We are pleased to announce the 2021-22 trustee officers. We appreciate their ongoing stewardship to help our community navigate the future with confidence.

These four individuals continue to provide leadership and inspiration to us all. 

Toby Murray III ’71, Chair

As a CWA alumnus, parent of alumni and a prior trustee, Toby Murray brings a wealth of CWA experience to his role on the Board. Mr. Murray joined the Board for another term in 2018 and his most recent CWA Board committee work has included membership on the Executive, Endowment, and Finance Committees, as well as the Facilities Master Plan Task Force. After receiving his bachelor’s from Claremont Men’s College in 1975, he followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather by working in his family’s timber company, Murray Pacific Corporation. He serves as Chairman for the company, after recently retiring from the role of President and CEO. In 1996, he was named recipient of the Charles Wright Academy Distinguished Alumni Award. He is also the executive director of the L.T. Murray Family Foundation. In his free time, he enjoys golf, pickleball, reading, and travel. He and his wife, Laurie, have two grown children, a son and an alumna daughter (class of 2002).   

Mark Hood, Vice Chair

Mark Hood is an attorney focusing on commercial and residential real estate in the South Sound region with Vandeberg, Johnson & Gandara, LLP. He graduated with a bachelor’s in business from the University of Washington and earned his law degree from the University of Puget Sound. His wife, Linda, is a judge on the Washington State Court of Appeals, and their daughter is a member of the class of 2026. Mr. Hood was a trustee for the Corporate Council for the Arts (now ArtsFund) from 2000-2004. His hobbies include playing jazz music (he plays the trumpet) and sailboat racing. A trustee since 2017, he enjoys “helping to spread the word on how special CWA is,” particularly “the combination of excellent academics and the focus on the importance of being good citizens and giving back.” His favorite Charles Wright moment is the first day of the school; it’s an experience he enjoys every year.  

Mike Opitz, Treasurer

Mike Opitz is the parent of three children including a current Tarrier in the class of 2027 and an alumnus from the class of 2020. He earned his bachelor’s of science at West Point in Mechanical Engineering and Management, which led him to own and operate several companies. He has a passion for lifting others up in life, and his role as the owner and president of The Wave Car Wash has afforded him many opportunities to do so. He has served at the Puget Sound Carwash Association and the Pointe Du Hoc Foundation and Boone & Crockett Club. Mr. Opitz is honored to serve as a board member for Charles Wright where he is proud of the school values, the caring faculty & staff, and the experiential education program. In his down time, you can find him enjoying nature in the mountains, working toward wildlife conservation, running, and playing tennis.   

Kendall (McGuire) Leith ’90, Secretary

Kendall Leith joined the Board in 2017 as an alumna and parent to three Tarriers: classes of 2018, 2020 and 2022. She has always remained active within the CWA community, serving as a volunteer on campus and within committees for athletics, alumni, and parent groups. In 2007, she co-chaired CWA’s 50th Birthday Party. Ms. Leith says this about the evening: “I loved this event, as it celebrated the exceptional people of our CWA community past, present, and future.” Since graduating from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in business, she has been a commercial property manager for her family’s business here in Pierce County.