Making the Difference!

These award winners continually demonstrate support, commitment, advocacy & creativity in promoting & using commute alternatives. Read their stories below!

2024 Commute Smart Champions

3rd Quarter

Championg ETC

Shannon Cushner

Shannon is a Supervisor for WA State DSHS - Division of Child Support. She has been the ETC since August 2023 and markets her program to 115 employees. Click to learn more about Shannon!

   

Champion Commuter

Paul Victor

Paul is a Librarian and Professor at Eastern Washington Universtiy. Paul has been rideingthe bus to campus since 2013. Click to learn more about Paul!

   

Champion Commuter

Tim Lewis

Tim is a GIS Technician for the City of Spokane - Water Department. Tim has worked a 4/10 work schedule since he began working for the City of Spokane over 11 years ago. Click to learn more about Tim!

   

Champion Commuter

 

 

Derek Aubrey

Derek is a Compliance Inspector for the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency. Derek started teleworking due to COVID 19. Click to learn more about Derek!

2nd Quarter

Champion ETC

Seth Norman

Seth is the Lead Security Support Specialist for both Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Holy Family Hospital. Click to learn more about Seth!

   
 

Champion Commuter

Katherine Rice

Katherine is an Internal Auditor for Washington Trust Bank. Living close to downtown, Katherine enjoys her 20-minute walk to work each day. Click to learn more about Katherine!

   

Champion Commuter

Ryan Stewart

Ryan is a Principal Transportation Planner for SRTC. Ryan has been a long-time bus rider. Click to learn more about Ryan!

   

Champion Commuter

Mindy Schlosser

Mindy is a Support Probation Technician for EW US Probation. Mindy’s been a long-time user of commute options. Click to learn more about Mindy!

1st Quarter
Champion ETC

Debbie Morse

Debbie is a Headquarters Support Manager and has been the ETC since October 2022. Debbie markets her program to approximately 300 employees at their headquarters in the Spokane Valley. Click to learn more about Debbie.
   
Champion Commuter

Kristine Graf

Kristine is a Water Quality Analyst for the City of Spokane, Water Dept. and has an 80-mile round trip commute. After moving to Spokane about 18 years ago, Kris and her husband began carpooling, wanting to save gas money and wear & tear on their car. Click to Learn more about Kristine.
   
Champion Commuter

Scott Bono

Scott is a Warehouse Manager for Airway Heights Corrections Center. Soon after Scott began working at AHCC, six years ago, he looked into joining a vanpool/rideshare group. Click to learn more about Scott.
   
Champion Commuter

Lisa Gillingham

Lisa is a Public Benefits Specialist 3 for DSHS. She began working for DSHS in Spokane in 2007. Living west of town, and having a 32-mile round trip commute, Lisa wanted to save money on gas and reduce the miles and wear & tear on her vehicle. Click to learn more about Lisa.

2023 Commute Smart Champions

4th Quarter
 

Champion ETC

Jan Dormady

Jan is the Paratransit Admin Assistant for STA. Jan is also a dedicated vanpooler. She’s been vanpooling since 2017 and with a 14-mile roundtrip commute, has saved nearly 26,000 miles on Spokane County roads, and also over $7000 in commuting costs. Read more about Jan!
   
 

Champion Commuter

Joshua Hagen

Joshua is the Logistics Coordinator for URM Stores and an avid bicyclist. Joshua rides his bike every day. The only times he doesn’t is if the roads are too icy or there is too much snow, and on those days, he carpools! Read more about Joshua!
   
 

Champion Commuter

Danielle Nybo

Danielle is a Court Clerk for the City of Spokane – Public Safety. Danielle began working for the city at a different site, but after accepting a job at the Public Safety building, she immediately began riding the bus. Read more about Danielle!
   

Champion Commuter

Kevin Erickson

Kevin is a Correctional Industries Supervisor 2 at Airway Heights Correction Center. He has been a vanpooler for nearly 15 years. Soon after Kevin began working at AHCC, a coworker was talking about their vanpool program. Read more about Kevin!
3rd Quarter
 

Champion ETC

Marilyn (Missy) Eaker

Marilyn is the Administrative Clerk for the City of Medical Lake and has also been the ETC since August of 2022. She markets her program to 21 employees. Read more about Marilyn!

