Officers
Jody Harris
President
Career: Certified Public Accountant
​
Volunteer: WGA Board and Grant Committee, Volunteer income tax preparer for AARP Foundation's TaxAide; Lutherhaven Ministries Fundraising Events Committee.
​
​Personal: Graduated from CdA HS and Univ. of Idaho, moved all over, retired to CdA with my husband in 2014. Two adult children, 1 grandson, and 3 grand dogs live nearby.
​
El Lyons
Vice President &
Grants Adminstration Chair
Career: University of Connecticut, School of Social Work, Researcher and Assoc. Professor. Currently Research Consultant for National Center on Domestic Violence.
​
Volunteer: Boards - Safe Passage, HREI, CDA Symphony, National Board of Applied Sociology, WGA Board and Grant Committee.
​
Education: Ph.D. in Sociology, Northwestern University.
Joan Woodard
Treasurer
Career: Commercial Real Estate design, management, finance, development for buildings, hotels, retail centers, medical buildings.
​
Volunteer: WGA Board and Grant Committee. Instructor and mentor, participated in business and economic development organizations. Board of Community Foundation of Sonoma County, social therapy and comfort dog volunteer.
Judi Cronin
Secretary
Career: Branch Manager for Mountain West Bank, Hayden, and Wells Fargo Bank, Coeur d'Alene. In the banking industry for over 25 years with a stint in residential real estate in Minneapolis.
Volunteer: WGA Board and Grant Committee, Board of Directors for CDA Sunrise Rotary, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Hayden Chamber of Commerce.
Education: B.S., University of Nebraska at Omaha in Business Management.
​
Board
Joan Rock
Communications Chair
Career: Taught art at international schools, community colleges, and the Cleveland Museum of Art. After earning my MBA, I served as senior product manager, creative director, marketing director, and VP at various publishers and art-focused companies. Currently provide marketing and graphic design services through my company Indigo Innovations.
​​
Volunteer: WGA Board and Communications Chair.
​
Education: B.S. and M.A. in Art Education from Case Western Reserve University. MBA, Indiana University.
Jan Tymesen
Education Chair
Career: Licensed as a CFP with Wells Fargo Advisors for over 23 years, my life work and mission is to help people gain financial clarity. I am honored to have been recognized on the 2021 list of Best-in-State Wealth Advisors by Forbes.
​
Volunteer: WGA Board
​
Personal: My husband Troy and I have called North Idaho home for over thirty years and are blessed with three adult children, four grandchildren and a variety of grand pets.
Allie Lee
Grant Committee
Co-Chair
​
Career: Currently a Trustee for Glacier Properties. Former Business Analyst at Microsoft.
​
Volunteer: WGA Board and Grant Committee Co-Chair, Rotary, Junior League–Sustaining Member.
​
Education: B.A. in English (Professional Writing Emphasis), University of Puget Sound. MBA, Seattle University.
​
Personal: I enjoy many sports including pickle ball, water and snow skiing, snowshoeing and wake surfing, but my favorite is golf.
Chris Quinn
Grant Committee
Co-Chair
Career: Former Vice President and Director of Strategic Ingredient Supply for The Coca-Cola Company. Retired in 2020 after 39 years of service. Held positions in quality control, quality assurance, environmental projects, and crisis management.
​
Volunteer: P.E.O. Post Falls Chapter Member, Soroptimist International of Coeur d'Alene, WGA Board and Grant Committee.
​
Education: B.S. in Chemistry, University of Idaho. MBA, Georgia State University.
Pat Krug
Membership Committee Chair
Career: Licensed Realtor for over 35 years, Designated Broker Windermere Coeur d'Alene Realty. Co-owner Windermere Realty Coeur d'Alene and Seasons CDA Fresh Grill and Bar.
​
Volunteer: WGA Board, Membership Chair and Grant Committee; Coordinator of the Elderly Christmas Adoption for Area Agency on Aging since 1992; 2021 Soroptimist Woman of Distinction Award and Idaho Nonprofit Adult Philanthropist of the year; Board Chair Big Brothers Big Sisters.
​
​
Valerie Hodge
Member At-Large
​
Career: Educational Policy and Institutional Research.
​
Volunteer: Washington Literacy Board, Oxford Community Foundation Board, WGA Board and Grant Committee.
​
Education: Macalaster College, B.A., University of Washington, M.A.
Personal: Idaho native, lived in Seattle for 30 years, then in Ohio for 10. Retired here in 2016.
Career: Retired North Idaho College Adult Education Center, Director/Instructor, 20 plus years.
​
Volunteer:
Chair, Literacy Project of North Idaho (nonprofit);
President, Chapter CB, P.E.O.; President, Clay Arts Guild (nonprofit) of North Idaho; WGA Communications Committee.
​;
Education: M.A. Adult Education, University of Idaho; B.S. Business Administration, Lewis-Clark State College.
​
Personal: Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi Certified Instructor, PEAK Post Falls. Enjoy walking, hiking, kayaking, book club.
Laura Umthun
Member At-Large
Janice Baldwin
Emerita Board Member
Janet Robnett
Emerita Board Member
history
In March of 2004, Janice Baldwin and seven visionary women established the Women's Gift Alliance of Kootenai County. The goal of this endeavor was two-fold:
-
to enable women to pool their financial resources in order to make large focused gifts to improve the community
-
to teach women about giving and developing skills as engaged and informed philanthropists.
​​
In 2005, 52 women served as the founding members of the Women's Gift Alliance.
The membership voted to award its first pooled grant of $26,000 to Kootenai County Search and Rescue Council.
​
As of 2023, WGA has gifted over $1,759,542 back to the community through its pooled grant fund and individually designated gifts of the membership. Over 100 different organizations have received funds through pooled fund grants and individually designated gifts of the membership. Countless women in the region have been given the opportunity to give through WGA and to gain a deeper knowledge of the greatest needs in Kootenai County.
ABOUT
We support local nonprofits that improve the quality of our community, whether that's a raptor program at Birds of Prey Northwest, adult literacy in Kootenai Country, or clothing for high school students, we are there to support and help through collective philanthropy.