Joined Ventures in June of 2023
Joining Ventures allows Monique the incredible opportunity to fuel her passion for startups
while cultivating dreams, empowering individuals, and fostering a thriving ecosystem to make a
lasting difference in traditionally underrepresented communities.
Overcoming the challenges and obstacles of being a female small business owner when she
co-founded her award-winning Tacoma restaurant helped leverage her experiences of
successful entrepreneurship as a Hospitality Management instructor at Clover Park Technical
College.
Prior to her role with Ventures, Monique served as the Executive Director of The Youth Marine
Foundation and CEO of their affiliate companies, achieving a $3.5 million capital campaign in
under a year to bring a world-class training vessel to Puget Sound. She was previously
appointed by the Tacoma City Council to serve for five years as a member of the Tacoma Public
Utility Board, setting policy and managing a $2 billion biennial budget.
As a co-founder of the Washington Tourism Alliance, Monique helped advocate for the
organization in the State legislature resulting in the privately self-funded tourism model that now
exists statewide. She served as the Honorary Vice Commander of the Western Air Defense
Sector at JBLM and advocated for military families in the Puget Sound area during her trips to
Washington D.C. as an ambassador.
Monique’s approach to innovative operations, outstanding service to the community, and
collaborative mentorship resulted in her being recognized by U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer
in the Congressional Record in 2013.
Dream Business to start:
Monique’s dream business is an urban-based destination for women’s empowerment
weekends.
