Leadership

Staff

Connect Kootenai funds a full-time executive director to help the organization meet its goals. This position coordinates and supports the work of the Board of Directors through facilitation, grant writing, reporting, data collection, project management, event planning, community presentations, and volunteer coordination.

Greta Gissel

Greta Gissel

closed
Executive Director

An Idaho native and graduate of the University of Idaho, Greta Gissel is a familiar face in the community as she’s spent much of her life helping to bring people together and sparking passion for community service.

Greta is no stranger to CDA 2030. She served on the original CDA Vision 2020 Draft Committee that later became CDA 2030, Inc. in 2013 and served on the founding board of directors. Additionally, she served on the Implementation Plan Committee’s Education and Learning focus area.  She’s also served on the Coeur d’Alene Education Partnership board of directors and is a member of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.

Greta’s previous accomplishments include working as the Executive Director of the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation, serving as an advocate for education through her K-12 teaching, and being the president of the Coeur d’Alene Leadership Class of 2015. 

Volunteer Board of Directors

The Connect Kootenai Board of Directors is charged with guiding and supporting the Connect Kootenai vision by raising awareness of the Implementation Plan and ensuring the sustainability of the nonprofit organization by broadly engaging the community. Each year dedicated community leaders are selected to serve on the Board of Directors, chosen from businesses, government agencies, education, and civic and community-based organizations to represent the broad interests and talents of the community.

Vacancies on the board are filled by the Nominations Committee which consists of five to seven board members and at least two non-board community members. They also nominate officers and members of the Executive Committee each year.

I’m excited to be on the Connect Kootenai board because I believe Coeur d’Alene can continue to develop conscientiously with affordable housing, healthcare, childcare & education for all, and increased public awareness of the issues that face our water resources.

Marie Schmidt

Maren Maier

Maren Maier

Board Chair

STCU,
Community Development Officer

Sarah McCracken

Sarah McCracken

Vice Chair

Blue Door Realty, Realtor

Derek Miller

Derek Miller

Past Chair

Marie Nail

Marie Nail

Sustainability Chair

Windemere Real Estate, Realtor

Ryan Lewis

Ryan Lewis

Implementation Chair

STRATA,
Coeur d’Alene Business Manager

Daniell Mitchel

Daniell Mitchel

Treasurer

Magnuson, McHugh & Co.,
Public Accountant

Hilary Patterson

Hilary Patterson

City of Coeur d’Alene, Community Planning Director

Mike Baker

Mike Baker

Heritage Health,
Chief Executive Officer

Steven Kjergaard

Steven Kjergaard

Coeur d’Alene Airport,
Airport Director

J.R. Norvell

J.R. Norvell

T-O Engineers,
Regional Manager

Laura Rumpler

Laura Rumpler

North Idaho College,
Chief Comm. and Gov. Relations Officer

Marie Schmidt

Marie Schmidt

Pacific Northwest Clean Water Assoc.,
Managing Director

Loren Whitten-Kaboth

Loren Whitten-Kaboth

Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation,
Investor Relations/Special Projects

CDA 2030 Liaisons

Sarah Garcia

Sarah Garcia

ignite cda,
Board Commissioner

Amy Evans

Amy Evans

Idaho Youth Ranch, Development Director &
City of Coeur d’Alene,
Council Member

Committee Members

Implementation Committee

Ben Weymouth – East Side Highway District, Director of Highways


Marketing Committee

Scott Maben – Coeur d’Alene Public Schools, Director of Communications
Kyle Rutly – Wake Media, Owner