Howard Behar is a renowned business leader, author, speaker, and mentor who has influenced the lives of numerous men and women at all stages of their careers and at all levels and roles. Shaped by his experiences working in his parents Seattle market, schooled in operations and management in consumer-oriented retail business, and part of the leadership triumvirate that built the Starbucks brand, Behar is the ultimate “servant leader” who is known for such memorable lessons as “The Person Who Sweeps the Floor Should Choose the Broom” and “Only the Truth Sounds Like the Truth.”

For 21 years Behar led Starbuck’s domestic business as President of North America, and he became the founding President of Starbucks International opening the very first store outside of North America in Japan. During his tenure, he participated in the growth of the company from only 28 stores to over 15,000 stores spanning five continents.  He served on the Starbucks Board of Directors for twelve years before retiring.

Howard now serves on the boards of several for-profit and non-profit organizations, including Education Element, iD Tech, The School of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University.  He is on the advisory boards of Anthos Capital, University of Washington Foundation, and a Trustee for The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation.  

Howard is committed to the development and education of our future leaders and has been a longtime advocate of the Servant Leadership Model. After the successful publication of his first book, It’s Not About the Coffee: Lessons on Leadership from a Life at Starbucks (Portfolio, 2008), Howard now travels the world speaking to leaders, corporations, and students. His motivational message inspires everyone to be servant leaders and to lead with their values first.

Behar lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife Lynn, and enjoys spending time with his children and five grandchildren. Boating is his favorite hobby, exploring the waterways from Seattle to Alaska.

Throughout a lifetime of filling his cup, Howard has sustained a work ethic and level of integrity which has had a profound impact on his own life the hundreds and even thousands of people who have been touched by his example.
 

Dr. Edwards Lange has a wide range of experience in higher education administration and has been a leading advocate for diversity and inclusion throughout her career. She started her tenure at Seattle Central in August of 2015 as interim president, and was named to the permanent position in May of 2016. Prior to this, she served as vice president for Minority Affairs and vice provost for Diversity at the University of Washington (UW). In these roles, she was responsible for increasing diversity and working with senior leadership to improve the campus climate and retention of diverse students, faculty and staff. As a result of her work, the entire UW community is now engaged in making the campus more inclusive and welcoming for people of all backgrounds.

Before joining UW, Dr. Edwards Lange worked for the Seattle Colleges District and at North Seattle College in education and planning. Additionally, she has held positions in academic and student services at the University of California, Irvine; Western Washington University; and UW.

Dr. Edwards Lange has served on a number of national, state and local committees and boards to advance equity and inclusion in education. She is a charter member of the National Association of Chief Diversity Officers; and a past President of the Women in Engineering and Program Advocates Network (WEPAN). She serves as a co-chair of the Seattle Mayor's Education Advisory Group, as chair of the Seattle Art Museum's Education and Community Engagement Committee, and member of the Puget Sound College and Career Network.

The recipient of UW's 2005 Diversity Award for Community Building, Dr. Edwards Lange has devoted much of her time and effort to community activism and serving as an advocate for equity and inclusion. In 2011, she was named a Woman of Influence by the Puget Sound Business Journal and received a Crystal Eagle Leadership Award at Tabor 100's annual Captains of Industry Gala. In 2013, Dr. Lange was honored for her extraordinary long–term service to WEPAN with the organization's Founder's Award. She also received the 2013 UW College of Education Distinguished Graduate Award.

Dr. Edwards Lange earned a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies and a Master of Public Administration from UW, and a bachelor's degree in social ecology from the University of California, Irvine.