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Seattle City Light Releases Independent Investigator’s Report on Harassment Claims

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Seattle City Light released the final report today from an independent investigator hired to review claims of employee harassment.

“Today Seattle City Light is releasing an outside independent investigator’s report that was initiated in October 2017 after the City learned of potential workplace harassment issues in one of City Light’s divisions,” General Manager and CEO Debra Smith said. “The investigation took considerable time due to the number of individuals who had signed a workplace petition and the need to also talk with and explore new issues that were raised during the process. We are releasing this in the interest of transparency and creating a safe workplace for all.”

“Working with Mayor Durkan, we will continue building on the steps taken to strengthen our workplace and support the good work that City Light’s employees do,” Smith said. “We can and we will do better. I am committed to making Seattle City Light a great place to work and will continue talking with folks both inside and outside City Light to surface issues and develop collaborative solutions.”

Independent Investigation Overview

  • In the Spring of 2017, Seattle City Light Human Resources (HR) decided not to investigate the “petition” from the Customer Energy Solutions group that was originally sent to Susan Coskey.  This decision was made because everyone interviewed, other than Beth Rocha, informed the investigator that they did not have specific allegations to raise to HR.
  • On October 18, 2017, City Light HR learned that the Seattle Women’s Commission reached out to DaVonna Johnson inquiring about the utility’s handling of the “petition.”  Out of abundance of caution, City Light decided to investigate the “petition” by retaining an external investigator, Celeste Monroe, an attorney/workplace investigator, with Karr Tuttle Campbell.  The scope of the investigation that Ms. Monroe conducted included any potential allegations that might be raised by employees who signed the “petition.”
  • Karr Tuttle Campbell is one of the leading law firms in Seattle, Washington.  Ms. Monroe is a member of the firm with significant experience and a great reputation in employment counseling and litigation.  Ms. Monroe has been repeatedly recognized by Washington Law & Politics magazine as a “Rising Star” – a distinction bestowed on no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers practicing in the state.
  • When an external investigator is retained, City Light HR does not get involved in the process other than logistical matters such as scheduling interviews and distributing reports.  The investigation is conducted in a completely independent, neutral, and unbiased manner.
  • The investigation conducted by Ms. Monroe closed on Nov. 14, 2018.  Employees that were categorized as complainants or subjects received a copy of the first draft of the report in September and were given debriefing opportunities with the investigator.  The final report dated Nov. 13, 2018, incorporates information Ms. Monroe learned from the debriefing meetings.
  • The first 11-pages of the report titled “critical background information” explains what led to the creation of the “petition” signed by 42 employees and how the media got involved with the issues from Customer Energy Solutions.  Below is a quick summary:
  • Customer Energy Solutions made great strides with culture work which started in January 2017. Around October 2017, despite what was perceived as momentum by many people in the Division, Ms. Rocha took the Petition and the summaries she had presented to the Women’s Commission to The Stranger.
  • A journalist from the Stranger began to contact employees at City Light to gather related information. After this activity came to the attention of DaVonna Johnson, City Light’s Chief Administrative Services Officer responsible for HR, she sent an email to the entire Customer Energy Solutions Division.  Johnson told division members they were free to speak to the reporters if they wished and that they also had the right to decline. She noted that one of the ways they were addressing concerns with harassment and discrimination in the workplace was by creating and working with the culture team.
  • On Nov. 3, 2017, a reporter from The Stranger provided City Light the “summaries” sheet Ms. Rocha had created. This was the same document Ms. Rocha had given to the Seattle Women’s Commission, and later to The Stranger.
  • On Nov. 8, 2017, The Stranger published an article titled, “How Sexism and Harassment Allegations at Seattle City Light Get Lost in the Dark.” The article’s author had changed the names of individuals to protect their identities.  However, the article’s central focus was on an employee named “Jasmine” who was, in fact, Ms. Rocha.
  • The article caused friction between some individuals within the Customer Energy Solutions Division, as well as some dissention with the culture team. The next meeting of the culture team was on Nov. 15, 2017.  Many people were angry with Ms. Rocha for going to the press, but the members of the culture team who were upset said they did not confront her at the Nov. 15, 2017. meeting.
  • The next day, on Nov. 16, 2017, Ms. Rocha attended a public meeting sponsored by Seattle Radical Women, an autonomous women’s activist organization. The topic was “The Power of #METOO: Working Women Fight Back Against Sexual Assault.”  Rocha spoke about the article in The Stranger and her perception of the culture at Customer Energy Solutions.
  • Ms. Rocha submitted her resignation on Jan. 24, 2018.  Her resignation was effective the same day.

