YOUR 2023 PMI INW Board
Why we're here
Our goal is to promote the extraordinary talent of project management minded professionals in the Inland Northwest by showcasing the versatility and merit of our industry. Our chapter connects members with modern, innovative and agile techniques for professional and personal growth inside a thought-provoking network.
Allisha Rutherford, PMPPresident
I have enjoyed working in the healthcare vertical for over 20 years. The majority of this time has been spent in operations, information technology, training, communications, and project management. In 2018, I found a love for working for Heritage Health (FQHC) as the VP of Strategy. Prior to this, I spent close to 17 years at Kootenai Health. I have had my PMP since 2017 although I have managed projects and budgets for many additional years.
I am passionate about community, education, mentorship, and continued growth. Being a member of the board and participating in finance and operations, has provided me with the opportunity to give back to such a rewarding and important field.
Outside of my career and volunteer obligations, I spend my time being in the great outdoors of North Idaho hiking, biking, running, and just being outside. I enjoy these activities and others with my husband and two daughters.
Matthew Ritenour, PMP DASMVP of Education
Matthew is currently serving as an active-duty Air Force officer working in operations and has 20 years of experience leading projects across the United States, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Awarded a Masters of Organizational Leadership in 2012, he received Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management from Gonzaga University in December 2022.
Matthew is extremely passionate about continuing professional education and development, direct and indirect mentorship, as well as leadership growth. A consummate advocate for continuous improvement, Matthew attained his PMP in early 2022. His belief that agility, flexibility, and adaptability are all crucial tenants of the Project Management process subsequently pushed him to attain his Disciplined Agile Scrum Master certification shortly thereafter. It is his goal to foster a culture within the PMIINW community that emphasizes and embraces the need for professional education and development. By continually adding more skills to members toolkits, he hopes to establish the chapter as center of excellence within the Project Management community.
Matthew is extremely active so in his limited free time you can find him outside running, road or mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, camping, paddleboarding, or playing with Orion, his 60 pound lapdog. Being new to the Inland Northwest, he is also attempting to learn how to ski for the first time.
Kate Stocker, PMPVP of Finance
After earning my bachelor’s in Health Science from Whitworth University, I entered the healthcare world to explore my passion for serving the local community and making an impact. I worked for CHAS Health for almost 6 years in multiple departments, but much of the work I did focused around quality improvement and rapid process improvement projects.
In January of 2021, I accepted a position at Heritage Health in Coeur d’Alene Idaho as a project coordinator and quickly obtained my PMP certification in 2021. Currently I am the Senior Project Manager at Heritage Health and enjoying being a part of the growing PMO team.
In my free time, I enjoy being with my husband, two boys, and puppy. I spend quite a bit of time at our local lakes, as well as, hiking, running, and camping.
Shawna Ernst, PMP DASMVP of Marketing
Shawna is the head of Information Technology and Digital Forensics for the Spokane Police Department where she leads a team of ten. She was recently awarded the department’s Medal of Merit for work in strategic planning and digital transformation. Shawna is a PMP and DASM, and holds the ISACA CGEIT (Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT). She has an MBA from WSU (Finance Concentration) and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from EWU. Shawna is a graduate of Leadership Spokane – Class of 2021.
Shawna has been honored to serve on the board for over 3 years. Shawna led the move from a mix of technology solutions to standardizing on the Microsoft platform to improve security, ease board communications, and make onboarding more straightforward. A tech nerd at her core, Shawna enjoys supporting the chapter by providing technical training – especially on Microsoft Teams.
In her free time, Shawna spends time with her son Noah. Noah is getting his Bachelor’s in Design and UI/UX. He’s the unpaid chapter intern and helps his Mom with marketing materials. Shawna also wrangles two incredibly obnoxious beagles, plays the electric guitar poorly, and is slowly learning Italian.
Sandra Weeks, PMPVP of Membership
Sandra is employed at Inland Imaging Business Associates LLC, in the healthcare sector. She collaborates with a wonderful group of individuals, in the information technology department as a Senior Project Manager. She has been working in the realm of project management for over 18 years, in the fields of manufacturing and information technology.
Sandra completed her PMP and joined PMI’s Northwest Chapter in 2015. Sandra has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She is currently working on her Master’s in Business Administration.
Sandra has a wonderful husband and two growing kids. She loves to spend time together as a family, engaging in water activities, camping, hiking, horseback riding, and playing volleyball. Sandra is eager about giving back to the community. She volunteers for her kid’s school PTO board and serves as a mentor/teacher for her church. Sandra is excited to serve PMI Inland Northwest chapter as the VP of Membership.
Jamie Wean, PMPVP of Operations
My career in Project Management began working for the Icelandic Protein Processing equipment provider Marel at their Seattle facility. Marel opened my eyes and my heart to Project Management by evolving my Project Coordination, and Event Management position in to focusing on the actual equipment build, and install process. They invested in me, providing education, hands on experience, and travel opportunities that shaped my communication style, purpose, and presence within a project.
My family moved to Spokane, and I have transitioned from machinery to local government. I now work in the City of Spokane ‘PMO’ managing projects focused on the internal functional improvement of the City of Spokane.
I became a member of PMIINW in 2019. I have been continually impressed with the Spokane Chapter, and taken away so many wonderful educational moments from the speakers, and events. As the VP of Operations, I am here to support the Chapter in creating new experiences for our chapter members, and making sure that each event, and the upkeep that goes in to hosting those events, happens seamlessly.
Ruth Powers, PMPVP of Programs
I currently hold the role as Project Manager III for Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL). Headquartered in Pullman, WA. We have offices around the world. In my current role I am the program manager for a strategic team within SEL. This team has afforded me the opportunity to work and collaborate cross divisionally. Prior to this strategic role I supported Research and Development.
I gained my initial project management skills and experience working as a volunteer supporting construction projects for a local youth group. I completed my PMP and joined the Inland Northwest chapter in 2019. I am currently working on a degree in Software Engineering.
I have a great partner in crime in a very supportive spouse. Together we share two great kids (age 15, age 11), two dogs, and two cats. I love the outdoors but, realized glamping is better than camping. I do love fishing and hiking which means the camper sometimes must stay home. I love making art a part of my analytical world and express that with scrapbooking and laser work.
Rich Pisani, PMPVP of Technology
I have 35 years’ Project Management experience successfully leading multi-cultural, cross-functional teams to engineer, acquire, deploy, and support large and diverse communication networks including data, optical, microwave, wireless, and wireline.
I am an entrepreneur and have established and managed multiple businesses including PiCom Telephone Systems, Own-Your-Phone for mail-order telephones, and Spokane Rentals Magazine including the first online Apartment Guide. I have created and maintained several web sites for my products, and I have designed and written several database programs in my career.
I am a volunteer with the American Red Cross and occasionally deploy to a disaster to support the technology (phones, computers, printers, networks, radios) for our volunteers, shelters, and clients. I am experienced with all Microsoft applications including Teams.
Teresa and I have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. I grew up in New York City, served 4 years in the Air Force, and we moved to Spokane in 1987.