Hannah Steinweg, Communications VP
I joined the Junior League of Olympia in the Winter of 2006. My first placement was helping with a Kinship Care evening during the Spring of 2006. During the JLO year of 2006-2007 I was on the Kids Count Committee as well as the Gift and Garden Committee. I joined Junior League because of the contact I had with other league members and my constant amazement at all the good they were (and are!) doing in our community every day. I enjoy being a part of this wonderful organization of women who work together to better our community on a daily basis. I am constantly amazed at the hard work all the members put in and the enjoyment we receive from giving to our community.

I was born and raised in Olympia, received my Bachelor’s Degree from Western Washington University and spent a year and a half of my schooling in Spain. I am the Development Manager at the Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia and am currently working on my Master’s Degree from The Evergreen State College in Public Administration with an emphasis on Non-Profit Administration. I also enjoy volunteering at a variety of non-profits in the Olympia area, am involved with the Daughters of the American Revolution, South Sound Partners for Philanthropy, the Providence St. Peter Hospital’s Christmas Forest Committee and Dispute Resolution Center. In my spare time I enjoy hiking, skiing, running, being outdoors and spending time with friends and family. (Return to About Us Page)

Gail Gosney Wrede, Sustainer Representative
A JLO member since 1998, Gail has been a member and Chair of the Kids Count Committee, Parliamentarian and a member of Committee 2000. This year, she is a co-rep of the JLO Sustainers and looks forward to a fun, social and rewarding year.
Gail is the Resource Development Specialist for the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. She is a member of Partners for Children, Youth and Families, teaches religious education at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation and is a facilitator of the Strengthening Families curriculum. She is married to Fritz Wrede and has one son Wil who is a college freshman.(Return to About Us Page)

Lynn Ledgerwood, Placement & Advisory Chair
I’ve lived in Olympia since 1999 and have been a League member since 2003. I’m originally from Richland, Washington (part of the Tri-Cities) in the eastern part of the state and worked at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation for 21 years (and I don’t even glow!). Most of my family and life-long friends are still in the Tri-Cities, but I’ve been lucky to make some great friends here in Olympia and I so love the weather and greenery (the Tri-Cities is semi-arid brush steppe – not a lot of green) and the openness and tolerance that people here seem to have. I’ve been married once, right out of high school, but am still waiting for Mr. Right to suddenly appear (I’m thinking my 70’s will be a good time to settle down). I was never able to have kids, so I get my “kid fix” through my niece, friends, and wonderful organizations like JLO. I’m active in democratic politics, environmental causes, and love to join the fight with pen or picket sign in protection of women and children’s rights throughout the world. I am a volunteer assistant wildlife rehabilitator and an avid reader in my spare time and love to go to movies (To Kill a Mockingbird, To Sir with Love, and the Lord of the Rings threesome top my movie favorite list) and am a country girl at heart. I have a cat, Doodle, who is spoiled, but how can you not love a creature that thinks you are wonderful?

My experience in Junior League has been fantastic. I joined when I visited the Gift & Garden Event and saw how much fun all the women were having and then as I learned more about the great community programs that JLO was a part of, I couldn’t wait to join. I’ve enjoyed my placements in Junior League and have learned a lot about finance matters and also more about the many different programs and people that are part of our community. I believe that the most rewarding part of being in JLO is being able to take part in the many projects we are able to. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been moved to tears hearing about how JLO has made a difference in so many lives. My hope for JLO is that we continue to grow – attracting new members who are excited about the many challenges and needs our community faces and wanting to be part of the solution to these needs, and also hope that we are able to retain current and sustainer members well into the future.(Return to About Us Page)

Teresa Covington, Membership VP
Born and raised in Olympia. I joined the league in the fall of 2005 and found my first placement with our Gift and Garden fund raiser where I learned a great deal about team-work! It was amazing to see what a small group of very determined woman could do for our community. Fall of 2006 I was placed on the leagues Membership Committee where I assisted in the fall and spring recruiting and training classes for new members. I found my time with the Membership Committee very rewarding. I was able to learn a great deal about the Junior league of Olympia as well as our community partners, in addition to meeting some fantastic woman.

Over the years I have volunteer my time/talents with non-profit fund raisers and found that very fulfilling, the contribution to a great cause. One afternoon a friend of mine was very excited about a group she had recently joined, as she shared her experience, I knew this was a group I wanted to be a part of. Of course I'm talking about the Junior League of Olympia. I found it very appealing to be part of a group of local woman who have the same interest in our community, welfare of children, and our own personal development 'woman building better communities'.

I was born and raised in Olympia and have been blessed to be married to my husband Bob for 23 years (high school sweet-heart!). We have two handsome sons, Josh 17 and Zach 15, they attend Tumwater High School. I enjoy house and yard projects, time with family, travel and of course time with my girlfriends.(Return to About Us Page)

Tanya Murray, Community VP
I have lived in Olympia since 1998 and been a member of JLO since 2003. Prior to Olympia we were in Indianapolis for 5 years, and south of Houston for 5 years. Both my husband and I are originally from Washington State. I have a Bachelor or Science with a Minor in Business Administration. I worked for or within the family of companies owned by The Dow Chemical Company for almost 10 years. I worked in the Human Resources area, specifically Health Promotion and Training & Education. In addition to managing the Department of Health Promotion, I taught a variety of classes ranging from smoking cessation to The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I even did some Personal Training. I left this wonderful job, which I loved a great deal, for Washington when my oldest was 8 months old. I realized I didn’t want to do it all at the same time. For the last 8 years I’ve stayed home with our three girls, and on a part-time basis, I teach classes for Bates Technical College off-site, with their corporate clients. I teach classes like Organizational Skills, Time Management, Communication Skills, etc.

