Advisory Board

David Alhadeff is a senior advisor in the Seattle office bringing experience across multiple disciplines. Before joining Goldman Sachs in 2004, David was the founder and managing partner of Velocity Capital, an early-stage venture capital fund focused on emerging companies throughout the Pacific Northwest. Prior to forming Velocity Capital, David was Vice President of Briazz, Inc., a national gourmet food company. David earned a BA from the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies and received a MA from the University of London. As a fourth-generation Seattle resident, David maintains life-long ties to the Pacific Northwest. David serves the community as Board President for the Holocaust Center for Humanity, the Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee and Trustee for St. Thomas School, a member of the Board of Advisors for the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies and a member of the Advisory Council and Investment Committee for the Seattle Repertory Theatre.

Craig Gannett chairs the Jackson School Advisory Board. After graduating from the UW law school and serving as law clerk to U.S. District Judge Barbara J. Rothstein, he joined Senator Jackson’s staff in 1981 as Counsel to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. In 1985, Craig joined Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, where he practices in the fields of energy and climate change, and co-chairs the firm’s Energy Practice Group. He is also a Vice President of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, and teaches Climate Change Law at the UW law school.

William (Bill) Glassford’s professional career began in Washington, D.C. where he was engaged in trade policy and promotion activities for the federal government. Joining Rainier Bank in 1979, Bill spent approximately 10 years in Asia, serving as the country manager for bank branches in Manila, Taipei, and Hong Kong. With a return to Seattle, he ran the international focused offices for the bank which were located in Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, and New York. After initiating an international banking department for West One Bank, Bill went on to run the Asian International Private Bank for Bank of America, managing offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver, and Hong Kong. Today Bill runs international banking in the PNW for Commerce Bank, a division of ZB, N.A.

Henry (Skip) Kotkins, Jr. is currently with Carney, Sandoe & Associates, and chairman and CEO of Skyway Luggage Company, a 95-year-old manufacturer and wholesale distributor of travel goods founded by his grandfather in 1910. After graduating from Lakeside School in Seattle, Skip earned a BA in American Civilization from Williams College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Skip is married to Jacqueline (Levin) Kotkins, a UW Drama alumna (BFA ’74), and they have two children. Skip and Jackie are passionate volunteers serving on many boards and committees in their community. He is currently a member of both the UW Business School Advisory Board and the Jackson School Advisory Board, a trustee of the National Association of Independent Schools in Washington and Lakeside School, and treasurer of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Skip is a member of an Industry Trade Advisory Committee that advises the U.S. Department of Commerce and United States Trade Representative on trade policy. He is a past chair of the Washington Council on International Trade, 2011-2012 chair of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and is a director of ABM Industries, the largest facilities services company listed on the NYSE.

Donald Lorentz spent a year in Japan before joining the Air Force, and subsequently ran the Asian trade program for the state of Washington. Early in his career he worked as a high school teacher on Mercer Island. He then became director of the Economic & Trade Development at the Port of Seattle, but is now retired.

William T. Robinson is a pilot, as well as an attorney with business in Russia. He owns his own law practice which serves clients in the USA, Asia, Russia, and other countries of the former Soviet Union. The firm specializes in international business law, trade and investment in Russia, privatization, and international dispute resolution. His wife, Katia Robinson, serves as his administrator. His son Eric is a 2005 UW International Studies alumnus with a focus on Russia.

Travis Sullivan is Vice President, Enterprise Strategy, at The Boeing Company. Prior to joining Boeing, he worked in various capacities in the U.S. government including service as the Director of Policy and Strategic Planning at the U.S. Department of Commerce, a senior policy advisor to Senator Maria Cantwell, and other roles in the Executive Branch. Travis earned a BA degree in International Studies from the Jackson School and in Political Science; a Master’s degree in International Affairs from the Elliott School of International Studies at George Washington University; and a Ph.D. in International Relations theory from The Johns Hopkins University. He is also a graduate of the Executive General Management Program at Harvard Business School.

David Tang is the Managing Partner, Asia for K&L Gates, a global law firm with approximately 2,000 lawyers on five continents. His law practice concentrates in the areas of foreign investment, cross-border financings, mergers and acquisitions, and real property related transactions. He is on the Council of The American Law Institute, the Boards of the Blakemore Foundation and the National Bureau of Asia Research, is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations and a former Chair of the American Bar Foundation and former Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Mr. Tang holds an AB (magna) from Harvard University; a JD from Columbia University; and a certificate from The Hague Academy of International Law.

Steve Wright is a native Washingtonian who attended Bellarmine Preparatory in Tacoma prior to studying at the University of Washington where he earned his BA from the Jackson School of International Studies in 1986.  He enjoyed his Task Force work with Professor Herb Ellison and writing his senior paper with Professor Joel Migdal.  Steve studied in Paris, Brugge and Mora, Sweden before returning to the UW to complete his track in International Trade and Investment.  His 30-plus year career in the helicopter industry began at Fly Wright Helicopters where he last served as President.  Fly Wright was the largest turbine-helicopter operator in the Pacific Northwest specializing in aerial crane service, film & video, tours and fire-fighting. In 1997, Steve joined Rainier Heli International as Vice-President where he transformed its helicopter logging operation into an international leasing and firefighting company, working in nine countries. Steve also directs the Company’s firefighting aircraft that works throughout the United States in support of the US Forest Service. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Helicopter Association International Firefighting and National Resources Committee.  Steve is the founder and co-chair of the Jackson School of International Studies Alumni Association.