 
 

Champion Commuter

Mark Buescher, PA-C

Mark is a Physician Assistant for NWOS. Mark has been an avid cyclist since he was a young kid. Mark moved to Spokane in 1989 but didn’t work at a site that made cycling an option for him. Read more about Mark!

 
 

Champion Commuter

Denise Guiles

Denise is a Food Service Worker at Sacred Heart Medical Center. Her mom took her on her first bus ride when she was about 6 years old, and she’s been riding the bus ever since. Read more about Denise!

 
 

Champion Commuter

Clayton Krietzman

Clayton started teleworking when telework became an option due to the Covid-19 outbreak and teleworked full time. Now that Covid restrictions have ended, Clayton is required to work in the office 4 days a week and continues to telework 1 day a week. Read more about Clayton!

2nd Quarter
 

Champion ETC

Margaret Terry

Margaret is the Chief PBX Operator for Lakeland Village, located in Medical Lake. She has been the ETC since 2018 and markets her program to 700 employees. Read more about Margaret!

 
 

Champion Commuter

Brian Thomas

Brian is a Business Analyst for CHAS (Community Health Assoc of Spokane). He’s about as multi-modal as you can get. He rides his bike nearly every day, carpools with his wife when he can’t, takes the bus occasionally and also works from home! Read more about Brian!

 
 

Champion Commuter

Emily Rebert

Emily is the Cultural Resources Subject Matter Expert for Fairchild Air Force Base. Soon after she began working on base in 2020, she knew it was important to find a way to reduce her commuting costs, since she had a 40-mile round trip commute. Read more about Emily!

 
 

Champion Commuter

Mike Picollo

Mike is the Assistant City Attorney for the City of Spokane and has worked downtown at City Hall for the last 32+ years. He’s commuted by public transportation primarily for environmental reasons. Read more about Mike!

1st Quarter
 

Champion ETC

Angie Swan

Angie Swan is the HR Specialist for Eastern WA US Probation, located in downtown Spokane and markets her program to 26 employees. Read more about Angie!

 
 

Champion Commuter

Thomas Johnson

Thomas is a Correctional Officer at Airway Heights Correction Center. Thomas has been riding his bike to work for many years. Living on the westside he used to ride his bike from Tacoma to Ft. Lewis each day, that’s a 36-mile commute! Read more about Thomas!

 
 

Champion Commuter

Benjamin Christiansen

Benjamin is a Court Clerk I for the City of Spokane, Public Safety Building. He’s been riding the bus since he was a child, as his dad was a driver for STA and recently retired after 34 years. Read more about Benjamin!

 
 

Champion Commuter

Tyler Smith

Tyler is a Deputy Base Civil Engineer for FAFB. Ty has been using commute options for the last 20 years, but only in the last 5 years working at FAFB. Read more about Tyler!

2022 Commute Smart Champions

4th Quarter
 

Champion Business Leader

Josh DiLuciano

Josh is the Vice President of Energy Delivery for Avista, which employs approximately 1,800 employees in Spokane. Avista offers up a CTR recognition program, subsidized vanpool & bus passes and secured bike storage. Read more about Josh!

 
 

Champion ETC

Jennifer Lavway

Jennifer is the HR Coordinator for TTEC, formerly Faneuil. She’s been the ETC since 2021 and markets her program to approximately 100 employees in Spokane Valley. Read more about Jennifer!

 
 

Champion Commuter

Dan Burgess

Dan is a Senior Business Analyst for Avista. Through the years, Dan has carpooled, walked or bicycled into work. Read more about Dan!

 
 

Champion Commuter

Calie Maki

Calie is an Administrative Assistant for the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency. Calie began working for Clean Air in 2019, during the COVID pandemic. Read more about Calie!

 
 

Champion Commuter

Steven Gimpel

Steven is a Grants and Planning Specialist for the WA State Dept. of Ecology. Being environmentally conscious, Steven started using commute options after he began working at the Dept. of Ecology in June 2019. Read more about Steven!

