The 1983 Society Ambassadors
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Doyle Kahabka (2016)Doyle has lived in the greater Spokane area since the fall of 2013, when he and his family moved to the INW for a safer upbringing for his children. Doyle worked at McKinstry Co., LLC as the Design-Build project Executive as well as the Business Unit Manager for six years. Doyle is proudly serving as a board member to Leadership Spokane and the LOA Youth Ranch, and as well as chairing the Oaks Classic Christian Academy Building Committee.
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James Kalamon (1983)
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Dalene Kersey Patterson (2009)Phenix Salon Suites, Owner/ Managing Partner
Legacy Group Keller Williams Realty, Realtor
Breakthrough Inc. Vice President.Dalene Kersey-Patterson has lived in Spokane for over 26 years. She is a Managing Partner/Franchisee with Phenix Salon Suites. She is also a Realtor with The Legacy Group, at Keller Williams Realty. Prior to these careers, Dalene worked for the Spokane County Sheriff Department for 10 years. While with the Sheriffs Dept. Dalene served with the Honor Guard, and taught classes in the in-house academy. Dalene graduated from Leadership Spokane in 2009. She went on to serve on the Board of Directors, and served as the Board Chair in 2013-14. She continues to serve on the Board today. Dalene is also Vice President of Breakthrough Inc.
She is the proud mother of four children and had her first child at the age of 16. Dalene holds a very special and real understanding for what young girls go through when faced with a similar situation. She considers this one of her biggest successes and has raised her children to work hard, be good citizens, and always help others. Dalene knows, by experience, that balancing careers, family, and serving the community can be challenging, but she holds them with high importance, and knows the balancing act is always rewarding. -
Lance Kissler (2014)Eastern Washington University
Lance is the Associate Vice President of Strategic Communications and Marketing at Eastern Washington University. Previous employment included marketing roles at STCU and Pacific University, as well as adjunct teaching at EWU and Whitworth University. Lance earned his bachelor’s degree in graphic communications from EWU in 2004 and his master’s degree in communications from EWU in 2010. Currently, Lance serves as the vice chair of the City of Spokane Human Rights Commission, chair of the EWU College of Business and Public Administration advisory board, member of the EWU Diversity & Inclusivity advisory board. Past board experience includes INBA, Leadership Spokane, and Spokane PRSA.
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Larry Kissler (1984)Retired, US Bank
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Lindsey Larkin (2015)JDRF - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
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Nancy Ledeboer (2013)Spokane County Library District
Nancy became the Executive Director of the Spokane County Library District in 2012. Under her leadership the Library District is transforming the services offered and helping to connect people to resources that will transform lives and build stronger communities. Today’s library is more than a place to borrow books, it is the hub in every community where people gather to learn and create knowledge. That can happen through books and digital resources or by connecting with community experts who are willing to share their knowledge. Nancy serves on the boards of KSPS Public Television, Spokane Valley Partners, Executive Women International – Spokane Chapter and the Spokane STEM Network.
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Bart Logue (2018)City of Spokane Police Ombudsman
Bart W. Logue, Class of 2018, is the Police Ombudsman for the City of Spokane. He also currently serves as Vice Chair for both the Leadership Spokane Board and the Jonah Project. He previously retired from the United States Marine Corps after more than 25 years of active service. Career highlights include accreditation as a Military Diplomat to Amman, Jordan, and serving as a Provost Marshal (Chief of Police) for two bases in South Carolina.
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Sarah Lynch (2020)USAF - Fairchild AFB
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Tracie Meidl (2017)Spokane Police Department
Tracie Meidl is a Captain for the Spokane Police Department. During her 25 year career, Tracie has been passionate about designing, facilitating, and implementing programs, ideas, and processes to create positive impact on officers and the citizens they serve. Tracie has worked in various capacities within the Spokane Police Department and currently serves as the Captain of the South Precinct. She is also a wife, mother to two teenage children, and believes that you should never stop learning and be willing to find common ground on which to build new perspectives.
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Brandon Meiers (2016)City of Spokane
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Jon Merck (2011)Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Jon is a financial professional who is currently employed by Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, in Spokane and has over six years of experience. Jon serves as a Financial Advisor and gives investment advice to clientele. As a Certified Financial Planner professional, Jon completes continuing education programs every year to maintain his certification status. He is also an active member of the Spokane Chapter of the Notre Dame Alumni Club, Rotary 21 and serves on the board for the Boys Scouts Inland Northwest Council.
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Cheryl-Anne Millsap (2008)Freelance writer and personal writing coach
Cheryl-Anne has an established career as a writer, photographer, newspaper editor, magazine editor, radio commentator and professional blogger. Her work has been quoted in the New York Times and featured on Away.com, TravelMamas.com, Forbes Luxury Travel and the Public Radio Exchange. Her Home Planet travel column runs weekly in a special publication of The Spokesman-Review. Her weekly public radio essays are aired across the Northwest and can be heard across the country. Travel features written by Cheryl-Anne have appeared in Alaska Airlines Magazine and she writes an international travel feature for Spokane Cd’A Woman magazine and the Travel Like a Pro business travel tips feature for Inland Northwest Business Catalyst magazine. She also writes the Treasure Hunting blog about antiques and collectibles for The Spokesman-Review, and a column by the same name for Spokane Cd’A Woman and Nostalgia magazines.
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Brian NewberryGirl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho
Brian Newberry is the CEO of Girl Scouts, Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. His council serves an area comprised of 19 counties in central and eastern Washington, and 10 counties in northern Idaho for a total of 29 counties covering 65,000 square miles. We energetically serve approximately 3,300 girls in kindergarten through 12th grade with the help of 2,000 dedicated adult volunteers and an expert staff of 27. Prior to his CEO appointment, Brian led as Executive Director another outstanding leadership organization in the region, Leadership Spokane, founded in 1982. From 2012 to 2014, Colonel Brian M. Newberry was the Commander, 92d Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. He served 23 years in the military as an officer and pilot hailing originally from Colorado.
