Zach Pekelis, Chair, is a litigation partner at Pacifica Law Group, where his practice focuses on constitutional, administrative, and political law. Previously, Zach worked as an Assistant Attorney General in the Complex Litigation Division of the Washington Attorney General's Office; as a Trial Attorney in the Voting Section of the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division; and as a litigation associate at Perkins Coie. Born and raised in Seattle, Zach attended Garfield High School, where he played sax in the jazz band. He graduated from Yale College and Yale Law School. After college, Zach joined Teach For America, teaching history and government at a high school in Brooklyn, New York. After law school, Zach clerked for Judge David F. Hamilton of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Zach was appointed to the Commission by the Mayor in 2020 and reappointed in 2023 for a term that expires December 31, 2025.
Jonathan Schirmer, Vice-Chair, is a construction lawyer with Ballard Spahr LLP in Seattle. He has extensive experience in federal contracting issues at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and high-stakes bid protest actions at the Government Accountability Office and regularly advises bidders and public owners on procurement issues. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Seattle University, and also holds a degree in Political Science from Montana State University. Mr. Schirmer was appointed to the Commission by the City Council in 2024 to a term that expires December 31, 2025.
Bobby Forch is the president of Forch Consulting. He has over 20 years of experience increasing the participation of DBE, Small, Veteran, and Minority-owned business enterprises (DBE/MSVWBE) in the award and performance of state and local contracts. He is a veteran of both the City of Seattle and Washington State Departments of Transportation. Mr. Forch was appointed to the Commission by the City Council in 2024 to a term that expires December 31, 2026.
Kristin Hawes is a community volunteer. Previously, she was a member at Seattle's Summit Law Group, where her practice focused on commercial real estate. Commissioner Hawes is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College and New York University Law School. Prior to joining Summit, she was senior counsel at SSL Law Firm, where she represented both landlords and tenants, and a former general counsel and secretary at John L. Scott Real Estate. Earlier in her career, she was an assistant public defender, and maintains an interest in ensuring equitable access to legal services. As a longtime Seattleite, Commissioner Hawes appreciates the opportunity to serve the city through her participation in the SEEC. Ms. Hawes was appointed to the Commission in 2021 by the Mayor to a term that expired December 31, 2023, and reappointed for a term that expires December 31, 2026.
Richard Shordt is Senior Corporate Counsel with the Compliance and Ethics group at T-Mobile. He provides legal and compliance advise to senior business leaders on government ethics, whistleblower protection, state and local lobbying, and pay-to-play matters. He is also the primary legal counsel responsible for directing and managing privileged internal investigations into ethical, legal, and other violations of T-Mobile's Code of Business Conduct and related company policies. Before joining T-Mobile, Mr. Shordt spent nearly seven years practicing law in Seattle and Washington, DC where he developed a sophisticated practice representing clients in connection with civil and criminal litigation, as well as responding to inquiries from federal and state regulators and law enforcement agencies. Prior to moving to Seattle Mr. Shordt spent nearly a decade on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC as a legislative aide where he managed the legislative priorities, served as a policy advisor and liaison to federal agencies and industry representatives, and ensured staff compliance with applicable ethics rules and guidelines for two Members of Congress. Mr. Shordt was appointed by the City Council in 2019 to a term ending December 31, 2021. Mr. Shordt was reappointed to the Commission by the City Council in 2022 to a term that expires December 31, 2024.
Chalia Stallings-Ala’ilima is an Assistant Attorney General and Senior Counsel in the Washington State Attorney General’s Office Wing Luke Civil Rights Division where she currently serves as Special Counsel for Civil Rights Policy. She also sits as a Judge/Magistrate Pro Tempore for Seattle Municipal Court. Chalia litigates AG initiated enforcement of state and federal anti-discrimination laws and advises on policy development that impacts civil rights and vulnerable populations. She volunteers as the Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Advancement officer for the Association of Washington Assistant Attorneys General-WFSE Local 5297, Vice-Chair of the state Office of Civil Legal Aid Oversight Committee, Trustee for the King County Bar Association, and member of the University of Washington Law Foundation. Chalia has served as President of the Loren Miller Bar Association, completed the JustLead Washington Leadership Academy, and participated on the Seattle Police Department Officer-Involved Shooting Force Review Board. Chalia has received the AGO’s William V. Tanner and Excellence awards, WSBA’s Achieving Professional Excellence (APEX) in Diversity award, and team recognition through the Legal Foundation of Washington’s Goldmark Distinguished Service Award and Loren Miller Bar Association’s Excellence in the Legal Profession Awards. Chalia earned both her B.A. and J.D. from the University of Washington. Ms. Stallings-Ala’ilima was appointed by the Mayor in 2022 for a term that expires December 31, 2024.
Vivian Vassall is an Assistant Attorney General for the Washington State Office of the Attorney General in the Licensing and Administrative Law Division. She previously worked for the Unemployment Law Project as an independent contractor with the Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid. Ms. Vassall currently volunteers at the Loren Miller Bar Association. She is a graduate of University of Colorado Law School and has a BA in public affairs from Seattle University. Ms. Vassall was appointed by the Commission in March 2025 to a term ending December 31, 2027.
Please note that a Commissioner whose term has expired can continue to serve until a new appointment is made by the appropriate authority and confirmed by the City Council.
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