Board of Trustees

ROBIN WATERMAN is the founder of SpotTot, a tech product created to improve the lives of children and families. With a background in pediatric audiology, Robin earned her BS in speech and hearing science and her AuD from the University of Washington. She spent the early part of her career diagnosing and treating children with hearing loss at Virginia Mason Medical Center and Listen and Talk. Robin held leadership roles in both hospital and nonprofit settings, with a focus on creating and building effective protocols to develop and lead strong audiology programs. Inspired by a longtime dream to create something innovative for families, she made the leap from clinical work to entrepreneurship to launch SpotTot. Robin currently serves on the Villa Academy Board of Trustees, where she has taken on roles such as vice chair and Development Committee chair, and contributed to several important task forces, including Strategic Planning, School Reopening, and the Head of School Search. She is also the president of the UPrep Board of Trustees and previously chaired its Development Committee. Robin and her husband, Charlie, live in Seattle and have three children: Cole ’28, Grant ’30, and third-grader Cameron.

CHARLES FRISCHER is the general partner of LFF Partners, a family office based in Seattle, WA, a position he has held since 2004. Prior to working at LFF Partners, Charles was a principal at Zephyr Management, L.P., a New York–based private equity firm (2005–2008). He was also a senior vice president at Capri Capital (1995–2005). He graduated from Cornell University in 1988 with a BA in government. Charles serves on UPrep’s finance and audit committee as well as on the investment sub-committee. He and his wife, Abigail, are the parents of Benjamin Frischer ’26, and Graham Frischer, ’27.

JARRAD HARFORD is the Paul Pigott - PACCAR Professor of Finance at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. He grew up in Pennsylvania and earned his BS from Penn State. He later earned his PhD in finance with a minor in organizations and markets at the University of Rochester and moved to the Pacific Northwest to start his career in academia. His teaching focuses on core finance, corporate governance, and acquisition analysis. Jarrad currently serves as a managing editor of the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis. He and his co-authors are working on the 7th Edition of their textbook, Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, published by Pearson. Jarrad previously was a long-serving member of the UCDS Finance Committee and a member of the UCDS Board of Trustees for six years. He is currently treasurer of the UPrep Board of Trustees, co-chairs UPrep’s Finance and Audit Committee, and sits on the Investment sub-committee. He and his wife, Katrina Strand, are the parents of Evan ’24 and Cole ’25.

KRYSIA JOHNSON is the Chief Financial Officer for MD2, the most distinguished network of concierge medical practices in the United States. Krysia's finance career spans several industries including healthcare, consumer products and technology. She has an MBA from the University of Michigan and an undergraduate degree in public policy from Duke University. Krysia also served as president of the UPrep Parent Guardian Association for the 2023–2024 school year and volunteered as a Puma Fund class agent for the last several years. Krysia and her husband, Bjorn, are the parents of Wynne ’24 and Paige ’26.

AMY S. KIM (HYDE) is a general dentist dually appointed as a clinical associate professor at the University of Washington (UW) School of Dentistry and consulting clinical research manager at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. She is a proud alumna of the University of Michigan (BA and DDS) and Columbia University. Amy has been a faculty member of the UW, NYU Langone, and University of Michigan in leadership roles in dental education, community outreach, and research. Currently she directs UW’s Office of Educational Partnerships, with a service mission to improve oral health in the region through key partnerships and community engagement. Amy is an avid fan of youth soccer and has volunteered as team manager and treasurer of Seattle United Football Club since 2017. Both of her children attend/ed University Prep (Jack ’27 and Hana ’24.) Amy has served as a Sports Booster; co-lead of a parent affinity group; and mentored two students through LaunchPad at UPrep.

THONG Q. LE serves as investment director and managing partner of the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) for the Gates Foundation, the impact investment arm responsible for using equity, debt, and innovative market tools to further the philanthropic goals of the organization. Thong brings more than 25 years of investment experience in the life sciences industry, with a strong track record of making impactful investments that improve lives and of shaping effective investment strategies and deal-making processes. Prior to joining the Gates Foundation, Thong served as senior managing director and chairman of Accelerator Life Science Partners (ALSP), a venture capital firm focused on developing next-generation life science companies. At ALSP, Thong served as a director and founding president and CEO of more than a dozen ALSP portfolio companies. Several of these companies have been successfully acquired. Prior to ALSP, Thong spent nearly 15 years as managing director at WRF Capital, the venture investment arm of the Washington Research Foundation, where he financed and supported the growth of early-stage life sciences and technology companies. Thong received his AB in government from Harvard University and completed postgraduate studies in business at Templeton College, Oxford University. He and his wife Jeannie have two children, Maya ’27 and Adric.

BEN MARGOLES is currently a real estate advisor and licensed broker. Previously he spent 20 years at local real estate firm Washington Holdings as a partner and executive vice president with a focus on multifamily/mixed-use projects, structured investments, and capital markets activities. Prior to real estate, Ben worked in marketing and business development at Amazon.com and two internet startups. He also spent time as a research associate and sportswriter. Ben holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a master’s in sports management from the University of Richmond, and a BA in economics and history from Tufts University. Prior board roles include Wellspring Family Services and SIFF. He chairs UPrep’s Facilities Committee. He and his wife, Sandy, are the parents of Annabel ’29 and Olive ’32.