Here is the report with names of the employees outside of management and investigators redacted:

FINAL_CES_Report_Redacted

Seattle City (spot)Light: Sam Heck

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Sam Heck joined City Light in February as part of the pre-apprentice line worker program. “I really enjoy this program,” Sam shared. “It’s rewarding to see the finished product at the end of a job. I can look up at a new pole with a transformer and service wires and know that my work will be there for decades.”

A PNW native, Sam grew up in Federal Way and has spent his whole life in Washington state. He attended college at Washington State University where he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in mathematics. He lives in Kirkland with his fiancé Jamie and their husky Koda.
“My favorite part of Kirkland is its lake/beach town vibe and surrounding greenery,” Sam said. “It’s access to bicycle trails provides a lot of versatility for outdoor activities. We also like to paddle board in the Juanita Beach cove and hike around the region. We recently did the Icicle Ridge trail near Leavenworth; it was awesome.”

In this week’s (spot)Light, Sam talks about the apprentice program and shares words of wisdom for others interested in this career path.

Sam and his fiancé Jamie

“The pre-apprenticeship program is on the job training. You’re with the crews learning ground men activities. You’re working from the ground, helping the journey men in the air. The tasks vary but usually you’re providing materials, assembling parts and getting them the tools that they need. This all happens in the first phase of the program. After you complete this portion and pass climbing school, you move on as a first step apprentice which is where I am now. There are seven steps in the program and it takes about 3 ½ years to complete.”

“Before the pre-apprenticeship program, I worked as a payloads engineer for a major aircraft manufacturer. I helped design the interior of commercial aircrafts. After six years of sitting at a desk and staring at a computer, I realized that I wanted more. I had a desire to get outside and learn to work with my hands. This field requires a great balance of energy, skill and knowledge. It’s very fulfilling to work with a group of passionate people who are providing a necessary service to the community.”

“I’m very fortunate to have been selected as a pre-apprentice line worker. I came into it with a different background—no construction experience, no industry related work. This program is special because it enables someone with the right personal qualities to be molded into a proficient electrical worker, even with no familiarity of the industry. This is clear by looking at the level proficiency in the apprentice classes above me.”

“The advice I’d share with individuals entering this field is that every day is a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to learn something new. Journeymen often say to learn at least one thing a day. As a first step apprentice, I climb utility poles to work on the secondary electrical power. I also help set new and existing power poles. There is an incredible amount to learn. Always carry a notepad with you and dedicate yourself fully. We value safety and craftsmanship above all else, so this work requires strict attention to detail. It’s very difficult, but very rewarding.”

Scam Alert: Don’t Fall Victim to Callers Demanding Payment

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Image with Scam Alert Warning

Seattle City Light has received reports that scammers are at it again. One of the current scam tactics involves contacting customers by phone, pretending to be employees of City Light and demanding payment. If you receive a recorded message or a live call from someone demanding payment right away, hang up and call us directly. City Light will always direct customers to the secure online payment system at www.seattle.gov/light or to call (206) 684-3000 to make a payment.

When a customer is past due on a bill, City Light takes multiple steps to notify the customer before shutting off the power. City Light employees will never ask for payment in person and will always be able to produce identification if informing a customer in person of a past-due bill.

Scammers may demand thousands of dollars and threaten to shut off power if payment isn’t made immediately. Vulnerable residents may be specially targeted by scammers including non-English speaking individuals, elderly people and small-business owners.

Check out the video below from City Light and the Seattle Police Department, reminding customers to protect their personal financial information to avoid becoming a victim of scammers posing as City Light employees.

Learn more about how to avoid becoming a victim at www.seattle.gov/light/EndScams.

Seattle City (spot)Light: Samuel Langi

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Samuel Langi has an impressive 38 years working for the City of Seattle. He started at Seattle Public Utilities before moving to Seattle street maintenance. From there, he went to Seattle Parks and Recreation until he transferred to City Light as a laborer for the Skagit Hydroelectric Project. After eight years in Newhalem, he transferred to the Electric Shop at the South Service Center. Eventually, he completed the lineworker apprentice program and worked his way to his current position as a lineworker assigned locator. “This position is a lot easier on my old body!” Samuel said with a laugh.

