Staff Directory

Melanie Harding

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Executive Director
mharding@mrsc.org

Melanie Harding joined MRSC as the executive director in October 2024. She has nearly 20 years of local government experience utilizing collaboration, communications, and innovation to advise leaders and implement effective solutions, such as supporting the development of intergovernmental partnerships like South Sound Housing Affordability Partners and shared municipal court services. Most recently, she served as Tacoma's interim deputy city manager where she oversaw more than 67 employees and budgets totaling roughly $63 million while leading other complex projects. As the assistant to the city manager, she directed the council support and policy team and led Tacoma’s Alternative Response programs. Prior to the City of Tacoma, she worked at the City of Puyallup for nine years in a series of progressively more responsible roles. Melanie has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver, a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Washington, and an associate’s degree from Tacoma Community College.

Executive Director
mharding@mrsc.org

Flannary Collins

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Legal Director & General Counsel
fcollins@mrsc.org

Flannary P. Collins is the legal director and general counsel for MRSC. She first joined the organization as a legal consultant in August 2013 after serving as assistant city attorney for the city of Shoreline where she advised all city departments on a wide range of issues. Flannary became the managing attorney in 2018. In her current role, she manages the MRSC legal team of five attorneys and provides general counsel services to the organization. At MRSC, Flannary enjoys providing legal guidance to municipalities on all municipal issues, including the OPMA, PRA, and elected officials’ roles and responsibilities. She also serves on the WSAMA Board of Directors as secretary-treasurer. Flannary is a Seattle native, graduated with a B.A. from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and received her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.

Legal Director & General Counsel
fcollins@mrsc.org

Harry Boesche

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Legal Consultant
hboesche@mrsc.org

Harry Boesche joined MRSC as a legal consultant in April 2024. A municipal attorney with over 20 years of experience, he has served as a prosecutor and legal advisor to various Puget Sound local governments including Auburn, Tumwater, Roy, and Ruston. In addition to his legal practice, he has been a paralegal instructor at Tacoma Community College for over 20 years, teaching courses in labor and employment law, legal writing and civil procedure. Harry has a 1999 J.D. from Seattle University School of Law, and a 2003 taxation LL.M. from the University of Washington School of Law.

Legal Consultant
hboesche@mrsc.org

Sarah Doar

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Legal Consultant
sdoar@mrsc.org

Sarah Doar joined MRSC as a legal consultant in September 2018. She previously served as a civil deputy prosecuting attorney for Island County where she advised on many aspects of government business, including compliance with public records and open meeting laws. Prior to moving to Washington, Sarah practiced land use, environmental, and appellate law in Florida for over eight years. At MRSC, Sarah advises on many aspects of local government business and presents extensively on Washington’s Public Records Act, including a popular “PRA Deep Dive” series and “PRA Basics & More” trainings. Sarah is the author of the chapter Governing in Glass Houses: Protection of Third-Party Private Information and Confidential Records in the ABA publication Ensuring an Informed Public. She holds a B.A. in Biology from Case Western Reserve University and a J.D. with a certificate in environmental and land use law from Florida State University College of Law.

Legal Consultant
sdoar@mrsc.org

Jill Dvorkin

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Legal Consultant
jdvorkin@mrsc.org

Jill Dvorkin joined MRSC as a legal consultant in June 2016 after working for nine years as a civil deputy prosecuting attorney for Skagit County. At Skagit County, Jill advised the planning department on a wide variety of issues including permit processing and appeals, Growth Management Act (GMA) compliance, code enforcement, SEPA, public records, legislative process, and public records. Jill was born and raised in Fargo, ND, then moved to Bellingham to attend college and experience a new part of the country (and mountains!). She earned a B.A. in Environmental Policy and Planning from Western Washington University and graduated with a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 2003.

