Alexis McLaughlin (she/her)
Business Services & Communications Associate
Christopher Strand (he/him)
Technology & Operations Intern
Gracie Rowe (she/her)
Business Services Associate
Robin Haynes (she/her)
Executive Director
The Board
SIMBA’s board serves as a vital conduit for our organizational direction and purpose.
Juan A. Mas
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Juan A Mas is a Colombian/Cuban Producer and Director entrenched in the indie world. He worked as an AD and UPM in Los Angeles; then, job opportunities allowed him to work as a producer and director for several years abroad. Juan has also worked all over the United States in varied budget sizes as a member of the DGA for features, mini-series, and television. He is a passionate storyteller who loves to combine a kinetic visual style with vibrant characters and the gritty truth of real life. When not on set, Juan directs and produces theater in Spokane and Seattle. He also volunteers on boards that focus on the growth of the art community and creative economy locally and across the state of Washington. But he is most proud of being a dad of 3 amazing young adults.
Throughout most of his professional career, David has had the opportunity to work with some of the most diverse, knowledgeable, and skilled individuals who helped teach him how to be an effective leader, entrepreneur, and small business owner. These leaders and mentors helped David find his love and passion for operations, system processes, training & development, sales/financial among other professional skills.
Beyond his business endeavors, David ingratiates himself into the community by trying new restaurants, checking out other small businesses, working in as many markets as possible, attending local events, being out in nature, traveling, and meeting new people with a great back story to share.
Jeff Ferguson
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Jeff Ferguson is a Spokane Tribal member full-time freelance photo and videographer who grew up in Spokane WA and holds an A.A.S. in Photography from Spokane Falls Community College, a B.A. in Communications from Whitworth University and an M.B.A. from Gonzaga University. He has over 20 years experience owning and operating small businesses ranging from sales and marketing to traditional brick and mortar and online retail sales to marketing and multimedia, photo and video production. Although most of his work is documentary video and cultural preservation, he has also found time to serve on various boards and panels across the state. Over the years he has found that raising awareness to current and ongoing issues facing Indian Country and climate change, educating Native youth both on and off the reservation, is where his true passions lie.
Throughout most of his professional career, David has had the opportunity to work with some of the most diverse, knowledgeable, and skilled individuals who helped teach him how to be an effective leader, entrepreneur, and small business owner. These leaders and mentors helped David find his love and passion for operations, system processes, training & development, sales/financial among other professional skills.
Beyond his business endeavors, David ingratiates himself into the community by trying new restaurants, checking out other small businesses, working in as many markets as possible, attending local events, being out in nature, traveling, and meeting new people with a great back story to share.
Chrystal Gonzalez
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Chrystal currently works as a public health Registered Dental Hygienist and has 18 years of experience in Dentistry. As a community advocate, she is committed to the improvement of oral & systemic health and the promotion of diversity and inclusion. Her experience as an oral health advocate includes: community outreach, promotion of oral health, curriculum development of oral health programs for indigenous populations, and community outreach within the BIPOC and LatinX communities. She has a commitment to supporting engagement with the local community.
Throughout most of his professional career, David has had the opportunity to work with some of the most diverse, knowledgeable, and skilled individuals who helped teach him how to be an effective leader, entrepreneur, and small business owner. These leaders and mentors helped David find his love and passion for operations, system processes, training & development, sales/financial among other professional skills.
Beyond his business endeavors, David ingratiates himself into the community by trying new restaurants, checking out other small businesses, working in as many markets as possible, attending local events, being out in nature, traveling, and meeting new people with a great back story to share.
David Borrelli
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David was born and raised in Rhode Island before moving to Spokane in 2021 with his partner. David currently works full time as the Director of Franchise Locations at a family entertainment company based on the East coast with over 30+ locations. Showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit and his passion for investing in his local community, David and his partner opened and operate Mountain Top Mentality out of Spokane where they both currently reside. Their mission with Mountain Top Mentality is to help others reach their full potential, which is why they pride themselves on using local vendors as much as possible to create their branded products.
