President: Willie Painter

Willie Painter has called Tacoma his home for the past 6 years. Graduating from Pacific Lutheran University in 2006, Willie now has the pleasure of serving the students and community of Franklin Pierce School District as the District's Public Information Officer, managing the District's internal and external communications, community connections, sponsorships, and school safety. Willie constantly is on the lookout for new opportunities for the Rainbow Center to connect with new LGBTQAs or expanding relationships with LGBTQAs.  Willie is committed to the idea that all people need to be treated equally, that all people need equitable access to services, and that LGBTQ people have every right to live happily and well just like anyone else. He enjoys going for jogs in stormy (and sunny!) weather, meeting up with friends and family with no other agenda than to enjoy each other’s company, and spends much time engaged in a number of local LGBT-focused organizations: Rainbow Center, Queer Collective, Pride Foundation—Pierce County, Pride Foundation—Regional Outreach Committee.

Treasurer: Ellen Hardin, MD

Ellen joined the board of the Rainbow Center in the fall of 2007.  She has been involved in Nonprofit organizations for more than 25 years.  She brings extensive experience in infrastructure development and support for the day to day operations of nonprofits.  Ellen is a geek and enjoys everything to do with technology and computers.   Ellen is an Internal Medicine Physician who works for Group Health Cooperative.  She splits her time between doing diagnostics and working as a hospitalist.   She also has an active interest in Transgender medicine.  

Secretary:  Terri Card

Terri has lived and worked in the Pierce County area her entire life, and currently resides in Tacoma with her partner of 25 years.  She holds both a Master of Arts in Psychological Counseling and a Masters in Health Administration and has worked in the mental health field for nearly 30 years.  Terri currently holds the position of Vice President of Clinical Services with Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare, in Lakewood.

Terri was accepted into this years American Leadership Forum class (Class 15) and will  complete her class year in June of this year.  She believes strongly in the concept of “servant leadership” and is committed to helping our community and our planet become a better place.  She is also crazy about animals, but only has three pets (one dog and two cats) due to the stabilizing and sane influence of her beloved partner.

Marcie Osborn

Marcie is a Clinical Product Specialist at GE Healthcare specializing in nuclear medicine and marketing.   Translation: medical, technical and out of town!  She and her partner, Kim, have been active in many progressive organizations and campaigns over the past several years.  Marcie began her involvement with the Rainbow Center as its first auctioneer of the Black and White Gayla in 2002.  She is currently serving as the Gayla Committee Chair.

Marcie was raised LDS in California’s bay area where most all of her family still resides. Marcie captain’s her tennis team, loves to play golf, and is a technogeek!

Henry Waymack

Biography coming soon

Kim Burkes

Kim has worked with the Rainbow Center the board since 2001.  A Mississippi native (with Cajun leanings), she relocated to Tacoma in 1996 with pit stops in Berkeley, Eugene, and Omaha.  Kim has been a Nuclear Pharmacist for 20 years, but mostly enjoys karate, wine making, and cooking.  She is also involved with the Pierce County Pride Foundation, Coalition for Marriage Equality, and a variety of other like-minded organizations.

S. Troy Christensen

Troy recently completed his sixth year with the Rainbow Center board, stepping down as co-chair.  He works for Pierce County Human Services administering a variety of programs for people affected by mental illness and homelessness.   Troy holds Master's Degrees in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, and Health Administration. He is involved in many social justice issues including ending homelessness, and equal rights for all minority classes.

Maggie Webb, CPA

Maggie has served as a board member nearly since the Rainbow Center's beginning. Our community relies heavily on Maggie's tax acumen, making her a bit of glue that binds us better together.

Aimee Welch Champion

Aimee is passionate about community service and is appreciative of the opportunities she's had to work with a variety of organizations dedicated to service including the American Red Cross, Imperial Sovereign Court of Tacoma, Nebraska AIDS Project, Oasis Youth Center, OutKitsap, Public Health - Seattle & King County, and Tacoma's Rainbow Center. Aimee is also a member of Q-Law, Washington's LGBT Bar Association.

Aimee is a graduate of Seattle University's School of Law and the University of Nebraska's Schools of Public Administration (MPA) and Social Work (BSSW).

Aimee's interests include developing services and support networks for BRCA carriers, foster care reform, LGBT equality, reading, riding her motorcycle and gardening. But, most of all, she loves spending time with her family.

L. Rachel Kaufman, MD, PhD

Rachel is a medical doctor with an extensive background in visual art. We're not sure how often these overlap, but her eye and organizational skills are invaluable at our art auctions. Rachel's charm is only occasionally upstaged by her frequent companion, Tribble, the world's most darling Welsh Corgi.

Executive Director: Michelle Douglas

Biography coming soon

Interim Center Manager: Marcus E. Gronzo

A Tacoma native, Marcus comes to the Rainbow Center after a decade working in the Information Technology sector. Prior to his work in IT, Marcus managed a pizza shop before becoming involved in fingerprint identification. Marcus also spent a brief time tending bar at a local LGBT lounge. He enjoys reading, dancing and spending time at home with his dog, two cats and "Baby Bird Gronzo," his conure parrot.

Marcus has had a distinguished career in academia, teaching business applications while earning an Associates in Business at Tacoma Community College and a Bachelors in Business Administration from the Milgard School of Business at the University of Washington- Tacoma (UWT) where he majored in management and minored in both marketing and strategic human resources. At UWT he was honored to be invited to serve as a Business Student Ambassador, liasoning between the local business leadership and the University. Marcus was also noted on the Dean's List and recieved UWT's 2008 Celebration of Excellence award.

Marcus greatly enjoys engaging with the community and meeting new friends. He's never too busy to chat in person or over the phone, and is always eager to help people connect with the many resources available to get the help they need.