Dr. Dale Nienow

Dr. Dale Nienow is the Executive Director of the Center for Ethical Leadership.  A consultant, leader, and educator, Dr. Nienow is skilled in assessing organizational needs and designing plans for organizational development.

His work extends into the community with such groups as St. Vincent de Paul, Peace in the Streets by Kids From the Streets, Crossroads Community Center, and Youthlink.  He is past President of St. Andrew’s Housing Group, which builds low-income housing, and was President of the Board of Trustees of the Bush School in Seattle.

Dr. Nienow has a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Southern California, Master’s degree in Administration from Pacific Lutheran University, and Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Olaf College.

Karma Ruder
Director of Community Collaboration

Karma Ruder is a specialist in cultivating community ownership and creating, launching, and supporting community change initiatives.  With experience in both the public and nonprofit sectors, Ms. Ruder is a community change agent and public servant known for integrity and creative problem-solving.  Former Seattle Mayor Paul Schell named Ms. Ruder a Distinguished Citizen in 1999.

Ms. Ruder led Seattle’s Neighborhood Planning Office, which coordinated and inspired 37 separate neighborhoods to develop local plans working in concert with the city’s comprehensive plan.  This process empowered coalitions representing the diverse interests of each neighborhood to recommend the specific actions and policy changes necessary to ensure that the neighborhood would grow with grace.  Plans have leveraged over $500 million in City investments.  She is a student of systems change and is adept at assisting groups to build authentic community processes.  Ms. Ruder co-directs the Confluence and supports follow-up action.

Ms. Ruder has undergraduate degrees in Philosophy and Human Relations and a Master’s degree in Public Administration, all from the University of Kansas.

Steve has worked at the Center for Ethical Leadership since 1999. He was drawn to the Center for Ethical Leadership because of its commitment to supporting people who want to “do the right thing,” and think about a greater good than just themselves.  While he is primarily responsible for managing the administrative and operational functions of the organization, he is also involved with the planning, design, and facilitation of several of the Center’s programs.

Steve is originally from Colorado.  He moved to Seattle in 1993 and earned a BA in Economics from Seattle University in 1997.  He earned his MA in Environment and Community from Antioch University Seattle in 2004.

Watch Steve's video describing his core values.

Melissa Hamasaki first experienced CEL about 12 years ago, as a high school participant in the YLOP summer intensive.  She now supports the logistical operations of the Center.

While Melissa remains committed to the mission of CEL, her first passion is theatre.  She has worked in professional theatre since graduating with her BA in Theatre from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in VA.  Melissa trained in the apprentice program at the Santa Fe Opera (NM) and as an Allen Lee Hughes Stage Management Fellow at Arena Stage in Washington, DC.  Locally, she has worked with the Seattle Opera, ACT, Intiman, Seattle Children's Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, ArtsWest and Theater Schmeater.  Favorite productions include: Wozzeck (Santa Fe Opera); Les Contes d'Hoffman (Seattle Opera); Metamorphoses (Pioneer Theatre Company); Of Mice and Men (Arena Stage); Shiner in the Round (ACT); and her senior directing project, The Bald Soprano.