Eric is a husband and proud father of two sons, the younger of which has autism. Professionally, Eric is a career coach for underrepresented midcareer software professionals and founder of Ally for Onlys in Tech. He is widely known within the engineering community for his book “Agile Project Management with Kanban” and his blog “I.M. Wright’s Hard Code.” Prior to coaching, Eric managed development for Xbox, Windows, Azure, Office, and Dynamics at Microsoft Corporation. Before Microsoft, he was a Senior Principal Scientist at Boeing, and a developer for Silicon Graphics, GRAFTEK, JPL, and Bank Leumi. Eric is an Affiliate Professor at UW Bothell, has published two books, holds eight patents, a BS and MS in mathematics, and a Ph.D. in applied mathematics. In his spare time, Eric enjoys going to Mariners games and reading psychology, economics, and science fiction books.

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UWAC Advisory Board Chair and Co-Founder

40+ years’ experience in software and tech industry; 17 years venture and angel investor.  Significant operational experience and insights running material divisions at Microsoft, multi-decade autism advocate.

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Rebecca Ebsworth is a mom of a 32 year old son Emanuel with
Asperger’s who lives independently and successfully in NC and a 30
year old daughter Lisa who is a Nutritionist in L.A., and attended the
UWAC Registered Behavioral Technician program. Rebecca is a UW
Foundation Emeritus Board Member and is an integral part of the UW
Autism Center, as benefit co-chair, APEX nurse (retired), and advisory
board member. She also is a board member of the Seattle Symphony
for 11 years.

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Bio

Emily Hallowell is Chief Commercial Officer at Inara AI, the care management platform for families, individuals, and caregivers navigating Autism, ADHD, learning differences and other developmental conditions. Emily has spent most of her career as a strategic HR leader with a passion for building diverse, global teams. Prior to joining Inara, Emily served as Chief People Officer for Aera Technology, where she built the company from an early stage start-up to a 500+ person global business. Her experience includes building a corporate development function to drive growth through acquisition, and leading international expansion efforts. Her early career included four years at the Boston Consulting Group and stints at well-regarded law firms and an investment bank. Emily holds a JD/MBA from the University of Chicago and a BA in Economics from Yale University. Emily is the mom of 3 delightfully energetic kids – an autistic son and two neurotypical daughters.

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Mary Panay is a retired freight forwarder and logistics manager. Since her beloved nephew Jackson was diagnosed with non-verbal autism in 2017, she has become a passionate about learning more about autism and for a world where every child, regardless of ability, is seen, heard, and empowered to thrive. She believes that autism organizations, like the UW Autism Center, play a crucial role in turning compassion into action—funding life-changing resources, advancing inclusive education, and fostering a society that embraces neurodiversity with open arms.

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David William Plummer is a Canadian-American programmer, entrepreneur, and YouTube creator. He is best known for developing Windows Task Manager, porting Space Cadet Pinball to Windows NT, and adding native Zip file support to Windows. Plummer also created HyperCache for the Amiga and has contributed to numerous other software projects. He holds six patents in software engineering and runs the popular YouTube channels Dave’s Garage and Dave’s Attic. Plummer is also recognized as the world record holder for the classic arcade game Tempest.

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With a strong foundation in both Human Resources and community service, Melanie Roussos brings decades of professional experience and leadership in nonprofit, education, and corporate settings. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Arizona State University. Following a successful 10-year career in HR and benefits within the technology and insurance industry, she transitioned to full-time parenting while dedicating herself to extensive volunteer work. Her leadership roles include serving on the Advisory Board of the University of Washington Autism Center and as a long-standing Trustee for the Gamma Phi Beta Foundation, where she currently chairs the Scholarship Committee and contributes to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. She has also held numerous roles supporting schools, local nonprofits, and national service initiatives. Her dedication to community building, education, and supporting families shines through every aspect of her work—paid and volunteer alike.

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Paul Suzman is founder of OfficeLease which has specialized in commercial tenant and buyer representation since 1981. He attended Hilton College and the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and immigrated to Seattle in 1979. He has served on the boards of several nonprofits and local companies including The Learning Garden (now Bright Horizons) and Torrefazione Italia Coffee acquired by Starbucks. He is a founding board member and serves on the Executive Committee of VillageReach,  served as chair of Seattle’s Community Development Roundtable and is a member of Seattle Rotary Club

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Phillip Swan is an accomplished executive at Iridius AI with extensive experience leading global technology organizations and driving strategic growth.  Known for his customer-focused approach, he excels at building impactful partnerships, scaling operations, and nurturing innovation. Phillip’s expertise spans global go-to-market strategy, business transformation, and market leadership, making him an influential voice in technology and business communities.

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Madhu Yaduguri is the founder of Therapz and a technology leader with over 20 years of experience in building and delivering innovative software solutions. He has led large-scale platforms, architected complex systems, and guided teams across industries, including automotive, data platforms, and behavioral health. Driven by a deep personal connection to the autism community, Madhu founded Therapz, a technology-driven platform designed to enhance autism therapy by improving access, provider efficiency, and care outcomes. His mission is to leverage technology to create meaningful solutions for neurodiverse individuals and their families. As a member of the UW Autism Center Advisory Board, Madhu is committed to supporting initiatives that advance autism research, services, and advocacy. He brings expertise in technology, startups, and product innovation to help bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world applications in autism care.

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