.Description
Join us on March 19th at 6:00PM for an in-depth presentation from Carmen Best on how change is no longer a choice, it’s the operating system. Are you ready to reboot?
Carmen Best is an accomplished executive leader with more than 30 years of experience overseeing large, complex organizations and driving high-impact partnerships across the Seattle region. Her career reflects deep expertise in strategic operations, citywide event coordination, stakeholder engagement, and multi-division leadership—skills that directly support Seattle’s meetings and conventions industry and the region’s economic vitality.
Carmen currently serves as a consultant with 21CP Solutions, advising cities, public agencies, and civic organizations on organizational strategy, cross-sector collaboration, and large-scale planning. In this role, she partners with leaders across hospitality, tourism, government, and community sectors to strengthen operational effectiveness and elevate visitor-facing experiences.
Previously, Carmen was the Director of Global Security Risk Operations at Microsoft, where she managed worldwide teams responsible for planning, coordinating, and supporting major corporate events, VIP engagements, executive summits, and international convenings. Her work included close collaboration with venues, hotels, transportation partners, and regional stakeholders to ensure seamless experiences, effective logistics, and elevated service delivery for high-profile visitors from around the world.
Carmen spent 28 years with the Seattle Police Department, ultimately serving as Seattle’s Chief of Police. In this role, she worked extensively with the Seattle Convention Center, regional hotels, tourism organizations, the Port of Seattle, sports and entertainment venues, and city leaders to support the safe and successful execution of large-scale events, conventions, and citywide activations. She led a workforce of nearly 2,000 employees across four major divisions, overseeing operational planning, budget development, staff performance, and strategic alignment. Under her leadership, Seattle strengthened key partnerships, improved customer-facing service systems, and enhanced the city’s capacity to host major events and high-volume visitor activity.
A Pacific Northwest native and U.S. Army veteran, Carmen is widely respected for her collaborative leadership style and her ability to bring diverse partners together toward shared goals. She has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the FBI National Executive Institute’s National Law Enforcement Ethics Award, the Major Cities Chiefs Leadership Award, and the Puget Sound Business Journal’s Influential Woman of the Year and the Washington State African American Achievement Award for 2026.
Carmen’s commitment to Seattle’s regional success extends well beyond her public-sector roles. She serves on the boards and advisory councils of several civic and community organizations, including the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Seattle, the YWCA of King County, the Seattle University Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, the Lafayette Group, and the Los Angeles Metro Department of Public Safety Advisory Board. She is also an active member of national professional associations focused on leadership, operations, and organizational development.
In 2021, Carmen published the bestselling book Black in Blue: Lessons on Leadership, Breaking Barriers, and Racial Reconciliation, and she regularly serves as a contributor and analyst for NBC News affiliates. She is a sought-after keynote speaker at conferences and industry events, where she addresses leadership, collaboration, operational excellence, and the power of cross-sector partnerships.
Carmen holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Leadership from Northeastern University and has completed numerous executive leadership programs, including the FBI National Executive Institute, FBI National Academy, Major Cities Chiefs Police Executive Leadership Institute, and the Senior Management Institute for Police.
Agenda:
- 6:00 PM – 6:15 PM: Networking and Introduction
- 6:15 PM – 6:30 PM: Cyber Trivia
- 6:45 PM – 7:15 PM: Keynote Presentation: Change Management in a Technology-Driven Era
- 7:15 PM – 7:30 PM: Q&A Session
- 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Closing Remarks and Announcements
Date Time: March 19th 2026 at 6:00 PM
Location: Mercer Island Community & Event Center – 8236 SE 24th St, Mercer Island, WA 98040
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