Advisory Council
The WSU Spokane Advisory Council consists of members appointed by the vice president for health sciences and the president of the university. The council’s primary mission is to foster closer ties between WSU Spokane, its alumni, the community, the region and the state. Council members participate in an advisory role and are not part of the formal governance of WSU. The Council meets quarterly.
Council members
Kelly Fukai, Chair
Vice President of Government and Community Affairs, Washington Technology Industry Association
Kelly’s career has focused on building and cultivating relationships with officials at all levels of government as well as in the technology, aviation, energy, electrical and electronic manufacturing fields. Currently, Kelly is the Vice President of Government and Community Affairs for the Washington Technology Industry Association. She brings over 25 years of experience in leading and working with diverse groups with divergent interests in the development of collaborative and comprehensive plans and policy to grow necessary infrastructure, enhance economic and workforce development, and support community interests. She also serves as a Commissioner on the Washington State Transportation Commission.
Alisha Benson
President and CEO, Greater Spokane Incorporated
Alisha Benson is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI). Alisha has been with GSI for 12 years. During her time at GSI, she has held roles as Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer, COO, VP of Education & Workforce, Executive Director of Spokane STEM, and Membership Director.
Manpreet Chahal
Field Medical Director, Pfizer Oncology
Manpreet earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Pharmacy from the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Manpreet followed his passion in oncology to various inpatient and outpatient jobs, and in 2012 he joined the Summit Cancer Centers in Spokane as an Oncology Pharmacist. In June 2018, he transitioned to Pfizer Oncology as a Field Medical Director for Breast Cancer. Outside of his day job, Manpreet has continued to serve in many volunteer roles including Spokane Pharmacy Association, Washington State Pharmacy Association, WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, WSU Alumni Association, and Partners with Families & Children.
David Condon
Vice President of Eastern Washington, Sales and Marketing
Prior to joining Premera, Condon spent eight years as the Mayor of Spokane, where he was the chief executive for a city of 210,00 with annual budget of $1.1 billion and 2,000 employees. During his time as mayor, Spokane saw a 37% increase in MHI, 63% increase in Library usage, 68% reduction in complaints against the police and $220 million investment in green infrastructure. Before becoming mayor, Condon’s professional career included serving in the U.S. Army, owning and operating small businesses, and serving as senior staff in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Elaine Couture
Providence Health & Services, Executive VP; Regional Chief Executive Washington & Montana, Providence Health Care, Chief Executive
Elaine Couture oversees the nationally recognized Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’s Hospital and Providence Holy Family Hospital; two critical access hospitals in Colville and Chewelah; adult day health, 500+ physician multi-specialty and ambulatory practices, numerous joint ventures and hospitals in Missoula and Polson, Montana; Walla Walla, Olympia, Centralia, Everett and Richland, Washington. In addition, Couture serves as the chief executive for Inland Northwest Health Services (INHS), Engage – a health technology company, and St. Luke’s Rehabilitation hospital.
Betsy Cowles
Chairman, Cowles Company
Betsy Cowles is the chairman of Cowles Company, a fourth-generation family-owned media, forest products, real estate, and insurance company headquartered in Spokane. She directly oversees the broadcasting, insurance, and real estate divisions of the company, which includes television stations in Washington and California; insurance clients in the Pacific Northwest and several mid-west states; and downtown Spokane’s River Park Square retail development and office buildings and other developments in Spokane Valley.
Lars Gilberts
AVP of Community Development and Impact, Numerica Credit Union
In his role with Numerica, Lars helps people grow in financial resilience and freedom. He advocates for making systems more just, efficient, and effective. And he helps tailor products and services to work for unbanked, underbanked, and minority populations.
Rustin Hall
President/CEO, ALSC Architects
Rustin is the President/CEO of ALSC Architects P.S., a Spokane / Coeur d’Alene architectural firm that has served clients locally, nationally and internationally for over 70 years. He joined the firm in 1993 after spending nine years practicing in the Seattle area, and joined the ownership of the firm in 2000. Rustin, his five business partners and staff of 45 provide master planning, pre-design/feasibility studies, architectural and interior design services for higher education, municipal, K-12, sports and recreation, government and private clients. Throughout his career, Rustin has focused on developing his expertise in integrated project delivery, leadership development and community support through volunteerism.
Latisha Hill
Vice President of Community Affairs and Chief Customer Officer
Latisha Hill is Vice President of Community Affairs and Chief Customer Officer. In this role, Latisha is responsible for overseeing teams in customer care and experience, energy efficiency, business & public affairs, communications, products and services, customer-facing technology, credit and collections, social impact, energy assistance, Tribal relations, and our Avista Foundation. During her nearly two-decade career at Avista, Hill has held leadership positions in business units across the enterprise – including work in human resources and analytics, business development, policy and stakeholder engagement, and strategic infrastructure investments. Latisha also serves as SVP of Avista Development, a subsidiary of Avista, where she is responsible for economic impact initiatives as well as the structuring and leading of public-private partnerships.
Manuel Hochheimer
Assistant Vice President of Washington Branches, Idaho Central Credit Union
Manny has over 20 years of Financial Industry Leadership experience that includes roles in Branch Administration and Regional Management, Executive Leadership, Commercial and Private Banking, Financial Advising and Investments, Legislative and Government Relations, Mergers & Acquisitions, External Relations, and Business, Economic and Community Development. He has a diverse background in leadership and development, strategic planning and execution, board governance, change leadership, financial management and operations, development, lending, training, sales, marketing and communications, and executive management. Manny has been with Idaho Central Credit Union, leading the Washington Market expansion, since 2022.
