YDMAW Mentorship
The Young Direct Marketers Association of Washington (YDMAW) Mentorship Program is a dynamic initiative designed to support the growth of emerging professionals in the direct marketing and fundraising industry. Through virtual group mentorships, participants connect with seasoned industry experts who provide guidance, share insights, and foster professional development.
Check out our 2025 Mentors!!
Sign up for YDMAW's Mentorship Program opportunity!Ā YDMAW's mentors are offering two, one-hour virtual sessions between the months of June and July where you'll have the opportunity to get to know each other, share stories, ask questions, or even ask for advice. We also encourage (but not require) mentorship groups to meet in person during the Bridge Conference and everyone has the opportunity to set up a 1:1 session with their mentor at the end of the program.
Read below to find out more about our four awesome mentors!
Check out our 2025 Mentors!
In 2025, YDMAW's mentors offered two, one-hour virtual sessions and provideded their mentees with an opportunity to get to know each other, share stories, ask questions, or even ask for advice. Read below to learn more about our rockstar mentors.
Q & A with Karen Barr
What is the name of your company and your title?
Share Our Strength | No Kid Hungry Managing Director, Individual Giving
What is your area of expertise?
Direct response fundraising, mid-level fundraising, budget management and development, program/campaign optimization and analysis, coaching and team development. Extensive experience growing programs across various channels (direct mail, outbound telemarketing, DRTV, canvassing, email, mobile & digital).
Which roles or career stages are you most familiar with mentoring?
Early career professionals and also answering questions about any of the areas of expertise that I listed above.
What types of challenges or goals do you enjoy helping young professionals work through?
My style is to coach by asking questions and offering guidance versus providing answers. Most times people know the answers 
.
Q & A with Leanne Barkley
What is the name of your company and your title?
K2D Strategies, Sr. Account Director
What is your area of expertise?
Direct Mail
Which roles or career stages are you most familiar with mentoring?
Early to Mid-career stages
What types of challenges or goals do you enjoy helping young professionals work through?
I enjoy helping young professionals connect the dots across the full fundraising ecosystem. Whether we're talking through multi-channel strategy or breaking down how different departments, partners, and tools work together, I enjoy making the big picture feel clear and actionable. I especially like helping people understand how to align day-to-day tactics with larger organizational goals, and building strategies that bring those goals to life.
Q & A with Bethany Keith
What is the name of your company and your title?
Further Digital, VP of Client Services
What is your area of expertise?
Marketing, fundraising, direct response, leadership
Which roles or career stages are you most familiar with mentoring?
I enjoy helping early-to mid-career professionals build confidence, set clear career goals, and develop skills that set them up for long-term success. Iāve managed teams of up to 8 people and worked across political marketing and nonprofit fundraising, so Iāve seen firsthand how important effective communication and leadership presence are - especially in high stakes, fast-paced environments.
What types of challenges or goals do you enjoy helping young professionals work through?
I find it especially rewarding to help young professionals learn to navigate team or organizational dynamics and figure out how to use their individual strengths to help their broader teams. Managing work/life balance is also crucial to not burning out and I can pass on some insights Iāve learned along the way.
Q & A with Marie Kosanovich
What is the name of your company and your title?
Vice President, Accounts at Lautman Maska Neill & Company
What is your area of expertise?
Direct Response Fundraising for nonprofits (c3 primarily) ā including direct mail, email, SMS and digital ad channels. Within that, I currently work on the account side, developing strategies, reporting on results, and managing multiple sets of teams and of course the client relationship. I also have extensive experience on the production side, both as a production manager and through working at a major commercial printer. In addition to that, I oversee training for young professionals and folks new to the industry here at Lautman.
Which roles or career stages are you most familiar with mentoring?
Iāve been at this for close to 30 years, so Iāve mentored people at many stages of their career. Mostly those with just a few yearsā experience but have also worked with folks who are still in college as well as people who have 10+ years looking for a change.
What types of challenges or goals do you enjoy helping young professionals work through?
Every person is different but itās the people I enjoy, more than the challenges themselves. There isnāt a particular type of challenge I āenjoyā, but I like when I see the light bulb go off in someoneās head when they start to connect things together to see the bigger picture and the role they play in serving the client. Iām also very active in the industry (former President of DMAW) and am a firm believer that networking and being able to meet others in your industry is incredibly important. Having those soft skills (especially when phone and in person communication is less common than emails and zoom calls) are so valuable.