The Annual C3 Leaders’ High Ground Breakfast at The Bellevue Club is a gathering of C3 Leaders, business, and community leaders who come together to share stories about transformation in Community, Commerce, and Culture. It is also during this breakfast that we recognize the Annual Ralph Palmen High Ground Award recipient. This is a leader who brings the good news and values of Jesus to the marketplace and seeks to take the “High Ground” in all areas of his or her life.
Annual C3 Leaders High Ground Breakfast and Award
Our business community stands on the shoulders of world-class, game-changing leaders. I Thessalonians 5 says that we are to hold our leaders in “high regard.” That is what we will do at 7 a.m. on Thursday, October 1st, 2026 at the C3 Leaders’ High Ground Breakfast.
The annual C3 Leaders’ High Ground Breakfast will be a morning to highlight the faithful service of colleagues who have taken the “high ground” during the last year.
Join us. Registration is now open for individuals ($79.99) or bring a table from your office or your C3 Forum ($695/table of 10). It will be a beautiful time to behold at the Bellevue Club.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Brian Gilman, CEO Warriors & Quiet Waters
Col, USMC (Ret)
After 26 years in the Marines, Brian left his active-duty role as Chief of Staff of the Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) in 2020 to serve veterans in a new way by leading Warriors & Quiet Waters – a 501(c)(3) Veterans Impact Organization. Brian’s background uniquely qualifies him to evolve Warriors & Quiet Waters impact. It starts with his generational roots in Butte, Montana—a hard-rock mining town chiseled into the mountains by a relentless work ethic. Throughout his military career, Brian has served by the General Jim Mattis quote, “The privilege of command is command.” With this mindset, he commanded Marines at the platoon, company, battalion, and regimental level, led four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and served in roles ranging from Scout Sniper Platoon Commander, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines; Commanding Officer, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, and Commanding Officer, Marine Raider Training Center. While working in the Chairman’s Office of Reintegration on the Joint Staff, Brian sparked a new passion for advocating for transitioning service members.
High Ground Award Recipient:
Barrett (Barry) Horn, Executive Vice President,
National Production of Guild Holdings Company
Barrett (Barry) H. Horn is presently an executive at Guild Mortgage company. In his 18 year career at Guild Barry has held the positions of National Sales Manager, head of acquisitions and Director of Guild Foundation. Barry sold his company Liberty Financial Group where he was founder and CEO in 2008 to Guild Mortgage. During this time as National Sales Manager at Guild the company grew from 2 billion to over 25 Billion and went public in 2020 and was subsequently sold to Bayview Asset Management in 2025. Today Guild is one of the top mortgage companies in the USA.
Prior to Guild Barry was CEO of Saltmine LLC a web design and consulting company. Prior to Saltmine Barry was Worldwide EVP of Attachmate Corporation in Bellevue who specialized in PC/Host integration. Barry also worked for IBM for 14 years and had several significant jobs Eastern Regional Manager, Assistant to IBM Chairman of the Board and Director of Personal Computer Marketing. During this time Barry spent 19 years in the New York/Boston area.
Barry also is a founder/partner of Bellevue Lending a private lending for the housing industry for Pacific Northwest, Montana and Arizona. Barry serves as Chairman of the trustees for Northwest University a position he has held for 10 years, serves on the board for SAFE an organization that helps to stop sex traffic and has been instrumental in helping several non-profits fight for legislation to stop this activity. Barry is also founder/board chairman of Liberty Road Foundation a 21 year old organization to help businesses and faith based non profits work together to help our community prosper. Barry attends Pursuit church and works on several committees such as marketplace ministries. Barry is a C3 member and their group has been meeting for 15 years. Barry is a graduate of Taylor University where he met Joan and got married and has one daughter Julie and three great grandchildren Jack, Ivy, and Noah. Barry lives in English Hill and spends time in Leavenworth where Barry has a small ranch. Barry is committed to following JESUS and doing everything possible to help grow the KINGDOM of GOD.
“It was great to reconnect with old friends, meet new people and hear powerful testimonies. It is all about Christ and Community and reaching out to as many as we can. I know that has been the mission of C3 Leaders and so many others in the room. It was an honor to participate.”
The High Ground Award
Stories about people that have chosen to use their unique gifts to glorify God are both inspirational and instructive. Ralph Palmen is such a man. His life inspired C3 Leaders to create an annual award to recognize a leader who has used his or her gifts over their career to bring the values of Jesus to Commerce, Community and Culture. This is the mission of C3 Leaders.
2025 Award Recipient Alec Hill
Alec is president emeritus of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA. He has also served as dean of the School of Business and Economics at Seattle Pacific University and as a Regional Director for World Relief.
He currently mentors rising leaders, teaches at Regent College (Canada), and consults with Murdock Trust on two projects (board governance and nonprofit executive director development).
Alec enjoys tent camping, loves reading history, and is a long-suffering fan of the ill-fated Mariners. The author of two books (on business ethics and surviving cancer), he has known his wife, Mary, since age 12. They have two amazing daughters and four adored grandchildren.
2024 Award Recipient Bob Lonac
Today, people recognize Bob Lonac as a man of faith and a devoted leader. But this wasn’t always the case. Bob’s family was not one that talked about or practiced any religious faith. In high school, he was asked to start a Young Life club, it was there that he gave his life to Jesus. After Bob’s graduation from Westmont College he joined Young Life staff recruiting and training volunteers, raising money, and figuring out how to relate to and lead all kinds of people serving there for 33 years.