3rd Quarter

Champion Business Leader

Gretchen Guess

Gretchen Guess is the Executive Director of Operations for Providence.  Providence Sacred Heart employs nearly 5,000 employees in the lower south hill medical community. Read more about Gretchen!

   

Champion ETC

Nicholas Swan

Nick is a Public Benefits Specialist 4 for the Department of Social and Health Services at the Spokane Valley CSO/Call Center.  Nick has been the ETC for the last 6 years and markets his program to around 160 employees. Read more about Nick!

   

Champion Commuter

Patrick Hallinan

Pat is an Environmental Engineer for WA State Dept. of Ecology.  Pat began riding his bike to work in the mid-90s. Read more about Patrick!

   

Champion Commuter

Chandan Bhuta

Chandan is a Senior Office Assistant for the Division of Child Support. She’s been using commute options for the last 22 years. Read more about Chandan!

   

Champion Commuter

Rob Brewer

Rob has been using some sort of commute option for the last 10 years. Throughout the years, he has walked, biked, carpooled, teleworked and worked a compressed work schedule. Read more about Rob!

2nd Quarter

Champion Business Leader

Clark Brekke

Clark is the President and CEO for Goodwill Industries on the Inland Northwest. Goodwill Industries employs nearly 600 employees throughout Spokane County! Read more about Clark!

   

Champion ETC

Norma Cantu

Norma is the Career Services Program Assistant and the ETC for SCC. She’s been the ETC for nearly 14 years! Read more about Norma!

   

Champion Commuter

Eddie Ramirez

Eddie is a Labor II for the City of Spokane, Water Department. Eddie rides his bike to and from work each day. Read more about Eddie!

   

Champion Commuter

Scott Larson

Scott Larson is a Maintenance Mechanic 3 for Eastern Washington University. Scott began vanpooling 2 years ago, shortly after being hired at EWU. Read more about Scott!

   

Champion Commuter

Tamera Cleveland

Tamera is a Supervisor for Enforcement Officers at DSHS – Division of Child Support. Tamera is a mult-modal commute option user. Read more about Tamera!
1st Quarter
 

Champion Business Leader

Randy Rudin

Randy is the Acting Field Operations Chief for WA State DSHS – Division of Child Support.  Randy has been a long-time supporter of CTR. Read more about Randy!

   
 

Champion ETC

Sandi Hamilton

Sandi is the HR Specialist II for Goodwill Industries of the INW.  She markets her program to nearly 200 employees at the downtown site. Read more about Sandi!

   
 

Champion Commuter

Candise Branum

Candise is the Health Sciences Librarian for Gonzaga University.  She’s been an avid bicyclist for the last 18 years. Read more about Candise!

 
     
 

Champion Commuter

Dawn Mosher

Dawn is an Interlibrary Loan/Summit Technician for EWU.  Dawn has used public transportation her entire life. Read more about Dawn!

 
     
 

Champion Commuter

Nadine Kramer

Nadine is a Client Account Representative for Frontier Behavioral Health.  She has been teleworking since COVID hit in March of 2020.  Read more about Nadine!

2021 Commute Smart Champions

4th Quarter

Champion Business Leader

Tatjana Roberts

Tatjana is the Operations Manager for the WA State ESD Telecenter, which employs 320 employees in the Spokane Valley. Click to read more about Tatjana!
   

Champion ETC

Margee Chambers

Margee is the SIP Planner and Rule Writer for Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency. Margee has been the ETC since 2006. Click to read more about Margee!
   

Champion Commuter

Jason Ball

Jason Ball is a Transportation Engineer for WSDOT – Eastern Region. Jason has been an avid bicyclist since he was a kid. Click to read more about Jason!
   

Champion Commuter

Lisa Woodard

Lisa is the Communications and Outreach Manager for Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency. Lisa has been using commute options for the last 30 years. Click to read more about Lisa!
   

