COLUMN
Francis A. Adewale, WSBA Treasurer
I am the Washington State Bar Association incoming treasurer, having served as the representative of District 5 on the Board of Governors since 2021. I have served as public defender for the city of Spokane for more than 20 years. During that time, I have also served on many nonprofits and community-based organizations as chair, co-chair, and treasurer. I also own (along with my wife) a small business in Eastern Washington.
I obtained a master’s degree in public administration from Eastern Washington University with specific research on interlocal agreement, municipal, and nonprofit budgetary management. I have spent approximately 21 years practicing community lawyering and just completed a six-year term on the Access to Justice (ATJ) Board. For the last two years, I have served as chair of the ATJ Board, during which time we ran a successful ATJ Conference without incurring any debt. In fact, our fundraising was so successful we had small savings set aside for the next conference.
Very early in his term, the previous WSBA treasurer, Bryn A. Peterson, tasked me and the WSBA chief financial officer with the herculean task of comprehensive review of the WSBA’s fiscal policies. I am proud to report that we successfully completed the review and presented the report to the WSBA Budget and Audit Committee. At its September meeting, the full Board of Governors adopted the revised fiscal policies, which will be implemented in the coming months.
My approach and goal as treasurer will be to encourage the Board, the executive leadership team, volunteers, and all WSBA members to abide by the WSBA’s fiscal policies and facilitate the WSBA Budget and Audit Committee in a manner that assists and provides the information needed for the committee to make the correct decisions for the WSBA and its members.
My experience serving on boards of nonprofits in Eastern Washington taught me to value every cent. While the WSBA is not strictly a nonprofit, it is an organization that is for the members and run by the members. To quote my immediate predecessor, Governor Peterson, “I never want to forget that the members are the people that provide the money required for the WSBA to function and operate each and every year.” I solemnly promise to be a good steward of your finances. Thank you.
Tiffany Lynch, Director of Finance
I am a certified public accountant with over 18 years of finance and accounting experience focusing on government and nonprofit organizations. I started my career as an auditor and transitioned to positions focusing on budgeting, financial forecasting and planning, and operational leadership. Prior to my role at the WSBA, I was the chief finance and operations officer of a nonprofit, overseeing all aspects of the finance, accounting, human resources, information technology, and facilities teams.
I have a deep understanding and appreciation for the WSBA and its mission to serve the public and the members of the Bar, to ensure the integrity of the legal profession, and to champion justice. It is the lens that I look through and what guides my approach as a leader in this organization.
As we enter a new fiscal year, I am excited to work with Treasurer Adewale, the Budget and Audit Committee, and the Board of Governors to accomplish a robust body of work. We plan to focus on the following key areas: (1) keeping our membership informed about the WSBA’s finances by providing clear and transparent financial reporting, (2) analyzing the WSBA’s allocation of reserve funds to meet organizational objectives while ensuring long-term financial health and stability, (3) examining areas of improvement in the annual budget process, and (4) providing sound fiscal analysis and projections to guide the organization in its decision-making. It is our belief that the work in these areas will result in lasting benefits for the WSBA’s membership.
I look forward to all that we will accomplish in the coming year!
MORE ONLINE
If you would like more information about the meeting times and materials for the WSBA Budget and Audit Committee, please go to our website at: www.wsba.org/connect-serve/committees-boards-other-groups/budget-audit.
In addition, you can find our annual report and the monthly financial information for the WSBA at: www.wsba.org/connect-serve/committees-boards-other-groups/budget-audit.
