Seattle, Washington — The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco appointed current board member, West Mathison, president and CEO of Wenatchee-based Stemilt Growers LLC, as board chairman of the Seattle Branch board of directors, effective January 1, 2018. Mr. Mathison is replacing, Scott L. Morris, chairman, president and CEO of Avista Corporation, whose term on the board and as chairman has expired. In addition, Craig Dawson, president and CEO of Retail Lockbox in Seattle, was reappointed to a three-year term ending December 31, 2020.
West Mathison
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, appointed Elaine S. Couture, executive vice president and CEO of the Washington and Montana region, Providence St. Joseph Health, to the Seattle Branch board of directors for a three-year term, effective January 1, 2018. She is replacing Mr. Morris.
In addition, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco appointed Laura Lee (Laurie) Stewart, president and CEO of Sound Community Bank and Sound Financial Bancorporation, to its Seattle Branch board of directors for a three-year term, effective January 1, 2018. She is replacing Carol K. Nelson, Pacific Region Executive and Seattle market president, KeyBank, whose term has expired.
Elaine S. Couture
Ms. Couture has worked in health care for 40 years. In her current role, she oversees the operation of a health care system that includes 13 hospitals located in ten communities, with more than 2,000 employed physicians and advanced practitioners, and over 23,000 employees. In addition, Ms. Couture oversees numerous joint ventures, and serves as chief executive for Inland Northwest Health Services, Engage – a health technology company, and St. Luke’s Rehabilitation hospital. She is also an adjunct professor at Washington State University, School of Nursing. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Montana State University and an MBA from Liberty University.
Laura Lee (Laurie) Stewart
Ms. Stewart started in banking over 35 years ago and has held her current position since 1989. Seattle-based Sound Community Bank serves 15,000 households and businesses through a loan production office and seven retail locations located in the Seattle area and the Olympic Peninsula. Ms. Stewart holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from California Coast University.
Mr. Mathison is part of the fifth generation of Mathison family farmers and has led the family-owned company since 2005. Stemilt is one of nation’s largest tree fruit companies and is a leading grower, packer and shipper of fresh apples, pears, cherries and summer fruits. The company is the nation’s leading shipper of sweet cherries and a large supplier of organic tree fruit. Mr. Mathison oversees agricultural operations in Washington and California. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international business from the University of Puget Sound.
Craig Dawson
Mr. Dawson co-founded Retail Lockbox in 1994, an industry leader in remittance processing, credit card payments, and document management services. Mr. Dawson is responsible for the strategic direction, sales and marketing for the company. He is active in the community holding board seats on the Washington Roundtable, UW Consulting and Business Development Center, and membership in the Seattle Downtown Rotary. Prior to founding Retail Lockbox, Mr. Dawson was a senior sales executive with Unisys Corporation, an international provider of computer and system solutions. Mr. Dawson holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance and marketing from the University of Washington.
The balance of the Seattle Branch Board of Directors includes:
Cheryl Fambles, CEO, Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, Tumwater, WA
Sophie Minich, president and CEO, Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), Anchorage, AK
Drew Wolff, CFO, International and Channel Development, Starbucks Coffee Company, Seattle, WA
The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (SF Fed) serves the public by promoting a healthy, sustainable economy, and supporting the nation’s financial and payment systems. With offices in Los Angeles, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Portland and Phoenix, the Bank serves the Twelfth Federal Reserve District, which includes one-fifth of the nation’s population and represents the world’s fourth-largest economy. As part of the nation’s central bank, the SF Fed informs monetary policy, regulates banks, administers certain consumer protection laws and acts as a financial partner to the U.S. government.