2022 Public Utility Board

Mark Patterson
Chair (January/February 2022)

Mark Patterson is an attorney with the local law firm Vandeberg, Johnson & Gandara. He is a board member of Franke Tobey Jones and on the personnel committee of the Associated Ministries of Tacoma/Pierce County. He joined the Board in 2012.

Christine Cooley
Vice-Chair (January/February 2022), Chair (February to July 2022)

Christine Cooley is the Water Resource Program manager for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. She is the past chair of the Sustainable Tacoma Commission, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and a volunteer with Forterra, the International Living Future Institute, and Tacoma Roots. Christine holds a Master of Business Administration from Pacific Lutheran University and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy and Management from Ohio State University.

Carlos M. Watson
Secretary (January/February 2022), Vice-Chair (February to July 2022), Chair (October – EOY 2022)

Carlos M. Watson is a realtor with Carlos Watson Real Estate in Tacoma. He is a member of the NAACP, Tacoma Black Collective, National Association of Realtors, Mocha Mentoring, Tacoma Urban League, Tacoma Cease Fire 253, and 100 Black Men organization.  He attended Tacoma Community College and served in the US Navy as an avionics technician. 

John O’Loughlin
Secretary (July to October 2022), Vice-Chair (October to EOY 2022)

A lifelong resident of Tacoma, environmental chemist and engineer John O’Loughlin has more than 30 years of experience working in the wastewater, surface water and solid waste utilities in Tacoma, and retired in 2019 as the assistant director of the City’s Environmental Services Department. O’Loughlin also serves on the TAPCO Credit Union Supervisory Committee. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Washington, a professional engineering license from the state of Washington, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Washington, Tacoma. 

Holland Cohen
Secretary (October to EOY 2022)

Tacoma native, community advocate and volunteer Holland Cohen owns and manages a real estate brokerage that focuses on property management. She has served on several boards, most recently as chair of the Communities and Schools board and the Tacoma Historical Society. Together with her husband, Loren, Holland is an active supporter of the Rainbow Center, University of Washington Tacoma and other local organizations and causes.

Joe Bushnell
Member (January/February 2022)

Joe Bushnell leads Local Government Affairs for the Washington Hospitality Association in Pierce County. He is also the Board Chair of the South Tacoma Neighborhood Council and sits on the Travel Tacoma | Mt. Rainier Board of Directors. He graduated from Stadium High School in Tacoma, and has a degree from The Evergreen State College, where he studied Political Science and Economics and served over a decade in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Logistics Manager.

William Bridges
Member (July to EOY 2022)

William Bridges is a principal policy analyst for the Pierce County Council. He has previously worked for CenturyLink, the Washington State Senate, and the Bonneville Power Administration. Bridges attended the University of Washington and Gonzaga Law School, and is a licensed attorney in Washington. 

Elly Claus-McGahan
Member (October to EOY 2022)

Elly Claus-McGahan has been teaching and coaching K-12 math students in Tacoma for more than 20 years. While pursuing her career in mathematics education, she volunteered time to tutor, coach math teams, host math competitions and lead the WA state middle school math Olympiad competition. She more recently turned her attention to climate change action and affordable housing, volunteering with the Sustainable Tacoma Commission, Tideflats Advisory Group, Citizens’ Climate Lobby – Tacoma, co-founding Climate Pierce County and building houses with Habitat for Humanity. She has a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin and a professional development certificate from George Washington University in Development and Financing of Renewable Projects.