Our Board
Meet Our Board
At the Dispute Resolution Center of King County (KCDRC), our leadership team is dedicated to advancing our mission of providing fair, accessible, and effective conflict resolution services. Our board members bring a wealth of experience in law, mediation, and social justice, guiding the organization as we work to create a more peaceful, equitable community. With a diverse range of expertise and a shared commitment to our values, our board plays an essential role in shaping KCDRC’s programs and initiatives, ensuring that we continue to serve the needs of King County residents with integrity and compassion.
Paul Boyer
President
Paul Boyer is a globally-focused technology executive and strategic legal advisor with extensive experience in digital commerce, mobile technologies and international business. He currently serves as the General Counsel for two e-commerce startups in Seattle. Paul did his basic mediation training at the KCDRC in 2016 and completed the KCDRC Mediation Practicum in 2017. For the past 4 years Paul had been a volunteer mediator for the Seattle Small Claims Court pre-trial mediation program. During his free time Paul enjoys hiking, cycling, paddle boarding and yoga.
Yvonne York
Treasurer
Over a 15-year career in accounting and financial management, Yvonne has served as the controller and financial manager for closely held companies in strategic communications, civil engineering, and human resources consulting. She holds a BS in Accounting from the University of Colorado in Boulder and earned her CPA certification after working in audit for global accounting firm KPMG in Boston. Pursuing a lifelong interest in the personal stories of others and the challenges of honest communication, Yvonne took the plunge and completed Basic Mediation and Small Claims Court Training with the KCDRC, and has been co-mediating in the Kent Small Claims Court since October 2019.
Abdi Y. Jama
Board Member
Abdi Yusuf Jama received a B.A. from Western Washington University and a Masters of Law in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University. Abdi is an Immigration Program Director and a member of the Director’s Social Justice Cabinet at Catholic Community Services of Western Washington. He has been providing advocacy and legal immigration services to the immigrant and refugee communities in the state of Washington for over two decades. Abdi has worked with numerous Non-profit and Governmental Organizations in the State of Washington and in East Africa as a policy, social justice, and legal immigration consultant. He is also a conflict resolver, mediator, ombudsman, and peace builder. He specializes in resolving multi-party conflicts internationally and designs conflict resolution systems for governments, and NGO organizations. Abdi is on the roster of volunteer mediators for Los Angeles, California’s Institute for Nonviolence. He is State building and Democratization Program Manager at New Access International (NAI). A research and development agency established in 2012 by multi-disciplinary practitioners and specialists from around the world. NAI is a registered civil society organization in the Federal Republic of Somalia. Mr. Jama has been involved in law and policy research with development organizations for over 15 years. Abdi understands the importance of serving the underserved communities in the state of Washington and understands the importance of dispute resolution. Fun fact: Abdi Y. Jama has so far visited 37 States in the United States. Only 13 to go yay!
Ashley Davis
Board Member
Ashley Jolice Davis currently serves as an Associate Ombud at the University of Washington. Ashley received her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University. Ashley began her career in dispute resolution several years ago, while working in her hometown Chicago as a mediator, program manager, coach, and trainer at citywide mediation services provider, the Center for Conflict Resolution. She is also a current American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Fellow and a National Association of Community Mediation Committee Member.
Jessi Benveniste
Board Member
Jessi joined the KCDRC Board in 2025 with a background in higher education policy, conflict resolution, and mediation. She currently serves as a Civil Rights Investigator at the University of Washington, where she conducts impartial investigations into discrimination- and harassment-related concerns. She helps support fair, equity-minded institutional processes. Previously, Jessi worked as the Associate Director of Community Standards & Student Conduct at UW, where she helped resolve community concerns through restorative pathways and meaningful outcomes.
Sara Sandford
Board Member
Sara Sandford practiced as a transactional attorney for over 30 years in Seattle, Washington, helping clients navigate the challenges of conducting cross border corporate and commercial transactions. She is now a qualified mediator with Benchmark International ADR, LLC where she focuses her work on cross border commercial mediation. She splits her extra time between providing pro bono services for the King County Dispute Resolution Center’s Eviction Resolution Program and helping Western Rivers Conservancy with their efforts to protect our environment. She is the former Chair of the ABA International Law Section and has served in a number of other capacities in that Section and within the ABA, including Co-Chair of the Section’s International Human Rights and the Asia Pacific Committees, and Chair of the ABA Rule of Law Initiative’s Asia Regional Council. She also serves on the advisory board of the University of Washington School of Law’s Global Business Law Institute.
Terrance Stevenson
Board Member
Terrance joined the KCDRC board in 2025. He is Director of SeaCiti at Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a robust, equity-centered technology sector that empowers thriving communities. Stevenson founded a social impact consulting enterprise and managed cross-sector partnerships for several humanitarian organizations. He has also held leadership roles across the Federal Government, non-profit, and technology start-up spaces. Leaning on his background in collaborative peace methods and economic development, he has advanced social impact activities at several community-focused organizations around the globe including the United States Peace Corps, PeaceTech Lab, Internews, Rotary International, and ScaleWith. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, a Master of Arts in International Peace and Conflict Resolution, and a Master of Science in Economics and Finance for Development, which he completed as a Rotary International Peace Fellow.