Our Leadership

Wider Horizons is led by a 10-member Board of Directors and an Executive Director. An active and involved membership serves on task forces and committees and generates and carries out specific program activities.

Executive Director — Denise Klein

A resident of Seattle for over four decades, Denise Klein is known for her blend of visionary leadership and ability to generate practical solutions to complex human and organizational problems. Denise’s professional experience includes:

  • Executive Director of Wider Horizons: Central Seattle’s Village for Life

  • CEO of Senior Services [now Sound Generations] for 10 years

  • Member and officer of national, state, and local Boards of Directors of numerous non-profit organizations

  • Consulting nationally for 13 years

  • Led the King County Area Agency on Aging for 12 years

  • Recipient of the American Society on Aging’s Leadership Award in 1994

  • Selected as the first Distinguished Area Agency Director by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging in 1985

Wider Horizons Board members sitting around a table and posing for the camera
Headshot of Denise Klein

Board of Directors

  • Image of Valerie Costa

    Valerie Costa

    PRESIDENT

    WH member; non-profit management consultant. Term 1 (of 2); Elected 2024; Ends 2029

  • Image of Barbara Oswald

    Barbara Oswald

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Active WH member; non-profit ED; college administrator, disability activist, artist. Term 1 (of 2) Elected 2023; Ends 2028

  • Image of Joe Garcia

    Joe Garcia

    TREASURER

    Active WH member; retired public administrator, City of Seattle. Term 1 (of 2); Elected 2024; Ends 2029

  • Image of Nancy Hooyman

    Nancy Hooyman, PhD

    SECRETARY

    Active WH member; gerontologist; Professor and Dean Emeritus, School of Social Work, UW. Term 2 (of 2); Elected 2021, ends 2026

  • Image of Nina Auerbach

    Nina Auerbach

    DIRECTOR

    Active WH member, life coach, former non-profit ED. Term 1 (of 2) Elected 2026, ends 2031

  • Image of Carol Butler

    Carol Butler

    DIRECTOR

    Active WH member; retired public administrator (City of Seattle), former non-profit ED. Term 1 (of 2); Elected 2026,; Ends 2031

  • Image of Robin Oppenheimer

    Robin Oppenheimer

    DIRECTOR

    Active WH member; media arts historian, former non-profit ED. Term 1 (of 2); Elected 2026; Ends 2031

  • Photo of Ellen Taussig

    Ellen Taussig

    DIRECTOR

    Active WH member; educator; co-founder of two non-profit schools. Term 1 (of 2); elected 2025; ends 2030

  • Image of Jeanne Marie Thomas

    Jeanne Marie Thomas, MSW

    DIRECTOR

    Active WH member; aging specialist; former non-profit ED. Term 2 (of 2); elected 2021; ends 2026

  • Image of Debbie Ward

    Debbie Ward

    DIRECTOR

    Active WH member; 45-year career working with engineers and scientists; currently coach to non-profit leaders and facilitator of “Next Steps” workshops. Term 1 (of 2); Elected 2024, ends 2029