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 deeply committed to empowering individuals with disabilities and low incomes through personalized, efficient, and innovative support strategies.
Our dedicated team continuously invests in education and active engagement to ensure 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 to strengthen our community.
— 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 | Expedia Inc
Julie Breeden | WeWork
Al Herron| Aisha Corp
Joe Castro | USA Soccer
Francisco Barros | Key Bank
Ratna Kompella | Treasurer, Microsoft Corp
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 possesses specialized expertise in strategic planning, fund development, and advocacy. Over the past twenty years, Mr. Nowack has secured and managed more than $25 million in funding from foundations, as well as 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, Employment Specialist/QC specialist
open position, Employment Specialist
open position, Employment Specialist
Kylie Montano, Employment Specialist
Marissa Murphy, Snohomish County Asst Manager
Kimberly Worrick, Employment Specialist
Georgie Price, TTW Specialist
Melissa Brown, Employment Specialist
Joy Edelen, Employment Specialist
Whitney Kuhn, Employment Specialist
Wendy Ehr, Program Manager
Sydney Williams, Employment Specialist
Jared Sand, Training, DVR and TTW coordinator
Kate Torrella, King County Asst Manager
Jannine Cornethan, Employment Specialist
Michaela Gromer, Employment Specialist
Tamia McCall, Employment Specialist
Daisy Lopez, Employment Specialist
Dennis Tsoi, Employment Specialist
Lizbeth Lopez, Employment Specialist
Alexis Mansel, Employment Specialist
Milanah Bagby, Employment Specialist
Alexis Salas, Employment Specialist
Advancement Team
Ruth Harmony, Program Manager
open position, Youth Employment Specialist
Bo Roscoe, Employment Coach
Stephanie Diaz, Employment specialist
Accounting/Admin Team
Pattie Stibre, Bookkeeper
Michelle Hood, Accounting Assistant
David Vanderwerff, Admin Assistant