Liz Davis, President of the Junior League of Olympia, is a Learning and Development Specialist for State Farm Insurance Companies. She received a BA in English, Magna Cum Laude, from Washington State University in 1998 and a Master in Teaching from The Evergreen State College in 2001. Prior to her career at State Farm, Liz worked as a writer and editor in the Office of Washington State Governor Gary Locke and taught English at River Ridge High School in Lacey. She is a National Board Certified teacher and a past recipient of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Teacher Leadership Project Grant. Currently, Liz serves on State Farm’s Pacific Northwest Zone Education Leadership Committee.

Liz is the daughter of Junior League of Olympia founding member and past President Margaret Barney. Since joining the League in 2002, her placements have included the Gift & Garden, Advocacy, and Training committees. 

Liz is passionate about education, lifelong learning, and children’s issues. She loves traveling, cooking, reading and writing, boating, attending rodeos, and active pursuits. 


Linda Kleingartner, President-Elect of the Junior League of Olympia, is mom of 9 year old twins and grateful for the loving support of her husband of 14 years, Jeff.  Professionally Linda works part-time for the Department of Social & Health
Services as a project manager focused on process improvements, and also is self-employed as a commercial interior designer with Creatively Organized.  Prior to her work in Olympia, Linda was the Director of Operations for Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Research Center where she worked for 12 years.  Linda has degrees in Interior Design and Applied Psychology, considers herself a life-time learner and intends to pursue a law degree for children’s advocacy when her kids are older.  She has attended the Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs.

Volunteering has been a lifestyle choice for Linda following her mother’s example as a community servant.  Linda is a Girl Scout Leader, Garfield Elementary Site Council Member, Newsletter Editor for the Olympia Hutch Guild (fundraising for Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center).  She is a deaconess at Hidden Creek Community Church and a member of the PTA at Garfield.
 
Since joining the League in 2004, her placements have included the Gift & Garden, Kids Count, Membership Development, and Training committees, plus board responsibilities as the Membership Vice President and Communications Vice President.
 
Linda loves the community focus and commitment in the South Sound, continually in awe in the generosity and love that abounds. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, doing home improvements, have coffee or walks with friends and cycle the lovely roads and trails in Olympia.  

Linda Kleingartner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4A6TV8IYMg

Judy Soward, CommunityVP, is an original California girl, born and raised in Los Angeles educated in the San Fernando valley. She is a graduate of San Fernando high school. She began her work in the automobile industry at 17, where she worked for Ralph Williams Ford in Encino. It was there, she first met her future husband, David. Six years later they married in  Los Angeles California. Judy spent 23 years of discovery and joy being married until cancer claimed her beloved husband. In 1995 Judy sold her home and moved with her two children to Olympia Washington, to start a new life. They settled on the family property left to her husband who was a native of Olympia.

In Judy's early married life she followed her husband to New Mexico where they spent 4 very interesting years learning about themselves and the varieties of life choices of other people. Before returning to California they lived in such varied places as   Santa Fe, where her daughter K.C. was born, and finally a ghost town called Manero. Eric, her son was born in  California after they returned to a more familiar life. Judy's experiences have been life experiences, her extended education the same.

Her two children have both married, and Judy now lives in a home she built with her daughter and son in-law and their two children. She chose JLO as her first service organization; reaching for a connection to her community and a way to give back to the place she now calls home. The Junior League of  Olympia was a perfect match.

In her spare time Judy loves to travel with her friends, quilt, garden and be involved in the lives of her children and grandchildren.

Susan Manthou, Communications VP, is retired and enjoying life after 31 years employment with the City of Tacoma, Human Rights and Human Services, Senior Services program.  Susan was the manager of two City of Tacoma Senior Centers which provided recreation, transportation, and nutrition programs for older adults. Prior to that she worked for 5 years for the Pierce County YWCA as the Health, PE and Recreation Director and Asst. Y-Teen program Director.

Susan received the Professional Award from the Washington State Association of Senior Centers during her work career and the Life time achievement Award the year she retired.  Susan chaired three of the Senior Center State Conferences and was President of the Association and served on the Board in many capacities. She was active with the City of Tacoma employee Volunteer group and worked with Community Organizations on programs for low income seniors in the City Senior Centers during the holidays. She has volunteered for many civic and community organizations over the years.  She served on several boards of  Directors including Hilltop Day Care Center, Episcopal Services for Youth, United Way Volunteer Center, United Way,  Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Foster Grandparent Program, City Club of  Tacoma, Senior Services of Washington, and Directors of Volunteers in Agencies,  and  St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Parish Council while living in Tacoma.  She was a Sunday School teacher, synchronized swim coach, scuba diver, modern dancer, swim teacher, life guard, exercise instructor, etc., etc.,etc. in her younger years.

Susan’s placements in the Junior League have included the Membership Committee, then Deck the Halls Committee, Secretary, and Gift and Garden.
 
Susan enjoys showing her dogs (Saluki’s and Whippets) in local, regional and national dog shows.  Her hobbies are quilting, gardening, movies, church activities, and she is learning mah jongg.   She is Vice President of the Western Washington Whippet Club and Secretary of the Puget Sound Saluki Club and a long time member of both clubs.

She is married and has two adult sons, one living in New York and the other in  Tacoma.

Mary de Jesus, Finance VP,  joined Junior League of Olympia in 2003 when her family moved to  Washington. She has served as Treasurer, Communiqué Editor, and Finance and Sponsor chairs of the Gift & Garden Committee.

Mary received her A.B. degree from Occidenta College and earned a Master of Arts from San Francisco University. She is employed part-time as a demographics consultant with her husband’s orthodontics practice. Mary’s other volunteer leadership includes being elected as Secretary and Vice President of the Board of Directors of Temple Beth Hatfiloh in  Olympia, and serving as her neighborhood association’s Treasurer. With her husband, Joe, Mary has three children.  She enjoys travel and the pleasures of her back yard.  Mary dances with Hoku Nani Dancers, a Hawai’ian dance group that performs at cultural fairs and retirement homes.