Throughout most of his professional career, David has had the opportunity to work with some of the most diverse, knowledgeable, and skilled individuals who helped teach him how to be an effective leader, entrepreneur, and small business owner. These leaders and mentors helped David find his love and passion for operations, system processes, training & development, sales/financial among other professional skills.
Beyond his business endeavors, David ingratiates himself into the community by trying new restaurants, checking out other small businesses, working in as many markets as possible, attending local events, being out in nature, traveling, and meeting new people with a great back story to share.
Joshua Thomas
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Joshua Thomas is the Owner/Creative Director at Lejit Creative. Lejit Creative is a full-service branding agency that helps companies in tech, entertainment, and sports launch and elevate their brands. Lejit Creative brings together a diverse team of talented professionals who are passionate about creating authentic, impactful brands that resonate with audiences and drive business growth. Joshua's unique perspective and creative flair set the tone for Lejit Creative's approach to brand building and design. In his free time he spends time with his wife and kids, coaches high school basketball, plays video games, and reads.
Kathy Thamm
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Kathy is the retired Executive Director of Community-Minded Enterprises. Her passion is improving the quality of child care in Eastern Washington and bringing focus to the child care industry as a business. She was one of several leaders who built the statewide Early Achievers program that uses a star rating so parents know if the center or family child care is engaged in continuous quality improvement validated by the University of Washington. She helped the family child care providers join together under SEIU to make sure they were receiving fair reimbursements for low income children enrolled in their care from the State of Washington. She also helped to form the statewide Child Care Center Association to pool resources for better health care and reimbursement rates.
Kathy believes in the power of the entrepreneur and the power of art. She currently manages Shotgun Studios Spokane which features area artists whose work speaks to contemporary issues. Her background is in photography. She studied at the School for Visual Arts and Portraiture under Philippe Halsman. She operated a photo business in Key West Florida before moving out to Idaho with her husband. Kathy is married to local artist, John Thamm, and started several art galleries including the Art Spirit Gallery in Coeur d’Alene. They have one daughter who resides in Seward, Alaska.
Ed Reese
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Ed has helped companies improve their digital marketing efforts for the past decade through his company, Sixth Man Marketing. He’s advised brands, agencies, universities, non-profits, and e-commerce companies on how to better understand their clients and improve outcomes. He’s a Faculty Member at LocalU, an Adjunct Professor of Digital Marketing at Gonzaga University, and is a frequent speaker on the topics of analytics, usability, and careers in marketing.
Ed plans to conduct a usability survey of SIMBA’s website and is looking for volunteer business owners and consumers who are not familiar with our organization to take 15-20 minutes to answer a few questions about our home page. If you know someone who is willing to share their impressions, please connect them with Ed at ed@sixthmanmarketing.com.
Outside of digital marketing, you’ll likely find Ed spending time with his family, playing disc golf, or working on his tennis game.
About the Founders
SIMBA was founded in 2018 by Mariah McKay co-founder of Haystack Heights and a talented initial Board Members including, Joel Williamson of the Spokane Workers Cooperative and The Grain Shed; Maria Cullooyah, the Director of Public Works & Utilities with the Spokane Tribe of Indians; Brad Ferris from Craft3, and Jason Williams, owner of many local businesses over the years, including the beloved The Shop in Perry. Mariah served as SIMBA’s Executive Director and Director of Dynamism from 2018 through November 2023.
Alexis McLaughlin
Business Services & Communications Associate (she/her)
Compassionate, Genuine, Balanced
Alexis is deeply rooted in the Spokane community, having been born and raised here. Alexis graduated from Eastern Washington University with a Bachelors in Communications Studies and minors in Women’s Studies and Sociology. With a decade of working for small, local businesses, Alexis has gained a passion for Spokane’s unique community and its growth. She is deeply committed to supporting local businesses and communities that contribute to what makes Spokane a special place to live. Alexis is honored to join SIMBA and looks forward to collaborating with local businesses and building a brighter future for Spokane!
