Degale Cooper, MSW, (She/Her/Hers)
CEO & President
Degale Cooper joined YouthCare as the Chief Program Officer in June 2018. Her thirty-year professional history in the non-profit sector includes an array of direct clinical services, program development and implementation, international consulting on issues of child welfare, and executive-level experiences within organizations dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women, improving foster care systems, and eliminating experiences of homelessness for youth, young adults, and families. She has held leadership positions at The Mockingbird Society, The YWCA, Treehouse, and Youth Eastside Services.
Degale received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Washington, B.A. in Psychology from Seattle Pacific University, and clinical supervision certification from the University of Washington. With over fourteen years as a foster parent, Degale passionately engages in her community as a mentor and support for children, youth, and families. In her free time, Degale enjoys fishing and squid jigging, camping, designing great food, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.
Sophia Hernandez, (She/Her/Hers)
Chief Operating Officer
Sophia comes to YouthCare as an innovative Non-Profit Executive leader and finance professional with 10+ years of experience specializing in budgeting, analytics & reporting, and strategic planning. She has been fortunate to be a part of some Seattle institutions like Pearl Jam, Urban Artworks, and Molly Moons Homemade Ice Cream. Through sound financial ability and collaborative leadership, she provides non-profits, businesses, and entrepreneurs with the ability to be who they say they are and reach their goals. She is passionate about integrity, diversity, and equity in all her work and is looking to support organizations with similar missions.
Sophia was most recently with The Sophia Way, a nonprofit serving homeless women in east King County, where she served as the Executive Director – Finance & Operations and is currently the treasurer of the board of directors at Pongo Poetry Project, a nonprofit organization that helps young people experiencing trauma heal through poetry. In her free time, you can find Sophia in her backyard, which she has turned into a little urban vegetable farm (much to her husband and daughters’ amusement). She has a little teacup yorkie named Boba who is her favorite companion (other than her human family of course 😊).
Directors
Allison Barber, (She/Her/Hers) | Director of Human Resources – Operations
Amber Aman, (She/Her/Hers) | Deputy Operations Officer – Finance
Carlos Espinoza, (He, Him, His) | Deputy Marketing & Communications Officer
Daniel Lugo, (He, Him, His) | Director of Government Affairs
Eric Sysak, (He/Him/His) | Director of Information Technology
Geoff Ringwald, (He/Him/His) | Associate Director – Systems Quality & Impact
Jim Laugen, (He/Him, His) | Deputy Fund Development Officer
Jose Pizarro, (He/Him, EI) | Director of Engagement Services
Kevin Parker, (He/Him, His) | Community Campaign Director
Manuel Zuleta, (He/Him/El) | Associate Director – SSYC
Megan Davies, (She/Her/Hers) | Deputy Operations Officer – Service Delivery
Rhina Navas, (she/Her/They) | Associate Director – Casa
Scott Myricks, (He/Him/His) | Director of Facilities
Shaina Lippard, (They/She/Them) | Director of Centralized Client Services
Vanessa Sanchez-Mexicano, (She/Her/Hers) |Director of Adolescent Services
Virgil Jones, (He/Him/His) | Director of Employee Experience