Joe Lawless graduated from Seattle University in 1987 and after a few years in the advertising and sports management fields he began a 14 year stay with Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, the last seven as the Executive Director of the Mary Bridge Children's Foundation. During that time Joe created the Courage Classic Bicycle Tour, built a model Children's Advocacy Center, and led a $15.5 million capital campaign. After graduating with his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Washington Tacoma in 2007, he returned to the school to lead the newly created Center for Leadership and Social Responsibility. The Center's mission is to develop socially responsible leaders who build sustainable organizations and communities.