Four local individuals were recognized by City Club of Tacoma as regional leaders during Wednesday’s luncheon at the Sheraton Hotel. This is the third year City Club is sponsoring the Emerging Leaders Awards program to recognize individuals who are making major contributions to the community, but have yet to receive recognition for their efforts. Members of the City Club Leadership Committee select people from nominations solicited from City Club members and the community.

The following are City Club’s Emerging Leaders for 2002:

– Shauna Rae Wertherby is a women’s health care nurse practitioner who has devoted herself to improving health care for the less fortunate. She has worked with the American Cancer Society to help support breast cancer survivors in the black community. During her tenure with Allen African Methodist Church as superintendent and children’s choir director, Sunday school attendance has more than doubled and choir participation has increased from 15 to more than 60 children under 12. She also continues to send educational information to the former Soviet Union.

– Linda Danforth is a director for 9th District Congressman Adam Smith who has helped attract high-tech businesses to Pierce County. She is a founding member of the South Sound chapter of the Washington Software Alliance, a principal organizer of the South Sound Technology Conference and an active member of the Tacoma Technology Consortium. Danforth has also been actively involved in various community service initiatives, including the American Lung Association, Paint Tacoma Beautiful and Habitat for Humanity.

– Lamont Loo is an attorney at law and principal at the Davies Pearson law firm. Loo, along with his wife, arrived in Tacoma just six years ago fresh from law school. His law firm soon placed him on a fast track and he became a shareholder. He quickly became active in both professional and community activities. At the same time Loon has been raising a young family, he serves on the boards and is past president of both the Tacoma Downtown Lions Club and the FISH Food Bank.

– Valerie Bennett is a founding partner in Opti Staffing, a fledgling job placement and referral company. Apart from the work she does at her job, Bennett’s volunteer efforts include involvement in Soroptimist International of Tacoma, Altursa, Shared Housing Services, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, The Tacoma Club and Daughters of the American Revolution. She is a membership chair for the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce.