Dirk Vastrick (2016)WorkSource Spokane

Dirk has lived in Spokane for over 30 years. He spent 40 years in the private sector in sales, sales management, and business training before joining the State of Washington and WorkSource Spokane late in 2010. His primary responsibility is teaching basic life success principles workshops for those currently unemployed. He is also a part-time caregiver for his son and his wife Anne is a full-time caregiver. They have been married since 1986. Dirk is also involved in the community as an elder at his church, second vice-president of the Spokane Branch #1137 of the NAACP, committee person of Leadership Spokane Alumni, and Treasurer/board member of the local non-profit Childhood Saved helping survivors of childhood sexual abuse. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to the comedy podcast “The Mike O’Meara Show” and is a bourbon aficionado.

Nancy Vorhees (1983)Nancy grew up as the oldest of 8 children on a farm in Eastern Montana where she learned the importance of community and working together for the greater good. She holds a bachelor of science in nursing from Montana State University and a masters of science in nursing from Gonzaga University. She spent 40 plus years in the health care profession primarily in the “C” suite. She retired from INHS as the Chief Administrative Officer after 19 years in 2016 and then served a Interim ED of the Spokane Teaching Health Center until finally retiring March of 2018. In spite of an amazing career, she is most proud have raised 3 awesome sons while always working full time.

Kent Wales (2009)Happy Laundry & Dry Cleaning

Kent is the owner of Happy Laundry & Dry Cleaning; a company that specializes in commercial and personal laundry and dry cleaning services. Through Kent’s experience in Leadership Spokane (Class of 2009), he was introduced to the Northeast Youth Center. He was offered an opportunity to serve the community on the NEYC Board of Directors. He’s been a member of this Board and a member of the Finance Committee for nearly three years. In September of 2013, Kent married the love of his life, Monica Wales (Class of 2012). Kent and Monica met through a mutual friend. This friend was in the Leadership Spokane class of 2009 with Kent and served on the EWU Alumni Board of Directors with Monica. The gift of friendship and lifelong relationships that Leadership Spokane bestowed upon Kent is worth far more than any monetary donation, and Kent continues to support Leadership Spokane through his time and talents.

Jamie Welsh (2017)Garco Construction, Inc.

Chud Wendle (1994)Hutton Settlement Executive Director

Since 2014 Chud has served as District Director for Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers. In July 2016 he will become the executive director of Hutton Settlement. He previously worked for Coldwell Banker Tomlinson as a residential and commercial broker and was President of Wendle Motors for 16 years. Chud received his MBA from Gonzaga University and his BA in Business Administration at the University of Washington. Chud has been a Rotarian for more than 15 years, and is current Vice-President of Rotary Club #21. Currently he serves on the Goodwill Board of Directors. Chud and his wife Cindy have been married for nineteen years! Together they have three boys, Ben (17), Nick (15) and Jack (11).

Cindy is currently enjoying being a stay-at-home mom after managing branches for Washington Trust Bank in Pullman, Moscow, Lewiston and Spokane. She and her husband, Chud, have 3 boys that have given them boundless opportunities to learn and meet new people. She is a Trustee for the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery and Treasurer for Washington East Soccer Club. Cindy was raised in Pullman, WA and is a graduate of the University of Washington Foster School of Business.

Christopher Zilar (2006)Inland Northwest Business Alliance

Chris has managed two cancer prevention programs: Breast and Cervical Health Program and the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. He was also formerly an HIV prevention specialist. Currently, he is the new Membership Representative for the Inland Northwest Business Alliance.