Samuel is originally from Tonga Island. When he was 16 years old, he moved to the United States and lived in San Francisco for a few short years. “My parents left me at Tonga Island when I was 12 years old,” Samuel explained. “They were working on getting our green card filed. When the time was right, I joined them here in the states and eventually they sent me to live with my aunt in Seattle.” Samuel now lives in Auburn with his wife Julia Maria and helps take care of his mother who lives in Seattle. “I visit my home country now and then,” he shared. “We still have properties there.”

In this week’s (spot)Light, learn more about Samuel’s home country, family and his musical hobbies.

Samuel with two of his daughters and his wife Julia Marie

“I have six kids: three boys and three girls. My oldest is 36 years old; my youngest is 12 years old. My oldest son served in the Army. My second son is still in the Air Force; he’s ready to retire in four years. My youngest son just enlisted with the Marines, but I was trying to get him to join our apprenticeship program!”

“I like to play the piano and guitar at home. My cousin gave me a right-handed guitar in 1979. He was going to Boston for school and left it with me to keep. I’m left-handed so I had to teach myself to play. Also, when we bought our house in Seattle, my parents bought an electric piano. No one ever played it, so when I was bored I learned how to play it. I mainly play jazz and classical music; whatever floats my canoe! I don’t read music, but I could sure give it a try.”

“I’ve been training line apprentices for 18 years. I’m with the Underground Residential Distribution (URD) line workers. We take care of and maintain all the underground services from Denny Way in downtown Seattle to 160th Avenue south. We keep everything running smoothly. It’s good work; we’re working hard for the city and loving every minute! I love working for the City. There are great people and great opportunities. There is always room to learn and the people I work with keep me humble and motivated.”

Enhanced Cellular/Data Upgrades Planned in Fall 2018

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Seattle City Light is supporting enhanced cellular and data services in various Seattle neighborhoods by attaching low-power omni-directional antennas and equipment cabinets to existing utility poles within the public right-of-way.

Contracted crews will be working in the following areas:

This project is an expansion of existing communications networks and the new facilities will increase public safety and enhanced-911 capabilities. This work will also improve wireless services, allowing for enhanced connectivity and faster 4G service. During this project, City Light crews will have the opportunity to upgrade its infrastructure and replace poles that are in poor condition.

What you can expect:

  • Affected customers will be notified in advance of all construction activities.
  • Maintenance power outages are not planned for this work.
  • Some traffic and parking impacts are expected in the immediate work area. Traffic control flaggers will be used where needed on residential streets.
  • Crews will be careful to try and maintain access to driveways.
  • Crews may be working in other areas before entering your neighborhood.

Construction is estimated to begin in late October/early November 2018. The entire project is estimated to last approximately three to four weeks. Daily work hours are from Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

For more information, customers can contact Terry Joaquin, Mobilitie Project Manager (Seattle City Light Consultant) at (657) 261-3863 or tjoaquin@mobilitie.com.

Visit Seattle City Light’s “At Work in Your Neighborhood” website for the latest updates on this project and others in your neighborhood.

Electrical Safety Tips for Halloween

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Halloween is spooky fun for kids and adults alike, but the last thing anyone wants on the holiday is an actual horror story. Here are a few tips to make sure you and your little trick-or-treaters are safe around electricity while celebrating All Hallows Eve.

Inspect electrical decorations and extension cords before use.
Do you see any exposed wiring? Is the cord nicked, cracked or frayed? If so, you are looking at a shock hazard, and potentially a fire hazard.

Don’t overload your extension cords.
Make sure your cord and outlet can handle the amperage and wattage being drawn by your decorations. When using long extension cords, beware of overheating. If it is hot to the touch, unplug it at the outlet to give it a break.

Use GFCIs for outdoor decorations.
Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are typically used in outlets installed in bathrooms and kitchens, where it is possible that water might come into contact with the outlet. In Washington during October, water will come into contact with anything left outdoors for days at a time. To be safe, add a GFCI to your extension cord or buy one with a GFCI installed.

Use tested and certified electrical decorations.
You can buy all sorts of cheap electrical Halloween décor, but not all of them have been tested for safety. Only use products that have been safety-tested by a certified testing laboratory. The safety certification should be listed on the product packaging.

