Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/146896
The incoming Chairwoman with children Thomas and Kady—and dog Mason — and during Power Lunch at the Club, right. "I started engaging the resources I had at the WAC differently and everything came together." and has been with the company for 27 years, working in San Francisco and New York before moving to Seattle. Both her kids were born in New Jersey. Marilyn herself is the fourth of five children—all girls except one. As we chat in her corner office, unobstructed views of the Seattle waterfront and Space Needle battle for attention. A small plaque rests against a north-facing window—"Washington Athletic Club Dodgeball Champions." Marilyn sponsored one of the first corporate teams, which took the title. Elsewhere in the room we find pictures of Thomas and Kady; a shot of Marilyn and her three sisters with their mom; a pencil sketch of Marilyn in her 30s; and on her desk two smartphones, a Blackberry for work and an iPhone for fielding texts from the kids. Marilyn picks up the iPhone. There's a string of messages. Truly fit Marilyn becomes the 71st person to chair the Board of Governors during the WAC's 83 years. "Marilyn is a wonderful representative and voice of the membership," President & CEO Chuck Nelson says. "She's a frequent user of the Club, and she understands the business side of what we do. She'll be a great leader of the membership." Outgoing Chairman Jeff Atkin agrees. "She is an active and enthusiastic supporter of the Club and will surely use these traits to provide outstanding leadership as our Chair," he says. A few days after visiting Marilyn's office, we catch up with her at Power Lunch on the 8th Floor. Trainer Will Hicks puts two minutes on a wall-mounted timer and moves the group through a series of intense exercises. Green Day blasts on the speakers as the group rotates through its amped-up routine. Marilyn wears a pink lucy tank top from the Club Shop's summer collection, black pants, and Nikes with a pink swoosh. Don't let her color coordination fool you. She moves through the stations—jump rope, mat work, kettlebells, medicine ball, Bosu ball, lunges, TRX straps—with focused intensity. "She works hard every single time she's in class," Will says. "She's a woman who walks the talk." > AUGUST 2013 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | 33