Board of Directors

Stacia Irons-President

Wings for Autism® Program Manager | she/her/hers

(Director since 2012)

As a parent of a daughter with developmental disabilities, Stacia Irons has over 21 years of experience advocating for individuals with disabilities and their rights within the educational and healthcare systems, and the community.

Stacia continues to make inclusion in the community and life a priority in the work that she does. She is currently the Wings for Autism® program manager, working in partnership with The Arc of King County, Alaska Airlines, Port of Seattle and TSA to open the world of travel to individuals with autism and their families. She is a member of the SEA Accessibility Advisory Committee at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, advising on the new airport Sensory Room project, the Covid Social Story and several other disability-related issues at the airport.

Her community activism includes participation in the WA State DOH Vaccine Collaborative, representing the disability and aging community as we move through the pandemic. She is a founding member of the Seattle Sensory Garden project at Woodland Park Zoo; an inclusive garden space where people of all ages and abilities can experience nature through their senses in imaginative and therapeutic ways. As Co-President of the Special Education Advisory Committee in the Kent School District for over ten years and a HOPE mentor for the Epilepsy Foundation Northwest, she shared resources and knowledge gained from experience, navigating the educational and healthcare systems in the region.

Originally from Wisconsin, Stacia received a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an AAS in Apparel Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. While in the industry, Stacia designed skiwear, sportswear, sweaters and accessories, and started an aerobic-wear company. In her free time, her passions include knitwear design, photography, cooking, and gardening.

Helen Nash-Secretary

Highline Achieve Program | she/her/hers

(Director since 2019)

Helen has worked with The Arc as a self-advocate for many years, and she is particularly passionate about creating more inclusive opportunities in higher education, employment, and the community. She graduated from Nathan Hale High School in Seattle and subsequently earned a certificate from the Achieve Program at Highline College, where she also received the Legacy Leader Award. Helen has worked as a Communications Specialist at Highline College and has also been an active public speaker and advocate, both within and outside of Washington state. She participates in the Emerging Advocates Conference of the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD).

Adanna Abakporo

Equity and Family Engagement Facilitator for the Lake Washington School District in Washington State and a Freelance Equity Consultant | she/her/hers

(Director since 2021)

Adanna has been on the Board of Directors for The Arc of King County since April 2021. Adanna has been connected with The Arc since she was a practicum intern while in her graduate program from 2018-2019. 

Adanna was born and raised in Seattle, WA and is first-generation Nigerian-American/Black. Adanna has a deep passion for equity, inclusion and social justice (specifically racial and disability justice) and that is due to her personal and professional experiences. Adanna has two siblings with disabilities - a younger brother who is Autistic and a younger sister with a Developmental Delay. Adanna has had professional experiences for the past 11 years with being a caregiver for her siblings and other individuals with disabilities, working as a program coordinator - implementing programs for young adults with disabilities from immigrant/refugee backgrounds, working as a job coach supporting transition-aged youth with disabilities and most recently was a case manager for DDA (Developmental Disabilities Administration). With Adanna's experiences, her passion had and continues to increase to supporting her family, her community and other underserved communities. 

Adanna graduated from the University of Washington in 2015 with two degrees in Disability Studies and Social Welfare. Adanna also graduated with her Master's in Social Work (MSW) in 2019. Adanna is currently an Equity and Family Engagement Facilitator for the Lake Washington School District in Washington State and a Freelance Equity Consultant.

Dan Berger

Starbucks (Retired) | he/him/his

Becky Bisbee

Seattle Times (Retired) | she/her/hers

(Director since 2016)

Becky Bisbee joined the board in 2016 after retiring from The Seattle Times, where she was the Business Editor for 16 years. She worked in a variety of reporting and editing positions at newspapers in Maryland, California and Texas before moving to Washington in 2000. 

Becky graduated with a bachelor of science degree in journalism from the University of Maryland. She served as The Arc board secretary from 2019-2021, and has been active on the Advocacy Committee. She also is a member of AtWork!'s board of directors. 