Be careful using dry vegetation in your décor.
It’s common to use corn stalks or hay in Halloween decorations. That’s fine and good, but make sure that these materials don’t make contact with electrical lighting. A hot bulb could ignite a fire.

In fact, there’s no need for open flames at all.
Why risk a fire or injury by lighting your jack-o-lanterns with candles? Use a rechargeable or battery-powered LED light instead.

Seattle City (spot)Light: Joe Andrade

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Crew Chief Joe Andrade has worked at City Light for 29 years. “As a relief crew chief lineman, I work out on the line and restore electricity,” Joe said. “I also install new services to new customers.” He’s part of the utility’s Transmission and Distribution Operations division and is based at the South Service Center.

Joe served in the United States Airforce for seven years. “I was a cable splicer,” he shared. “I was stationed in Texas, Germany, Ohio and Tacoma. The northwest is beautiful, so I decided to stay here when I finished; it’s been 45 years!” He applied to City Light’s lineworker apprenticeship program and never looked back.

Joe and his wife Amanda live in Federal Way. He has two children, his daughter Brittnii and his son Jordin. In this week’s (spot)Light, he talks about his childhood on Africa’s Cape Verde Islands, his family (hint: Jordin is an Olympian) and his hobbies.

Joe with his son Jordin

“In my role, every day is different. You do the same work, but there are new challenges daily. And that’s what I like about it—finding solutions for each problem. It’s exciting when you start from scratch and finish with a perfect result. In the end, we provide power and service to customers, making everyone happy. The only thing I don’t like is the weather!”

“I was born and raised on an island called Brava which is part of the Cape Verde Islands off African’s western coast. It’s rugged; the weather conditions make it hard to get on and off the island. There’s nothing on the island but rocks. We lived very primitively; our house was on top of a volcano. We survived mainly on fish and potatoes. I remember being barefoot and walking on dirt. When I was six, my family left the island on a rowboat. It was a long journey, but after stops in Portugal and Rhode Island–and after planes and larger boats—we ended up in Sacramento, California. My dad was already there. He raised money to send for us. I remember kissing the ground when we landed and thinking, ‘What is this?’ It was concrete! Things changed for me once we moved here; I was introduced to so much; everyday things like lightbulbs and toilets. It was all incredible.”

“Jordin visited the island recently and confirmed everything I’ve shared with him about my childhood. He was there because he represented Cape Verde in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil and will compete in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. He’s a track and field athlete. I was his coach in Brazil. I, too, ran track and field. When I was in high school, I ranked third in the United States for hurdles. Ten years later, my brother ran hurdles and was ranked third in the world. And twenty years later, my son is running hurdles in the Olympics. I like to think I inspired the sport in my family!”

“I don’t run anymore—heck, I can barely walk! But I do love photography. I love photographing stationery things and snap pictures around the South Service Center for our events. My wife and I also love to travel. We visit Europe often. We also like the Caribbean. I’ve been to China, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska and recently came back from New York. Cuba has been my favorite place; I loved it.”

Seattle City (spot)Light: Janet Hart

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Janet Hart began her City career 17 years ago as a land surveyor for Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). She joined City Light nearly five years ago as part of the Generation Operations & Engineering division and manages the technical resources group. “I changed specialties and moved into design and engineering when I joined the utility,” Janet explained. “My team does design drafting, historical research, 3D laser scanning and document management to support our engineers and operations employees with capital improvement and maintenance projects. They transform napkin sketches and design concepts into beautiful construction plans.”

A Colorado native, Janet moved to the northwest to attend Western Washington University. She graduated with a degree in environmental science and a minor in geology. “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always had this draw to the outdoors, to environmentalism, to electricity and to hydro,” Janet shared.

She now lives in Tacoma with her wife Molly and their two dogs Lobo and Ringo. In this week’s (spot)Light, Janet talks about her career, her hobbies (hint: you can find her on the water) and her family trips to hydroelectric facilities.

Janet making friends at the San Juan Islands

“When I first started with SPU, I was lucky enough to be placed on City Light’s land survey crew. I traveled to Boundary, Skagit and Tolt; in a way, it served as an introduction to the utility. My main job was deformation monitoring of the dams. It involved a lot of measurements and working outside. It was wonderful. Through that work, I came to know the City Light family, so when I got my job at the utility, it was like coming home.”