Legal Consultant
jdvorkin@mrsc.org

Linda Gallagher

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Legal Consultant
lgallagher@mrsc.org

Linda Gallagher joined MRSC in 2017. She previously served as a senior deputy prosecuting attorney for King County and as an assistant attorney general. Linda’s municipal law experience includes risk management, torts, civil rights, transit, employment, workers compensation, eminent domain, vehicle licensing, law enforcement, corrections, and public health. She graduated from the University of Washington School of Law.

Legal Consultant
lgallagher@mrsc.org

Julie Nicoll

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Legal Consultant
jnicoll@mrsc.org

Julie Nicoll joined MRSC as a legal consultant in April 2025. Prior to joining MRSC, she was an assistant attorney general representing Western Washington University, Bellingham Technical College, and Educational Service District #189. Julie previously served as a civil deputy prosecuting attorney for Skagit County primarily advising the Planning Department. She started her career in private practice in Seattle advising clients on environmental and land use matters. Julie received her J.D. from Seattle University Law School. She is a Chicago native and has proudly called the Pacific Northwest “home” for over 25 years. 
 

Legal Consultant
jnicoll@mrsc.org

Steve Butler

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Planning & Policy Director
sbutler@mrsc.org

Steve Butler joined MRSC in February 2015 as a planning consultant as well as the manager of the policy team. He has been involved in most aspects of community planning for over 30 years, both in the public and private sectors. Steve has served as president of statewide planning associations in both Washington and Maine, and was elected to the American Institute of Certified Planner’s College of Fellows in 2008. He received a B.A. from St. Lawrence University (Canton, New York) and a M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Planning & Policy Director
sbutler@mrsc.org

Leonard Bauer

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Planning Consultant
lbauer@mrsc.org

Leonard Bauer joined MRSC in June 2024 as a planning consultant. Leonard has over 35 years of public service experience in planning and community development. He served as the managing director of the Washington State Growth Management Services Office at the Department of Commerce for 12 years. Most recently he was the community planning and development director for Olympia for ten years. He also served the Cities of Sumner and Tumwater, and a regional council of governments in Eugene, OR. Originally from Yakima, Leonard attended Washington State University and later earned a B.A. from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Oregon. Leonard was elected to the American Institute of Certified Planner’s College of Fellows in 2014 and received the Meyer Wolfe Award for Professional Achievement from the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association.

Planning Consultant
lbauer@mrsc.org

Cheryl Grant

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Finance Consultant
cgrant@mrsc.org

Cheryl joined MRSC in August 2023 as a finance consultant. Born and raised in Washington State, Cheryl has many years of experience working in local government finance, particularly with small cities. Prior to coming to MRSC, Cheryl spent 13 years as the finance director for the City of Chelan, as well as consulting on a variety of finance-related topics for small cities.

Finance Consultant
cgrant@mrsc.org

Josh Klika

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Procurement & Contracting Consultant
jklika@mrsc.org

Josh joined MRSC in October 2021 as a procurement and contracting consultant. Josh has a broad public procurement background with over 20 years in state and local governments. In addition to holding roles in procurement at multiple agencies at the State of Washington, most recently Josh worked as contracts and procurement program manager for the City of Olympia. He has also served as a recurring panelist, facilitator, and presenter on numerous topics relating to procurement and contracting for various professional organizations. He currently holds a Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) through the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC), a NIGP Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP) certification, and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB) through the University of Washington.
 

Procurement & Contracting Consultant
jklika@mrsc.org

Eric Lowell

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Finance Consultant
elowell@mrsc.org

Eric Lowell joined MRSC in December 2020 as a finance consultant. He has been involved in local government finance for over 13 years. Eric has worked in city government, as well as for a special purpose district. He received a B.A. in Secondary Education from Arizona State University and a B.S. in Accounting from Central Washington University. 

Finance Consultant
elowell@mrsc.org

Lisa Pool

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Public Policy Consultant
lpool@mrsc.org

Lisa Pool joined MRSC in June 2021. Most recently, she served as a senior planner for Bellingham. In this role, she primarily focused on long-range planning projects, including the city’s comprehensive plan and new housing regulations. Prior to moving to Bellingham, she worked on regional sustainability and transportation issues for a metropolitan planning organization and conducted development review for cities and counties in the Midwest. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts in environmental policy and a Master of Urban Planning, both from the University of Kansas in Lawrence. She has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners since 2009.