She lives in Bellevue with her husband and daughter, who has significant intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her son lives and works in the Bay Area of California. She enjoys bicycling, hiking, gardening and baking. 

Jack Duroc-Danner

Board Member | they/them/theirs

(Director since 2021)

Michael Graham

Board Member | he/him/his

(Director since 2021)

Michael and his family have been engaged with The Arc for several years. While he is not currently working, Michael is exploring new job opportunities utilizing Supported Employment services. Because of The Arc, Michael is also very engaged with Best Buddies Washington including participation in their University of Washington program, their Ambassador program, and now serving as a Board Member and Washington State School Friendship Outreach Chair which allows him to promote Best Buddies Chapters in Elementary, Middle, High School and College as well as their Citizens Program.

Michael is excited to support The Arc through Board Membership to ensure people with disabilities continue to be strongly represented and served throughout King County.

Sean Hyde

Brothers Henderson Durkin, P. S. | he/him/his

Adam Kahn

Board Member | he/him/his

(Director since 2019)

Adam Kahn has been a member of The Arc of King County Board of Directors since October 2019. Adam had a close friend pass away after spending many years struggling with a disability. He saw firsthand how important organizations are that serve those in the community with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Adam is from Terre Haute, Indiana and attended Indiana University. After graduation, he moved to Seattle to go out of his comfort zone. He worked in technology specializing in Cloud & Infrastructure. He is looking forward to contributing to the technology strategy at The Arc of King County.

Adam is currently exploring career opportunities in a variety of fields. In his free time, he likes to snowboard, play tennis, climb at the local bouldering gyms, read varying genres of books, and work on his and friends' cars. He is an avid Chicago Bulls fan and tries to watch every game; at least the highlights on games he cannot view. 

Andrew Martinez Alegria

Board Member | he/him/his

(Director since 2018)

Andrew is originally from south Florida and grew up with two brothers with a developmental disability. After high school he joined the Marine Corps, living around the country and serving in many different parts of the world. After the military, he graduated from the University of Florida with his MBA. Andrew has always been passionate about the Intellectual and Developmental Disability Community and is excited to be able to help with The Arc, and, more importantly, the people The Arc of King County serves. In his free time, Andrew enjoys travel, a wide variety of sports, and almost any water based activity.

Tamiko Nakatani Nietering

Seattle Children's Mindfulness and Compassion Program | she/her/hers

(Director since 2021)

Tamiko was born in Osaka and graduated from Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan After some years of teaching English in Japan, she and her husband relocated to Seattle in 2009. Here, she worked for years as a paraprofessional at a preschool for children with I/DD disabilities. This is where she found her passion in working as an advocate for underserved communities, specifically families of color who often don't have access to information and services because of their language and social barriers. 

She's mother to two daughters who were born prematurely and that experience motivated her even more to work with families and organizations that support equity, inclusion, racial, and social justice. She's worked as a program coordinator for multiple grant based projects and organizations serving BIPOC families in King County. She currently works for the Seattle Children's Mindfulness and Compassion program with parent leaders who deliver culturally relevant programs to families who have children with I/DD disabilities. 

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, calling her mother in Japan, cooking, gardening, meditating, and exploring new parks in this beautiful state of Washington. 

Joey Wilson

Board Member | he/him/his

(Director since 2020)

Prior to Covid-19 Joseph Wilson worked for the University of Washington Athletic Department as an intern for grounds maintenance and facilities custodian. During Covid-19 he has been working at Safeway as a courtesy clerk. As hard as he works, he also volunteers. Most recently, he volunteered at Covid-19 Helping Others going grocery shopping, watering gardens and lawn care for the elderly. He graduated from Bellevue College with an Associates degree in General Business Studies. He has been invited to speak for King County Behavioral Health Forum Legislators, Councilmembers and Public, Bellevue College Scholarship Donor Dinner, and a Bill in the State House and Senate. He was also awarded SAIL Advocate of the Year, Community Change Champion.