Partnership Conference

Tay Booker is a dedicated Co-Founder and Executive Director of Leveled Up Reentry, a transformative organization focused on empowering individuals on their path to liberation. With a background in social advocacy, mentoring, and community engagement, Tay brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those involved in the justice system. Rooted in Tay’s own justice involvement has given her a unique perspective and a personal connection to the struggles individuals face on their journey to liberation. Her commitment to social justice and liberation is evident in her work, as she strives to break the cycles of mass incarceration and empower individuals reclaim their lives with self worth and purpose. Leveled Up Reentry is a Black led grassroots organization based out of Pierce county, WA dedicated to supporting individuals who are transitioning after incarceration. Leveled Up Reentry offers a range of services from one on one mentoring and life coaching, skills development and navigation.

Workforce Central’s Director of Business Solutions, boasts over 15 years of extensive business consulting experience, catering to a diverse spectrum of companies—from small-scale startups and small businesses with 4-5 employees to Fortune 5 organizations. Samuel is particularly adept at navigating the complex intersections of employee experience and organizational ethos in combination with organizational growth. His expertise extends across the Public, Advanced Manufacturing, and Technology sectors, where he has forged a reputation for delivering impactful insights and strategies. Samuel is a frequent facilitator, consultant, coach, and trusted advisor for organizations throughout Pierce County and the Pacific Northwest.

Kelly Brickhouse is passionate about her community having experienced many of the same issues such as homelessness, poverty, addiction, and such as many we serve. A fierce advocate for policy change, she has spoken at Federal, State, and local levels to ensure that laws and policies apply to those living in poverty. Kelly’s leadership in Collaboration for a Cause and Hire 253 has served over 6,000 individuals and families in Pierce County through her enormous outreach efforts to those often underserved.

Growing up in Pierce County, Sasha always had a deep connection to the community, filled with both joyful memories and significant challenges. As a child, she viewed issues like gang violence, family incarceration, and police raids as normal. It wasn’t until she got older that she realized how these experiences were far from ordinary. Despite the difficulties of having many family members struggling with addiction, incarceration, or having passed away, Sasha was determined to forge a different path. Her commitment to serving the community is driven by a desire to give back to the place that shaped her. Sasha’s work is fueled by a profound sense of belonging when she is in the community. The passing of her uncle last year reinforced her purpose. “If I can provide just one person with a listening ear, free from judgment, and help them feel valued, then I know I’ve made a meaningful difference.” Sasha’s goal is to transform her own experiences into support and hope for others, creating positive change in the community she call home.

John Cummings is an experienced Litigator who has taken over 100 cases to jury trial. He began his career as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, taking on the most serious cases involving the most vulnerable victims. He was named Deputy Prosecutor of the Year in 2017 for his work on complex sexual assault and murder cases. John currently serves as a judge pro tem in Thurston County and Lakewood Municipal Court and is currently running for Pierce County Superior Court Judge.

Beyond his professional experience and career in public service, John is a champion in our community for causes ensuring that everyone has access to justice. He has volunteered and served in leadership roles at community-based non-profits including the Oasis Youth Center and Tacoma Rainbow Center Board in addition to his pro bono and advocacy work ensuring equal civil rights for all. He and his husband live in Pierce County.

Jermane Easterlin is a seasoned workforce development professional currently serving as a Business Solutions Senior Specialist at WorkForce Central in Pierce County. With over five years of experience in the field, Jermane has empowered individuals and strengthened community ties through strategic partnerships and effective program management. His dynamic leadership and commitment to personal and professional growth are evident in his ability to foster environments of innovative thinking and produce human-centered results. An advocate for lifelong learning, Jermane strives for excellence in all areas of his life. He is happily married to his wife, Susan, and is a proud father to two beautiful children, Kimberly and Isaac.

Dominque Hardeman has 24 years of experience in probation and community corrections. He spent 11 years with the Department of Corrections, serving in roles such as Community Corrections Officer, Custody Unit Supervisor, Training Officer, and Community Corrections Supervisor. As a supervisor, He established the Special Needs Unit to oversee high-risk, high-needs defendants diagnosed with mental health disorders and was named Probation Officer of the Year in 2003. He has experience in both men’s and women’s correctional facilities. He worked for four years with Thurston County District Court as a Probation Counselor, focusing on high-risk domestic violence defendants. For the past nine years, I’ve been with Pierce County District Probation, where he created the Behavioral Health Unit and the Pierce County District Court Resource Center, which centralizes access to social services. He also help develop the Work Crew+ Program to help defendants gain employment. His contributions earned him the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office Employee of the Year and the Misdemeanant Probation Association MVP Award in 2018. Throughout his career, he has implemented risk-needs-responsivity principles and cognitive-behavioral programming. He is currently working on expanding therapeutic courts to include veterans’ court, mental health court, and community court.

Kari Haugen is the Director of Workforce Initiatives at WorkForce Central, and supports Young Adult programs as well as the Pierce County Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative. She is a long time Pierce County resident and holds a Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Washington, Tacoma.

Louis Ihrig was born and raised in the greater Pacific Northwest. He served honorably in the United States Marine Corps and has graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business with a minor in law, society, and justice. His experiences culminated in bringing a unique perspective to connecting with and serving his community. Louis currently works as a business services specialist for the Employment Security Department. Outside of helping employers, he helps create second chance opportunities and pathways for justice involved people. On his free time, Louis also is involved in advocacy work to help change laws to remove barriers that people with records face to increase the community safety and success in re-entry into society.

Christian Reed is a dynamic Talent Pipeline Manager dedicated to advancing workforce development through the strategic use of emerging technologies. By harnessing AI and innovative tools, he transforms service delivery to better meet the needs of job seekers and businesses in Pierce County. His commitment to improving talent acquisition and retention is actively shaping the future of workforce development, ensuring a more responsive and effective system for all stakeholders.

Sarai Sword is originally from Las Cruces, New Mexico and is very proud to be an accomplished Latina business owner. Sarai has been an insurance agent for 18 years and is very knowledgeable in her industry and is excited to share her knowledge with other business owners. Making a difference in her community has been key for her and she continues to excel by proving that ethics, transparency and honesty are keys to building a successful partnership within her community. Her Role with Mi Centro is super important. As a Small business Coordinator, she can use her skills and knowledge to help new businesses or established ones that need guidance. Sarai‘s motto in life is truly about treating others the way you like to be treated and enjoying life to its fullest.

Tan Tran is a recent graduate of the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business, where he earned his BBA in Finance and Information Systems. Now a Data Analyst at WorkForce Central, Tan is dedicated to leveraging data to support workforce development and economic growth. Growing up in Tukwila, Washington, he is passionate about making a meaningful impact in communities that reflect the values and experiences of his hometown.