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Tony Berns joined ignite cda as Executive Director in December 2001 and oversees four redevelopment districts in Coeur d’Alene which are focused on economic development, placemaking and community enhancement. Tony was born and raised in the Cincinnati area, moved to Idaho in the late 1970s, and graduated with BS & MS degrees from the University of Idaho. Prior to joining ignite cda, Tony worked for 20 years in the industrial Forest Products business sector, living in the northwest (Idaho, Oregon and Montana), the southeast (Texas) and the northeast (Connecticut and Maine). His professional background includes operations management, corporate planning, organizational leadership and development.
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A community activist with boundless energy and a strong commitment to promoting healthy growth while preserving the quality of life in Coeur d’Alene, Amy Evans has spent countless hours over the years dedicating her talents to a wide variety of local causes. She served six years on the city’s Planning Commission, was an integral part of a team of volunteers who helped save a historic downtown elementary school, and was a key player in a membership drive that attracted more than 16,000 people to the Lake City’s Kroc Community Center. Amy is well known for her tireless efforts on community projects and dedication to education, with two children of her own attending Coeur d’Alene public schools. She brings that same enthusiasm and focus to the Coeur d’Alene City Council, a position she pursued because of her passion to help shape a vibrant future. Amy is steadfast in her commitment to creating good jobs, supporting a top-rate educational system, and providing optimum recreational opportunities. Amy is a native of Lewiston, Idaho. She met her husband, Doug, while attending Idaho State University. Amy and Doug have been married for 20 years and have two children, Max and Lucy. She is currently employed as the Vice President of Idaho Youth Ranch in Coeur d’Alene. |
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Jim Chapkis and Kim, his wife of 34 years, first moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1994. Their son, Connor, was born at Kootenai Medical Center in 1997, and is currently attending the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Prior to relocating to Coeur d’Alene, Jim worked in market research conducting field studies and moderating focus groups. He then went on to serve as road manager and lighting director for the acclaimed singer and actress Helen Reddy. Later, he owned and operated Quake Network, a company which manufactured and distributed emergency preparedness equipment. Jim’s company was actively involved in ensuring schools, businesses, and families were prepared for any potential disaster. After moving to Coeur d’Alene, Jim was hired by Dean Witter Reynolds in Spokane, and completed his training at the World Trade Center in New York. Now entering his 21st year in the financial services industry, Jim owns and operates a full service financial brokerage office—Raymond James Financial Services—which is located downtown on Sherman Avenue. Jim’s primary focus of business is in retirement planning and managed money. Jim has had a long term relationship with the National Federation of the Blind as a consultant, financial adviser, and volunteer. He also sits on the board of the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association, serves on the Parking Commission, and was recently selected to be a member of the Urban Renewal Commission. |
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Sarah has called Coeur d’Alene home since she moved here in 2000. She has over 23 years of finance and accounting experience, in both the private and public sectors. She has been the Controller for North Idaho College for the since 2003.
Sarah’s passion for community service included over 10 years in support of the United Way of Kootenai County, as a member of the finance committee and 6 years as a board member. She has also been a board member for Specialized Needs Recreation and participates in many community events. Sarah graduated with a BA from University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird). She and her husband Frank have been married 16 years and live in Post Falls with their two sons and two Jack Russel dogs. |
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Dan was born and raised in Coeur d’Alene and has been active in the local non-profit community. Currently he is the Director of the Area Agency on Aging, a program of North Idaho College. Area 1 covers the five northern counties of Idaho. He is a former Executive of Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho and North Idaho CASA. He founded two local non-profits, Anchor House/Idaho Youth Ranch and North Idaho Youth for Christ.
In additional to serving a current term as a council member for the City of Coeur d’Alene, he is the former elected Clerk-Auditor for Kootenai County from 1995 through 2010 and served for two years previously as a Coeur d’Alene City Councilman and five years as a Trustee for the Coeur d’Alene School Board. Dan holds a Master Degree in Counseling Psychology from Gonzaga University, a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from San Jose State University, and an A.A. Degree from North Idaho Junior College. He has been a Licensed Professional Counselor for over 20 years. Dan and his wife Cory, a physical therapist, have three adult children, two of whom served in the military and are Iraq war veterans. They have six grandchildren and are active members of Calvary Lutheran Church. |
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Mic is a highly experienced and knowledgeable investment advisor with 43 years of experience. His involvement in civic and business organizations demonstrates his commitment to serving the Coeur d’Alene community. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) and has worked as a branch manager for 35 years.
His knowledge of municipal law, municipal financing, and the corresponding Idaho State Code affords him the ability to navigate the complexities of urban renewal law and taxation.
Mic is a 3-time Ironman CDA finisher, avid snow skier and golfer. He and his wife Lauri and their five children are long-time Coeur d’Alene residents.
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Chris Meyer is a partner at Parkwood Business Properties, North Idaho’s leading developer and manager of commercial real estate. In the role he oversees the asset management of almost 700,000sf of commercial office, industrial, medical office, tech-flex, and retail properties. He is also responsible for new development lead generation, site selection, financing, and construction execution. Prior to joining Parkwood, Chris worked as a Development Manager for Legacy Partners Residential in Seattle where he developed the $75mm Legacy Pratt Park urban mixed-use luxury apartment project with 248 units and 6,500sf of street level retail. Legacy at Pratt Park was awarded the 2010 neighborhood impact award at the NAIP Night of the Stars in 2010. Chris is active in our community and serves on the boards of the Kootenai Health Foundation, Jobs Plus (Coeur d’Alene Economic Development Corporation), Hayden Lake watershed Association and the Coeur d’Alene Education Partnership. He also serves on the ULI Idaho District Council Advisory Committee. Chris has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from the Foster School for Business at the University of Washington and a master’s in urban planning from the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Washington. |
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Brinnon Mandel has always had a passion for public health, starting in the Peace Corps in Honduras in 1999-2001 and strengthening primary care and HIV/AIDS programs as a health volunteer. In 2004, she completed her MPH and MBA from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD and has been working in public health ever since, ranging from domestic community health programs in Baltimore and Madison, Wisconsin, to global health programs and technology innovation for low and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. When Brinnon moved to Coeur d’Alene in 2013 with her husband Ben and their two young children, she wanted to find a way to participate in community health in the area and Heritage Health has been the natural fit because of its mission, its growth, and the role it plays in improving healthcare for everyone regardless of ability to pay. |
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Scott Hoskins is retired from Verizon after 33 years, working throughout the Northwest and Alaska. He has been married for 26 wonderful years, has a daughter attending WSU, and a son in Coeur d’Alene High School. Scott has been the recipient of the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce Ed Abbott Memorial Award, Kootenai County United Way Volunteer of the Year, Idaho Education Association’s Friend of Education Award and 2 Verizon Presidential Leadership awards. He is currently active in Jobs Plus Board of Directors and US Bank Advisory Board. Scott’s past involvement has been with: Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Kootenai County United Way Board of Directors, School District 271 Long Range Planning Committee, and The Festival of Sandpoint Board of Directors. In 1998 Scott designed and implemented a literacy program for the public schools in Coeur d’Alene known as the Help Encourage A Reader Today (HEART) Reading Program. The program teams a caring adult with at risk children to improve literacy and life skills. Currently the program is in 5 school districts in Northern Idaho and over 20 elementary schools. |
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Alivia Metts is owner of The Metts Group. She has a degree in Economics from the University of Michigan. Her insightful economic and demographic analyses guide decision makers in economic and commercial development as well as transportation and environmental planning.
Alivia has worked in both the public and private sectors. Most recently she served in the Idaho Department of Labor as the Regional Economist for the state’s five most northern counties. There she focused on the special needs of communities and performed economic analysis across all industries for businesses, governments, and economic development agencies. She helped organizations all over the five north Idaho counties with grant assistance. She built a reputation as a trusted source for data on the Inland Northwest. Alivia was previously employed by the national consulting firm, HDR, Inc., where she worked out of their Washington, Chicago and Alaska offices. Her projects ran the gamut from convening stakeholders and master planning urban centers to land use forecasting and transportation modeling. |