It’s hard to believe that I’ve lived in North Idaho for 44 years, (1980 Post Falls population, 7,000) enjoying it through all kinds of Lake CdA fun, weather, road construction, school levies, as well as other changes over the years.
I grew up in Mukilteo Washington, spending my summers down at the Puget Sound beach, digging clams, and swimming around the ferry docks. Mariners, Sonics and Seahawks were just a few miles down the freeway to Seattle. My parents owned a shoe store in Everett, Washington where I started working as a teenager and learned the ropes of banking, retail sales, customer service, marketing, and advertising. I became the head of the Downtown Everett Business Association events when I was 20. That was pretty overwhelming at 20, but it was a worthwhile successful endeavor, and a lot of fun.
My husband, Cort, and I both graduated from high school in Everett, and after college were on a new adventure to Richland, WA, then on to North Idaho. Cort and I both worked at D.A. Davidson & Co. in Coeur d’Alene for many years, and my job there was marketing, advertising, and organizing office and client events from fancy to Office Olympics and Casino Game Parties. We were always members of the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce until Cort retired, but when I was offered the Chamber job, I thought working at the Chamber and Visitor Center was a great fit for me.
The time I’ve spent in community involvement has become very rewarding from the early days of the Post Falls Boys & Girls Club – Jordan Johnson Clubhouse, and the Post Falls Education Foundation. Oh yes, there were crazy years of Ponderosa Elementary PTO school carnivals, Girl Scout cookie sales, and sports with 2 active kids who are grown professionals in their fields; and now a grandson playing varsity football at Whitworth University, Go Bucs!
The Post Falls Chamber has always been a stable, worthwhile organization to be involved in where we can engage with and be enlightened by the people and leaders within the Chamber. I’ve been an Ambassador Committee member, and currently the Ambassador Committee Chair, where the Ambassador group has been able to learn a tremendous amount of information about local people and their businesses when we visit Chamber businesses each month. We are always in awe of what is thriving right here in our own area – new businesses and 100 yr. old businesses.
Yes, we have had an increase in the number of folks moving here, but from a business perspective, I see growing businesses with owners and employees who are working hard. They are looking forward to being involved in the Chamber and the community while making North Idaho the best place to work and live.
Welcome to March……spring weather (maybe!), St. Patrick’s Day, March Madness, and Easter.
My name is Mark Botterbusch. I’m thankful to be able to be part of the Post Falls Ambassadors and for the opportunity to introduce myself.
I am a Montana native, but have had a strong connection to this area going back to when I was young, as grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins lived in Spokane, so family trips to the area were common. After graduating from University of Montana (go Griz!), I ventured west to Spokane to find work. After finding a Montana girl who was also living in Spokane, and getting married, we moved to the Seattle area and then Yakima before moving back to Spokane to raise our kids. I’ve worked for much of my career for banks in Spokane, and was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to work in Coeur d’Alene.
As a Commercial Relationship Manager for Washington Trust Bank, I’m blessed to work with amazing businesses and business owners in north Idaho to help their business thrive and grow through lines of credit, real estate and equipment lending, and cash management products and services. I’m going into my 8th year of serving and working alongside the great people of north Idaho, and it has been a true blessing – there are no better people to develop relationships with, and no better area to work in than north Idaho!
Personally, my wife and I have 3 grown children that we enjoy spending time with when we can. No grand kids yet, and currently no pets, so a lot of freedom! We enjoy a variety of activities, primarily centered around the outdoors – bike riding, kayaking, hiking, golf, spending time at the lake, skiing, etc. In addition, we both are involved with our church, including leading Bible studies.
My name is Jerry Lyon, and I want to encourage everyone that an amazing Spring is coming soon!
My time in beautiful North Idaho began with my birth in Coeur d’Alene, where I lived until I moved to the Spokane Valley at age 9 to accommodate my dad’s employment at Kaiser Aluminum.
After graduating from Central Valley High School, I returned to Coeur d’Alene to continue my education at NIC. In a great turn of events, I acquired a job as a teller at Idaho First National Bank AND got them to pay for my night school at NIC as well. That was the beginning of a 45-year career in banking that I retired from as North Idaho Market President for First Interstate Bank in October of 2021.
Living and serving in North Idaho for much of my life has given me a strong appreciation of our communities’ people and core values. I have been blessed to have many, many opportunities to be locally involved through various board positions in organizations such as Real Life Ministries, the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce, Post Falls Kiwanis, and Panhandle Area Council (representing the City of Post Falls), and in an advisory role with the River City Leadership Academy program. I have seen firsthand what a treasure we have in this area we call home and one that must be considered every day from a “how can I help” perspective. My current opportunity as a Post Falls Chamber Ambassador provides that conduit, and I am grateful to be a part of this energetic and enthusiastic team.
My family and I moved to Idaho from Utah in the summer of 2021, as we both received offers for employment in the area. We had vacationed in Coeur d’Alene for the past 5 years and were excited to enroll in this new endeavor.
I recently took on a new role as the Director of Sales of the newest hotel in Coeur d’Alene. The TownePlace Suites by Marriott is an all-suite extended-stay property where guests can feel at home. We look forward to welcoming the thriving tourism market in 2024, and we have felt blessed to be a part of such a strong community.
I have been an Ambassador with the Post Falls Chamber for over two years, and it has been a great opportunity to get to know this wonderful community. From welcoming new businesses to the area to visiting continuous community members, being an Ambassador has provided me with great knowledge of the area, and I have met some extraordinary people.
You can always catch me outdoors. We enjoy the outdoor life as a family by camping, boating, ATV riding, and attending local events. In my downtime, you will find me reading a good book, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.
Merry Christmas, Everyone – What a special time of year!
I am Heather and am very grateful to be part of the Post Falls Chamber Ambassador group. As a resident of Post Falls and a proud north Idahoan, I genuinely love helping others and participating in any event that positively impacts the community.
I grew up in a small rural farming town where everyone knew each other, and people worked hard every day. The support and love I felt from my community were tremendous, and I have no doubt that period of time had a huge impact on my wanting to continue to be part of that culture throughout my life. Although living in a small town, I had very big dreams & couldn’t wait to get started!
My history includes earning a Bachelor’s Degree in interior design and working in and around architects, fellow designers, developers, contractors, and City Government officials for over 25 years. In my spare time, I continue to volunteer with various local non-profit groups that mesh with my personal views, helping support their cause and reach their goals. I’m also a self-proclaimed foodie and will travel far and wide to eat delicious food!
I am a proud mother of one daughter, Madison, who lives college life as close to the ocean as possible and is as happy as a clam. My husband Tracey is an avid fly-fisherman, hobbyist & hunter who, when not working, spends as much time as possible in the mountains. Last, our kind-hearted Goldendoodle Timber just turned one and always gives us as many snuggles as we can stand. We are lucky to be surrounded here by many other family members and get together for all the holidays, birthdays & fun events as we can.
As a Realtor® with Century 21, Beutler & Associates, I am thankful to be able to assist people buy & sell their homes, which can often be some of the most impactful moments in life. My heart for helping others gets to merge with a career that allows me to easily guide people through the buying & selling process from start to finish. My main goals are to provide my clients with accurate information, clear communication, and the highest quality of care, resulting in a successful, stress-free transaction.
I couldn’t be more proud to be a Post Falls Chamber Ambassador and part of the community, and I look forward to many more years of doing my small part to assist the Chamber in doing big things!
