth, Secretary

Dee began her term with the Board in the 2003-2004 school year.  She is the mother of recent graduate Chloe Scholes, (‘05).  Her professional background includes political and communications campaign work with nonprofits now and formerly electoral campaign work for both candidates and initiatives.  Her particular interests and expertise for Billings are strategic planning, organizational development and communications.  She is “particularly keen on Billings’ experiential outdoor programs and the students’ participation in meaningful social/political experiences while at the same time maintaining academic rigor”.

Marc Wilson

Marc is serving his second term on the Board, and served as Chair from 2002-2005.  He is the parent of alumna student Adrienne, class of 2000.  His professional background is as a Software Engineer, working 16 years with Microsoft.  The expertise and interests he has to offer Billings include: serving ten years on the Board of Trustees of The Webb Schools in Claremont, CA; web site developer; and a love for science, especially physics.  He has volunteered computer skills for various organizations including:  the Children’s Alliance, the Master Gardener program, South Whidbey Tilth and Siddha Yoga Dham of Seattle.

Margaret Beeson

Maggie joins the Board this year as a friend from the community.  She was briefly on the Board in 2002-2003 but was unable to serve a full term due to a job transfer to Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma.  She has worked as Director of Development at Seattle Country Day School.  Prior to Charles Wright, she was Director of Professional Development at PNAIS for 5 years, coordinating continuing education programs and conferences for trustees, administrators and teachers.  She has also overseen capital campaigns for The Bush School, Charles Wright Academy and Seattle Country Day School.  She is “honored by the opportunity to rejoin the BMS Board."

Glenn Chinn

Glenn currently is serving his third term on the Board through the Spring of 2007.  He was previously Chair, transitioning the school from its founder, moving the school back to the Green Lake neighborhood and initiating its long-term planning process.  His son Kenzan Tsutakawa-Chinn and daughter Yaya Tsutakawa-Chinn attended The Intermediate School.  He is currently Development Asset Manager for Housing Resources Group, a nonprofit affordable housing developer established in 1980 by the Downtown Seattle Association.  He holds a certificate from the UW Fundraising Program and has hands on experience working with smaller nonprofits from absolute startups to currently an agency with close to $100M in assets and annual budget close to $12M.

Mark Davis

Mark is the parent of recent Billings graduate William Davis (‘05).  He is Vice President, Senior Business Development Officer at The Citigroup Private Bank.  In 1996, he founded ShareBuilder Corporation which evolved into a unique online brokerage that enables all investors to own stock on their terms.  Distribution partners for this service include banks, credit unions and other financial and non-financial organizations.  He has been active in multiple civic and professional organizations, including the Seattle Rotary, Washington Society of CPA’s and the Village Theatre. He believes very strongly in Billings’ approach to educating middle school students and feels, in his opinion, that it is “the world’s best middle school!”

Rich Simmonds

Rich brings financial management skills to the Board.  He is the father of two Billings students:  Jamie, class of 2006 and Brian, grade 8.  He is the Managing Principal of Laird Norton Tyee Asset Strategies, LLC.  He has served as Chairman of the Board with Tyee Asset Strategies, Inc. from 1995-2001 and Tyee Asset Strategies, LLC from 2001-2004.  He has been a previous Board member of the Foundation for Early Learning and the Westside School.  Rich is a member of Seattle Rotary #4 where he participates on the Youth & Schools Committee.  He also participates on the Planned Giving Committee at Forest Ridge School.

Brian Wong

Brian is serving his 2nd term with the Billings Board and he was the Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee which drafted Billings Middle School’s 2002-2005 Strategic Plan.  He is currently President of Integrated Health Systems.  He was a family practice physician for 10 years in the Providence Health System, worked in medical administration and was a partner in Healthcare Strategy with Arthur Andersen.  His son, Will, graduated from Billings in 2002.  He brings to the Billings Board expertise in strategic planning, leadership development, executive coaching and capital campaigns.

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. Between her retirement from Billings in 1999, Luanne served on the Board of Trustees for the Little School in Bellevue for six years.

In Memorium - Barney Mason (1960-2006)

Barney Mason was an integral part of the Billings Board of Trustees for the past decade. He supported the transition to Billings from the Intermediate School, oversaw our move to Greenlake and helped lead our Board through its first Strategic Plan. Barney was an unwavering advocate for teachers and financial aid, and believed that equity was critical in creating an innovative sustainable school community. Most of all, he was a kind and wise mentor, with an unforgettable smile.