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Pam Nichols (2010)Premera Blue Cross
Pam has lived in the Spokane area for 24 years. She was born and raised in Odessa, Washington. Spokane has always been the big city to her Eastern Washington small town roots. She is a mother of two beautiful girls and is proud to be a ‘Nana’ to one granddaughter. The 24 years’ service at Premera Blue Cross, has given her a unique perspective on the medical insurance industry and the health care challenges our communities face. As an Operations Claims Manager she gets the opportunity to develop and coach team leads that serve and equip Premera employees each day. As a graduate of Leadership Spokane (Class of 2010), she says, “The experience expanded my horizon beyond the doors of my own work environment. It also taught me how important access to education, employment, transportation, housing, food and heaLth care is to our community.” Today, the Servant Leadership characteristics are still important to her as they go hand in hand with Premera’s purpose and values. Pam also serves as President of the Board of Directors of Leadership Spokane.
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Susan Nielsen (2012)College Success Foundation
Susan Joseph Nielsen, M.S., APR, is the Regional Executive Director for the College Success Foundation - Spokane and Yakima. Susan has been with CSF since 2014 and was the first Regional ED for CSF’s eastern Washington region. As the Regional Executive Director for Spokane, she works with local school districts, college preparatory advisors, community leaders, collaborators, donors, and a Regional Board to inspire students to be college-and career-ready. Efforts are supported by the philanthropy of individuals and with partners in the business, education, government and nonprofit communities. A strong emphasis is placed in participating in collective impact strategies addressing the needs of first-generation college students, low-income, underserved, and foster youth.
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Gloria Ochoa-Bruck (2012)Ochoa Law PLLC
Gloria is Director of Local Government and Multi-Cultural Affairs for the City of Spokane. Upon graduating from the University of Idaho College of Law, Gloria served as a Benton County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and then transitioned into private practice with a focus on State and Federal criminal law. Prior to her position with the City, she held a judicial services contract with the Spokane Tribe of Indians and served as Chief Judge for Spokane Tribal Court. She is an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University School of Law, President and founding member of the Latino Hope Foundation, a member of the Hispanic Business Professionals Association, the Latina/o Bar Association, the Spokane County Bar Association’s Diversity Committee and co-chair of the Youth and Justice Forum and member of Washington Women Lawyers. Gloria is a graduate of Leadership Tri-Cities Class XII, and the 2014 Washington Equal Justice Community Leadership Academy. She serves on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity Spokane, Boys and Girls Club of Spokane County, the United Way, Excelerate Success, the Washington Initiative for Diversity Governing Council and the Washington State Bar Association Lawyer’s Fund for Client Protection Board. Gloria is a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory. She also is the 2016 recipient of the Leadership Spokane Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Julie Orchard (2014)Providence St. Joseph Health
Julie has been a Human Resource Professional for over 20 years, serving Skils’kin in Spokane for 13 years and Frito Lay, Inc. in Spokane and Seattle. She has been with Providence for four years. Born and raised in Spokane, Julie graduated as a proud Eastern Eagle with a BA in Communications. She has served on numerous boards in Spokane, including the Inland Northwest Society for Human Resource Management (INSHRM); Inland Northwest Business Association (INBA), and Leadership Spokane. Recently, Julie was elected to serve as the President of the Washington State Society for Human Resource Management (WASHRM) Council, providing guidance to chapters across the state. She is also part of a dynamic committee of professionals that work with the Journal of Business to bring the Best Places to Work INW program to our community. Julie has had 28 happy years married to Marty Orchard (2018), and as a parent to Jim and Jessica (Youth Leadership 2017). Julie keeps servant leadership at the forefront as she works to enhance her community through her work with Providence and on the boards she serves.
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Chrystal Ortega (2017)Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho
Chrystal retired from the USAF after 22 years a Master Sergeant working in the Information Technology field. She has lived in Spokane with her husband and daughter since 2011 and has been an active community volunteer with many non-profit organizations as well as leading a Girl Scout troop and acting as the Service Unit Manager for the West Plains. She is a 1999 graduate of Bellevue University majoring in Business Administration and completed her graduate degree in Public Administration at Wilmington University in 2005. Currently, she is employed as the Events Director at Girl Scouts Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.
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Greg Partch (2016)Banner Bank
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Chris Patterson (2008)BreakThrough, Inc.
Chris was born and raised in and around Spokane. He owns a BreakThrough Inc. (Staffed Residential Program) that specializes in working with clients that are Developmentally Delayed, Sexually Aggressive Youth, Sexually Reactive Youth, Dual Diagnosed, Bi-Polar, Autism Spectrum and Behaviorally Challenging Youth and a broader range of specific needs for each client. Chris currently employs 90 fulltime staff throughout the state of Washington. He and his wife also own a franchise called Phenix Salon Suites that will be located in Lynwood, Washington. Chris serves on the Eastern Washington Policy Center Advisory Board, is an appointee to the Children’s Justice Task Force, was a board member of the Partners Advancing Character Education program, and is a Jennifer Dunn Leadership Graduate as well as a Rotary 21 Member.
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Brady Peterson (2009)Lukins & Annis, P.S.
Brady practices commercial and real estate law. He is a part of the International Law Society and a member of the American, Washington State and Spokane County bar associations. He also serves on the Marketing Committee for Lukins & Annis. Brady is a published author in the Montana Legal Review and is fluent in Spanish.
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Matthew Proehl (2016)Lydig Construction