I joined JLO because the reduction of child abuse is part of my personal mission statement and when I learned of the JLO focus I saw a perfect fit for me. I spent my three years thus far on Kids Count and have enjoyed every second of that time. I love the strength of this organization and I am going to enjoy being a part of its continued growth and impact on our community.

I love all things outside. I prefer to do everything outside. I like the rain. I get excited every fall when the clouds come. I do see the weirdness in these two likes. Olympia and I make a good match. My husband and I like to kayak, hike and bike. Some of my favorite things are: books of any kind and genre, any motor-less boat, a good dark red wine, a good dark chocolate, a good dark thick ale, stinky cheese, apples, grainy chewy bread, crafts that involve glue and paper, anything that involves clay. I teach grown-ups—but I like kids better. I love to garden—but with a loose definition. I still write letters with paper and pen. I love a good English mystery, but Meet The Press is one of my favorite shows. My favorite book is Centennial by James Mitchner, but I have a million close seconds. My favorite movie is Waking Ned Devine, but I have a million close seconds. I love change and new people and old things.(Return to About Us Page)

Christina Miller-Herigstad, Future Planning Chair
This is my 3rd year as an Active member of JLO. I joined the league because at my work it seems like we spend years on projects and the results aren’t always tangible (how many of your friends and family buy servers?). I wanted the opportunity to feel like I could actually make a difference. My hope is that the league is able to gain the visibility within the community that it deserves. I think the JL of Olympia does many fine things but the average person or corporations don’t hear about them.

I have a Liberal Arts degree and work as a Program Analyst at Intel. I worked my way through college teaching swim lessons coaching age group swimmers, and high school swimmers and life guarding. If I were to win the lottery I would kiss Intel goodbye and open my own swim pool and teach swim lessons all day.(Return to About Us Page)

Marianne McIntosh, Finance VP
I have been a member of Junior League since the spring of 2005. My first placement was on the Deck the Halls committee and then Treasurer. It was hectic to place the orders for the DTH fundraiser, manage the league’s finances, work and go to school, but I still here and the league is still running. By being a part of the league, I feel like I’m giving back to my community and creating a better soul for myself. I’m still learning from the league, but I’ve already learned how much is needed in our local community. I didn’t realize how many families need assistance and I’m glad the Junior League is lending a helping hand.

I’m married to a wonderful person named Jeremy, who is a fourth grade teacher at Bordeaux Elementary in Shelton. We met ten years ago, which ended my short lived dating experiences, and have only been married for two years. We have two dogs, a black lab named Oliver and a German Shepard named Abbey. The two are inseparable and get spoiled by their grandparents. Both our parents have decided that human grandbabies are not in the near future so our dogs will have to do. Jeremy and I graduated from WWU where I got my finance degree. I working on my accounting certificate and will finish in September of this year. My secret goal in life is to find a job that flies me to NYC a couple times a year that way I can explore the city and shop. (Return to About Us Page)

Leslie Merchant, Public Relations Chair
I moved to Olympia from New Orleans in 1998 and have been an active member since 2001. Joining Junior League of Olympia was a way to make some connections and to fulfill my need to volunteer in the community. My first placement became my regular placement for several years! I served on the Gift & Garden Committee until 2004, and then I became PR Chair in ’04-‘05. Becoming a JLO member has opened so many doors for me. The friendships, community connections and professional experiences are all priceless. My background is in education, and I spent the first five years in Olympia as a teacher. I now stay-at-home with my two sons: my two year old toddler, John Michael, and my three year old standard poodle, Mojo. My passion is my family, and my best times are spent visiting with my relatives here in Olympia and in Louisiana. Dinner with friends and any kind of cooking in general would be next on my list of “bests.” (Return to About Us Page)

Wendy Tanner, M.S.W, President-Elect
Wendy was drawn to the Junior League by it's mission of preventing child abuse and neglect. She has been a Junior League Member for 4 years and has served on Gift and Garden, Kids Count and Advocacy Committees. She enjoys networking with other league members, testing recipes for the upcoming Junior League cookbook, and participating in various league service projects. She has worked at Community Youth Services for 11 years as a Case Manager, AmeriCorps Program Director, Director of Finance and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that, she worked for IBM as a Marketing Representative for 11 years. She is also a member of the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Olympia, where she is also a volunteer. She enjoys cooking, gardening, reading, home projects, hiking, camping and other outdoor activities.
(Return to About Us Page)

Christy Peters, President
Christy Peters is married to Rick (Deputy Prosecuting Attorney) and they have 3 very busy and very fun children: Molly (11 yrs), Adam (9 yrs) and Lucy (4 yrs). Christy is the Special Trials Division Chief at the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. In her "spare" time Christy enjoys being with her family, reading, yoga, and watching most sports. The Peters' family enjoys soccer, swimming, Huskie games, and traveling whenever they can! Christy joined JLO in 2001 to volunteer in a meaningful way in the community and meet other women. She has served as the Junior Advocacy Delegate, Senior Advocacy Delegate, Project Development Chair, Community Vice President -2 years, Parliamentarian, President Elect, and President. In addition to JLO, Christy also currently serves on the South Sound Reading Foundation Advisory Board; the Missing, Exploited Children Task Force Advisory Board for the State of Washington; and the WA State Bar LRAP Advisory Board among other community organizations. (Return to About Us Page)