Executive Director
Polly Maxwell |
Polly grew up in Spokane and is married with two children. Polly’s educational background includes Hotel and Restaurant Management at Washington State University and Business Management at Eastern Washington University. Polly has helped start non-profit organizations, managed restaurants, opened new business locations and has owned her own business. This has helped Polly understand the needs of employers and given her expertise in training clients to be successful in any field that they choose.
Polly came to Artisans in 2003 to help the Artisans re-organize their mission to include community based employment. Growing up with an uncle with Williams Syndrome, Polly was aware of the importance of employment training and integration for individuals with disabilities. Polly used her background in business management and ownership to foster business relationships and to train staff and clients to integrate successfully. Although Polly’s main responsibility is to oversee the operations of Artisans she continues to be involved in most client employment paths and ensures that every new client with Artisans is teamed up with specialists that will help them be successful in the employment path they choose. |
Assistant Director
Mary Ravenna |
Growing up on a dairy farm in Southern Idaho, Mary was introduced at a young age to the value of hard work and watched first-hand what it takes to run a business. The strong work ethic instilled in her has transferred to her positions at Artisans and also allowed her to help Artisans clients with employment training and build work readiness skills.
Mary started as a volunteer at Artisans in 2004 through a service learning course at Gonzaga University. It was through this volunteer opportunity that her education and passion for serving adults with disabilities ignited. While in college, she became an employee at Artisans under the Work Study program at Gonzaga University. She graduated from Gonzaga University cum laude with a B.A. in English and Journalism in 2007. Although she did not plan on going into this field, it found her, and she became a full-time employee in 2007 after she graduated and has been an integral part of the Artisans’ team ever since. She has filled various roles and company needs along the way serving as Marketing Specialist, Employment Specialist and Job Developer. Mary became Assistant Director of Artisans in 2011. Mary’s main responsibilities for the organization are overseeing Artisans’ programs, integrating technology into its work methods, as well as assisting the Executive Director with business operations. |
Job Developer
Darlene Butler |
Darlene was first introduced and touched by a person with a disability when friends of hers gave birth to a beautiful girl with Downs Syndrome in 1974. Her friends went on to adopt another girl who also was diagnosed with Down Syndrome into their family in 1979. These two girls enriched Darlene’s heart and opened doors to education and a career working with individuals with disabilities.
Darlene came to Artisans in 2005 as a Job Developer bringing more than 22 years’ experience working with intellectually, physically, and mentally disabled adults in Washington and Montana. Her experience prior to her work with Artisans includes 6 years as a Case Manager for the Developmental Disability Administration in Yakima, Wash., 3 years as a Case Manager position at Butte Sheltered Work Shop in Butte, Montana, 7 years as a Case Manager for Montana Mental Health and 6 years as a Program Coordinator for Haven Homes residential facility for adults with disabilities in Spokane, Wash. Darlene has a gift working with and connecting with people. This is evident in her success in job development for Artisans’ clients through the trust and relationships she is able to build with clients and employers. She is also a much practiced mentor and teacher as she is mother of five children, three step-children, four foster children as well as a proud grandmother of 20 grandchildren. |
Job Developer
Kasey Chappell |
Kasey worked for DDA for years providing one on one support to individuals with disabilities, particularly for my two adopted siblings. She went to Eastern Washington University to attain her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. After she graduated, she worked for an in-home care agency doing case management. Kasey started with Artisans in February 2016 and considers it a huge blessing in her life to be part of such a supportive and amazing team that is TRULY dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our clients! Outside the office, Kasey enjoys riding and training horses as well as spending time with her family.
Kasey’s favorite inspirational quote: “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, LOVE of what you are doing.” – Pele |
Administrative Assistant
Joyce Bohlman |
Joyce began with Artisans in 2017. She graduated in 2010 in Office Administration and has several Microsoft Office Certifications. Over the years she has worked in office and customer service areas as well as with the elderly and the ill in hospital settings. She has a passion for helping others and knowing that success is there for all to achieve is rewarding. Joyce is a mother and a grandmother. On her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family.
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Employment Specialist
Steve Degenhardt |
Steve worked supporting persons with developmentally disabled for 8 years before he came on board with the Artisans in May of 2014. He brought to the organizations years of experience job coaching as well Ability One work site supervision experience. He currently works as an Employment/Community Access Specialist at Artisans. His previous work included I have worked as a job coach, and supervised numerous government Ability One work sites. Steve finds great satisfaction in the work he does, in seeing the progress he is able to help the clients he works with attain each and every day. Outside the office Steve enjoys spending time with family and creating and making things in his workshop.
Steve’s favorite inspirational quote: “Treat each day like it is your last.” |
Employment Specialist
Audrey Holloway |
Employment Specialist
Jason Iloreta |
Jason Iloreta comes to us from the island of Kaua'i, Hawai'i, where his family still resides. Jason grew up with an older brother with cerebral palsy and took on the role of his brother's keeper at a very young age. He attributes a lot of his patience, compassion, and yearning to understand others to his experiences with his brother. Locally known on Kaua'i as the Iloreta brothers, Jason and his brother initiated a campaign called "I am my ability, not my disability" and run long distance races to challenge the limits society puts on those with special needs. The brothers have also started their own Special Olympics team and help lead a special needs outreach ministry at their home church. Being involved in his brother's life opened up a lot of opportunities to serve the special needs community.
Prior to the Artisans, Jason worked with two different non-profits within the education sector. He enjoyed working with community members and leaders to seek ways to improve educational support for students. Jason is a trained leadership development facilitator and began facilitating leadership programs for high school students and adults. His passion lies within the one-on-one coaching and serves to help others, no matter the abilities, thrive at their full potential. |
Safety Specialist/Employment Specialist
Cindy Miller |
Cindy has worked at Artisans since 2009 working as an Employment Specialist. She has helped the organization in many capacities during her time at Artisans, most recently serving as Artisans Safety Specialist for its newly launched CyclePoint E-Recycling program.
She did not have any experience in this field when she first started with Artisans. She is a mother to four boys and is certified as an ophthalmology assistant, which provided a unique perspective in working with clients with low vision and a wealth of experience to the organization. Cindy finds it very rewarding to know that she makes a difference in the lives of the clients she works with to help succeed in employment. |
Employment Specialist
Debbie Niehenke |
Debbie has worked for the Artisans since 2008 as an Employment Specialist. She had not worked in this field when she started with the organization, but was inspired to do the work as she had the opportunity as a manager in a previous work position to work with a client in our supported employment program. She works primarily at our Waste Management (Smart Center) GSE job site. She is inspired to go to work every day to see the smiles on the faces of the clients she works with and by having the opportunity to help them grow and develop in their skills and employment goals. Outside the office Debbie loves spending time with her family, grandchildren and loves fishing!
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