Spokane Lilac Festival Association Officers

All Photographs by Green Gables Photography, Spokane, WA

Cecelia Stephens President 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, and is currently serving as the 2008 President of the “Salute to Service” Festival. Cecelia worked for eighteen years as an Educational Assistant and Assistant Cheerleader Advisor for seven years at University High School in Central Valley School District.	Michael Waldrip President Elect Joining the Spokane Lilac Festival in 1998, Michael Waldrip is currently President Elect and will serve as Lilac Festival President for 2009. 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 Treasurer 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.	Sandy Brown Immediate Past President Hosting Sandy Brown is part owner of The Wandermere Company, her family’s business which started in l938. She has been a Lilac Festival Director for ten years. In those years with the Lilac Festival she has helped with all the committees and has been the Vice President of Royalty. Currently Sandy is Vice President of Hosting. In 2007 she was President of the Spokane Lilac Festival and her theme was “Here’s to the Heroes.”
Michael Noyes Area Relations Michael Noyes has been active with the festival for over 35 years. He came on board, at first, to replace the 8-track sound system on the floats. He served on the executive board several times before becoming president in 2003, with his theme of “Moments Remembered.” He has stayed so long because of the wonderful people in Spokane and the Northwest that make these things happen!	Myron Bursell Community Military 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 Community Military Relations.	Christine Leva Director Development A Spokane native and graduate of North Central High School, Christine Leva has worked for Spokane Public Schools for 16 years as a Special Education Instructional Assistant, working at Grant Elementary, Pratt Elementary, and Havermale High School. She was inspired to become a Lilac Director after her daughter, Emily, became Queen in 2002. As a four year member of Lilac Festival, she is serving her second year as Vice President of Membership.	Arne Weinman Float Sand in the City Arnold (Arne) Weinman is the owner of First Team Construction, a custom home building and remodeling company. He is the Vice-President for Sand in the City and has helped build 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.