Wider Horizons is led by a 12-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 the past 44 years, 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
Board Members
| Ann Lawrence, M.Div., MA |  | President | Retired clinical psychologist & adoption specialist | Elected to Board in 2016, 2019 |
| Charles Heaney, Ph.D. |  | Vice President | Retired health care administrator | Elected to Board in 2016, 2019 |
| Denise Lishner, MSW |  | Director | Retired health researcher, UW School of Medicine | Elected to Board in 2020 |
| Elizabeth Ohlson, Ed.D. |  | Director | Retired educator | Elected to Board in 2016, 2019 |
| Donna Sunkel, MA |  | Director | Retired from career in finance at UW | Elected to Board 2017 |
| Gigi Meinig, MPA |  | Treasurer | Retired Grants and Contracts Manager, City of Seattle | Elected to Board in 2020 |
| Michael Kischner |  | Secretary | Retired educator | Elected to Board in 2017 |
| Sharon Sobers Outlaw, MSW |  | Director | Community activist, social work with African American families | Elected to Board 2014, 2017 |
| Paul Beck, MD |  | Director | Semi-retired geriatrician | Elected to Board in 2015, 2018 |
| Nancy Robb. MPA |  | Director | Retired electrical utility manager, City of Seattle | Elected to Board in 2020 |
| Sue Lerner, MEd |  | Director | Retired K-12 teacher & administrator | Elected to Board in 2014, 2017 |
| Susan Adler |  | Director | Elected to Board in 2020 |