Board of Directors

Megan LaFleur

Grounded in a comprehensive study of music theory, movement mechanics, and physiology, Megan specializes in adaptive instruction for all physical and cognitive abilities. With over 15 years of multifaceted teaching experience, her coaching background encompasses a wide spectrum of needs, including working with neurodivergent individuals(such as those with ASD or ADHD), those with mobility or visual impairments, and individuals recovering from trauma, surgery, or neurological events.

Megan brings a unique depth to her work, informed by a decorated career as a Dance Vision Certified Instructor and a multi-time Professional Smooth Rising Star Champion and finalist. She blends these elite competitive standards with extensive experience training high-level gymnasts and creating complex, innovative choreography across various disciplines. This fusion of rigorous athletic training and artistic vision ensures a commitment to both technical precision and inclusivity.

Having witnessed firsthand the healing power of movement, Megan embraces dance as a universal language—a profound way to connect that transcends spoken words and honors diverse forms of communication. This deep understanding is the driving force behind her vision for The Sanctuary. She is dedicated to providing equitable, inclusive access to dance, seamlessly adapting her instruction to meet each student exactly where they are and offering an empowering, life-enriching education.

President / Executive Director

Rob Walzer

Robert Walzer is a retired technology executive, entrepreneur, inventor, and business leader with more than 40 years of experience building organizations, leading innovation, and driving growth across technology, manufacturing, and digital marketing industries.
Robert founded and led a successful search engine optimization (SEO) and internet marketing company for more than 15 years, helping businesses improve their online visibility, customer acquisition, website performance, and digital marketing effectiveness. His expertise includes strategic planning, digital transformation, website optimization, branding, and business development.

Earlier in his career, Robert held senior leadership positions with General Dynamics, Rockwell Collins, and other technology-focused organizations, where he led large multidisciplinary teams and managed complex business operations. He later founded LiftScience and served as its President, overseeing strategy, operations, marketing, and customer growth. An inventor as well as an executive, Robert holds two patents related to internet technology and information retrieval systems: U.S. Patent 5,990,928 and International Patent WO1995002199. His work reflects a long-standing passion for applying technology and innovation to solve practical business challenges.Robert earned an MBA from California State University, Fullerton, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Now retired, Robert dedicates time to community service, philanthropy, mentoring, and nonprofit leadership. He brings a combination of entrepreneurial experience, governance insight, financial acumen, technology expertise, and strategic thinking to mission-driven organizations seeking to expand their impact and strengthen the communities they serve.

Treasurer
 Board Member

Paula Del Giudice

Paula has dedicated most of her life to serving nonprofit organizations and strengthening her community. Over the past 40 years, she has served on the boards of numerous environmental, arts, community service, professional, and faith-based organizations, including her parish council. She was elected as the first woman chair of the board with National Wildlife Federation in 1999. For the last 25 years, she has also held executive leadership roles as an executive director or regional director for four nonprofit organizations in the Seattle area.

She currently serves as Executive Director of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, a $4 million nonprofit that has provided equine-assisted services for people with disabilities. In addition, she is the Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Redmond, an incoming Assistant Governor for Rotary District 5030, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International.

Katrina Lyon-Smith

 Secretary

Katrina brings extensive project management expertise and a strong track record of delivering large-scale, cross-company initiatives at Microsoft. She has successfully partnered with both internal teams and external technology organizations to advance online safety efforts. Katrina’s commitment to protecting vulnerable communities extends beyond her professional role. She served for two years on the board of the Tech Coalition, where she collaborated with leading global technology companies to strengthen collective efforts to safeguard children from online harm.

More recently, Katrina began her own journey in dance, deepening her appreciation for the transformative power of inclusive artistic expression. This personal experience has strengthened her dedication to equity, access, and community-centered impact.

Board Member

Sheila Tikhov

Sheila is a former U.S. Figure Skating coach with over 25 years of experience. Her athletes have medaled at the U.S. National Solo Dance and U.S. National Adult Figure Skating Championships, won multiple U.S. Regional titles, and achieved numerous other competitive successes. Today, many of her former students tour professionally in ice shows or coach across the Pacific Northwest.

As Director of Figure Skating at Olympic View Ice Arena and Sno-King Renton (formerly Castle Ice Arena), Sheila led program development, created summer camps, and expanded skating access by building community outreach partnerships with local parks and recreation organizations. She currently serves on the Ashlar Nature School Board of Directors and previously served on the Cascade Valley Figure Skating Club Board.

As the mother of a son with ASD and a severe intellectual disability, Sheila has dedicated years to helping him reach milestones once thought unattainable. Through individualized homeschooling, therapies, and unwavering advocacy, he progressed from minimally verbal to verbal, socially engaged, and thriving in his community. Sheila brings this same passion for perseverance, inclusion, and personal growth to every organization she serves.

Chris Weare

Board Member

Christopher Weare is a retired software executive, amateur musician, aspiring ballroom dancer, and dedicated family man. From an early age, Christopher possessed a boundless curiosity that spanned from music and astronomy to dinosaurs and muscle cars. This dynamic learning style often clashed with the rigid constraints of traditional school curricula. Were he a student today, he would likely have been diagnosed with ADHD—a realization he came to many years later as an adult.

During his time at the University of California, Riverside, Christopher found that he thrived when pursuing his true passions, ultimately earning a PhD in experimental physics. It was also during this chapter that he married the love of his life. While he valued the rigor of the laboratory, he discovered his true calling while writing software to control experimental equipment.

This revelation launched a remarkable 30-year career in the software industry. Christopher grew from a developer to an executive leader managing teams of over 500 people. His journey included roles at a pro-audio startup, Apple, a music recommendations company, and finally, a 24-year tenure at Microsoft. Along the way, he was granted 21 patents in audio signal processing, machine learning, media recommendations, and human-computer interfaces.

Reflecting on his achievements, Christopher attributes much of his success to the teachers, mentors, friends, and his amazing wife who helped him find spaces where he could thrive without barriers. Today, as a member of the Board, he is deeply honored to help the Adaptive Dance Sanctuary Foundation create that same safe, supportive environment, allowing others to experience the transformative joy of dance in the way that works best for them.