Public Policy Consultant
lpool@mrsc.org

Jon Rose

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Finance & Administration Director
jrose@mrsc.org

Jon Rose joined MRSC in November 2017 and leads the finance and administration team. Jon worked for several years as a financial analyst and project manager, serving in both the medical and banking sectors. He graduated with a BBA degree in 2004 as well as an MBA in 2010 from Pacific Lutheran University.

Finance & Administration Director
jrose@mrsc.org

Sandra Vong

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Controller
svong@mrsc.org

Sandra Vong joined MRSC in March 1998. She graduated from Central Washington University with a B.S. degree in accounting and finance. As a controller, she oversees the accounting and financial operations of the organization and provides leadership and support to Human Resources for personnel payroll and benefits. She is also responsible for managing budgets, developing, and implementing financial policies to ensure compliance with financial and accounting regulations.

Controller
svong@mrsc.org

Antoinette Avery

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Accountant
aavery@mrsc.org

Antoinette joined MRSC as an accountant in December 2023. Her primary focus is bookkeeping for the professional associations APWA, WCMA and WSAMA. Antoinette moved to Washington in 2010 and has earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Certificate in Accounting Studies. She worked in finance and accounting for the City of Port Townsend and the Poulsbo Fire Department prior to joining MRSC.

Accountant
aavery@mrsc.org

Aimy Enriquez

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HR and Administration Analyst
aenriquez@mrsc.org

Aimy Enriquez joined MRSC in spring 2017. As the human resources and administration Analyst, she is responsible for a variety of executive administrative, human resources duties, and fundraising initiatives for MRSC. Her background in nonprofits includes serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA, and then Volunteer Engagement Coordinator with 501 Commons. Aimy has a B.A. in English from Western Washington University.

HR and Administration Analyst
aenriquez@mrsc.org

Lisa Lagerstrom

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Rosters Program Lead
llagerstrom@mrsc.org

Lisa joined MRSC in July 2024 as the Rosters program lead. Lisa worked as a counselor and training development specialist with APEX Accelerators (formerly Procurement Technical Assistance Centers). Lisa is thrilled to support businesses and public agencies with procurement efforts. Customer service is in her DNA. She graduated from Western Washington University with a BA degree - Industrial Organizational Psychology.    

Rosters Program Lead
llagerstrom@mrsc.org

Brynn Linville

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Rosters Coordinator
blinville@mrsc.org

Brynn joined MRSC in June 2022. With a professional background of seven years in nonprofit and construction administrative support and an educational background in the performing arts, she brings a unique blend of creativity and practical knowledge to her role. Brynn is a West Coast native and enjoys exploring all the beauty it has to offer: hiking, kayaking, finding the best coffee spots and restaurants, and spending time in her garden with her dogs.

Rosters Coordinator
blinville@mrsc.org

Theresa Gonzales

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Rosters Coordinator
tgonzales@mrsc.org

Theresa joined MRSC in summer 2022. She oversees the Rosters service, which is the only directory that connects businesses with over 600 public agencies in Washington State. She has been passionate of her non-profit work with organizations like Refugee Women’s Alliance ReWA, Tacoma Community House TCH, American Red Cross, Emergency Food Network EFN, and Tacoma Rescue Mission. In addition to this, she served two terms with AmeriCorps State and National. Theresa has a B.A Degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Religion and Culture from Western Washington University.  

Rosters Coordinator
tgonzales@mrsc.org

'Ula Kamaka

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Partnership and Event Coordinator
ukamaka@mrsc.org

‘Ula Kamaka joined MRSC as the new partnership and events coordinator in May of 2023. ‘Ula is responsible for managing logistics for WSAMA, WPTA and WCMA conferences and coordinating training in partnership with the Communications and Policy teams here at MRSC. With a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Saint Martin’s University and being born and raised in Hawaii, ‘Ula brings a unique perspective with a background in marketing, project management and corporate events.

