By Darrell Kirk

Staff reporter

After two decades of cultivating community leaders across San Juan County, Leadership San Juan Islands is celebrating the launch of its 17th cohort — a diverse group of 15 individuals representing all four major islands who are embarking on a six-month journey of learning, networking and community engagement.

Founded in 2004 by Ron Zee, founder of the Madrona Institute and one of the cofounders of LSJI, along with Colleen Clancy, former director of Skagit College, and fiscal founder/sponsors including Skagit College, the Economic Development Council and San Juan County United Way, the program has grown from a visionary idea into a cornerstone of community development in the islands. Other early founders included Jim Skoog, Cathy Cavanaugh (deceased), Lynne Hobbs, Liz Illg and Ralph Hahn from the Economic Development Council. The program became a 501(c)(3) in 2008.

Over the past 20 years, approximately 240 alumni have completed the program, many going on to leadership roles in local government, nonprofits and business.

“The more we build strong leaders in our county, the better our county will be,” said Kari McVeigh, a San Juan County Councilperson, program alumna and former leadership consultant. “Leadership San Juan allows our county to grow our own leadership, strengthen it, and create networks for people so they have a support network as they contemplate becoming a leader.”

The program distinguishes itself by focusing on servant leadership and facilitative leadership rather than traditional civic and elected office paths, according to Gretchen Krampf, the program’s president, who was also a member of the very first cohort.

“A lot of it is really focused on servant leadership and community leadership, facilitative leadership, as opposed to civic and elected office,” Krampf explained. “It transcends that to nonprofit leadership, the agricultural sector, and small businesses. We have challenge days that focus on San Juan County as a whole system—so we look at the economics of the county, we look at how governance is set up with the County Council and the town of Friday Harbor.”

A whole-systems approach

What sets LSJI apart is its comprehensive approach to understanding the county as an interconnected system. Through “challenge days,” participants explore economics, governance, arts, history and culture. The current cohort recently attended Economics Day, hearing from the Economic Development Council’s Victoria Compton, the county auditor, and the budget analyst to understand how County finances work and where resources flow.

The program also maintains deep connections to the region’s indigenous heritage. Samish elder Rosie Cayou James, who recently passed away, was a longtime supporter and teacher who provided profound experiences for cohorts, including leading a leadership blessing ceremony at Watmough Bay, a national monument and Coast Salish ceremonial space.

“When they renamed Harney Channel to Cayou Channel, Leadership San Juan Islands were the hosts at the West Sound Community Center for the gathering of the canoe family from the Samish tribe to honor that naming,” Krampf recalled. “It’s those relationships that are the most profound aspects of LSJI.”

Diverse cohort, broad impact

The 17th cohort represents a cross-section of island life and professional experience. Members include Magali Cota, staff attorney and legal director at Friends of the San Juans; Elaina Thompson, executive director of the Islands’ Oil Spill Association; Tillery Williams, director of Community Engagement for San Juan County; and Gabrielle Conway, projects & grants coordinator for San Juan County Parks and Fair.

The group spans ages from the 20s to the 70s and includes professionals in fields ranging from environmental law to library services, from junk removal to wildlife rehabilitation. Some, like Pedro Mendes from Lopez Island, bring international perspectives — he moved from Lisbon, Portugal, and now manages food programs at the Lopez Island Family Resource Center.

The program’s impact extends far beyond individual development. Three LSJI alumni — Chom Greason, Faith van de Putte and Nikyta Palmisani — spearheaded the climate community conversations that have occurred over the past year, informing how San Juan County addresses climate change.

Another alumna, Erin Cora, credits LSJI with shaping her approach to nonprofit leadership. “Leadership San Juan Islands was a formative experience for me. The program challenged me to think more deeply about community, collaboration, and the responsibility that comes with leadership in a small, interconnected place like the San Juans,” Cora said. “Being part of a cohort of people committed to service, listening, and problem-solving gave me both practical tools and the confidence to step forward when opportunities to lead arose.”

Cora now serves as executive director of Friends of Lime Kiln Society, where she applies lessons learned from LSJI. “LSJI emphasized values-based leadership, systems thinking, and the importance of mission-driven organizations—lessons I continue to draw on in my nonprofit work,” she explained. “FOLKS’ mission to inspire awe into action through education, stewardship, and support for Lime Kiln Point State Park aligns closely with what I learned through LSJI: that meaningful leadership is about creating spaces where people can connect to place, understand complex ecosystems, and feel empowered to care for what matters.”

Other notable alumni include Judge Katie Loring, former Visit San Juans Director Deborah Hopkins, Friday Harbor Town Council members Steve Hushebeck and Anna Maria de Freitas, and Lerner Limbaugh, founder of the Orcas Food Co-op.

Affordable and alumni-driven

Unlike urban leadership programs that can charge $1,800 to $2,500 for tuition, LSJI has maintained a modest fee of $795 for the entire program, relying on support from community foundations on Orcas and San Juan, as well as alumni contributions. All faculty serve pro bono.

The program’s alumni-driven model is exemplified by its current leadership, which includes alumni from across the program’s history. Lee Taylor from Cohort 15 serves as program director for Cohort 17, while Tara Anderson, also from Cohort 15, serves as secretary and faculty member. Jennifer Fay Rice from Cohort 12 serves as an at-large board member and Steve Hushebeck from Cohort 6 serves as treasurer and faculty in addition to his role on the Friday Harbor Town Council. These alumni demonstrate the program’s enduring impact, with graduates not only advancing in their own careers but also returning to guide and support new cohorts of emerging leaders.

The program runs from November through the end of April, timed to accommodate the agricultural and tourism sectors. “Especially in the ag sector here with tourism, it’s really hard to start anything before we get through the film festival,” Krampf explained. “We have to finish before the farming season and tourist season begins.”

Participants engage in day-long Friday challenge days and work in learning circles on community service projects. The cohort will graduate at the end of April at the Grange in Friday Harbor.

Looking ahead

For Council member McVeigh, the program’s value lies in the networks it creates and the relationships it fosters. “Being a good leader is very relationship-bound,” she said. “It’s knowing the content of what you’re trying to lead. It’s understanding how people think. It’s how people work together.”

When asked what message she had for younger people contemplating government service, McVeigh was direct: “Join Leadership San Juan. Take the step to find out, talk to people. I think there’s no better time than now in our country for strong leadership in our younger people to be developed. We need you. So say yes.”

The program will begin recruiting in spring 2026 for Cohort 18, which will start in fall 2026. The minimum age for participants is 21. Those interested in learning more can visit the Leadership San Juan Islands website at https://lsji.org/.