The tradition began last season to honor female leaders in the Seattle community and strengthen the partnership between SU athletics and successful, inspirational female members of the community. The focus of the event includes both honoring successful women in the Seattle community as well as encouraging and inspiring young females to become leaders. In 2014-15, the first class of honorees included former president and CEO of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm Karen Bryant, Seattle Chief of Police Kathleen O’Toole, Seattle U VP for Student Development Michele Murray, Director of Seattle’s Community Police Commission Fé Lopez, and Seattle University Trustee Emeritus Anne Farrell.
This year, the new class of honorees includes Seattle Storm co-owner Lisa Brummel, founder and owner of the Marvin Thomas Memorial Fund Marvena Kemp, Judge Anita Crawford-Willis, JPMorgan Chase & Co. chairman Phyllis Campbell, and the Tulalip Tribe’s Marilyn Sheldon.
Brummel is an established businesswoman in the Seattle area. At Microsoft, she was the senior VP for human resources and a member of the senior management team. In 2008, she co-founded Force 10 Hoops LLC to purchase the WNBA’s Seattle Storm and kept professional basketball alive in Seattle. Currently, she is one of three owners of the team and a board member of Laird Norton Wealth Management.
Kemp is the founder and owner of the Marvin Thomas Memorial Fund, named for her father, which helps youth in the local community through academic and athletic programs. The fund hosts events including Stop the Violence Basketball Tournament, the Shawn “Reign Man” Kemp Classic, and the upcoming Unity in the Community 3-on-3 Hoop Fest.
Crawford-Willis, the assistant judge for the Office of Administration Hearings in Seattle, has been an active member of the King County legal community for more than 25 years. A two-time Seattle University graduate, both undergraduate and J.D., she was named SU Law School’s Woman of the Year in 2014. As a law student, she was involved with the Black Law Student Association and the Women’s Law Caucus, also receiving the Loren Miller Bar Scholarship. To her credit, she served on the Law Alumni Board and the Seattle University Board of Regents.
Campbell serves as the Pacific Northwest chairman for JPMorgan Chase & Co., representing the company as a senior executive to clients in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. With a proven track record of board service, both in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, she is the lead independent director for Alaska Air Group, also serving on the Nordstrom board of directors and on the North American Diversity Advisory Board (DAB) of Toyota.
Sheldon has served as the Tulalip Tribe’s Charitable Contributions Director since 2007, managing the Tulalip Tribe Charitable Fund which provides the opportunity for a sustainable and healthy community for all. In 1993, the fund donated $273,000 to charitable causes and, under Sheldon’s direction, that number rose to $6.9 million in 2013, the fund’s 20th year of operation.
Following the game, all fans and supporters are invited to a postgame reception from approximately 5:50-6 pm, which will feature an opportunity to meet and mingle with the honorees as well as members of the Seattle U coaching staff. Root Sports’ Jen Mueller, founder of Talk Sporty to Me, will emcee a Q&A session as part of the postgame event.
Fans can purchase tickets to the game by calling the Redhawk Ticket Office at (206) 398-GOSU, on Ticketmaster by clicking HERE or at the Connolly Center starting 60 minutes prior to tipoff.
Stay tuned to GoSeattleU.com as well as on Facebook (Seattle U Athletics; Seattle University Women’s Basketball), Twitter (@su_athletics; @su_wbb), Instagram (su_redhawks; su_wbb), and Snapchat (su_athletics) for all the latest updates on this event and others throughout the 2015-16 season.