Partnership and Event Coordinator
ukamaka@mrsc.org

Eric Chang

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IT Principal
echang@mrsc.org

Eric Chang has been involved in technology ever since serving in the US Navy as a radar technician. Eric has been responsible for developing numerous software products and custom business applications. Before joining MRSC, he served as a senior data analyst in the Healthcare industry. Mr. Chang is Microsoft-certified and has received an MBA from the University of Washington in 2001. Eric grew up in the Northwest and when not staring at a computer is going for a hike, finding a new putter or feeding his four parrots.

IT Principal
echang@mrsc.org

Ingrid de la Jara

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Communications Director
idelajara@mrsc.org

Ingrid de la Jara joined MRSC in May 2010 and manages the communications team since 2017. She is responsible for the direction and development of the website and other communication channels. Prior to joining MRSC, she worked at multiple academic libraries and holds a bachelor’s degree in art from the University of California at Berkeley. 

Communications Director
idelajara@mrsc.org

Alicia Bones

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Research Analyst and Writer
abones@mrsc.org

Alicia Bones started at MRSC as a research analyst and writer in fall of 2023. Before joining the communications team, she worked as a composition and research methods instructor at several Seattle-area community colleges, as well as a freelance research writer for business and education clients. She holds graduate degrees in English, creative writing, and higher education administration.

Research Analyst and Writer
abones@mrsc.org

Steve Hawley

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Research and Communications Analyst
shawley@mrsc.org

Steve joined MRSC in July 2014 and is responsible for writing, editing, and conducting research for many of MRSC’s website resources, with a particular focus on local government finance, budgeting, ballot measures, and procurement. He has a broad communications and public policy background with over a decade of local government and nonprofit experience.

Research and Communications Analyst
shawley@mrsc.org

Leah LaCivita

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Communications Coordinator
llacivita@mrsc.org

Leah LaCivita joined MRSC as a communications coordinator in the fall of 2016 and manages MRSC’s blog and webinar training program, in addition to developing website content. She has worked with various nonprofits, membership associations, and research organizations in a variety of positions, from raising funds to editing academic manuscripts. She has a Masters in Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve University and a Certificate in Editing from the University of Washington. She was born and raised in Ohio and moved to Seattle in 1999. Leah values the wonderful cultural and civic opportunities the city offers, as well as the breathtaking Puget Sound landscape.

Communications Coordinator
llacivita@mrsc.org

Angela Mack

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Brand and User Experience Designer
amack@mrsc.org

Angela Mack joined MRSC in August of 2019. Her background includes working with a broad range of local and national organizations ­– from brand identity and development to designing high-end consumer packaging to creating outreach campaigns for nonprofit agencies. Angela earned a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and a Master of Fine Art degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
 

Brand and User Experience Designer
amack@mrsc.org

Gabrielle Nicas

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Information Specialist / Librarian
gnicas@mrsc.org

Gaby Nicas joined MRSC as the information specialist / librarian in August 2016. After many years of teaching English to students in the Health Sciences at a university in Barcelona, Spain she went back to graduate school for a Master’s in Library and Information Science at the University of Washington. Prior to joining MRSC she worked as a metadata specialist at Dow Jones where she worked on taxonomy maintenance and development and other metadata and indexing support activities for Factiva.

Information Specialist / Librarian
gnicas@mrsc.org

Jacob Rice

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Training and Outreach Coordinator
jrice@mrsc.org

Jacob Rice joined MRSC as a training and outreach coordinator in September of 2021. He is responsible for the coordination, production, and promotion of MRSC’s online and in-person trainings. Prior to joining MRSC, Jacob worked as a virtual training producer and graduated from the University of Washington with a BS in Psychology.
 

Training and Outreach Coordinator
jrice@mrsc.org