Kara Main-Hester

Kara Main-Hester has a diverse work experience spanning various roles and organizations. Kara is currently serving as the Chief Recovery and Resilience Officer at Snohomish County, WA, where they lead the Office of Recovery and Resiliency in evaluating the needs of the county residents, businesses, and government in the post-pandemic recovery process. Prior to this, they held the position of Deputy Director at Snohomish County and was responsible for supporting the organization's operations.

Before their tenure at Snohomish County, Kara worked as a Dog Trainer at AHIMSA DOG TRAINING LLC, where they honed their skills in training dogs. Kara also served in multiple roles at the City of Seattle, including Fiscal and Policy Analyst, Deputy Director, Strategic Advisor, and Manager for Volunteer Programs, Fundraising, and Outreach. In these positions, they specialized in policy, regulatory issues, and community engagement. Kara contributed expertise in using data and systems to inform compliance and enforcement efforts, with a focus on creating a safer and more transparent government. Kara worked on various projects, such as implementing new regulatory frameworks for transportation services.

Kara's dedication to animal welfare is evident from their service as a Board Member at the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation and their role as Manager for Volunteer Programs, Fundraising, and Outreach at the Seattle Animal Shelter. In these positions, they focused on developing community support for the shelter through volunteer engagement, fundraising, marketing, and strategic direction.

Earlier in their career, Kara served as a Doctoral Research Associate at the University of Washington. Kara taught students complex biological concepts, wrote grants and technical papers, and completed a dissertation. Kara's work was recognized with a prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Grant.

Overall, Kara Main-Hester has a diverse background in leadership, policy analysis, animal welfare, and scientific research, showcasing their versatility and commitment across different sectors.

Kara Main-Hester earned a B.S. in Microbiology and Chemistry from North Carolina State University from 1998 to 2002. Kara then pursued further education and obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Microbiology, General from the University of Washington from 2002 to 2008.