Kirkland Kiwanis

Hi... I'm Bill Ward.

I was born and raised in Washington DC. In 1976 I moved to Kirkland with my wife and two daughters.

My third Daughter was born at Evergreen Hospital, which happens to be where my wife works.  I worked for Boeing for over 34 years as a main frame Programmer (IBM big boxes).

I just recently retired from Boeing.  I started in the IT Business back in Washington DC in 1969. I served in many capacities in my church over the years, including being a leader, both locally and nationally in the YMCA Parent child program.

I joined the Kiwanis club to give back to the community in which I live because it has provided so many pleasant moments in my life. I also feel that we need to help the youth of our society to understand what it means to be a member of the community not just a resident in the community.

Thank you so much for letting me tell you a little bit about me. I look forward to meeting you so come by at a meeting and let me know a little about you.

Hi, I am Cherri Hoyden and pleased to be a new member of Kiwanis. I look forward to meeting each of you.

A little about myself.  I was raised in CA and moved to WA in 1991 to attend the University of WA.  I have since met my husband Ed and we have been married for almost 20 years now.  We have 4 children between the two of us and eleven grandchildren.
   
By profession I am an audiologist and try to help improve people lives through better hearing.  I also work with the Kirkland Senior Council and am excited to work with the Kiwanis.  I don’t think I have ever seen a more fun group that this Kiwanis group.  I look forward to the positive and lively weekly meetings

Hi, I’m Dave Asher

After retiring from the Army, my bride and I moved to
Kirkland nearly 20 years ago. I had spent over 20 years
facing exciting challenges from the ground as an Infantry
officer and at tree-top level as commander of attack
helicopter organizations.

Soon after arriving in the northwest, I went to work at
UW’s Office of Planning and Budgeting. I moved money
around for nearly 20 years, retiring as the Chief
Financial Officer of UW’s Educational Outreach.

I relished getting involved in my new community since
Army life was, at most, 3-years in one location. I
joined and became chair of the North Rose Hill
Neighborhood Association and later co-chair of the
Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods. I have also been
involved in my church and in the northwest Methodist
Conference.

My neighborhood experience fighting City Hall led me to
believe I could do more good from the inside. The voters
agreed and have allowed me to serve on the City Council
for 12 years.

I am excited to join Kiwanis to broaden my horizons with
others that are concerned about building strong
communities and the next generation of our country and
the world.

Hi... I'm Don Schmitz.

I’m a native Washingtonian, born in Seattle, raised in SeaTac and now live in Kirkland.  I graduated from Glacier High School in the Highline School District in 1964. 

After two years at Highline Community College, I went to work in the post office delivering mail.  I saw an ad for the King County Sheriff’s Reserves and decided to join.  After a year of working a reserve car in Burien weekend evenings for free, I decided that getting paid was better so I took the test and joined the King County Sheriff’s Department in 1969. 

I worked in the KC Jail and Patrol duty.  I met my wife Patty and we settled in Kirkland.  We have six children, all girls. Our children went through Holy Family and Lake Washington High School.  I now have five grandchildren. 

When the kids were young, I wanted something closer to home so I transferred into Special Operations Marine Unit.   The Marine unit consisted of 8 officers who were also SCUBA Divers.  We patrolled Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish and were called upon to do the recoveries of people, cars, and other items from the waters of King County including the recovering victims of the Green River Killer. 

We were called upon to do just about everything, including Search and Rescue, Flood Patrol, and to assist east of the mountains to patrol the forest fires in Leavenworth and Chelan.  After 30 years in the Marine Unit I retired March 2004.

I now enjoy retirement by doing projects for my church and neighbors, and volunteering in the neighborhood.  I’m a member of the Knights of Columbus. 

I also have a 1933 Plymouth rumble seat coupe I’m working on.  Many days you can find me in the garage with the MIG welder going and the Beach Boys belting out Little Deuce Coupe on the radio. 

Hi... I'm John Kettel.

I am excited and very grateful to be a member of Kiwanis, I look forward to more involvement and getting to know each of you.

I was born and have lived my entire life in Washington, with the exception of military time and three years in Oregon.  After graduation from the University of Washington, we lived and raised our family in the Bothell area.  My son lives in the Seattle area, my daughter in Alaska.  My full time working career ended last year, allowing for additional volunteer activities, involvement in our church, and will be working part time.
 
I enjoy outdoor activities, including walking and golf, and I like to read and learn.
I was given an additional wonderful blessing when Molly came into my life. We have been married for four years and live in the Kirkland area.  Molly has three sons;  two live in the area, one in Chicago. It has been a wonderful experience joining our families together.  Molly and I enjoy our time together, our time with family and friends, and spending as much time as possible with our two wonderful grandchildren.

Hi... I'm Kim Henwood.

I am a Washington native (and LWHS alum).  I was born in Seattle, and moved to Kirkland when I was four.  I still reside in the house where I grew up over the past 40+ years.

I've been happily married to Jay Henwood for over 28 years and we are the proud parents of two adult children; Jamie and Kellie Henwood.

