About Jim Carlough

With over 30 years of leadership experience, Jim Carlough is an accomplished business

strategist, speaker, and author. Having successfully driven explosive growth for healthcare

organizations—from start-ups to industry leaders — Jim is a trusted expert in building high-

performing teams, revitalizing underperforming businesses, and guiding organizations through

transformational change.

Jim's core philosophy—leaders aren’t born; they’re developed—challenges the myth of innate

leadership.

In his book, The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership: A Roadmap to Success, Jim delivers

a practical and inspiring guide for leaders at every stage of their journey. His approach focuses on

six essential traits that empower individuals to embrace leadership as a skill that can be learned,

honed, and mastered through experience, mentorship, and intentional growth.

Aang Lakey is a distinguished leader with over 20 years of expertise in leadership development, violence prevention, and diversity and inclusion, honed through extensive experience in the U.S. Army and federal government. Aang excels in guiding leaders to integrate consciousness and emotional intelligence into their practices, emphasizing the critical importance of intentionality and reflexivity in leadership.
Throughout their career, Aang has advised leaders at various levels, helping them understand the profound impact their actions and behaviors have on organizational culture. Aang's approach is deeply rooted in the belief that effective leadership is built on a foundation of self-awareness, empathy, and a commitment to aligning actions with values. Aang’s work is particularly focused on helping leaders navigate the complexities of diversity, inclusion, and violence prevention, ensuring that these essential issues are addressed with both sensitivity and effectiveness.
Aang’s personal journey is a powerful testament to their commitment to this work. Having overcome significant socialization and unconscious biases from their upbringing in a challenging environment, Aang brings a relatable and authentic perspective to their teachings. They are passionate about helping others confront and overcome similar challenges, advocating for the practical application of leadership principles and appropriate accountability within organizations.

Mick Hoffman has been the Executive Director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities

Association since the spring of 2019. He is the Association's fifth executive director.

Serving at virtually every level of the WIAA, Mr. Hoffman most recently held the role of Assistant

Superintendent and Chief Operations Officer for Vancouver Public Schools. Before taking over

as an Assistant Superintendent, he served as the District Athletic Director for Vancouver Public

Schools from 2007-15. Mr. Hoffman also represented WIAA District IV on the WIAA Executive

Board from 2016-18 where he was a member of the Classification Committee and chaired the

WIAA Recruiting Committee.

Mr. Hoffman got his start as a language arts and social studies teacher at Fort Vancouver High

School and Hudson’s Bay High School in Vancouver, Washington. He has head coaching

experience with boys’ basketball as well as boys’ and girls’ golf.

Mr. Hoffman graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education before earning a Master’s of

Education all from the University of Portland