CAH: Advisory Board

Scott Battishill

Scott brings more than 15 years of award-winning experience to his post as head of Public Relations for DDB Worldwide Communications. Scott started his career as a television journalist before entering the world of agency public relations. He joined The Boeing Company in the mid-90s where he served as the international communications manager for Boeing's commercial airline presence in Europe and the Middle East. From there, Scott joined Intel and led the PR efforts for its e-commerce initiatives. Scott joined DDB in 2001 and proposed the formation of the Food Group shortly after. DDB PR's Food Group has since worked with some of the nation's most well known brands and launched complete start-up brands that have become household names. Scott leads a seasoned group of PR professionals including members that have won multiple Emmy awards for documentary production as well as Silver Anvils, the nation's highest PR honor for shaping public opinion.

Lori Bohn

Lori graduated from Central Washington University in 1988 with a BA in History. In 2003, she received an MA in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University. Since graduating from CWU, she has worked as a Montessori tutor, four-plant manufacturing scheduler, cellular network analyst, State of Washington Family Law Facilitator, and for the last 11 years, a Boeing IT employee. Currently, Lori works with Dassault Systemes managing enhancement requirements for Boeing. She is also is the project manager, on the Boeing side, for WorkPlace--a jointly-owned project with Dassault Systemes located in Montreal, Canada. She lives with her husband Dave, daughter Dari (Kentwood Conk), Buddy (Fox Terrier), and Herman The Hamster in Kent, WA.

Kirk Dietrich

Kirk graduated from Central Washington University in 1975 with a BA in Art and followed with graduate studies with a concentration on graphic design. Kirk is the President and Creative Director of Blind Renaissance Design in Wenatchee. With more than 30 years of experience in both the fine art and marketing fields, Kirk brings a wealth of options to his clients and staff. Kirk instructed Art for K-12 classes for the Eastmont School District in his early career. He also taught painting, photo processes, and printmaking at Wenatchee Valley College, where he helped found the school's Graphic Design program. Kirk has collaborated with and provided creative direction to the Blind Rensaissance design team since the company's birth in 1972.

Mollie Edson

Mollie graduated from Central Washington University in 1976 with a BA in Political Science and received her a Masters degree in Pacific Northwest History in 2000. Mollie was formerly Ellensburg mayor and previously worked in the Continuing Education department at CWU. Mollie is co-owner of Cozy Cookie, a company that makes a cuddly plush heating pad, shaped like a gingerbread cookie.

Carol Hassen

Carol graduated from Central Washington University in 1984 with a Master of Fine Arts degree. Carol is the former Director of the Larson Gallery at Yakima Valley Community College and is also a painter, writer, and educator. In 2001, she received the prestigious Governor’s Arts Award for the State of Washington. Her BFA is from Oregon State University. She is involved in the arts on all levels, has received many artistic and professional awards, and has published educational materials and books. In addition to teaching many courses on visual arts topics, she has published a weaving textbook, has written curriculum materials for the ARTSVAN touring program of Allied Arts, and has co-authored a teaching manual for painting, drawing and design. Her own works of art have received many awards and are included in numerous private collections.

Russ Hepler

Russ graduated from Central Washington University in 1968 with a BA in art and in 1969 with his MA in art. Russ is the President and Owner of HG Designs in Wenatchee, Washington. Russ in active in the Wenatchee community and has taught courses at the Wenatchee Valley Community College.

Fred Kohout

Fred graduated from Central Washington University in 1981 with a BA in Broadcast Journalism. Fred is currently working as the Chief Marketing Officer for TAGSYS. Fred is a 2 5 year veteran of media and high-tech marketing and is responsible for all product, program and partner marketing at TAGSYS. Prior to joining TAGSYS, Fred held several executive positions at Sun Microsystems including Vice President of Marketing for SPARC Server products and Vice President Marketing for Europe, Middle East and Africa operations. Fred has extensive experience in bringing new technologies to market, product and company branding and international marketing.

Duane Larue

Duane LaRue, who joined Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. as a Senior Director – Investments in April 2009, brings almost 17 years in the financial services industry to his practice. His goal as a Financial Advisor is to provide his clients with new opportunities as well as ongoing education regarding research into specific investments as well as how market conditions could affect his clients’ long-term investment goals. He has spent most of his life in the Pacific Northwest. After graduating from Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, he spent three years at the University of Notre Dame Law School, earning his Juris Doctor. In 1990-1991, Duane was fortunate to participate in the Notre Dame London Law Program. During this year in London, he gained a broad range of experience in international and business law. He then returned to Washington to begin his career as a Financial Advisor at Kidder, Peabody and Co. Subsequently, he worked at Smith Barney for almost 15 years before moving to Oppenheimer, where he is proud to draw on the resources of a national investment boutique with a tradition of integrity, hard work and personal service that is more than 120 years old.

Alan Page

Alan earned his BA in Music Theory and Composition from CWU in 1988 and his Masters in Music in 1993. Alan is currently the Director of Test Excellence at Microsoft, where he oversees the technical training program for testers and works on a variety of other activities focused on improving software testers, testing, and test tools. In his career at Microsoft, Alan has worked on various versions of Windows, Internet Explorer, and Windows CE. He writes about testing on his blog (http://angryweasel.com/blog), was the lead author on How We Test Software at Microsoft (Microsoft Press, 2008, http://www.hwtsam.com), and recently contributed a chapter to Beautiful Testing (O’Reilly Press, 2009).

