It’s a new page for many organizations in the valley. For some, the change was expected while for others, it came out of the blue.
The changes read like a who’s who in the valley.
In September, Methow Valley Citizens Council announced that Jasmine Minbashian, its executive director since 2018, would be stepping down. Minbashian had been on leave since July 1. Staff member Mary Yglesia currently serves as interim director.
When asked about her move, Minbashian told MVE, “It was time for me to catch my breath after seven years at the helm of MVCC. Being a leader and advocate in a small community can be stressful and sometimes you just need a time out.”
Kira Wood Cramer, the then 26 year-old who took the helm of The Merc Playhouse as executive director in 2022, stepped down in April. Cramer said she loved directing theater but not so much the administrative tasks that go along with it. (Cramer is currently directing The Little Prince, which is opening in December)
In a wild turn of events, Tim D’Auteil, who arrived in the valley last year, secured the interim director role during his first board meeting at The Merc. (He performed in three roles there in his first year.)
A few blocks away, Sarah Brown stepped down as executive director of Twispworks in August. Brown wouldn’t comment on why she is leaving, but told MVE she is open to new leadership roles.
A few blocks farther, Aero Methow has its first new executive director in 40 years. Derek Van Marter assumed the role following the retirement of Cindy Button, who held that role since 1984.
Up valley, Executive Director Kim Romain-Bondi announced this would be her last year leading Classrom in Bloom after taking on the role in 2017. Her husband, Steve Bondi, left the executive director position at the Winthrop Rink in 2023.
Winthrop Chamber of Commerce’s Ted Lafferty, who was hired as its first executive director in 2023, announced he is stepping down to become a partner in a venture capital firm. Some members of the Winthrop Town Council had been exerting pressure on the chamber to be more financially self-sufficient.
Winthrop’s head librarian Murray Sampson resigned in June to move to Portland. Annika Troyer, who headed LBHS library, resigned from there to lead Winthrop Library. Troyer is pursuing a master’s degree in library science, a requirement for that role.
The move comes not long after Ree West, who was the head librarian in Winthrop, moved to head the library in Twisp after Dawn Woodruff retired in 2023.
At the community center, Sarah Thomas took the reigns this year after Kirsten Ostlie retired after 22 years.
Changing Heads in Local Government
And then there are local government resignations. Winthrop Mayor Sally Ranzau chose not to seek reelection. She will likely be succeeded by Robert Grim, who is running unopposed. Grim resigned as judge of Okanogan County Superior Court, a governor-appointed position filled by Winthrop attorney Rachel Hong earlier this summer.
Bill McAdow resigned in March after serving on the Winthrop Town Council for eight years. The council appointed Signe Shaw, who is running unopposed. (In fact, none of the candidates for Winthrop Council have a challenger.)
In Twisp, three councilmembers resigned. Aaron Studen resigned in July after 11 years on the council. Studen moved outside of the municipality of Twisp following a house fire and was no longer eligible to serve.
Katrina Auburn and Wyatt Lundquist are not seeking reelection. Auburn is working on retiring from the Twisp Feed Store and Lundquist said he wants to devote more time to his young family. Tim McGuire, Rosemary Seifried, and Molly Filer are running unopposed for their positions.
School Board Race
The current school board race for district 4, an at-large position, began when Gary Marchbank, who had served on the board since 2009, resigned at a school board meeting last November. Former superintendent Tom Venable read a prepared statement as Marchbank sat quietly beside him. Marchbank was in declining health.
The very next day, former Superintendent Tom Venable announced his resignation on MVSD’s website.
Less than a year later, Frank Kline, who had served on the school board since 2003, resigned July 31. Newly sworn in Superintendent Grant Storey, who had just taken his oath of office minutes before, read Kline’s resignation letter. Kline attended the meeting by phone and made no comments about his resignation. Kline did not respond to a follow up email about his resignation.
Last month, the board selected Ben Avery to fill Kline’s term. His seat will be up for election in 2027.
Venable became the new executive director of Housing Trust after Danica Ready, who had served in that role since 2017, shifted gears to become its Land and Housing Director.
Finally, the Public School Funding Alliance got a new executive director this year after Laurie Ulmer, who had served in that role for eight years, resigned. Johnnie Duguay-Smith, who was born and raised in the valley, took the lead this spring.
New Church Pastors
Mark Landes is the new pastor at Calvary Chapel after long time pastor Thomas Klemmeck resigned.
Friendship Alliance Church began a new pastor search one year after its pastor resigned.
Methow Community Church has a new pastor- Lonnie Good, after Jason Getzin, who served the church for 17 years, moved to Longview.
This article has been updated to include leadership changes at Aero Methow and PSFA.
Know of any other departures? Please comment below.
