WDRC Executive Director Wins Professional Woman of the Year Award

We are pleased to announce that Whatcom Women in Business (WWIB) has recognized Moonwater, the WDRC’s Executive Director, with its Professional Woman of the Year award. 

Moonwater was one of six finalists to be considered for the award, which was presented at the WWIB’s annual banquet and auction on October 24, 2017. The Banquet is one of the primary ways that WWIB celebrates the accomplishments of women in the community. The Professional Woman of the Year award is given annually to a woman who strives for and exemplifies the four values honored by WWIB: Leadership, Professionalism, Mentorship, and Community Involvement. 

In response to the honor, Moonwater said, “I am both honored and humbled by the recognition from Whatcom Women in Business. My fellow finalists are outstanding professionals in their own right, and I remain in awe of how many powerful, change-making leaders we have in Whatcom County!”

Moonwater has served as the Executive Director for the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center since 2005, and she possesses more than 18 years of experience in the field of dispute resolution. She is the lead instructor for the WDRC’s 40 hour Professional Mediation Training, and provides customized conflict management training to numerous nonprofit organizations, tribal departments, local governments, businesses, and associations. She has trained thousands of individuals in effective conflict management skills. 

Previous recognition Moonwater has received includes: her appointment by the Whatcom County Council to serve on the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force, her appointment to the Domestic Violence Commission, her appointment to the Secretary of State’s Charities Advisory Council, being awarded the Liberty Bell Award by the Whatcom County Bar Association, and being honored with a Ken Glass Community Builder Award. In addition, in 2014, the WDRC was selected as the Bellingham-Whatcom Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit of the Year.