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
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
Board Chair
STCU,
Community Development Officer

Sarah McCracken
Vice Chair
Blue Door Realty, Realtor

Derek Miller
Past Chair

Marie Nail
Sustainability Chair
Windemere Real Estate, Realtor

Ryan Lewis
Implementation Chair
STRATA,
Coeur d’Alene Business Manager

Daniell Mitchel
Treasurer
Magnuson, McHugh & Co.,
Public Accountant

Hilary Patterson
City of Coeur d’Alene, Community Planning Director

Mike Baker
Heritage Health,
Chief Executive Officer

Steven Kjergaard
Coeur d’Alene Airport,
Airport Director

J.R. Norvell
T-O Engineers,
Regional Manager

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

Marie Schmidt
Pacific Northwest Clean Water Assoc.,
Managing Director

Loren Whitten-Kaboth
Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation,
Investor Relations/Special Projects
CDA 2030 Liaisons

Sarah Garcia
ignite cda,
Board Commissioner

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