Darlene joined The W. Edwards Deming Institute in early 2013, starting as the Director of Communications and Development, and is now the Director of Operations and Philanthropy. Following a 10-year advertising career as a Broadcast Media Buyer with McCann Erickson and Stanton Bondo & Company in Seattle, Darlene refocused her professional life on the nonprofit sector. Darlene spent more than 25 years serving the nonprofit community in various capacities. These include resource development, program planning and implementation, project management, and organizational communications.

Darlene was most recently the Executive Director for the Seattle Central Community College Foundation. At the College, Darlene worked with the Foundation Board of Directors and college leadership to advance community support and give more students access to a college education through scholarships.

Prior to joining Seattle Central, Darlene spent 15 years at Nikkei Concerns, an organization serving the health and wellness needs of elders in Seattle’s Asian American community. As Director of Development and Communications, Darlene was responsible for oversight of their annual fundraising campaign, the capital campaign to build Nikkei Manor assisted living and a $10 million endowment campaign. During that time, Darlene also served a term on the Board of Directors of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Washington Chapter.

Darlene was born and raised in the greater Seattle area and graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Communications. A lifelong Washingtonian, Darlene lives in Seattle with her partner Mark and their black Labrador, Ellie.