Representing Kitsap county’s leading software development firm in the high tech marketing arena is one thing. Representing Seattle’s diverse constituency groups in the United States Congress is another, and cultivating a knowledge base of talent inside the West Sound Consortium of high school teachers and students is still a third.

Kitsap’s Shannon Childs, the personable Director of Marketing and Communications for Paladin Data Systems, has handled all three of these initiatives with unusual style and grace, while training as a modern triathlete in her “free” leisure time.

When she “retired” from a career as a stockbroker and vice president for Dane Bosworth in 1990, Shannon never dreamed she would soon be working for the U.S. House of Representatives. But when then Congressman Rick White asked her to throw her hat into the ring and put her natural communication skills to work for the state’s First District, she couldn’t refuse. “It changed my life by opening new doors,” relates Childs. From the region’s military naval bases to local governments and school systems.”

Today, as the person who leads the governmental affairs efforts for Paladin, her experience in both “Washingtons” has been a vital asset.

A true team player, Shannon feels fortunate to be working in Paladin’s collaborative environment. “Everyone here feels that they are part of a very exciting organization. It’s not uncommon to see a lot of the senior management team involved in business development and sales activities. A lot of satisfaction comes from contributing in this type of environment.”

Paladin’s track record speaks for itself — one of the 100 fastest growing private companies in the state of Washington for four consecutive years, since making its debut at number two. Paladin has also been named as one of the best small companies to work for in the state of Washington for three consecutive years.

“One of the things that is very important to our management team is that we support our employees as they give back to the community,” said Childs. “Our CEO, Jim Nall, has been very involved in establishing a local gymnastics foundation and a gym facility here in Poulsbo that currently serves about 150 young people.”

One of the community programs Childs feels strongly about is a partnership with local area school districts known as the West Sound Consortium. After Paladin matched an educational grant from the state of Washington, the company invited high school instructors to its world-class Microsoft and Oracle training facility for special technical training. As a result, the teachers were able to take that training back into the schools where over 4,000 students in the West Sound have benefited.

“Many of our high school seniors have been able to go into the workforce immediately or work their way through college because they are Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers or Microsoft Certified professionals when they graduate from high school,” explains Childs.”

In her “free” time, Shannon is active in the WSA (Washington Software Alliance) and a member of the board of MCEI or Marketing and Communications Executives International. She is also training for her next appearance in the Danskin Triathlon, a rigorous run, bike and swim-sporting event. In athletic competition, as in the business world, Shannon Childs is clearly a triple-threat.