Jenny Buatte – Ambassador Spotlight

Jenny Buatte – Ambassador Spotlight

Hello everybody!

I moved to Idaho in June 2022 to teach 2nd grade and Spanish at a brand-new school. It was a big task that required many extra hours. Being a single parent who had just relocated here with my two teenagers, the long hours of planning weren’t a good fit. After teaching for 15 years, I changed careers and accepted my new position for Servpro of CDA in February of this year. I had spoken to Paul at K&S staffing at a networking meeting I attended as I built my Mary Kay clientele in this area. He realized I had many good marketing skills from having my at-home business with Mary Kay and connected me with Servpro.

I have loved working for Servpro. I have been through a house fire and floods before, so I know how devastating these disasters are, and I love that I help people get the help they need. I love telling people about our company because when something horrible happens, you last want to search on Google and hope to get good help. If you ever have a disaster, you already know about us and can call me or the office to get immediate and reliable help. These situations are very inconvenient, and I love that at least finding help can be convenient because you’ve already met me and know we’re available 24/7. We’re faster to any disaster and make it like it never happened!

My 16-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter are my pride and joy. They’re artistic, kind, caring, and fun kids. Before moving here, we had spent the last three summers camping in our RV. My dad taught me how to pull and park, and a friend taught me how to connect to hookups and use my RV. My kids direct me as I back into camping spots. I had summers off as a teacher, so we joined a camping resort and went camping for about five weeks out of the summer. I had grown up riding horses and packing into the mountains to camp, so camping comes easily to me. I wanted to RV instead because I thought “glamping” would be much easier than setting up camp every time. It was still a lot of work, as I soon found out. Spending quality time with my kids and their friends who came camping with us was well worth it. We loved taking our dog along, hiking, swimming, and cooking many smores around the campfire. When we moved here, I chose a house with a large yard and put in a trampoline, pool, and hot tub. I can walk out my back door and feel like I’m on vacation unless I’m doing yard work again! We also love to go to skate parks! My daughter roller skates, my son skates, and I ride my BMX bike. It’s good exercise and fun to do with my teens!

My favorite hobby is dancing, so I’m very happy about the many dancing opportunities here. In college, I was in swing dancing clubs. When I studied in Spain, I did a lot of salsa dancing. Now, I’m learning many other dance styles. The dancing community here is friendly and encouraging, so if you’re interested, I hope you’ll join us on the dance floor!

This year, I’m the President of the River City Leadership Academy. I’m enjoying learning about our community. Post Falls is a great town, and I’m looking forward to many years of helping our community to keep it a wonderful place to live. Thank you, Post Falls Chamber, for everything you do!

Vicky Busby – Ambassador Spotlight

Vicky Busby – Ambassador Spotlight

I have represented Umpqua Bank as a Post Falls Chamber Ambassador since 2019. I love the opportunity to welcome people and support business in our growing community.

My dad grew up in Wallace, Idaho and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a jazz musician and magician. Born in Southern California, I looked forward to visiting North Idaho every summer – deciding “Someday I’m moving here!”

I started my banking career in my early 20s where I learned every branch position and loved helping people. I went to work for a Swiss bank and later sold specialized equipment to banks. I also learned sleight-of-hand and loved to entertain people.

On a trip to Idaho, our family stopped in San Francisco where my dad was hired to lecture to magicians. My future husband Jeff organized the lecture. He owned a mail order business, publishing books and manufacturing props for professional magicians in over 80 countries.

I joined his business and discovered the challenges of being self-employed.

The dotcom boom arrived along with a huge increase in rent, thus forcing us to relocate. While visiting family, Jeff suggested we move to North Idaho. We bought our first house here in 1991 and never looked back.

Fast forward… Jeff had a major stroke and couldn’t work. I jumped back into banking where I’ve worked in a variety of positions including banker and branch manager. I am active in the community and love talking to business owners about their passion, challenges, dreams and how I can help. As an Ambassador, I like attending ribbon cuttings, visiting members, and interacting with the Chamber team.

When Jeff passed, I bought a house in Post Falls and have lived there since 2016. I love time with family, friends, my kitty, Romeo, and also enjoy road trips and exploring new places. I love to travel and experience different cultures, and my most recent trip included Europe and a second visit to Croatia, one of my favorites!

Larain Saige – Ambassador Spotlight

Larain Saige – Ambassador Spotlight

Hi, my name is LaRain Saige and I moved to Post Falls Idaho in 2001 from Arizona, working for Walmart and opening Supercenters for 16 years. After surviving Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2004, a change in careers was in order!