“Before the City, I managed the operations of a plant nursery. It was so nice to be in touch with something natural. Working there I realized that I wanted to be outside; it’s something I enjoy. So, I went back to school again and got an associate degree in survey technology. That line of work fit me well because it encompassed everything: I was outside, I like math and problem solving and there was a process to it. I also worked with engineers all the time; they needed my data!”

“I grew up visiting hydroelectric facilities. My dad was an electrician and we took our family vacations to dams. I remember being ten years old and thinking ‘Another dam. We’re going to tour another dam.’ Looking back though, it was a great experience. I also remember helping my dad pull wires in the attic. When I look at my career, I can see how these things influenced me.”

“My wife and I restored an old wood boat. It was a 1961 Chris Craft Constellation. It took us 15 years, believe it or not! We now own a fiber glass Tollycraft which turned our sanding and varnish time into more time for fun. We’re always on the water. Our favorite place is Jarrell Cove on Harstine Island. We were married there, actually! We had a campground style wedding; it was an absolute blast. We also like to fish, crab and cruise the San Juan Islands and the South Puget Sound. We’re actually planning a 6,000 mile boat trip called The Great Loop; I’d love to boat the Bahamas once we finish. I also love to golf, especially in Bend and Palm Springs.”

Five Things That Made Seattle’s Public Power Possible

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Before Seattle had abundant and inexpensive hydroelectricity, its streets lacked a municipal lighting system. Businesses and homes made do with the best tech of the time—kerosene, oil lamps or candles—on an ad hoc basis. These were (quite literally) dark times for the cloudy days and long nights in our Pacific Northwest town.

When the process of extracting gas from coal came to Seattle, things got a little brighter. But the gasification process produced a repulsive amount of pollution, and the means of production were owned by private utilities. The remnants of this old technology can be seen today in Seattle’s Gasworks Park, which was shut down for good in 1956 before redevelopment into a public space.

By the time municipal streetlighting was introduced to Seattle in 1873, a new technology was about to revolutionize lighting. It was called a “light bulb.”

Get to know the innovation that made public power possible in Seattle.

Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan invented the incandescent lightbulb
It’s always been a bit of a stretch to say that Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb. In truth, he supervised research at his Menlo Park laboratory which led to great advances in specific types of lighting filaments housed in vacuum tubes. It’s more accurate to say that Edison’s work produced the first reliable and relatively inexpensive incandescent light bulbs.

Thomas Edison (top) and Joseph Swan (bottom)

Another researcher, England’s Joseph Swan, accomplished the same thing at roughly the same time. Both men patented lamp designs using their bulbs in 1879, and for a time they waged legal battle to control the technology. In 1883, they joined forces to manufacture light bulbs as Edison and Swan Electric Light Company Limited.

Nikola Tesla popularized AC power transmission
At about the same time that Edison was fighting Swan in court, he was also embroiled in a battle to prove that the electrical current generated via his preferred methods (direct current, or DC power) was superior to alternating current (AC power) for widespread use.

Edison’s favored power standard, DC power, wasn’t as easily transmitted over long distances because it had to be kept at low voltages for home use. Nikola Tesla’s usage of the AC standard enabled power to be transmitted far and wide, because the voltage could be stepped up or stepped down with the use of transformers.

Nikola Tesla in his Colorado Springs laboratory, 1899

Despite Edison’s use of theatrics and misinformation (the electric chair was actually invented by Edison to demonstrate how dangerous AC power can be), the utility of AC power won out in the end. When George Westinghouse used Tesla’s patents to build the first major hydroelectric plant at Niagara Falls, the die was cast. On Nov. 16, 1896, the plant lit all of Buffalo, New York, twenty miles away.

The Great Seattle Fire razed downtown Seattle
On June 6, 1889, a bubbling glue pot in a woodworking shop on Madison Avenue and Front Street (now First Avenue) overflowed. The shop caught fire. From the woodworking shop, fire spread to an adjacent liquor store and two saloons, igniting the combustibles within. Within two hours, the wooden buildings of Downtown Seattle were in flames.

The aftermath of the Great Seattle Fire of 1889

The city’s firefighters needed lots of water to douse the fire, but there was a major problem: the city’s water supply wasn’t up to the task. The private water company that piped in water from Lake Washington wasn’t pumping enough to keep up sufficient water pressure for the hoses. To add insult to injury, the water pipes themselves—made out of hollowed logs—were burning as the firefighters worked. Over the next 18 hours, Seattle’s business core burned to the ground. Luckily, there were no human fatalities.

