April Employee of the Month

Our VSS Rock Star of the month for April is Leslie McPherson!

Leslie McPherson, Programs Administrator for Victim Support Services (VSS), has worked in the victim advocacy field for over eight years. A nationally credentialed Advocate with the designation of Comprehensive Victim Intervention Specialist, she oversees the Victim Services and Education, Training, and Outreach departments.  Additionally, Leslie coordinates and facilitates Core Academy Training – a nationally accredited 40-hour training that qualifies individuals to work directly with victims of crime in Washington State, creating curriculum and teaching the philosophy of advocacy, crisis intervention, case management, resources for advocates, system based vs. community based advocacy, and more. She co-chairs the Fund Development Committee for VSS and sits on the Governance and Strategic Planning Committees, as well. She has volunteered with Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County, and has led multiple crisis response efforts to tragic events in western Washington. Leslie sits on the King County Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) through the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center (WSCJTC), the Human Service Executives (HSE) Council, the King County Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) Task Force, and the National Coalition of Homicide Survivors Service Providers. She participated in M.J. Murdock’s Trust “Essentials of Development” in 2017/2018, graduated with the Leadership Snohomish County Signature Class of 2019, and has her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Criminology. Her dedication to the VSS mission is evident in her passion for inspiring and supporting her colleagues, as well as upholding VSS core values and quality services to its clients.

When she is not busy with her professional associations, Leslie enjoys traveling, game nights with friends and family, line dancing, watching True Crime TV and attending CrimeCon. She is often seen with an iced coffee in hand, and walking her precious fuzz kid – Frankie, who was unanimously selected as the VSS Staff Fun Coordinator a few years ago! In this line of work, Leslie recognizes and appreciates the importance of self-care, and regularly practices it through frequent laughter, planning menus and cooking for others, as well as road trips (especially ocean drives) with windows down and the music up!

CONGRATS LESLIE!