November 30, 2017
For Immediate Release
WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Boise, ID – The Women’s and Children’s Alliance (WCA) is pleased to announce the election of two new members to its board of directors, as well as recognizing its newly elected officers.
Joining the board are Jessica Flynn and Wendy Olson. “We are delighted to welcome our newest board members and look forward to the addition of their talent, expertise and energy as we work to foster a community where individuals thrive in safe, healthy relationships,” said Bea Black, Executive Director.
Jessica Flynn
Jessica Flynn has spent the past decade as the CEO of Red Sky, a Boise-based strategic communication firm with a national footprint. She has a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and specializes in crisis communication, public relations, stakeholder engagement and storytelling. Among her many accolades, Flynn has been recognized as Women of the Year and CEO of Influence by the Idaho Business Review. In 2016, the WCA named Flynn as a Tribute to Women and Industry (TWIN) Honoree.
Her company, Red Sky has been a corporate supporter of the WCA for several years. She is passionate about sharing her professional expertise and time with the WCA as she has personally seen the damage that domestic abuse and unhealthy dating relationships wreak.
Flynn is a Boise Arts and History Department Commissioner, an Honorary Commander for the 124th Civil Engineer Squadron for the Idaho Air National Guard, a board member for City Club of Boise and an advisory member for the Boise Valley Economic Partnership Board.
Wendy Olson
Wendy Olson is a practicing attorney, and a partner at Stoel Rives, LLP in Boise, Idaho. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Drake University and obtained her Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School in 1990. Olson served as the United States Attorney for the District of Idaho from 2010 to 2017, an office she was appointed to by President Barack Obama. As a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office from 1997 until her appointment as U.S. Attorney, she worked extensively on domestic and sexual assault issues, including prosecuting child sexual assault and exploitation cases and serving as liaison to the Idaho Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
Olson is a member of the Federal Bar Association, Idaho Women Lawyers, and volunteers for many youth sports groups. She has supported the WCA through donation drives for women’s business clothing and baby items and brings her passion for civil rights as well as her extensive legal knowledge to the board.
The board of directors meets monthly and the two new board members will each serve three-year terms. Officers elected for the 2017-2018 term include: Deborah Wachtell – President; Jan Bennetts – President Elect; Stephanie Westermeier– Vice President; Ned Pontious– Secretary; Jodi Whittaker – Treasurer and Bill Bodnar – Past President.
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About the WCA
The Women’s & Children’s Alliance provides safety, healing and freedom from domestic abuse and sexual assault. The WCA operates secure shelters and provides professional counseling, legal advocacy, crisis services and case management to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. For more information, visit www.wcaboise.org
