SEATTLE – The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco has announced the appointments of Sheila Edwards Lange, president of Seattle Central College; and John Wolfe, chief executive officer of Northwest Seaport Alliance, in Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, as the Bank’s Seattle branch directors. Both directors were appointed by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors effective January 1, 2021.
Sheila Edwards Lange
Dr. Edwards Lange has served as President of Seattle Central College (SCC) since August 2015. Prior to assuming the leadership position at Seattle Central, she served as vice president for Minority Affairs and vice provost for Diversity at the University of Washington (UW). She currently serves on the boards of Washington Campus Compact, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, AAA Washington and the Seattle Art Museum. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Washington State Association of College Trustees’ 2020 CEO of the Year. Dr. Edwards Lange earned a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies and a master of public administration from the University of Washington, and a bachelor’s degree in social ecology from the University of California, Irvine.
John Wolfe
From his prior role as executive director of the Port of Tacoma, which he joined in 2005, Mr. Wolfe helped form the Northwest Sea Alliance, whose ports of Seattle and Tacoma comprise North America’s fourth-largest shipping container gateway. He became the organization’s chief executive officer upon its founding in 2015. Mr. Wolfe has held a number of previous roles across maritime shipping organizations, including SeaLand, Maersk, and the Port of Olympia. He has a bachelor’s degree from Pacific Lutheran University.
The Bank also announced West Mathison, president and chief executive officer of Stemilt Growers in Wenatchee, Washington, has been re-designated as Chair of the Seattle branch board for 2021, a role he previously served in 2018 and 2019.
In addition, the Bank reappointed Carol Gore, president and chief executive of Cook Inlet Housing Authority, in Anchorage, Alaska, and Laura Lee (Laurie) Stewart, president and chief executive officer of Sound Community Bank and Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. in Seattle, Washington, to second terms on the Seattle Branch Board.
The remaining members of the Seattle branch board include:
Robert C. (Bob) Donegan, president, Ivar’s Inc., Seattle, Washington
Cheryl B. Fambles, chief executive officer, Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, Tumwater, Washington
About the Boards of Directors
The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 requires each of the 12 Reserve Banks to operate under the supervision of a board of directors. The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s head office is governed by nine directors who represent the interests of the 12th Reserve District and whose experience provides the Bank with a wider range of expertise that helps it fulfill its policy and operational responsibilities. The nine directors of each Reserve Bank are divided evenly by classification: Class A directors represent the member banks in the District; Class B directors and Class C directors represent the interests of the public. In the case of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, its four branches in Los Angeles, Portland, Salt Lake City and Seattle each have a separate seven-member branch board.
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.