STAFF
Kristi Rowland, Interim Executive Director
Kristi has nearly 30 years of public service experience, currently serving as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Renton. She is Vice President of the board of directors of the Municipal Research Service Center and is a past president of the Washington City/County Management Association which included two years service on the board of the Association of Washington Cities. She is one of the founding members of the Northwest Women’s Leadership Academy.
Contact Kristi Rowland 
(206) 499-4238
Leah Willoughby, Chief Operating Officer
Leah Willoughby joined Sound Cities Association as Administrative Services Manager in May, 2019. Leah is originally from Columbus, Ohio. Prior to working at SCA, she worked for the College Success Foundation in Bellevue, where she served as Operations Manager. Leah has a B.A. in English, a Masters Degree in Professional Writing, and a Certificate in Grant Writing and Nonprofit Management.
Andie Parnell, Senior Policy Analyst
Andie joined SCA as Policy Analyst in October 2023. Andie comes to SCA most recently from the Washington State Legislature, Senate Committee Services, where she served as Session Council. She also brings with her experience working as a Research Fellow for The National Agricultural Law Center, as a Legal Intern for the Environmental Working Group and for the Environmental Protection Agency, and as a Summer Law Clerk for the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office. She holds a Juris Doctor from the Vermont Law and Graduate School and a Master of Public Service and Administration from Texas A&M University.
Aj Foltz, Policy Analyst
Aj joined SCA as a Policy Analyst in July 2024, having recently graduated with her MPA from the UW Evans School of Public Policy & Governance. Prior to working at SCA, she conducted research on Paid Family & Medical Leave, county-level utilization of federal Covid-19 funds, and administrative burden in social programs. Her career has led her through local and federal governments, higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Aj also holds a B.A. in Public Policy, Leadership, and Management from The Ohio State University. She is originally from Cleveland, Ohio.
Laura Belmont, Policy Analyst
Laura joined SCA as a Policy Analyst in December 2024. They hold a PhD in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, where they studied the immune response to dengue virus. Laura’s experience spans cancer and virology research, science education, and policy and advocacy. This includes leading Hutch United, an organization supporting underrepresented scientists. They also hold a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science with a concentration in Genetics, Cell, and Developmental Biology from Arizona State University.
Jasleen Kaur, Administrative Assistant
Jasleen joined Sound Cities Association as Administrative Assistant in September 2022. She brings to SCA fourteen years of experience in Human Resources and Administration, including previous work as Human Resource Assistant for the City of Federal Way. Jasleen was born and raised in New Delhi, India. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Delhi University, India; a master’s degree in Human Resources from Sikkim University, India; and a degree in Sound Recording and Radio Production from AAFT.