Team

Dr. Lisa Edwards

Global Solutions Officer

Dr. Edwards is responsible for leading Invista Performance Solutions and setting the strategic direction for the organization. In this role, she works with businesses to develop customized learning solutions to upskill their workforce and improve profitability. As a liaison to the business community, Dr. Edwards connects companies with training resources available at Northwest Colleges. She specializes in developing customized curriculum for companies that aligns with their corporate values and culture.

Before assuming this role, Dr. Edwards served as the Dean for Enterprise and Economic Development at Tacoma Community College. She has also held leadership positions at Clark College and Pierce County Careers Connection (PC3). Dr. Edwards has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Washington and a Masters in Education from the University of Puget Sound.

Kyle McCurdy

Business Development Manager

As the Business Development Manager, Kyle McCurdy is responsible for business outreach projects including marketing and community involvement. He brings a track record of success in relationship management, sales, and creative solutions development.

McCurdy is passionate about helping people develop skills that translate into added value in the workplace. Most recently, he worked with students from DeVry University as a Career Advisor where his development expertise contributed to a graduate employment rate that exceeded goals for the first time in two years. As a part of Invista, McCurdy looks forward to collaborating with businesses in the Puget Sound area and contributing to the growth and development of its workforce.

McCurdy is an alum of Washington State University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a minor in Native American Studies.

John Williams

Business Development Manager

John Williams is a Business Development Manager at Invista, and in this role he is responsible for business outreach and helping clients to find the best solution possible. Williams brings a strong sales and leadership background to Invista and he has always made it a priority to make a positive impact on businesses by helping them to maximize their bottom line. Williams is a leader, and makes good use of technology in meeting and exceeding goals, increasing ROI and influencing positive change in how local businesses touch customers.

As a member of Invista he will link his passion for business growth with finding the best corporate development solution for each client he serves. Williams is both a graduate and former football player from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Arts Social Sciences degree.

Lynn Fister

Senior Project Manager

Lynn Fister is the Senior Project Manager at Invista, and in this role she works with the Invista team to develop curriculum and provide program delivery for clients. Fister also establishes policies and procedures that increase training efficiency, and coordinates the awarding of college credit, continuing education units (CEUs) for corporate education delivered by partner colleges.

Prior to joining Invista, Fister was the Faculty Support Coordinator for Washington State University’sOffice ofGrant and Research Development. She worked with college faculty to identify grant funding opportunities, and coordinated and taught successful grant proposal writing workshops. Fister also volunteers as the Executive Director and Program Coach fortheYoung Entrepreneurs Success (YES) Network.

She has a Bachelor of Science, in Family and Consumer Science Education from Washington State University.

Emily Barnett

Project Manager

With experience both in education and private industry, Emily R. Barnett is able to understand about both the instructional and corporate aspects of training from Final JSP Reports to Executive Summaries to recruiting Instructional Facilitators locally and internationally. As a Project Manager, she works closely with instructional facilitators to design programs that meet the specific and unique needs of each client. Ms. Barnett also helps recruit and assess subject matter experts for future contract training opportunities.

She has had a lifelong enthusiasm for education and encouraging students of all backgrounds to succeed. Before joining Invista, Barnett was the Student Government Advisor and taught German language and culture for Lakes High School in Lakewood, Washington. A true Northwesterner, she received her Master of Arts in Teaching and Bachelor's degree from University of Puget Sound. During her undergraduate studies, Barnett had the experience of studying abroad in Berlin, Germany.

Jamie Palermo

Office Manager

Jamie Palermo is the Office Manager for Invista. In this role, she oversees the day to day functions of the office and works closely with Invista’s Global Solutions Officer, Dr. Lisa Edwards. Since 2000, Palermo has worked as an administrative manager for Tacoma Community College.

Palermo received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Washington-Tacoma and is currently working toward her Master’s Degree.

Anna Inthavong

Fiscal Technician 3

Anna Inthavong is the Fiscal Technician for Invista and is responsible for the fiscal management services. Anna has had over 10 years experience in the Accounting field, both in the private and public sector. She also had over 10 years working in the higher education setting, providing personalized assistance to students, faculty, staff, parents and the public.

Anna loves the Pacific Northwest. After graduating high school, she bravely left the security of her family and moved back to the Puget Sound area. Anna currently holds an Accounting Office Associate Certificate from Tacoma Community College. Her career goal is to receive a Masters in Accounting.

Vicki Christensen

Program Coordinator

Vicki Christensen is the Program Coordinator for Invista, working with Senior Project Manager, Lynn Fister and her team supporting the Northwest Training Partnership (SEIU) contract.

Prior to Invista, Christensen spent more than 30 years in progressively responsible Information Technology roles, including Vice President for Westar Financial Services and ET Financial Services. In these roles she worked with internal and external clients to streamline processes and provide customer service solutions. She now uses that experience to provide solutions for Invista clients.

Samantha Henderson

Program Specialist

Samantha Henderson came to the Invista team as a Program Specialist in 2009 with an established customer service background. Henderson provides training resources to advance the pool of Invista contract trainers. Specifically, she facilitates the instruction for Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, ensuring all requests are met for the company and the professional trainers.

Henderson graduated with her Associate of Arts Degree from Tacoma Community College in 2011.

Ashley Moore

Program Specialist

Ashley Moore is a Program Specialist with Invista, also working with the SEIU Healthcare Northwest Training Partnership contract to deliver Home Care Aide Training across the state. She is responsible for managing and coordinating locations for the over 300 classes offered each month under this contract.

Prior to joining the Invista Team, she worked at the Pierce County Juvenile Court with youth in the Alternative Detention program. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor’s in Criminology.

April White

Program Specialist

April White is a Program Specialist for Invista Performance Solutions and is responsible for coordinating with Invista staff to meet client’s needs and support special projects. As a Program Specialist, her administrative support duties include file maintenance, telephone support, and department process development and implementation.

White received her Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Texas Tech University and is currently working toward her M.B.A. with a specialization in Management. She hopes to complete her master’s from Wayland Baptist University before welcoming a baby girl in May.

Alexandra Vlaming

Marketing Intern

Alexandra Vlaming is the Marketing Intern for Invista. In this role she oversees marketing efforts, and works closely with the Business Development Manager(s) to complete business outreach projects and to improve the sales process. Specifically, she is working to develop Invista’s social media presence through a variety of platforms and is working to find new and exciting ways for Invista to increase its level of community involvement.

Ms. Vlaming received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington-Seattle in 2011, majoring in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing. She is using this knowledge to further the marketing efforts of Invista.