Board & Volunteers

The Life Support Board and auxiliary work diligently to raise essential funds to advance the Fire and Emergency Medical Services in Upper Kittitas County.

Cheri Marusa – Founder & President of Life Support

Cheri Marusa, a dedicated lifelong member of Upper Kittitas County, established Life Support in August 1999 and serves as President. Her unwavering dedication to Life Support is evident through her volunteer leadership, including the Annual Life Support Dinner Auction fundraiser.

In addition to her role at Life Support, Cheri is the Senior Director for Community Development Transactions at Forterra. She actively volunteers her time and talents in various other community organizations. She serves as the President of the Roslyn Downtown Association, a Board Member of USONW, and a Member of the Upper Kittitas County Rotary Club. She participates in the Citizen Patrol under the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office and serves on the Board of the Kittitas County Fire and Rescue Volunteer Association. Cheri, alongside her husband Rob, is deeply engaged in many initiatives, embodying the spirit of service and commitment to the betterment of others.

Board Of Trustees

Chairman Sid Morrison – Is a former state representative and senator whose leadership helped guide legislation that helped create the Washington wine industry. He subsequently served 12 years in Congress and then ran the Washington State Department of Transportation for eight years. He spends about half his time in Olympia and at his Yakima ranch. Among numerous board involvements, including Life Support and Energy Northwest Board of Directors, he is the past Board Chair of Central Washington University. He has been committed to public service for nearly five decades.

In Memory of Dr. Patricia Galloway, the Life Support board and volunteers will always hold Pat in our hearts. She was dedicated to the community and to improving fire and EMS.

Announcement: It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Pegasus-Global Holdings’ Co-Founder and Co-Chair Dr. Patricia Galloway, who passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, September 26, in the company of family and beloved friends.

Dr. Galloway leaves behind a monumental legacy as a renowned leader in civil engineering, gigaproject construction, and dispute resolution.

Her extensive experience as CEO for The Nielsen-Wurster Group and Pegasus-Global Holdings included large and complex projects throughout the world such as the Panama Canal Expansion, London’s Crossrail Project, Vogtle Nuclear Units 1, 2, 3 & 4, Kuala Lumpur International Airport and many, many more.

Dr. Galloway also served as an arbitrator since 1987 in many U.S. domestic and international arbitrations and dispute resolutions. She was recognized by her peers as a Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators, becoming the first non-lawyer to be elected to the College, a Fellow and a Chartered Arbitrator of the UK Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the Distinguished Academy of Neutrals.

Throughout her career, Dr. Galloway lent her skills and expertise to a broad portfolio of corporate, community, and government boards. Highlights include serving as the first woman President of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2004 and serving as a member of the U.S. National Science Board, having been appointed by U.S. President Bush for a six-year term with two of those years as its Vice Chair. She also served on boards for the SCANA Corporation, Bergmann and Associates, the American Arbitration Association, the Central Washington University Foundation Board of Trustees, the Pacific Science Center, and the Pan-American Academy of Engineering.

At the time of her passing, Dr. Galloway was serving on the boards of Pegasus-Global Holdings, Stantec, Granite Construction, and Life Support (a local not-for-profit).

Dr. Galloway was a prolific writer and world-renowned speaker having authored over 130 papers, approximately 30 peer reviewed journal articles and nearly 200 public speaking engagements including over 45 keynote addresses. She served as a guest lecturer at multiple universities across the globe from Australia to China to Europe and here in the United States.

Dr. Galloway’s achievements were highlighted by her TEDx talk on “Are Engineers Human?”, and on a variety of media outlets such as Sky News Australia TV, ADR Perspectives, PM Network, Time magazine, CNN Lou Dobbs; Discovery Channel; Engineering News Record; and Federal Technology Watch. She was also a blog writer for Engineering News Record discussing current trends, challenges, and hot topics in the construction industry.

Her unending curiosity and love of adventure led her to all seven continents. From horse-riding in Australia, to deep sea fishing in Alaska, safaris in Africa and expeditions on the Galapagos Island, she was always planning her next trip. If she wasn’t traveling the world, she was entertaining friends and family at Unionville Ranch or relaxing with Jim at her Montana cabin.

Our thoughts are with her husband, Jim, and all her family and friends. She is forever in our hearts.

Dr.Mark Reisman – served as a distinguished Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington, and today, Dr. Reisman is a cardiologist based in New York, New York, with affiliations at prestigious hospitals in the area, including New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital. With a medical degree from Tel Aviv University Sackler and over two decades of experience in the field, Dr. Reisman is a trusted expert in cardiovascular care. Specializing in cardiac conditions such as heart valve surgery, aneurysms, and chronic high blood pressure, Dr. Reisman’s areas of expertise are comprehensive and aimed at providing top-notch healthcare solutions to his patients. He is also known for his compassionate patient care, earning high praise and recommendations from those he has treated. Dr. Reisman’s commitment to excellence in cardiology shines through his dedication to his patient’s well-being and his continuous pursuit of medical advancements.

Robert (Bob) McLean was a United States Marine Corps member. He is now retired from the Board of Directors of The Management Trust. He is the past CEO of CDC Management Services and CDC Development, which he founded in 1970. CDC Management Services is a Seattle-area leader in association management, and its staff is well-acclaimed by local and national trade organizations. He has been a real estate developer for the past 35 years. His development expertise includes condominiums, apartments, single-family homes, retirement and assisted-living facilities, hospitals and medical centers, as well as office buildings and shopping centers. His organization has been built and developed throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and Hawaii. Bob and his wife, Penny, reside part-time in Upper Kittitas County at Lake Cle Elum.

Sena Lanphere – As a native of Upper Kittitas County, Sena has deep roots in the community. Following a successful 25-year career in banking with Seafirst and Bank of America, she ventured into entrepreneurship by establishing her own business. Beyond her professional endeavors, Sena is a passionate advocate for volunteerism within the local school district and the wider community. Her extensive involvement in various committees showcases her commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others. Known as the go-to person among family and friends, Sena exemplifies generosity and dedication in all aspects of her life.

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When dispersing funds, Life Support considers individual agencies’ demographics, the size of the coverage area, and their call volume for both EMS (primary) and fire responses. Fire District 7 has the most extensive coverage and call response area. Supporting contributions are dispersed to other agencies. In addition, the Life Support Scholarship for a graduating senior from Upper Kittitas County pursuing a medical or healthcare-related career is a restricted gift in Memory of former Life Support Chairman Dr. Kris Nielsen.

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• Life Support Business License
• Internal Revenue Service Ruling
• Nonprofit Corporate & Charities Renewal 2024
• Certificate of Incorporation

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Life Support logo design created and donated by:
GA Creative, Bellevue WA

Life Support recognizes the outstanding services that were provided by: 
501 Commons, Seattle WA