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.

Dr. Patricia Galloway – Is chair of the board of directors of Pegasus Global Holdings. She currently oversees the firm’s strategy. For over 40 years, she has provided strategic advice to boards and senior management concerning governance, management structures, and performance and risk management. Dr. Galloway serves on several public and non-profit boards, including Life Support. She is a chartered international arbitrator and a member of several arbitral institution panels, including the ICC, LCIA, CPR, ICDR, and the American Arbitration Association. She also serves as a member of the AAA’s Board of Directors. Dr. Galloway was appointed by President George W. Bush to the United States National Science Board in 2006 for a six-year term. In that position, she served as vice chair from 2008 to 2010. In 2004, she was honored to be elected by her peers to serve as the first woman president of the American Society of Civil Engineers. She has served as an advisor to multiple independent review panels and has extensive international experience, having worked on some of the world’s largest projects. Dr. Galloway serves on the board of directors of Granite Construction, Inc., one of the nation’s largest infrastructure contractors, and recently served on the SCANA board, a publicly traded utility, where she served as Chair of the Special Litigation Committee of the board until the SCANA merger with Dominion Energy.

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