Alex Jackson
Senior Vice President and Chief Executive, Inland Northwest Region, MultiCare
Alex Jackson is senior vice president and chief executive for MultiCare’s Inland Northwest region. He has oversight of MultiCare Deaconess and Valley Hospitals in addition to MultiCare Rockwood Clinic, a 300+ provider group. Mr. Jackson joined MultiCare in 2018 as chief operating officer for MultiCare Rockwood Clinic, transitioning to the Rockwood president & COO role in 2020 before becoming chief executive for the region in 2022. Jackson brings more than 20 years of progressive health care leadership experience in a variety of roles and settings including chief operating officer and chief executive in both Portland, OR, and Spokane, WA. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in public health from Indiana University, Bloomington, and holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Tom Johnson
Retired president/CEO of STCU
Tom Johnson retired as President/CEO of STCU in 2017, having been associated with the credit union for over 23 years, first as a member of the Board of Directors, then as an executive, serving his final seven years as CEO. Prior to STCU, Tom served as Vice President for Business Affairs at Whitworth University for 17 years.
Jim Kolva
Owner at Jim Kolva Associates
Jim Kolva is the owner of Jim Kolva Associates, a management consulting firm in Spokane. He assists clients with land use policy, environmental review under the State Environmental Policy Act, and renovation of historic buildings in downtown Spokane.
Katherine Morgan
Senior Vice President, Spokane-Idaho Market Manager, Bank of America
Katherine serves as the Spokane-Boise Market Manager for the Bank of America Local Markets Organization. In this role, she supports the local market goals of connecting businesses, families and individuals to the banking and investment teams that will help improve their financial lives. She also supports efforts to deploy Bank of America’s resources in the market to strengthen the community.
Shelly O’Quinn
CEO, Innovia Foundation
Shelly O’Quinn is the CEO of Innovia Foundation, which serves 10 counties in Eastern Washington, 10 counties in North Idaho and six tribes. As a former Spokane County Commissioner with a passion to bring people together for meaningful civic dialogue, Shelly has created an organizational culture and climate that elevates all voices. Her reputation as a team builder and change agent has brought about systemic positive transformation within the organization in just a few short years.
Heather Phipps, DO, MBA, FAAOS
Assistant Dean of Clinical Education, Faculty Development, and Strategic Partnerships PNWU
Dr. Phipps serves as Assistant Dean for Clinical Education, Division Chief of Surgery, and Associate Professor of Clinical Education for Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences and is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon. She graduated with an MBA from Washington State University. She has provided healthcare in private practice as an Orthopedic surgeon for 20 years. She has a diverse background which includes serving as the founding DIO for residency programs and in leadership roles within the hospital and the medical community.
Kim Plese
Owner and President of Plese Printing and Marketing of Spokane
Kim is a graduate of Gonzaga Preparatory High School and Washington State University. She is a 1995 Graduate of Leadership Spokane, a past board president of Executive Women International Spokane Chapter and a Past Board President of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Spokane County.
Tom Reese
Vice President of Business Development, MGAC
Tom Reese is the Vice President of Business Development for MGAC out of Seattle, a consultancy dedicated to providing fully integrated project, cost, and risk management services to assist clients through all phases of building design and construction projects. Tom brings over 25 years of experience in all aspects of architectural engineering and construction.
Juliet Sinisterra
CEO, Spokane University District
Juliet brings over 25 years’ experience in urban design, master planning, project management, community engagement, and sustainable community development from her work in both the Seattle and Spokane areas. Juliet has served as Economic Development Manager for the Downtown Spokane Partnership where she led development of support services for downtown Spokane businesses and startups through strategic planning, urban projects, public art, and partnership development. Juliet also oversaw the community vision development and management of the Riverfront Park Master Plan which led to the successful voter approval of a $64.3 million bond.
Susan Stacey
Chief Executive, Providence Inland Northwest Service Area
Susan Stacey is the Chief Executive for the Providence Hospitals in Spokane and Steven’s County. In this role she oversees the over 1000 beds at 5 hospitals, including Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital, St. Luke’s Rehab Hospital, and Holy Family Hospital in Spokane, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chewelah, and Mt. Carmel Hospital in Colville, as well as several joint ventures in our community. Susan is a proud WSU graduate of school of nursing, holds an MBA, and has spent 40 years at Providence, first as a clinical nurse and in a variety of leadership roles. Susan is involved in several business and healthcare boards, both locally and on a statewide level.
Amber Waldref
Former Spokane City Council Member
Amber Waldref represented District 1 for the Spokane City Council. In that role, she was a member of the Spokane Transit Authority Board, the chairs of the Board of Health, Public Works Committee and the Spokane Regional Transportation Council.
Nadine Woodward
Mayor, City of Spokane
Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward is a champion for public safety, housing, homelessness, economic development, and mental health advancements for Spokane. She is a convenor and collaborator who engages broad perspectives to bring balance and practicality to meet community expectations.
During her first term, Mayor Woodward’s work with local, state, and federal community and governmental partners has brought together resources to prioritize community safety and wellness in a time of extreme division. She has embraced community expectations of support, accountability, and advancements with a practical and orderly approach that has drawn attention and support nationwide.