Our History
Cares of Washington has been helping people with disabilities and low incomes for over 40 years. Started in 1980 in Seattle as IAM CARES, it first helped injured Boeing machinists get back to work. After IAM CARES closed in 2003, the Washington State office became an independent nonprofit called Cares of Washington. This change let us help more people and get varied funding. Now based in Seattle, we support individuals in Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Kitsap counties with job readiness, placement, and retention. We are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), showing our commitment to quality.
Mission
Cares of Washington’s mission is to “support people with disabilities and low incomes to realize their purpose, potential, and strength”
Vision
Our vision is “An equitable, inclusive community committed to stability and fulfillment”
From the CEO
At Cares of Washington, we envision a community where every individual has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential and engage fully in both life and work. As a people-centered organization, we are committed to empowering individuals with disabilities and low incomes through personalized, innovative services
Our team continuously invests in staff training to ensure we can support meaningful and positive outcomes for every person we serve. By championing inclusion, equality, and personal choice, we strive to create meaningful job opportunities for those facing significant employment barriers.
Supporting Cares means investing in a future where trust and individuals’ strengths drive community growth. Together, we can build a more inclusive workforce and help people embrace life’s challenges and opportunities with confidence. Your contribution makes this vision possible - partner with us to open doors and change lives.
— Lars Nowack, CEO, Cares of Washington
Cares’ People
Cares of Washington is governed by a volunteer board of directors.
Board of Directors
Nitant Singh | Chair, Microsoft Corp
Sam Leck | PWC
Donavan Lam | Evergreen Treatment Services
Jess Watts | DNA&Stone
Monica Isbell|Community Volunteer
Al Herron| Aisha Corp
Joe Castro | USA Soccer
Francisco Barros | Key Bank
Ratna Kompella | Treasurer, Shopify
Lars Nowack | Secretary, Cares of Washington
Who We Are
Lars Nowack | CEO
Lars Nowack brings extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, having successfully led two organizations through multiple transitions, mergers, and periods of growth. He is experienced in strategic planning, fund development, and advocacy. Over the past 23+ years, Mr. Nowack has secured and managed more than $25 million in funding from foundations, local, state, and federal grants, in addition to social venture capital. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Counseling from DePaul University and a Marine Machinist certification from Esbjerg Marine Engineering College in Denmark.
Employment and Community Inclusion Team
Sami Adams, Employment Specialist
Maya Roberts, Employment Specialist
Katie Larchick, Recruiting/QC specialist
Grace Kayongo, Employment Specialist
Morgan Loesch, Employment Specialist
Kylie Montano, Benefits Planner/Employment Specialist
Marissa Murphy, Snohomish County Program Manager
Erika Warren, Employment Specialist
Melissa Brown, Employment Specialist
Open position- Employment Specialist
Whitney Kuhn, Employment Specialist
Jalee Apodaca, Employment Specialist
Wendy Ehr, Employment Team Program Manager
Ruth Harmony, Advancement and TTW Program Manager
Sydney Williams, Employment Specialist
Jared Sand, Training, DVR coordinator
Kate Torrella, King County Program Manager
Jannine Cornethan, Employment Specialist
Open position- Employment Specialist
Tamia McCall, Employment Specialist
Daisy Lopez, Employment Specialist
Dennis Tsoi, Employment Specialist
Lizbeth Lopez, Employment Specialist
Open position- Employment Specialist
Open position, Employment Specialist
Advancement Team
Ruth Harmony, Program Manager
Bo Roscoe, Employment Coach
Stephanie Diaz, Employment specialist
Accounting/Admin Team
Pattie Stibre, Bookkeeper
Michelle Hood, Accounting Assistant
David Vanderwerff, Admin Assistant