Local community and business leaders work together to advance our mission to ensure public schools are places all students can thrive.
Gavin P. Sullivan is a Principal at Madrona Bureau where he has written, produced and directed award winning feature documentary, TV programming, and commercial work. His approach to visual media is informed by his experience as a Senior Reporter with the Financial Times Group where he held correspondent posts in Latin America (Buenos Aires and Bogotá) and the US (Seattle). He is a former Rotary World Peace Fellow and US Fulbright Scholar.
Maria is a Lead Product Development Manager at Lumen Technologies and although her career in Telecom began by accident, she's spent the prior 13 years building relationships with customers, sales teams, and delivery organizations alike. Previously Maria served her community as a Social Worker in many different roles: Hospice and Medical Social Worker, TANF Social Worker, Adoption Home Study, and Post-Placement Social Worker, among others. Today, she volunteers as a King County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and as a Westside Friend with the West Seattle Senior Center. Maria earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from Northwest Missouri State University before serving with City Year Seattle/King County as a member of the City Heroes program. She also earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Denver.
Molly Metz is a longtime educator and community advocate with a deep commitment to service and supporting young people through life’s transitions. She began her journey with City Year as a corps member in her hometown of Chicago (’97–’98), then helped launch Seattle’s inaugural corps as a Service Leader (’98–’99). Molly believes City Year offers “a year to learn more about yourself and your community—to be mentored and to mentor others,” and she credits the experience as the foundation of her lifelong work in education.
Following her service, Molly co-founded and led PrepNorthwest, a tutoring company dedicated to helping college-bound high school students, which she owned and operated for 20 years. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from The College of Wooster, where she competed in cross country and track and was named an Academic All American.
Molly has lived in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood for over two decades. During that time, she has served as a foster parent, co-authored an SAT math book, and trained as a death doula. In her free time, she enjoys cheering on the Seattle Storm and playing cribbage at Queer Cribbage Nights.
Willie Seals, III is a native of Seattle. He has been an education professional for over 20 years. He is an alumni of City Year/Seattle King County service years 1999-2001. He has earned his BS in Business Management from Chicago State University, Master of Public Administration from Seattle University, and currently a Doctoral candidate at the University of Washington. He has a passion and knack for building relationships with people, particularly in community organizing, youth development, and strategic planning. Currently serving his 12th year as the Co-founder and Sr. Director of Programs for the Academy for Creating Excellence (ACE). ACE is a non-profit organization providing high quality educational services for youth and adult black males in the King County area.
