WIL 2025 Honorees
Junior League of Tacoma’s 14th Annual Women in Leadership Honorees
Jennifer Butler
Practicing Architect and Board Director for the Peninsula School District
Jennifer Butler is a practicing architect and dedicated public school advocate, currently serving as a Board Director for the Peninsula School District. Her dedication to the district began in 2018 as chair of Stand Up for Peninsula Schools, a grassroots advocacy group that successfully passed the first capital projects bond in 20 years. Jennifer also serves on the board of the Peninsula Schools Education Foundation, which funds enrichment programs across the district.
Recognized for her extensive community service, Jennifer was honored as Citizen of the Year by the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce in 2023. Other recognitions include the Hugh McMillan Community Service Award and the Community Leadership Award from the Washington Association of School Administrators.
Prior to her career in architecture, she served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy. She was the first woman to serve on the guided missile cruiser USS Princeton and was deployed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Jennifer holds a Master of Architecture from Catholic University of America and a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University. She is currently building her family dream house in Gig Harbor with help from her husband, two daughters and their beloved dog, Tipsy.
Shanti Benoit
Founder/Partner – Northwest Medical Arts
Shanti Benoit has over a decade of experience in facial aesthetics. She began working as an RN for an oculoplastic surgeon where she became experienced in administering cosmetic injections, skin care and laser treatments.
In this surgical setting she found her passion for aesthetic medicine and decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a Nurse Practitioner.
Shanti has since worked with a general plastic surgeon where she assisted in the operating and recovery rooms. She always strives to understand individual needs and concerns while naturally making patients feel comfortable and at ease during treatments and procedures.
Once she graduated with her Nurse Practitioner license she took time to backpack around the world while keeping a daily journal for the benefit of other aspiring travelers, which she published in a travel blog. She has visited 28 countries spanning six continents.
After the 2019 year of travel, she returned to work in the industry she loves and settled close to family in the South Puget Sound.
In her free time she still enjoys hiking, traveling, skiing, climbing, and spending time with her family and friends.
Heather Grods
Founder/Partner – Northwest Medical Arts
Heather Grods has been in the medical field since 2007 starting her journey in the Air Force as a medic. She has been in aesthetics since 2018 and is skilled in cosmetic injections, lasers, and skin health.
Heather completed her undergraduate and graduate degree at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington. She continued to build on the skills gained from the military and practiced as a bedside nurse in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the VA Hospital in Seattle, WA for 7 years before earning her Masters’ Degree in Nursing and becoming an ARNP.
As her career progressed, she found aesthetic medicine and was able to fulfill a lifelong passion that combined science and beauty. Heather is a compassionate provider and believes in delivering safe, natural, and effective results for her patients.
Heather comes from a military family and grew up all over the world. She continues to serve in the Washington Air National Guard as a nurse.
She is very close to her family and is married to an extremely loving husband and has two beautiful daughters.
She is happiest when she is in service to others whether it’s in a military capacity or aesthetic medicine helping people highlight their innate unique beauty.