Executive Director
Frances E. Pennell, J.D., was the Policy & Funding Specialist for the Washington Assistive Technology Alliance from April 1995 to December 2000. This position provided a first-hand opportunity to observe the financial barriers that make it difficult if not impossible for many people with disabilities to obtain the assistive technologies needed to live independently and to succeed at work, at school, at play or as active participants in community life. Prior to joining WATA, Ms. Pennell was an attorney in private practice in Seattle.
Email: fpennell@washingtonaccessfund.org

Program Director
Kathy Gilman, joined the Washington Access Fund in 2008 after serving on the Board and Loan Review Committee for almost three years.  Kathy previously worked as a Business Development Specialist with Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) working on bringing microenterprise development programs to both urban and rural areas.  Prior to joining MEDA she worked for more than seven years for the Washington Community Alliance for Self-Help (Washington CASH), a community based microenterprise development and peer lending organization in Western Washington.   She was also a Peace Corps volunteer, teaching business in the Russian Far East.  Kathy's educational background includes an MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Chicago.
Email: kathy@washingtonaccessfund.org

IDA Program Manager
Leann Wicklund, joined the Washington Access Fund in 2009 as a work-study student while studying Political Science at Seattle Pacific University. With an interest in microfinance and community development, the Access Fund has been a great fit. After graduating from SPU, Leann has been developing and managing the Individual Development Account programs.
Email: leann@washingtonaccessfund.org

Bookkeeper
Pam MacRae, Washington Access Fund's Bookkeeper, has worked as a nonprofit bookkeeper since 1997. She spent 10 of those years as the bookkeeper for Cascadia Revolving Fund, a community development financial institution that provided small business loans. Pam has spent the last five winters volunteering with Outdoors for All, skiing and snowshoeing with people with disabilities. She spends the other part of her work-week as the finance manager for Sightline Institute.
Email: pam@washingtonaccessfund.org