- "A firm believer in making your own luck, Grace is the caretaker of (because no one truly owns) TWO black cats."

A Washington native, Grace was born and raised in Yakima, moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington (graduated with a B.A. in Political Science, and an abiding passion for the Husky Marching Band), and lived there until marriage brought her to Spokane in 1981.

She received her master’s and doctoral degrees from Gonzaga University, having completed a ground-breaking study of leadership in the nonprofit sector. Grace is now working as an independent organizational consultant providing services to a variety of nonprofit organizations, including the Center for Organizational Reform. Grace has given workshop presentations entitled "Leader, Mentor, Coach-Finding One, Being One", "Tune-Up for Bored Boards: Re-energizing Nonprofit Volunteer Directors", "Gremlins in the Boardroom: A Halloween Reflection on Problematic Group Behaviors", and"When Leaders Don't Meet Our Expectations". She currently serves on the Friends of Seven Board of Director for KSPS Public Television, having served as the President of the Board 2001-2002.She has also served on the Earth Share of Washington Board of Directors, the Washington Humanities, as chair of that board from 1998-2000, the YWCA Board of Directors, the Inland Northwest Council, the Junior League of Spokane, President 1993-1994,on the Wampum Procurement Committee and on the Board of Trustees for Wampum, A District Governor for the U of Washington Alumni Association, Volunteers of America, Greater Spokane Music and Allied Arts Festival, KPBX Public Radio, Northwest Gifted Children Foundation and the Husky Marching Band Alumni Association. In addition, Grace has served on the Salvation Army Board, Second Harvest Food Bank, Spokane Chamber of Commerce Arts Commission, Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane Opera, and the Washington State Governor's Interagency Committee of State Employed Women and the Washington State Bar Association.Six years as Development Director for a regional environmental organization and more than 20 years as a corporate tax paralegal for law firms in Seattle and Spokane.