Building bridges and breaking barriers

For Dorry Foster, leadership isn’t about standing above others. It’s about standing among them — listening first, finding common ground, and building bridges across sectors, cultures, and communities.

As CEO of the Wenatchee Valley YMCA and President of the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Foster has spent years balancing two missions that, while distinct, share the same foundation: Strengthening the heart of the community through collaboration.

“Nonprofits and their leaders need to work with the spirit of collaboration,” Foster says. “That’s particularly helpful when we were all forced to adapt for the pandemic. Our partner services allowed us to be more resilient.”

Leadership rooted in service

At the YMCA, Foster has guided the organization through years of growth and change — from expanding childcare programs to shepherding construction of a new facility. But her approach to leadership, she says, begins with empowering others.

“Second only to our staff, volunteer resources are one of the greatest strengths of a nonprofit,” Foster said. “Being able to serve the Chamber in this capacity allowed me to see everything that we ask our volunteer leadership to take on — and in return, I was hopefully able to emulate board leadership qualities to my peers.”

Women at the table

Since arriving in Wenatchee in 2016, Foster has seen a transformation in local leadership. Today, she notes, women are well-represented in key roles across North Central Washington — a shift she attributes to both opportunity and the influence of strong female role models.

“When I call for a meeting with my peers, the majority are women,” she said. She can’t praise enough the “incredible female leadership in this valley.”

But even in a region known for collaboration, challenges remain. “I still experience men speaking over women’s voices in meetings,” Foster said. “Stopping this behavior, whether intentional or not, is needed by both the woman being interrupted and their peers witnessing this. Empowering her voice and drawing attention to the disruptive behavior allows her to continue to learn and lead effectively.”

Mentorship and momentum

For Foster, mentorship is key to sustaining that progress. “None of us got here without someone giving us courage to step out,” she said. “Once you find your path — find your mentor. This can start as early as high school.”

That belief in connection extends beyond gender. As Chamber board president, Foster says her goal is to lift all business voices — particularly those from historically underrepresented groups. “The Chamber provides amazing opportunities for everyone in the community to learn from each other,” she said. “For the past two decades, we’ve targeted our efforts on lifting our community’s Hispanic business needs, and I believe we are making a difference.”

A vision for inclusive growth

The Wenatchee Valley is growing — new families, new housing, new energy — but Foster cautions that prosperity must remain inclusive.

“As the largest provider of licensed childcare in our valley, the Y will need to intentionally focus on workforce development in order to increase our programs to serve more families,” she said. “We can only do that if the state aligns better with the true cost of providing care, and [if] partnerships with businesses needing this service for their staff work with us.”

The new YMCA facility, scheduled to open in November 2026, will be a cornerstone of that vision. “We will be able to focus more on health equity to ensure wellness and recreational programs are accessible to all,” Foster said. “Because health is economic stability.”

Paying it forward

When Foster began her career in the YMCA, women in executive roles were rare. “Out of twenty regional executives, I was the only female,” she recalled. “Finding my voice in that meeting was a critical step to being respected.”

Now, she hopes to do for others what her mentors once did for her. “When I was challenged, these women pushed me through it,” she said. “I hope I am doing the same for those around me now.”

Her advice to young women entering leadership is simple but hard-won: Listen first. Be curious. Start.

“I’ve had more success learning from failed attempts than I could have if I didn’t start,” she said.

What’s ahead

Foster’s focus for the year ahead is clear. “YMCA — get in the new facility!” she said with a laugh. “We’ve raised $28 million to date and still need to close a $3 million gap. Until we’re in and debt-free, that will continue to be my focus.”

As for the Chamber, she says it’s about staying responsive in a shifting economy. “Our Chamber is focused on listening to our members, providing platforms and pathways to communicate their requests for information, resources, and assistance,” Foster said. “Our objective is to respond urgently — either as the direct business resource or by connecting them to one.”

For Foster, it all circles back to collaboration — the simple, steady act of building something stronger together.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media