Advocacy & Marketing

Susan Pollack
Director of Marketing & Advocacy
Susan joined the Foundation in January 2006 as Director of Advocacy. As Director, Susan will provide leadership in a Campaign for College Readiness in six school districts (Bellingham, Clover Park, Highline, Kennewick, Mabton and West Valley) which will result in increasing the high school graduation and college entry rates of students from those communities. Prior to working at the Foundation, Susan was the Director of Principal Gifts at Barnard College, Columbia University. She has held a number of positions in the not-for-profit and political worlds and has 20 years of development experience. Susan counts among her prior campaign experience positions with former Governor Ann Richards, Senator Ted Kennedy, former Senator Bob Kerrey and former Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro. Susan received her undergraduate degree from Smith College. Email Susan with thoughts or ideas at  spollack@collegesuccessfoundation.org.

Denise Whitbeck
Executive Assistant to Barry Goren & Susan Pollack
Denise joined the foundation in August 2006. Raised and educated in New Hampshire, she moved to Washington State in the early 1980's. During the past 10 years Denise has worked in support services at the executive level, within the high tech industry. Her experience includes four years at CyberSafe Corporation, supporting the CEO, and most recently a six year tenure supporting the Senior Vice President and General Manager at Atari's Humongous Entertainment Studio. Enjoying hiking and the great outdoors with her husband. Email Denise with thoughts or ideas at dwhitbeck@collegesuccessfoundation.org.

Lee Lambert
Community Engagement Officer
Lee joined the Foundation in November 2006, as a Community Engagement Officer for the Are You Ready Campaign. He works in the communities served by the Highline and Clover Park School districts, to develop a sustainable culture of college and career readiness for all students. He is a native of Tacoma, Washington, a graduate of Henry Foss High School and has a degree in Political Science from Washington State University. He comes to the Foundation after working for the past 5 years in the Seattle office of Senator Maria Cantwell, most recently as State Grants Coordinator and Special Project Manager. Earlier in his career, Lee has had the opportunity to work for Congressman Adam Smith and Congressman Norm Dicks as well as the Bates Technical College Foundation. Email Lee with thoughts or ideas at llambert@collegesuccessfoundation.org.

Austin DePaolo
Community Engagement Officer
Prior to joining the Foundation in September of 2007, Austin was the Executive Director of the Martin Luther King Center in Spokane where he worked to grow and strengthen early learning, after-school and parent training opportunities at the Center and in the community. Austin has been involved in community organizing as a volunteer leader with the Spokane Alliance since 2000. In 2002, he was the lead organizer for Communities Organized for Yakima County. Austin lived in New York City for 12 years and spent the last two as a teacher in public schools in Spanish Harlem. He received his baccalaureate degree from Hunter College. Austin and his wife Francesca are the proud parents of three sons Angelo, Edouard and Carl. They attend St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Spokane where Austin serves as a member of the church's Finance Committee. Austin will be working as a community engagement officer for the Are You Ready? campaign and will be serving the Kennewick, Mabton, and West Valley school districts. Email Austin at adepaolo@collegesuccessfoundation.org

Lavelle Freudenberg
Marketing Officer
Lavelle joined the Foundation in May 2006 as Marketing Officer. Before coming to the Foundation, she devoted over 20 years working in K-12 public schools. She was the Director of School Information and Communications for the Bellingham School District for 16 years. Lavelle has her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations from the University of Southern California and a Certificate in Non Profit Management from the University of Washington. She is an active member of the Washington School Public Relations Association (WSPRA). For Marketing related information, email Lavelle at  lfreudenberg@collegesuccessfoundation.org.