Name: Sornsawan “Sonee" Kulaga Wilson

Company: Goodwill Industries of the Columbia

Title: Mission Services Opportunities Specialist

My Superpower is: being able to see the potential in others, and empowering them to achieve their best. 

Six Questions with Sonee

Question 1: What excites you most about Leadership Tri-Cities?

What excites me most about Leadership Tri-Cities Class 28 is the diversity within the group—coming from different backgrounds, perspectives, and industries—yet all sharing the common goal of growing as leaders to help advance our fabulous community. It’s challenging, vulnerable, and very rewarding thus far.

Question 2: If you could meet one person, who would it be? 

I’d love to meet my grandma; she passed before I was born. She raised 5 kids, widowed, in Northeast Thailand (Isan). The rich history of Isan culture, her strength and resilience, and how kind and compassionate she was for all was something I’ve admired growing up listening to stories of her.

Question 3: What word or sentence would people close to you use to describe you?

I’ve been described as a connector, and always with a ‘Sonee’ disposition.

Question 4: What is one project you would be excited to work on in the Tri-Cities?

I’m passionate about lasting change in our community and region. I’ve thought about apps that give you real-time access to food storage pantries and their inventory, and how to get connected real-time with needed volunteers. With that though, having a regional Innovation Hub - a space where startups, nonprofits, community members, tech companies, educational institutions, and community members can come together and collab on solutions to our region’s challenges would be amazing to work on. The main goal? Bridging the digital divide. I envision the hub booming with mentorship, the latest tech, entrepreneurship and creativity spanning across all industries. It ensures everyone has the opportunity to thrive in our company and region.

Question 5: My favorite spot in the Tri-Cities is:

I can’t settle on one thing so: Guy Fieri sold me on Frost Me Sweet! I also love the historic Uptown (especially Adventures Underground), the Mid-Columbia Library in Pasco on Hopkins, Farh Thai in Kennewick, and escape room antics at Atomic Escape Rooms. 

Question 6: Something that deserves more recognition in the Tri-Cities is:

I’d like to honor our long-time residents and their deep roots in our community. There are families that have lived here for generations, shaping the region either through hard work in agriculture, contributions at Hanford, and a fierce commitment to building a strong, inclusive, and resilient community. 

Their stories, their legacies are the backbone of the Tri-Cities. 

I’d love to support and continue to engage in community events celebrating our diversity and community involvement, and hope to one day see more publicized and widely attended oral history projects. By celebrating both our long-time residents and rich diversity of newcomers, all I can see is a strengthened sense of unity and pride that makes the Tri so special.