The Great Seattle Fire made it clear that Seattle needed an abundant water source, and that the City of Seattle needed to oversee its distribution. City Engineer R.H. Thompson set his sights on the Cedar River. And since Seattle would be building in the Cedar River area for its public water needs, why not build a hydroelectric plant while we were at it?

The people of Seattle
While the technology that made public power possible in Seattle was developing, political change was also afoot. In the wake of the Great Seattle Fire, small-scale electricity providers began to market their services to the rebuilding city, but their rates were astronomical. In 1890, frustrated Seattleites voted to amend the city charter to include the provision of “gas or other lights” to its inhabitants.

The growing mistrust of corporations among Seattleites was compounded when the Panic of 1893 descended, throwing the economy into depression and closing banks around the country. The panic precipitated a progressive movement across the nation.

Voters, incensed by the actions of mighty monopolies like railroad and oil companies, were spurred into action by muckraking journalists. Issues like Prohibition, labor union organization, women’s suffrage and trust busting came to the fore as citizens clamored for more fairness in society. R.H. Thompson, the Seattle city engineer who had envisioned the Cedar River project, was a major civic proponent of these ideals.

The progressive movement took hold in Seattle. Plans to secure the Cedar River as a water source were expanded to include a hydroelectric facility in 1896, when the city charter was amended again to call for its construction. But it wasn’t until the election of 1902, when Seattle voters approved the bonds needed to build the Cedar River facility, that the dream of public power began to take shape for Seattle.

By mid-1904, construction of the Cedar River facility was substantially complete. In 1905, it began delivering public power to the streets of Seattle, and private power companies were forced to cut their rates. And thus, Seattle City Light was born.

City Light’s first hydroelectric facility, 1905

To learn more about the history of City Light, visit seattle.gov/light/history/.

Seattle City (spot)Light: Irina Lusby

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Irina Lusby has worked in City Light’s Regulatory Affairs division for four years. As a Sr. Compliance Analyst, Irina focuses on North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and critical infrastructure protection (CIP) for the utility. “I work on cyber-security standards across the utility to ensure that all of our critical assets are protected, “Irina said. “We read and interpret regulations to make sure they are implemented quickly and correctly.” Irina enjoys her work because there isn’t any routine to it—she has new and different projects all the time.

Hailing from Rostov, Russia, Irina has lived in Washington for over 20 years. “In about a year, I will have been here longer than I was in Russia,” she shared with a laugh. Though she graduated with a degree in psychology from a university in Russia, Irina found herself working in the compliance world. “I used to work for the State of Washington as a Program Manager for federally qualified health centers and that was my first involvement with compliance. I continued in healthcare with Kaiser Permanente as a Compliance Analyst, and then I came here! It’s definitely a different field of work from healthcare.”

In this week’s (spot)Light, read about Irina’s journey to the United States, traveling with her family, and their active, outdoorsy lifestyle.

Irina with her family

“I grew up with my mom in Russia. We lived in a big city, so it was a completely different pace when I moved to Olympia; it was a culture shock! My husband Brian is from Washington and I met him when he was opening a new office in St. Petersburg for Boeing. We dated long distance, got married and I’ve been here ever since. I still have extended family in Russia, but my mom moved here when we had kids. We have an 11-year-old son named Nicholas and a 13-year-old daughter named Sasha.”

“Most of my time is occupied with my kids because they’re heavily involved in sports. My daughter plays club and school volleyball and my son plays football and lacrosse. As a family we travel a lot. We went to Europe for a few weeks in the spring and we’ve gone to Mexico and Hawaii as well. We also like to hike and do RV camping in the summer. We’ll go out to the lakes and do watersports. We really like Banks Lake in eastern Washington. This year will be our eleventh year going there. My kids love wakeboarding and surfing, so we do those a lot. When we travel we try to incorporate outdoors activities like ziplining!”

“I like to run, bike and practice yoga. I’ve checked off two items on my bucket list: run a marathon and skydiving. Last year, I ran a marathon in Victoria B.C.; it was a gorgeous setting. I decided on that location because it was listed as one of the best marathons for beginners. I also went skydiving in Las Vegas. I’ll continue running half marathons but probably not full ones. I’m doing a couple of cycling races soon! As for traveling bucket list items, I want to visit Australia and go on an African Safari.”