In 2001 Bob became the first COO of the emerging NGO International Justice Mission (IJM) working to free people around the world from slavery. For the final 12 years of his career Bob served at the CEO of CRISTA. Bob has spent his life serving others in faith-based ministries helping teams and organizations succeed from our region to around the world.
2023 Award Recipient Ward Tanneberg
Ward is a listener and influencer, a pastor/writer and novelist, called from generations of pioneer farming families into Christian ministry. He attended 2 bible colleges, 2 universities, a seminary, even graduated a couple of times, including a PhD Theology. He began ministry as a young evangelist, then a denominational youth and men’s ministries director, college public relations director, a nonprofit organization executive director, and pastor in 3 churches.
“I’ve told stories since I was a kid, been spanked for a few, had some others published. I write a blog, ‘Perspective,’ about life as I see it. My goal is to listen well, teach with humility, write creatively, stir the glowing embers of my peers, and leave the Light on for the next generations.” A widower, Ward enjoys quiet evenings, good books, movies, family, sports, travel, and early morning walks with Gage, the ‘wonder dog.’
2021 Award Recipient Chi Dooh “Skip” Li
Skip Li built a first-class law firm – Ellis, Li, McKinstry – made up of men and women who care deeply about clients, each other, and the city of Seattle. He launched an innovative ministry to students at the University of Washington called Vision 16. And he founded Agros International, an empowering work among the poorest of the rural poor in Latin America.
2020 Award Recipient Dr. Joseph Castleberry
Dr. Castleberry, a native of Alabama, came to the Puget Sound Region after a transcultural career that took his family throughout the Americas before he landed at Northwest University. He transformed the university into a regional leader with his blend of Biblical knowledge, cultural perspective, extensive study and writing, ability to connect throughout a community and his love of Jesus. Dr. Castleberry has been interviewed on Fox News Channel, CBN, TBN, GodTV, China Global News Television, One America News Network and hundreds of radio shows. Dr. Castleberry is a thought leader on Christian high education. He and his wife, Kathleen, have three daughters, three son-in-laws and four grandkids.
2019 Award Recipient Jon Sharpe
Jon’s life is a testimony to his love of Jesus through his family, his service as a businessman and a pastor, Founder of the Serve Seattle Initiative, Vice-President of Northwest Graduate School, Academic Dean of Bakke Graduate University, Founder of the Center for Global Urban Leaders, Executive Director of Pinnacle Forum Northwest and since 2012, Founder and President of C3 Leaders. Under his leadership, C3 experienced substantial spiritual and organic growth from 4 forums to over 40; representing 300 business leaders learning how to live and lead like Jesus.
2019 President’s Award Recipient Bob Nuber
Bob Nuber Chairman Emeritus at Clark Nuber PS
2018 Award Recipient Jack McMillan
Jack McMillan led Nordstrom through a phenomenal growth curve of business, changing the landscape for luxury retail and demonstrating generosity at every level. Nordstrom has become a brand for excellence, service, and grace. Jack not only led this incredible company to the top but he has a lifetime of demonstrating compassion and care for the urban poor and a Jesus like love for others. Jack is a reconciler, a friend, and a leader in the Seattle region. Those serving the urban poor recognize that Jack is in their corner with a big heart. Jack seeks to see men and women everywhere learn that Jesus loves them and can transform them.
2017 Award Recipient Jim Larkin
Jim Larkin is the president and CEO of Romac Industries. Jim graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Business Administration which is also where he met his wife Barb of 41 years. Together they raised two sons, Matt and Josh, and they are now enjoying their six grandchildren.
2016 Award Recipient George Toles
George Toles is a Seattle legend. NBA public announcer, marketing guru, radio personality, networker extraordinaire, and community leader. George was an NBA public address announcer at about a thousand games – two seasons with the Detroit Pistons and nineteen with the Seattle Sonics. In addition to his sport side announcing, Toles had an outstanding career as a marketing executive, and is founder of His Deal, a twice-a-month luncheon in downtown Seattle where men can discover the person of Jesus in a safe, relaxed environment.
2015 Award Recipient Kendra VanderMeulen
Kendra was the first recipient of the High Ground Award. Bob Nuber, Chair Emeritus shares some of the reasons she was chosen as the inaugural person to receive this award for having ascended to the High Ground of her profession. Here are just a few of her many accomplishments: Kendra helped pioneer the wireless industry having served as SVP of the Wireless Data business for AT&T Wireless (formerly McCaw Cellular Communications) and EVP of Mobile at InfoSpace. Kendra served as COO and President of the Communications Group of Convergys (formerly Cincinnati Bell Information Systems). Kendra was the recipient of the 1999 Catherine B. Cleary award as the outstanding women leader of AT&T. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors at both INRIX and B-Square, and has previously served as a board member of a number of other companies. Kendra holds a B.S. Degree in Mathematics from Marietta College and a M.S. in Computer Science from Ohio State University. She has been married to Bill Snider for 34 years and has two grown children, Rich Snider and Bess Navarrete, as well as one grandson, Oliver Navarrete.