KATHY PARK has worked in healthcare and medical education for over 20 years. She is a general pediatrician and is privileged to partner with parents to care for children primarily residing in South King County. While patients and families remain at the center of her work, she holds several other roles, including clinical professor and project lead for early childhood programming. She holds a BA from the University of California at Berkeley, an MD from Case Western Reserve University, and an MPH from the University of Washington. At UPrep, she has served as parent rep, co-chair of the parent education committee and several years on the UPrep Together committee. She currently serves on the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging committee and the social emotional learning advisory board. Kathy and her husband Dave, have a son, Lucas, who graduated from Roosevelt High School in ’22 and a son, Jack ’25. 

CASEY SCHUCHART is a fifth-generation construction professional whose career has been honed through time spent working in the field, estimating, project engineering, project management, and division management. He was instrumental in the delivery of the Bullitt Center: a six-story office building deemed the greenest commercial building in the world. As the president of Schuchart, Casey leads the team through the execution of business initiatives and strategies. Casey earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of San Diego and an MBA from Seattle University. Casey serves on UPrep’s Building Committee. Casey and his wife, Allison, are the parents of Gregor, ’28 and Jomie.

BLAKE TITCOMB ’09 was born and raised in Seattle. He graduated from UPrep in 2009 and the University of Puget Sound in 2013 with a BS in geology and minor in economics. Blake is passionate about giving back to his community and has served on several philanthropic boards. He served as president of the UPrep Alumni Board for four years and currently sits on a foundation for their sustainable forests and communities initiative committee and heads the financial committee. Blake is a director of account management at PitchBook, a financial software company. He and his wife, Brittany, welcomed their first little Puma to the mix, Azalea, who was born in 2023. Blake serves on UPrep’s advancement committee.

JENNIFER ZELL earned a BA in economics from Duke University and an MBA from the University of Washington Business School. After graduate school, she worked for Moss Adams Advisory Services as a financial analyst performing valuations of privately held companies and earned her CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation. She retired after the birth of her first child. Jennifer served on the Meridian School Board for six years as a regular trustee and was treasurer for two years and chair for three. She was also an emeritus trustee for two years. Jennifer served two years as the co-president of the UPrep Parent Guardian Association, where she previously served as a sports booster and as treasurer. She also volunteered as a class agent for the Puma Fund and a parent ambassador. Jennifer is a past president and past secretary of the board. She currently serves on UPrep’s Trusteeship and Governance and Finance Committees. She and her husband, Mike, have three children. Courtney ’19, Mitchell ’21, and Trevor ’23.

VERONICA (“Ronnie”) CODRINGTON-CAZEAU is in her fifth year as head of school at UPrep. Previously, she served as head of The Evergreen School in Shoreline, WA. In her time at The Evergreen School, Ronnie grew enrollment, oversaw a campus expansion project, and led a successful 20-million-dollar campaign. Ronnie began her teaching career at The Park School in Brookline, MA and spent 17 years (the final six as middle school head) at Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, CA. As well as serving as a faculty member in the Aspiring Heads Fellowship, she also serves as a member of the NAIS Board of Trustees executive committee, a member of the Country Day School Headmasters’ Association, chair of the INDEX board and past president of the Elementary School Head’s Association. Ronnie holds a bachelor’s from Wellesley College and a master’s in educational leadership from Pepperdine University.

Mary Balmaceda, a New York City native, earned a BA in economics and environmental studies from Binghamton University and an MBA from Georgetown University, and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Benin, West Africa. She has worked in nonprofit marketing. Mary has served as a Parent Ambassador, Puma Fund class agent, and the PGA family community service rep and governance committee chair. Mary and her husband, Scott, are the parents of Parker ’27, Calla ’29, and Elsa ’32.

Amy Oakley has worked at all levels of government, serving 16 years at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as the administrator advisor for the Northwest Office of Native American Programs and five years as the board secretary for the Northshore Fire Department in Kenmore, Washington. She is currently the innovation grants program lead at the University of Washington’s EarthLab. Amy holds a BS degree from the University of California at Davis and an MEd in Educational Administration from the University of Washington. At UPrep, she has served as a parent ambassador, a Puma Fund class agent, on the PGA Parent Education Committee, and as the PGA governance chair. She and her husband, Andy, have two children: Amelia ’29 and Audrey ’31.

KIM GONZALES began her English teaching career in 1999, working with students at Foster High School, The Bush School, and Rainier Scholars before joining the UPrep community in 2020. Kim currently teaches 11th grade American literature, Creative Writing, and Shakespeare, as well as the summer college essay writing workshops for rising seniors. Kim’s desire to help young people write with clarity, intention, and voice led her to co-found the Bush School Writing Center, launch writer coaching programs at two public schools in Seattle, and serve as a writing coach, site coordinator, and coach trainer with WriterCoach Connection in Berkeley, California. She holds a BA in English literature from the University of Puget Sound, and a MIT from Seattle University. When she’s not working with students, Kim enjoys hiking, reading everything she can get her hands on, and traveling with her husband and two sons.