Board of Directors:

Len Barson, President

Len worked 20 years for The Nature Conservancy, the world’s largest land conservation organization where he lobbied Congress and state governments on conservation issues, worked on state ballot measures across the country relating to land protection, and led an effort to protect sagebrush habitat across 11 western states. Previously, he worked as counsel for the Energy and Commerce Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Energy and Judiciary Committees of the Washington State Senate. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and received a master’s in law from Georgetown University Law School. Len is currently retired and resides with his wife in Seattle, Washington.

Lynnda Laurie, Secretary

Lynnda was the office manager for a Seattle-based environmental consulting company for 21 years. She met Judy and Dennis through a mutual friend and immediately knew she wanted to be involved. Currently she’s the President/Treasurer of her condominium HOA and the Secretary of Project Ethiopia.

Rob Magnusson, Treasurer

Rob spent eight years working on account management and product development for local area tech companies. He’s now a happily at-home dad, deftly managing two rambunctious little kiddos. Rob and his wife, Brooke, have been Project Ethiopia supporters since 2005 – when Judy and Dennis first shared their inspirational story.

Asamench Afework

Asamenech Afework attended college in the U.S. and went on to work with the City of Seattle Public Utilities for more than 30 years in the finance department. She has served in a volunteer capacity in a number of community organizations including the Ethiopian Community in Seattle and has participated in fundraising efforts to support a variety of health issues including AIDS, breast cancer, and heart disease. As a native of Ethiopia, Asamenech feels a moral obligation to lift up and strengthen rural communities in her home country.

Mariko Langan

Mariko Langan grew up in North Seattle and has lived in the area most of her life. Some of her main interests are music, art, and the performing arts which have helped spark her interest in many different cultures around the world. She was introduced to Project Ethiopia through childhood friends, and feels honored to be on the board with such dynamic and inspirational board members. When there’s enough time Mariko enjoys broadening the vocabulary of her love-language: food. She also enjoys unexpectedly funny moments with her husband and two kids.

Wossen Mengiste

Wossen Mengiste retired from The Boeing Company in 2016 after enjoying a long and gratifying engineering career in multiple disciplines mostly managing and leading highly functional project teams. In his retirement years, he is motivated to offer services to nonprofits in his local community or non-governmental organizations supporting communities in Ethiopia where he was born and raised. Wossen brings a proven leadership experience with extensive background in policies, processes, and procedures. His educational background includes MBA from Seattle University, MA in Industrial Studies from California State University, Los Angeles, and BS in Engineering from California Polytechnic University, Pomona.