My volunteer experience is comprised of various positions with PTA (Kirkland Jr. High, and Lake Washington High School), as well as Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association, and Kirkland Little League. I love the Kirkland community and am always looking for ways to protect the small-town feel of Kirkland... along with its sense of community, safety and well-being... for the future generations.

I am currently working as the Administrative Coordinator and Executive Assistant for Northwest Choirs (Vocalpoint! Seattle and Northwest Boychoir), a Seattle non-profit music organization made up of nine choirs all ranging from ages 6-18 years of age. In many ways I don't really consider this a job since I love being  around the beautiful voices of over 200 talented young choristers.

In previous years I've worked in the mortgage industry, accounting, and the publishing industry. I also assist Jay with bookkeeping and other various tasks for Jay's Kirkland Autocare.

Hi... I'm Nancy Gordon.

I was born and raised in a little town in upstate New York, on the Vermont boarder, called Granville, NY. Between my 2nd grade and half way through the 9th grade, I lived in a Berg called Hartford, NY. The rest of the time, I lived in Granville, NY. There was no college for me as my father didn't believe in women going on to further their education as "they wouldn't be using it anyway." His words, not mine. I met my husband through his step-mother in 1971. We were married on October 14, 1972, and our oldest of 2 boys was born on our first wedding anniversary, 1973. Our second son was born in April of 1976.

Since then I have attended many, many colleges and universities as a Continuing Education Student taking one course at a time, because that was all we could afford.
I have a little knowledge in quite a few things; however, I have also had hands on experience in helping to remodel homes with my husband, Robert (Bob).

When the boys got a little older, I decided that the High School Diploma that I received when I graduated from Granville High, wasn’t going to cut it anymore as most all employers wanted a college degree of some sort. So, even though I majored in Secretarial courses in high school, I took a Course through Harcourt Learning Direct, an on-line college located in Scranton, PA. I received my Diploma from them in 1995 for Professional Secretary. Of course, now secretaries are known as Administrative Assistants.

I have taken additional courses on other subjects since then in different subjects.

I have been associated with several different organizations throughout my life. I was the secretary for the VFW in Westerly, RI in 1987-88, planning parades, and fund raisers. When the boys were in school, I was the PTO president for their school in 1984-85. Later I served on our churches Pastoral Council in 1998-99. Then in 2009-2010, I served on the Finance Committee for the same church. I have been associated with church choirs for over 20 years now singing as an Alto to start with, now singing as a Soprano.

I have also ventured into several different businesses on my own, I have had a photography business, had a bookkeeping business, sold a line of clothing called Weekenders, sold Tupperware, Avon, my own line of jewelry, and have had a typing business.

I have also worked in many venues as a secretary over the past years, Insurance, manufacturing, construction to name a few.

As stated before, I was married in 1972 to my wonderful husband, Bob, who has been very supportive in every venture I have undertaken.

We have two upstanding boys who are an asset to the communities that they live in. One, our oldest, works from home for Seagate, and our youngest is a Tech Sergeant in the Air Force, waiting to put on his stripe for Master Sergeant.
We have five (5) grandchildren that are absolutely the best. We have two step-granddaughters, 21 and 20, both going to college, majoring in the medical field, and three grandsons still in elementary school. Christian, the oldest is 10, and in the 5th grade, Marcus, is next and just turned 8. He is in the 2nd grade. That leaves little Mikee, he is four and goes to Pre-Kindergarten. All five of our grandchildren are extremely smart. Can you tell that I am proud of them?

I have literally lived from one side of this great country to the other side. I grew up in upstate New York, moved to Connecticut, then Rhode Island, then southern California and now here in Washington. I have made many, many friends along the way. Some went to the way side, but a few good friends have stayed.

Hi... I'm Ross Dessert.

I retired in November, 2007 after a 30 year career with The Boeing Company.  I  joined Boeing in 1978 after having previously served as a U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer. I currently co-own a management consulting firm that works with public school districts across the state of Washington.

I am a 1971 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a BS degree in Naval Science, and earned a Masters Degree in Management in 1989 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
 
My wife Terry and I have resided in Kirkland, Washington since 1978 (with the exception of 8 years in Huntsville Alabama).  We have four children, four grandchildren and a golden retriever.

Hi... I'm Susanne Canin.

I grew up in Chicago and attended the University of Illinois. I am the youngest of four children and am often reminded of that. I met my husband, Jeff Canin, in San Francisco and lived there for about 10 years. While I was in San Francisco, I worked for Merck as a pharmaceutical representative and completed an MBA at Golden Gate University. Jeff and I then moved to Kirkland in 1995 and started a family. We have two children ages 10 and 14 who currently go to school at Peter Kirk and Lake Washington High School.

My volunteer experience is comprised of various positions with PTA-Peter Kirk and Kirkland Junior High as well as Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association. I enjoy working with children to help them achieve academic success and fun.

I worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative in San Francisco and Seattle for 20 years. Three years ago, I made a career change. I am currently working as a financial advisor for Edward Jones in Kirkland where my focus is on helping retirees plan for adequate retirement income, and insurance.