Laurie Thomas

Board President

Laurie is the Chief Deputy Treasurer for Kootenai County. She is on the Governor’s Coordinating Council for Families and Children, has been very involved with Parent Teacher Organizations, is a Humanities Council volunteer and a Past President of the NIC Alumni Assoc. Laurie has been a member of the CASA Board of Directors since March 2007 and has served as the President of the Board since July 2008.

Rachel Grady

Board Vice President

Rachel works at Kootenai Medical Center as the Manager for Medical Staff Services. She graduated from George Fox University with a BS in Foods and Nutrition and went on to receive a Masters in Business Administration with a Healthcare Management emphasis from University of Phoenix. Rachel and her husband moved to Coeur d’ Alene four years ago and have greatly enjoyed getting involved in the wide array of activities Coeur d’ Alene has to offer. She has been a member of the Coeur d’ Alene Rotary and involved in a variety of community events. Rachel has been a member of the CASA Board of Directors since February 2010.

Samm Haight

Board Secretary

Samm retired from a successful career with Bank of America; her last position was the Personnel Manager for the Electronic Banking Division. Samm was an active member of the Bank’s Youth Job Program. She is currently the Office manager for her husband’s Architectural business and works part-time for Association Services, Inc. Samm has been a member of the CASA Board of Directors since May 2004 and served as the President from 2006 – 2007.

Toni Hackwith

Board Treasurer

Toni Hackwith is Director of the Auditing Department, with Magnuson, McHugh & Company, a North Idaho Accounting firm. Prior to joining Magnuson, McHugh & Co. in 1994, Toni graduated from Eastern Washington University in 1993 and worked for McFarland and Alton, P.S. and Medical Service Corporation. Toni is a licensed CPA in Idaho and Washington and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Idaho Society of Certified Public Accountants (ISCPA), Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and Association of Government Accountants. She is a CAFR reviewer for the Government Finance Officers Association. Ms. Hackwith is a 1997 graduate of the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Coeur d’Alene Program and the 2004 Leadership Coeur d’Alene Graduate Program. Toni is the Treasurer for the Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club and serves on the Board of Directors for the Excel Foundation. She has 16 years experience with non-profit and governmental accounting and auditing. Toni has been a member of the CASA Board of Directors since January 2010.

Priscilla Bell

Board Member

Priscilla is the President of North Idaho College with more than 30 years in higher education administration. She serves as a member of the boards of directors for the North Idaho College Foundation, Opera Coeur d’Alene and Jobs Plus, the economic development corporation serving Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County. Priscilla is an active member of the Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club and the Women’s Gift Alliance. Priscilla has been a member of the CASA Board of Directors since April 2009.

Tony Berns

Board Member

Tony is the Executive Director of the Lake City Development Corporation, Coeur d’Alene’s redevelopment agency. Tony graduated from the University of Idaho and worked in the forest products industry for 20 years prior to his return to Idaho in 2001. Tony is a member of the Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club, a member of several Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce committees, a past board member of the Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy, and a member of the Kroc Community Center Advisory Board. Tony has been a member of the CASA Board of Directors since March 2004.

Denny Hague

Board Member

Denny is a native of Coeur d’Alene. He was a fighter pilot serving our country in Viet Nam. After completing his active duty in the military, he remained active in the Air Force National Guard and successfully completed his career as a Major General. Denny was a commercial pilot for Pan American Airlines and had a successful career in the insurance industry. Denny is a member of the Cd’A Rotary Club and a past member of the Board of Trustees for NIC. Denny has been a member of the CASA Board of Directors since July 2002 and served as the President from 2003 – 2006.

Cathy Shortridge

Board Member

Cathy has been a part of the downtown business community since 1991 and currently owns the Painter’s Chair Fine Art Gallery. Cathy is a member of the Women’s Gift Alliance and helps with various fundraising committees for the Women’s Shelter, Ronald McDonald House and I Care. She has been a mentor for juveniles working with the Kootenai County Youth Chaplain and volunteers weekly at the Legends Retirement home. Cathy has been a member of the CASA Board of Directors since May 2008.