Spokane Lilac Festival Association Officers

Arnold (Arne) Weinman is the owner of First Team Construction, a custom home building and remodeling company. He is the President Elect and will serve as Lilac President for 2010.  Arne served as Vice President of Sand in the City and has worked on the Lilac float for years. Arne was the Commander of the 92nd Bombardment Wing at Fairchild AFB from 1989 to 1991. He is also President of the Armed Forces and Aerospace Museum Society which is working to build an all-services military museum for the community.

Myron G. Bursell, Ph.F. is owner-photographer of Green Gables Photography. He and Rita, his wife of 31 years, operate this popular photography studio in the North Spokane area. As a small business owner and longtime respected professional in the photographic industry for the last 30 years, Myron is the official photographer for the Spokane Lilac Festival. Currently Myron serves as the Vice President of Corporate Development.

Joining the Spokane Lilac Festival in 1998, Michael Waldrip is the 2009 Lilac Festival President with his theme "I Love a Parade!" He grew up in Spokane and attended The Master's College in Santa Clarita, CA where he earned a degree in Communications. He works for Royal Plaza Retirement Center as a Marketing Director. Since childhood Michael has mastered the art of ventriloquism. He and his sidekick, Chester, have traveled throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and the Middle East and had the honor of performing for former President Ronald Reagan in 1993.

Elisabeth Hooker has been a member director of the Lilac Festival since 2006, serving currently as treasurer. A former princess, Elisabeth was born and raised in Spokane, graduating from Mt. Spokane High School and Washington State University. In her everyday life you can find Elisabeth serving K-12 and post-secondary students as the Education Outreach Officer for STCU.

Cecelia Stephens started volunteering for the Spokane Lilac Festival as a Chaperone, which she did for seven years. She then served as Vice President of Royalty for two years, President Elect for a year, the 2008 President, and is currently serving as Immediate President and Vice President of Hosting. Cecelia worked for eighteen years as an Educational Assistant in Central Valley School District and Assistant Cheerleader Advisor for seven years at University High School.

Jamie Dedmon, born in Central Florida, relocated to the Spokane area in 2005. Since relocating to Spokane, Jamie has been employed at STCU where she is the Business Development Officer for Spokane.  She served as a proud military wife for 20+ years where her husband, Mike, served in the USN.  Looking for a way to connect with Spokane and Military communities, Jamie became a Lilac director in 2007.  She now serves as Vice President of Area Relations and will assist in coordinating the 2009 All City Civic Military Luncheon.

Michael Dedmon, a retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief with 21 years of service, relocated from Orlando, Florida to the Spokane area in 2005.  Michael is employed by Avista as a Training and Development Analyst.  Looking to get more involved in the Spokane community, he became a Lilac Director in 2007 and is the 2009 Vice President of Military and Community Affairs.

Sandy Brown, owner of The Wandermere Co. LLC and Golf Course which has been in her family since 1938. She is a graduate of Mead High School. She has been a director with the Festival for the past ten years. During that time, she has served as Vice President positions of Royalty, Hosting, New Director Development and of this year’s Parade. In 2007 Sandy was the President of the Spokane Lilac Festival Association and selected “Here’s to the Heroes” as her theme. She is looking forward to this year, bringing the largest Armed Forces Torchlight Parade in the nation to Spokane. Our parade is always the 3^rd Saturday in May. Please come and enjoy the parade with us.

Mark Smith is a sales consultant for Becker Buick Pontiac GMC. He has served Spokane citizens for 37 years in the Spokane automotive business. Mark has been a Lilac Festival Director for three years and is currently serving as Vice President of Marketing.