Celebrating a Few Favorite PNW Women Leaders
The team at ON PR is proud to represent a range of women doing some amazing things in business, life, and more. To commemorate Women's History Month in March, we wanted to share what's new from strong women we have the pleasure to call clients and friends. Below, find stories of a CEO rolling out the nation's largest veterinary worker cooperative, an executive chef and oyster farmer preparing for the season, a growing specialty foods company with an all-female c-suite with big plans for the future, and more.
DVM and Founder of Urban Animal, Dr. Cherri Trusheim, Top Athlete and Coach, Jennifer Comfort; CEO of Gourmondo, Angela Dunleavy; Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Gourmondo, Alissa Leinonen; Executive Chef of Alderbrook Resort & Spa, Sara Harvey;
GOURMONDO
Angela Dunleavey, CEO and Alissa Leinonen, Founder and Chief Creative Officer
Angela and Alissa are the dream team at Gourmondo, running the largest, female-founded and owned specialty foods company in Seattle. With the recent addition of CEO Angela Dunleavy, a new facility, a brand-new cafe marking an expansion to Seattle's eastside, and a community ready to gather again, Seattle’s premier specialty foods company is preparing to take things to the next level. See this profile in PSBJ as one of the region's fastest growing companies.
URBAN ANIMAL
Dr. Cherri Trusheim, DVM and Founder
Empowering employees through the first-of-its-kind worker cooperative, Dr. Cherri Trusheim founded Urban Animal in 2012, carefully expanding the business from a small, single veterinary practice to three locations with more than 100 employees. A true disruptor in her industry, Cherri is leading the development and implementation of the nation’s largest veterinary worker cooperative, and the first of its kind on the West Coast. Learn more heremalnw.com/.
ALDERBROOK RESORT & SPA
Sara Harvey, Executive Chef and Oyster Farmer
The story of an oyster farmer, executive chef and overall superwoman. Sara Harvey is an incredible female culinary leader. She’s creative and passionate and works endlessly to create an incredible rotating seasonal menu at the resort. When she’s not in the resort kitchen coaching staff on preservation methods and fish butchery, or cooking over a fire in the woods, she’s on the tidelands with her partner helming a boutique shellfish company on the western shore of the Hood Canal.
SOBERISH MOM
Katie Nessel, Content Creator changing the narrative around alcohol.
Meet Katie Nessel, the founder of @Soberishmom on Instagram. According to this 2024 survey, 41% of Americans are trying to consume less alcohol. With more and more of us joining the sober curious movement, Katie is sharing her journey towards mindful drinking and wellness. Her content has garnered significant attention on social media, while successfully supporting and influencing people around the nation, including here in Seattle, to consider a mindful approach to alcohol. What started as a personal venture has evolved into something much larger. Katie’s Instagram account, @Soberishmom, has become a place for her to share her experiences, insights, non-alcoholic cocktail recipes and more. Katie personally responds to hundreds of people every week that reach out to her for support around changing their habits with alcohol and inspires real change in people’s lives with her message of moderation. Through her honest and relatable posts, she has created an online community where she invites others to explore mindful drinking and embrace a healthier relationship with alcohol.
VISIT TRI-CITIES, IRONMAN 70.3
Jennifer Comfort, Top Athlete and Coach
The Tri-Cities is thrilled to be hosting IRONMAN 70.3 on September 22. One stand-out female athlete participating this year is Jennifer Comfort. In 2005, Jennifer participated in her first sprint triathlon then gradually progressed from sprint distance to Olympic distance, half-ironman, and eventually, the full-distance triathlons. Today, she is proudly a multiple 70.3 World Championship and Ironman finisher, Half Iron-distance Champion, Boston Marathon qualifier and more, setting an amazing example for women all over the world. She’ taken her desire for racing to coach others, truly giving this sport her all. The course this year will provide stunning views of the Columbia River, rolling wine country roads, park trails and more, perfect for athletes and spectators alike. Sign up to participate or cheer athletes like Jennifer on from the sidelines. Book lodging ahead of time to stay and play at The Lodge at Columbia Point or the Courtyard by Marriott. Interviews with Jennifer are available upon request.