At the 2025 Downtown Spokane Annual Meeting, held at nYne Bar & Bistro on February 20, 2025, the Downtown Spokane Partnership (DSP) and Business Improvement District (BID) confirmed new board members and 2025 leadership.

“Each year we have the opportunity to gather and celebrate the accomplishments of the volunteer boards and team members of the DSP,” said DSP President and CEO Emilie Cameron. “There is a lot to be proud of, but as downtown changes, our work grows. We are grateful to the volunteer board members who contribute their time, talent, and energy to the betterment of Spokane’s city center.”

Current leadership and representatives also highlighted 2024 accomplishments and outlined goals and objectives for the year ahead, reinforcing their commitment to a dynamic downtown.

2025 New BID Ratepayer Advisory Board Members:

• • Professional 1 / Property Management: Shakara Heaton, Cowles Real Estate
  • Professional 3 / Legal: Tanya Lawless, Kutak Rock LLP
  • Professional 4 / Accounting: J. M. Larsen, Richard Merrill Wealth Management
  • Zone 4: Jason Conley, Spokane Parks Department
  • School District: Sandra Jarrard, Spokane Public Schools
  • Safety/Ex-Officio: Capt. Kurtis Reese, Spokane Police Department

2025 BID Ratepayer Advisory Board Executive Committee:

• • Chair: Andrew Leeper, ALSC Architects
  • Vice Chair/ Treasurer: Doug Kapelke, STCU
  • Secretary: Wendy Goshey, Nordstrom
  • Legal: Tanya Lawless, Kutak Rock LLP

2025 DSP Incoming Board Members:

• • Andrew Leeper, ALSC Architects (representing the Business Improvement District)
  • Brandon Rapez-Betty, Spokane Transit Authority (representing Transportation Interest)
  • Commissioner Chris Jordan, Spokane County (representing Local Government)
  • David Anderson, Redstone Group
  • Dean Feldmeier, DoubleTree Hotel
  • Daniel Getz, Providence
  • Daniel Gibbons, Paine Hamblen
  • Melissa Green, Davenport Hotels
  • Jeff O’Neill, Alliant
  • Collins Sprague, Avista
  • Bryn West, Cowles Real Estate

2025 Downtown Spokane Partnership Executive Committee:

• • Chair: Alicia Barbieri, Goodale Barbieri
  • Vice Chair: Dana Harbaugh, NAC Architecture
  • Past Chair: Christopher Varallo, Kutak Rock LLP
  • Secretary: Katy Bruya, Washington Trust Bank
  • Treasurer: Jamie Hudson, Wheatland Bank
  • At Large: Mike Whitmore, Aldrich Advisors
  • At Large: Stephanie Curran, Spokane Public Facilities District
  • At Large: Bryn West, Cowles Real Estate

At the celebration, the DSP also recognized winners of the third annual Best in BID Awards, celebrating outstanding businesses across the 80-block BID district. During the month of January, thousands of individuals voted to recognize the 10 award winners, including:

• • Best New Business (opened in 2024): The Press Pickleball Club
  • Best Local Collaboration: Heritage Bar & Kitchen / Whistle Punk Brewing
  • Most Inspirational Business Owner: Lydia Cowles, Twenty-Seventh Heaven Scratch Bake Shop
  • Best Place for Wellness or Relaxation: Anam Cara Healing Center
  • Best Place for a Quick Lunch Break: Soulful Soups & Spirits
  • Best Social Media Presence: RenCorp Realty
  • Best Locally-Owned Fashion Spot: Garland Resale Boutique
  • Best Spot for a Study Session or Work Meeting: Indaba Coffee (518 W. Riverside Ave.)
  • Best Place to Take Your Out-of-Town Guests: Numerica SkyRide at Riverfront Park
  • Best Place for a First Date: Wooden City

“It’s so amazing to feel all the love from those who voted and meet such amazing other business owners at the Best in BID Awards,” said Lydia Cowles of Twenty Seventh Heaven Scratch Bake Shop.

Closing out the afternoon, Cameron announced upcoming opportunities for engagement with downtown vitality and growth, including a Downtown Dialogue with Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison on March 27. Attendees will learn more about Seattle’s innovative High Utilizer Initiative, a collaborative effort to identify and reduce the impact of individuals responsible for repeat criminal activity across Seattle.

The DSP also announced that Peter Kageyama, author of For the Love of Cities, would keynote the organization’s annual State of Downtown and Downtown Awards on Friday, May 30.  “We’re thrilled to welcome Peter for an inspirational talk about what happens when people do extraordinary things for their community,” Cameron said. “The transformation of cities when its people truly love them is a testament to what can happen when we open up the possibilities that will power Spokane forward.”

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at the Downtown Spokane website, www.downtownspokane.org.

Find a gallery of images from the Annual Meeting here.