Champion Commuter

Josh Potter

Josh is the Environmental Engineer for FAFB. With a 20-mile one-way commute, the costs of driving alone was very costly. Click to read more about Josh!
3rd Quarter

Champion Business Leader

Amelia Clark

Amelia Clark is the Administrative Officer for Spokane Regional Health District, which employs 300 employees near the downtown area. Click to read more!

   

Champion ETC

Rebekah Buettner

Rebekah is a HR Admin Assistant for Washington Trust Bank. She’s been the ETC since April 2019. She markets her program to nearly 500 employees in downtown Spokane. Click to read more!

   

Champion Commuter

Robert Ethington

Robert Ethington is a Support Enforcement Technician for WA State DSHS – Division of Child Support. Robert is quite a dedicated commute option user! Click to read more!

   

Champion Commuter

Crystal Belwood

Crystal Bellwood is a Library Archive Para-Professional for EWU. Crystal began working at EWU in 2015 and has ridden the bus to work every day since. Click to read more!

   

Champion Commuter

Will Slemp

Will is a Court Clerk 1 for the City of Spokane, Public Safety. Will walks 1.2 miles to and from work every day! Click to read more!

2nd Quarter

Champion Business Leader

Shirley Maike

Shirley Maike is the Mayor for the City of Medical Lake. She also served as the ETC for many years at Eastern State Hospital. Click to Read More!

   

Champion ETC

Karen Troxell

Karen is the ETC and CTR Coordinator for Gonzaga University. She is also an Americorp volunteer. She’s been active in Gonzaga’s CTR program since 2019. Click to Read More!

   

Champion Commuter

Nita Alexander

Nita is a Graphic Designer and Prepress Technician for The Spokesman-Review/NW Offset Printing. She has been using commute options since 2010, saving nearly 15,000 miles off our roads. Click to Read More!

   

Champion Commuter

Karin Ryon

Karin is the Administration Assistant for Spokane Transit and has been riding the bus to work for the last 11 years. Click to Read More!

   

Champion Commuter

Maria Arguinzoni

Maria is an Accounting Clerk for the City of Spokane – Public Safety. She has been carpooling for nearly 20 years. Click to Read More!

1st Quarter

Champion Business Leader

Joe Duricic

Joe is the Water and Fuel System Maintenance Shop Foreman for Fairchild AFB.  Joe has been an active CTR supporter since 2002.  Click to read more!

   

Champion ETC

Jocelyn Urban

Jocelyn has been the ETC for Altek, Inc. in Liberty Lake since October of 2018.  She markets her CTR program to 157 employees and walks her talk by carpooling to work each day.  Click to read more!

   

Champion Commuter

Andrew Duffey

Andrew is an Accountant for the City of Spokane, City Hall.  He began riding the bus soon after he began working for the City in July of 2016.  Click to read more!

   

Champion Commuter

Darroll Woelk

Darroll works in 1st Class Vehicle Maintenance for Spokane Transit.  He has been riding his bike to work, nearly every day, for the last 15 years.  Click to read more!

   

Champion Commuter

Ivanna Lomas

Ivanna is the Park & Rec. Coordinator for City of Medical Lake.  She’s been using commute options for the last 3 ½ years.  She rides her bike, carpools and occasionally teleworks. Click to read more!

2020 Commute Smart Champions

4th Quarter

Champion Business Leader

Loren Searl - City of Spokane Water Department

Loren believes promoting CTR at the worksite benefits both the employee and the employer. Employees save money by using commute options and since most employees work a compressed work schedule, that allows them a greater work/life balance. Click to read more!

   

Champion ETC

Jody Long - Spokane Transit Paratransit

Jody is the Paratransit Clerk for STA Paratransit and has been the ETC for nearly the last 4 years. Jody markets her program to 84 employees. Click to read more!

   

Champion Commuter

Jim Moneymaker - Eastern Washington University

Jim is the Business Manager for Facilities & Planning at EWU. Jim has been riding the bus to EWU every day, for the last 18 years. A couple months after Jim began working at EWU, he noticed the bus pulling up, right outside his building. Click to read more!

   

Champion Commuter

Shayne Schoonover - City of Spokane Public Safety

Shayne is