Board & Staff
Board Members
- Candy Casteal - Past Chair, AgWest Farm Credit
- D Hanley - Chair, Spokane City Credit Union
- Samantha Armstrong-Ash - Vice Chair, Eastern Washington University
- Alan Lesher - Treasurer, Retired (YMCA)
- Kelly Brown - Alumni Chair, ICCU
- Randy Bustamante, Itron
- Kelli Demarest, Central Valley School District
- Kristie Golden, Numerica Credit Union
- Joey Gunning, Greater Spokane Incorporated
- Dave Haring, Spokane Airports
- Fernando Jauretche, Freeform
- Michael Kapaun, City of Cheney
- Bart Logue, City of Spokane
- Allen Miller, Eide Bailly LLP
- Arwen Tomsha, Northern Quest Resort & Casino
- Kim Vollan, Avista
Staff
Executive Director
Jaxon Riley
Email: jriley@leadershipspokane.org
Phone: 509-321-3639
Education & Professional Development: Bachelor of Arts English, University of Washington; Post-graduate study in Secondary Education, Gonzaga University and Master’s Degree Communications and Leadership, Gonzaga University.
Community Involvement & Volunteering: Air Education Training Command Civic Leader with the United States Air Force, Honorary Commander Emeritus at Fairchild Air Force Base, Junior Achievement, Member of the School of Business Administration Dean’s Business Forum Board at Gonzaga University, Board Member of Association of Leadership Programs, Board Member of Perry Street Market, Meals on Wheels and the Ronald McDonald House in recent years.
Hobbies & Special Interests: Pursuit of various fitness interests, spending time with family, my canine companions and a plethora of creative activities to keep my brain flexible.
Photo Credit: Ari Nordhagen https://www.amenphotography.com
Operations Director
Chrystal Ortega
Email: leadership@leadershipspokane.org
Phone: 509-321-3639
Leadership Spokane Class of 2017
Education & Professional Development: Bachelor of Science, Business Management, Bellevue, NE; Master of Public Administration, Wilmington University, Dover, DE.
Community Involvement & Volunteering: President, Inland NW Development Council, Feed Spokane and community food pantry and meal sites they support.
Hobbies & Special Interests: Spending time with family and friends, attending live music events, kayaking, nature walks, and anything food related (cooking, farmer's markets, gardening, canning). My current big undertaking is working with my Service Dog in Training, Gordy.
Administrative Intern
Benny Cox
Email: lsintern@leadershipspokane.org
Education & Professional Development: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Gonzaga University (Expected 2027)
Hobbies & Special Interests: Listening to music, hiking, camping, spending time with friends and family. I am also in the process of applying to law school.
