• Name: Elizabeth McLaughlin
• Company: Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties
• Title: Chief Development Officer
• LTC Board Role: Chair 
• Class #: XXI

What's your current focus at work?

My role helps set the overall strategy and implementation of resource development for our bi-county Boys & Girls Clubs. Our development team's primary focus is making connections with our community to help provide the much-needed resources to ensure that every young person in our region has the opportunity to succeed.

What's one lesson from the LTC program you still use today? 

Trust the process. 

In development work, it can sometimes feel like a long process to success.  But showing up authentically and consistently produces awesome results, but you gotta have patience.

Liz (Class 27 director) passes the torch onto Candice Jones (Class 28 Director) 

Why did you join Leadership Tri-Cities? 

I wanted to learn more about my community, the in-depth views LTC gives to the Tri-Cities are second to none.  Plus seeing all the amazing people who had been through it before me was a great endorsement.

What advice would give to new LTC class members? 

Take advantage of all the opportunities provided, especially the pre-learnings. Some of my favorite experiences came from pre-learnings.  I clipped grapes with Dick Boushey during harvest - it was a once in a lifetime experience.

Which historical leader would you love to have dinner with?

Queen Elizabeth I.

There were many strikes against her - she was not only a woman, but she was also the daughter of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's most-hated wife - but she ascended the throne and become of one of the most intelligent and strategic leaders in European history and one of the most famous women in history.

If you could add one thing to the LTC program, what would it be? 

I would add some level of connection to other "Leadership" organizations in the State. What a powerful networking tool that would be to have connection and access to exceptional leaders throughout Washington.