Deborah J. Ross-San Soucie

Debi earned her BA in History from CWU in 1997. She works for Pierce County Public Works and Utilities as a Public Information Specialist with an emphasis on electronic and print publications. She has won awards from the National Association of County Information Officers, a Savvy Award from the City-County Communication and Marketing Association, and has twice received Pierce County’s Standing Ovation Award for Innovation. She was the 2008 CAH Outstanding Alum for History. Debi is a Washington native, born and raised in Tacoma. She and her husband, Michael (also a CWU grad), sponsor a scholarship at Central for students who are active in campus activities and service learning. She balances full time work with parenting two young children, reading, and leading a Brownie Girl Scout troop.

Leslie Donovan Shore

Leslie Shore is a 1982 graduate of Central Washington University, CWU, in Broadcast Communications with a minor in Psychology. While at CWU, Leslie anchored the campus TV news show, managed the radio station, wrote for the newspaper and served on the faculty awards committee as student body drama judge. An award winning journalist, Leslie spent nearly two decades as a TV news anchor, reporter and producer in Washington State. One series that garnered professional honors featured Washoe and her family at the CWU Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute. Later, Leslie published a century-old community newspaper for five years in the Puget Sound. Pursuing her love of story and film, Leslie has written several features, one of which was under consideration by USA Films and Home Box Office, HBO. A passionate advocate for the arts and humanities, Leslie served as Arts Commissioner for Pierce County and founded a writing scholarship in her great-grandmother’s name at her high school alma mater. In 2005, Leslie’s shadowbox essay on birth loss was featured at the annual Arts Walk, Olympia Arts Council. Currently, she is a graduate student in Mythological Studies at the Pacifica Graduate Institute. Married, Leslie is the proud mother of two.

David Shoup

As an actor, David Shoup has played everything from Captain Hook to the Sheriff of Nottingham. But his role as a Speaker with Freedom Personal Development is his most rewarding. David's programs—infused with humor, enthusiasm, and motivation—inspire others to maximize their potential and achieve their goals. David has traveled the world as a first class motivator. His experience includes working with the U.S. troops in Iraq as the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Coordinator. There, he created and oversaw numerous programs designed to boost the troops' spirits.

Randy Stepon

Randy graduated from Central Washington University in 1981 with a B.A. in Graphic Design and a B.S. (minor) in Engineering Graphics. He is currently the Photography Program Manager/Brand Identity Manager, for Hewlett-Packard, in Worldwide Marketing, Imaging and Printing Group Headquarters. Randy acts as the HP IPG Lead Creative Director/Staff Photographer/Brand Manager. In addition to shooting and publishing photos, he leads teams and manages budgets, projects and agencies, plus develops and implements image/brand asset strategies and tools. He joined Hewlett-Packard in 1982, growing and evolving in Design, Photography, Marketing, Product and Program Management. Randy is based in the northwest, yet works on national and international assignments, with cross-functional, regional and in-country marketing teams. His projects have allowed him to shoot and art direct a variety of subjects, in many locations and situations. In addition to his HP career, Randy also volunteers with a ranch/wilderness land trust, local schools and the community -- providing photo, art, labor and business support. He also occasionally works as a freelance photographer and designer (mostly pro bono), often in conjunction with his art partner/wife (Linda, CWU Graphic Design class of 1982). They have three sons and one daughter.

Donald Thulean

Don graduated from the University of Washington in 1950, where he received a Master of Arts degree in 1952. During the summers of 1956-61, he participated in the Aspen Music Festival, first as a student, then as faculty member, chorus master, and assistant dean. From 1957 to 1962 Mr. Thulean was dean of the School of Music at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, and in 1961 he became resident conductor of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra. Don retired in 1999 from the American Symphony Orchestra League, where he was Vice President of Professional and Artistic Services. He joined the League staff in 1983 after a long and active conducting career. From 1962 to 1984, he was Music Director and Conductor of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra and currently holds the title of Conductor Emeritus. From 1966 to 1970 he served as associate conductor of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

Robert Tovar

Robert graduated from of the University of Washington with a degree in political science and journalism. He also did undergraduate studies at Central Washington University. Robert currently works for the King County Wastewater Treatment Division as an organizational development and effectiveness project manager. Robert is also a representative for Primerica Financial Services and an independent consultant for non-profit and community based organizations.

Nancy Worden

Nancy graduated from Central Washington University with a BFA in 1977 and earned an MFA from the University of Georgia in 1980. Nancy is an internationally known jewelry artist who has been making jewelry since 1972. Her work is in major private and public collections in the U.S. and Europe, and has been published in Ornament, Metalsmith, American Craft and Sculpture magazines, as well as several books. Worden is a studio artist who lives and works in Seattle. She was recently honored with a retrospective exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum, and a book entitled, "Loud Bones: The Jewelry of Nancy Worden."

Heather Young

Heather graduated from of Central Washington University in 1994 with a BA in History and is also a graduate of the CWU Douglas Honors College. Heather is a stockholder in the firm of Tuell, Couture, Tuell & Young, P.S., a general litigation firm in Tacoma, Washington. Since her graduation in 1997, from Seattle University School of Law, Heather has been in private practice in Pierce County, Washington. Heather’s emphasis is in Family Law matters. She has been and is active in local and state bar associations. Heather is also an active member of the Junior League of Tacoma. When not practicing law, Heather enjoys spending time with her husband and cats, gardening, traveling, and reading with her book club.