Stellar International Networks Executive Team
Laurie McDonald Jonsson, Founder & President
Laurie McDonald Jonsson is principal and board member of Stellar Holdings,
an international real estate development/investment company and president,
CEO & Founder of Stellar International and Stellar International
Networks. Laurie was the co-founder of travel industry businesses including
Sundance Cruises, Admiral Cruises and Stellar Travel. Business board
directorships include the Puget Sound Bank and founding director of Expedia.com
and Commerce Bank that successfully went public during her directorship.
Laurie has helped build and manage businesses in the travel industry, cruise ship and real estate business, including co-founding Sundance Cruises and Admiral Cruises and co-owning Stellar Travel. She was one of the first women owners in the cruise ship business, handling everything from supervising construction contracts to actual sailing’s to the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Scandinavia, and the Caribbean.
Laurie enjoys leading Stellar International Networks—a company whose mission is to link women leaders of the world to create new approaches and concrete actions on a range of issues that concerns all people. In 2006 and 2008 Stellar International Networks successfully organized women leaders delegations to China with Senator Maria Cantwell.In addition to China, Laurie organized and led delegations with Senators Patty Murray and Cantwell to Cuba, Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and South Africa.
Appointed chair of the Governor’s Executive Women’s Council under then Governor, now, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke; founding chair of the Center for Women and Democracy, University of Washington and awarded a US presidential appointment to the board of the National Women’s Business Council and founding board member of the Washington State Women’s Forum of the International Women’s Forum organization. Awarded the 2005 “Women Who Make A Difference” award and received the “Leading Women Entrepreneur of the Year” award in Monaco.
Laurie currently serves on USC Marshall School of Business Board of Leaders; the advisory council of the Women Presidents’ Organization; is a long time member of the Committee of 200 (C200) and former executive committee member of Harvard University JFK School of Government – Women’s Leadership Board.
Laurie has helped build and manage businesses in the travel industry, cruise ship and real estate business, including co-founding Sundance Cruises and Admiral Cruises and co-owning Stellar Travel. She was one of the first women owners in the cruise ship business, handling everything from supervising construction contracts to actual sailing’s to the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Scandinavia, and the Caribbean.
Laurie enjoys leading Stellar International Networks—a company whose mission is to link women leaders of the world to create new approaches and concrete actions on a range of issues that concerns all people. In 2006 and 2008 Stellar International Networks successfully organized women leaders delegations to China with Senator Maria Cantwell.In addition to China, Laurie organized and led delegations with Senators Patty Murray and Cantwell to Cuba, Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and South Africa.
Appointed chair of the Governor’s Executive Women’s Council under then Governor, now, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke; founding chair of the Center for Women and Democracy, University of Washington and awarded a US presidential appointment to the board of the National Women’s Business Council and founding board member of the Washington State Women’s Forum of the International Women’s Forum organization. Awarded the 2005 “Women Who Make A Difference” award and received the “Leading Women Entrepreneur of the Year” award in Monaco.
Laurie currently serves on USC Marshall School of Business Board of Leaders; the advisory council of the Women Presidents’ Organization; is a long time member of the Committee of 200 (C200) and former executive committee member of Harvard University JFK School of Government – Women’s Leadership Board.
Veronica Very, Executive Assistant to the President, Events & Customer Relations Manager
Veronica Very has enjoyed serving as executive assistant to Laurie McDonald Jonsson and Stanley B. McDonald since 2006. In this capacity, Veronica is found supporting,
coordinating and organizing many high level projects, meetings and events on
behalf of Stellar International; Networks and Holding’s companies. Special events and projects
worth special note include 2006, 2008 and 2011 Stellar Women’s Leadership China
Delegations; C200 Best Ticket in Town Seattle; Sweden Week Nobel Laureate Dinner
featuring H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria; Swedish Royal Roundtable and a high
level women leader’s dinner with then presidential candidate Hillary Rodham
Clinton hosted at the Clinton family residence in Washington, DC.
Veronica’s career experience includes working in beauty and fashion, hospitality and real estate industries with Nordstrom; MAC Cosmetics; W Hotel Los Angeles, Windermere Real Estate and the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. Veronica’s leadership, special event and customer relations experience and skills has gained her recognition and customer service and leadership awards from her employers and the community at large.
Veronica is an enthusiastic and respected community leader who serves on the ministerial team at First AME Church, Seattle and actively pursues opportunities to give back by volunteering at the Seattle Children’s Hospital and recently launching Very Bright Foundation to raise Sickle Cell awareness through education and inspiration. She firmly believes that pain is simply an opportunity for power and purpose to teach us life lessons that can change the world. Veronica’s heart beats with love and joy for her daughter Ashlé.
Veronica’s career experience includes working in beauty and fashion, hospitality and real estate industries with Nordstrom; MAC Cosmetics; W Hotel Los Angeles, Windermere Real Estate and the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. Veronica’s leadership, special event and customer relations experience and skills has gained her recognition and customer service and leadership awards from her employers and the community at large.
Veronica is an enthusiastic and respected community leader who serves on the ministerial team at First AME Church, Seattle and actively pursues opportunities to give back by volunteering at the Seattle Children’s Hospital and recently launching Very Bright Foundation to raise Sickle Cell awareness through education and inspiration. She firmly believes that pain is simply an opportunity for power and purpose to teach us life lessons that can change the world. Veronica’s heart beats with love and joy for her daughter Ashlé.
Photo used under Creative Commons from gfpeck
