1. 10811 SE Kent Kangley Road
Kent, WA 98030
253.854.5660
127 SW 156th
Street
Burien, WA 98166
253.216.0720
www.ctckids.org
8717 S Hosmer Street
Tacoma, WA 98444
253.531.8873
7/28/16
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing this letter as a reference for Jon Botten. As the current Early Intervention Program Director at Children’s
Therapy Center, I have had the pleasure of working with Jon for 10 years, reporting directly to him for the last 8 years. His
exemplary leadership during his 17 years as CEO of CTC has transformed the organization from a tiny non-profit working
out of a church to a large non-profit that serves thousands of families per year across three geographic sites. The
characteristics that stand out the most are Jon’s vision, strategy, fostering of culture, entrepreneurial spirit, and unsurpassed
work ethic.
Jon’s vision of what CTC could become inspired those that worked with him to do more, be better, and commit to excellence.
He sees past barriers and limitations and helps staff to focus on what is possible. He has raised the bar for all of us, and has
enabled CTC to serve more families and have a greater impact on the community. Jon’s vision is paired with a strategic
focus. He has worked closely with the leads to develop annual strategic plans that focus on the most important organizational
priorities. While Jon was the driver and the coach behind our strategic plan and vision, it was never his plan, it was always
ours. This speaks to his leadership style.
Jon leads by example; he listens, and he empowers the people around him to be the best that they can be. He sees the
strengths in his staff and has created a leadership team that is fully engaged in our shared vision. He welcomes healthy
debate, and makes decisions based on shared values and input from staff. Jon helped me to see my own strengths and utilize
them, offering coaching and mentoring as needed. He encouraged me to lead independently and authentically.
Jon fostered a culture at CTC that encourages hard work and a commitment to serving families with excellence. The culture
is empowering, positive and fun. Everyone has a voice, and is encouraged to share any and all input in the interest of
continuous improvement. He is committed to maintaining an outstanding company culture.
In addition to leading our non-profit core mission, Jon has a unique entrepreneurial spirit that led to several successful social
enterprises that generate revenue to support our core programs. Jon’s dedication and forward thinking has led to greater
sustainability in the face of decreased reimbursements and systemic challenges in the healthcare field.
I can say with 100% confidence that any organization that is committed to excellence and forward thinking will benefit from
Jon’s leadership. He has the ability to join with any team, find the strengths in the people around him, and empower them to
be better.
I would be happy to discuss Jon’s qualifications further. Please feel free to call me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Karen Stedman,
CTC EI Program Director
253 216 0831