New team members join Jurassic Parliament
We are delighted to announce that two trainers have joined the Jurassic Parliament team, as seen here celebrating our new agreement.
Emilia Sanchez (left) and Tisha Gieser (right) are accomplished clerks who have a passion for sharing their knowledge of parliamentary procedure. They will be available for in-person training for local governments in the Puget Sound area.
Andrew Estep (second from left) and Ann Macfarlane (second from right) are thrilled to welcome Tisha and Emilia to the team! Contact us to schedule.
Emilia Sanchez, Registered Parliamentarian,
Certified Municipal Clerk
My path to parliamentary procedure became intentional once I was aware of how parliamentary procedure could be used as an effective meeting tool. In high school, I was an elected class officer and there wasn't a prescribed method on how decisions were made, nor did we know the difference between a decision of one or a majority. Growing up in a Texas border town also colored my perception of how decisions were made when daily activities border the United States and Mexico.
In 2002, I started my career with the City of Seattle in the Office of the City Clerk, and quickly became a back-up to the City Clerk and Deputy Clerk for staffing City Council meetings. Soon after, I was fully staffing City Council meetings with popular items, yet, I didn’t have a parliamentary education or awareness of how to effectively provide guidance. After receiving parliamentary training from Jurassic Parliament, I started my path. I completed a Parliamentary Procedure Certificate through the University of Wisconsin. In 2020, I received my Registered Parliamentarian credential through the National Association of Parliamentarians. I am also a Certified Municipal Clerk through the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC).
I have served as a parliamentarian for the Seattle City Council since 2010, and train Councilmembers on the Council Rules. I am also a parliamentary procedure instructor at the Northwest Clerks Institute, an accredited educational program through IIMC, and so far, have trained 120 Clerks in local government.
Education has been a key factor in my path to become a Registered Parliamentarian. I enjoy sharing my decades of experience and knowledge that can help my peers, and anyone seeking guidance on how to effectively participate in meetings, manage meetings efficiently, and deal with multiple variables associated with personalities and varied opinions about the outcome desired in business.
When I am not focused on rules or procedures, I am traveling to spend time with my family, seeking time outdoors and warmer climates, learning how to landscape and maintain it, and enjoying the arts in Seattle.
Tisha Gieser, Registered Parliamentarian,
Certified Municipal Clerk
I grew up in the Seattle area and attended the University of Washington, where I studied political science.
I lived in Juneau, Alaska for twelve years where I began my career in government and explored the great outdoors in my free time. As an Assistant Chief Clerk for the Alaska House of Representatives, I had the privilege of watching law-making occurring firsthand. Over the course of 10 years in that role, I saw how parliamentary procedure provided both the essential structure for law-making and the necessary flexibility.
In 2015 I returned to the Pacific Northwest with my husband and son and began working for local government. Soon after, I had my first training from Jurassic Parliament. I was thrilled to find a resource that distilled the complex topic of parliamentary procedure in a compelling and straightforward way.
I continued to grow my knowledge of parliamentary procedure, becoming a Registered Parliamentarian through the National Association of Parliamentarians in 2021. I have worked for the City of Issaquah for 8 years, now as the City Clerk. It may come as no surprise that my favorite part of the job is providing parliamentary support at City Council meetings.