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Board & Staff

Board Members

  • Tami Dillon - Past Chair, Providence
  • Candy Casteal - Chair, AgWest Farm Credit
  • D Hanley - Vice Chair, Spokane City Credit Union
  • Adam Sweet - Treasurer,  Eide Bailly
  • Kelly Brown - Alumni Chair, ICCU
  • Samantha Armstrong Ash, Eastern Washington University
  • Randy Bustamante, Itron
  • Kelli Demarest, Central Valley School District
  • Joey Gunning, Greater Spokane Incorporated
  • Fernando Jauretche, Freeform
  • Kimberly Kamel, Paine Hamblen, P.S.
  • Alan Lesher, Retired
  • Arwen Tomsha, Northern Quest Resort & Casino 
  • Kim Vollan, Avista 
  • Chris Wheatley, Numerica Credit Union

Staff

Jaxon Riley

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.

Who We Are

Alumni

The 1983 Society builds and fosters a legacy of leadership in the Spokane area and the Inland Northwest to effectively strengthen our communities. The Society will support the Leadership Programs and provide a forum for continuing alumni advocacy.
Take a look.

 

Youth

Youth Leadership Spokane, established in 1996, is a 10-month civic leadership training program, based on the principles of servant leadership. YLS and the YMCA have partnered to focus on developing the next generation of servant leaders and empowering youth for service to each other and their community! Learn more.

Flagship

Leadership Spokane is the region's premier Leadership, Education and Networking program. You will learn key leadership skills and understand how the region works and how your industry fits in. We seek servant leaders, whether you are just getting established in your career or are nearing retirement. Learn more.