Alexis enjoys attending local events around Spokane, from art exhibitions to local concerts. Alexis is an avid movie watcher and loves to watch newly released movies at Magic Lantern. She also enjoys trying new restaurants, but you can find her at her regular spots, like Neato Burrito, Queen of Sheba, Boots, and The Scoop! Tell her your favorite movie by emailing her directly at alexis@spokaneindependent.org.
Christopher Strand
Technology & Operations Intern
Inquisitive, Resilient, Humorous
Christopher is a dedicated full-time student pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree at Whitworth University, Majoring in Computer Science and Minoring in Mathematics and Psychology, with an emphasis on the study of how tech affects people and how people affect tech. While born in Spokane, he grew up and has lived all across the United States, spending four years collaborating with a Dallas-based theater and street performing troupe and dedicating many years with activist groups in Dallas, Denver, and Richmond, championing civil rights for marginalized communities. Currently, he devotes time to Our Place Community Outreach, an organization that provides food, clothing, and hygiene necessities for Spokane’s community in need.
Christopher frequently explores the shelves of Auntie’s Books downtown and grabs brunch at The Shop, a café in the Perry district built in a former mechanic shop. His partner is obsessed with their gluten-free danishes and cinnamon rolls. When the weather permits and his homework is done, Christopher can be found immersing himself in the beauty of Spokane’s parks. These green spaces hold a special place in his heart, serving as his absolute favorite aspect of life in Spokane. Tell Christopher about your favorite Spokane-area green space by emailing him at christopher@spokaneindependent.org.
Grace Rowe
Business Services Associate
Kind, Empathetic, Creative
Grace Rowe grew up in Olympia Washington and moved to Spokane in 2012. Grace holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Eastern Washington University and has been an active member of the local arts community since moving to Spokane. Her deep love for the local arts helped guide her to join the SIMBA team in Spring 2024. She looks forward to helping others thrive as local entrepreneurs and learn more about building sustainable communities.
Outside of her work at SIMBA, Grace enjoys teaching music, performing with her local choirs (including the Spokane Symphony Chorale at the Fox Theater), creating, spending time with family and friends, and attending a variety of local art markets such as 33 Artist Market, MAC Art Fest, and Manito Art Fest. Tell Grace your favorite art market by emailing her at grace@spokaneindependent.org.
Robin Haynes
Executive Director
Generous, Adventurous, Resilient
Robin brings to SIMBA almost two decades of small business assistance experience with an emphasis on startups and entrepreneurs. She is passionate about making the “business” of business ownership simpler – allowing owners to focus on the things they do best. Robin joined SIMBA in April as the canvassing Field Manager for the 2023 SBIF grant project, helping over 800 independent, locally-owned businesses join SIMBA’s flagship, no-cost Live Local INW directory and marketplace. She has helped streamline, organize, and strengthen SIMBA’s foundation as we head into our 6th year. Robin is particularly passionate about helping those often forced into being entrepreneurs, including immigrants, people without advanced educations, recovering addicts, and justice-involved persons. She believes strongly in second chances, career shifts, and new beginnings and knows that the prosperous, equitable, and local economy SIMBA strives to build can only exist if everyone in the community can participate.
Robin loves a cortado, a second-hand shop, and a Washington State wine. When she’s not helping local business owners navigate our challenging economy, she’s usually upside down, suspended in the air on an aerial arts apparatus or cross country skiing at Mt. Spokane.
Her favorite local business is Durkin’s, as it was where she and her partner had their first date, and where she enjoys steak tartare and the best brussels sprouts in town. Tell her your favorite local business, by reaching out to her directly: robin@spokaneindependent.org.