Jewell, a former banking executive, joined Recreational Equipment Inc as a board member in 1996 before taking over as chief operating officer in 2000 and then later as CEO of the national retail chain. A graduate of the University of Washington, where she now serves as a regent, Jewell began her career as an engineer at Mobil Oil Corp, working in Oklahoma and Colorado. Washington state-based REI is known for its conservation and stewardship efforts as well as its co-op structure that includes more than 10 million consumer "members." It has also been voted as one of Fortune magazine's best companies to work for. An outdoorswoman who lists mountaineering and kayaking among her hobbies, Jewell served on the "National Parks Second Century Commission," whose goal was to help shape the future of the National Parks System. In addition to her role as a Regent of the University of Washington, Sally also serves on several other corporate and non-profit boards including the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, REI, the National Parks Conservation Association and the Initiative for Global Development.