I have been around animals my whole life (being raised on a farm), including llamas, horses, cows, pigs, goats, ducks, chickens, ferrets, hamsters, dogs, cats, etc, etc, etc. Even a snake or two!! I currently have 4 dogs, 2 cats (all rescues) 10 chickens, 2 goats and lots of rabbits! So a career in working with animals seemed to be the best fit.

In 2008 I started working as a Pet Sitter, Dog Walker and Animal Care Specialist. I also volunteered at the Post Falls Police Dept Animal Shelter, then became the Volunteer Coordinator for the Kootenai Humane Society, and after that worked at a Veterinary Clinic. I currently work as a Pet Health Consultant helping pets stay happy and healthy at home!

After helping people with their animals in different situations for years and after seeing gaps in the current community programs, I founded TAILS Foundation Inc in 2016. The mission is to help families care for their pets through education, training and resources for optimal health and well-being of all animals. This is so families don’t have to give up their pets for temporary financial reasons, and keeps animals out of the shelters and rescues that are already overwhelmed.

I have been a part of the Post Falls Chamber and have been an Ambassador for them for over a year now, visiting and getting to know local businesses. I have also completed the River City Leadership Academy program this year which was amazing! I have been blessed with so many wonderful experiences and have met many amazing people in our community!

Callie Pierce – Ambassador Spotlight

Callie Pierce – Ambassador Spotlight

My name is Callie Pierce. I was born and raised in the small town of Libby, Montana, graduating in the class of 2000! I moved to the Post Falls/CDA area in June 2000, a week after I graduated, and fell in love with the area. Here I am, still here 23 years later, but part of me will always be in Montana. Like I said, you can take me out of Montana, but you can’t take Montana out of me!

I started my career as a manager in the grocery business in 2000, doing that for 16 years for Tidyman’s/Trading Company. In 2016, I moved occupations and started working for the Springhill Suites by Marriott in CDA, where I am the Sales Manager. I love every minute of my job and love being a part of this wonderful community. I am an Ambassador for the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Hayden Chamber.

I have been a resident of Post Falls for the last 12 years, so the Post Falls Chamber will always have my Heart as it is run by some pretty amazing people – this community wouldn’t be the same without them in it. As a sales manager for Springhill Suites, I am the face of the community. Joining the Post Falls Chamber and becoming an Ambassador has opened many doors and opportunities to meet some amazing Women and Men in the area. I am blessed to be a part of it and looking forward to growing even more and engaging in everything I can.

I have been happily married for 10 years, together for 12 years, to my wonderful husband Brandon. Together, we have a 12-year-old daughter, Tatyana, a 21-year-old child, Alex, a step-son Brandon JR, 25, and a very beautiful 5-year-old Granddaughter, Ella, who is the light of our lives! We also have 2 Shihtzu dogs, Liza and Rosie, who are two very spoiled fur babies!

I enjoy the outdoors, and camping is my favorite thing to do. I am a very outgoing people person and I love to meet new people and hear their stories.

J and Pancho Elder – Ambassador Spotlight

J and Pancho Elder – Ambassador Spotlight

J and Pancho Edler came to our community several years ago, intending to slow down! Instead, they have become incredibly active by joining the Post Falls Chamber to be more connected to the local companies already here and learn about the new ones moving in. They soon became Ambassadors for the Chamber to ratchet up their awareness and are active in new Chamber member ribbon cuttings and open houses.

They joined doTERRA as Advocates over eight years ago, helping families and individuals here and across the country with health issues by offering all-natural solutions through therapeutic essential oils. They often share their oils at the state fair, home and garden shows, and various wellness fairs locally and in Sandpoint. Additionally, J provides educational classes to expand the knowledge of essential oils and discusses how they work in our bodies. J is especially passionate about sharing these oils, which have offered her many personal benefits. She loves helping others find ways to benefit! They are dedicated to each person they meet who needs help. Also worth mentioning is that J is a licensed realtor! She is dedicated to being a professional in each of these fields.

Besides helping his wife, Pancho joined Dixon Golf last spring to help drive donations to 501c3 charities locally and in Montana. Now, he and J work together at charity events. Pancho is an avid golfer and loves the outdoors. His passion is giving back whenever possible.

Both are grateful to have many family members living here as well. J’s cousin and her husband have lived in Coeur d’Alene for over 40 years and were nurses at Kootenai Hospital for much of that time. There are now over 20 family members here! About three years ago, their daughter, son-in-law, and 2 grandsons moved to Post Falls from Auckland, New Zealand, to be closer to their grandparents. Pancho and J can now see the children play in local basketball and baseball games, plus enjoy the grandchildren with sleepovers. Having so much family here – especially the grandchildren – is a blessing for them.

They also love having their special 3-year-old Cavapoo fur baby, Rosy, who has stolen their hearts!

They are forever grateful to be so involved in the community. If you see them on the street, please say hello!

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