Artisans Team

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. 
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.
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. 
​​Brian Burke
Brian grew up in Othello, WA and Coeur d'Alene, ID before moving to Spokane to attend Eastern Washington University, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in Music Composition. He went on to earn a Certificate in Computer and Network Support from Spokane Falls Community College.  Brian has a passion for cooking, and most of his professional experience is in the Food Service industry. He worked as a cook for fast food and full-service restaurants, a local hospital, and the County Jail. Most recently, Brian participated in an internship for Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, working to re-employ injured workers through Washington State's L&I program. He is excited to put his diverse experience to good use helping to support Artisans' clients in exploring and growing in their own unique employment paths. When not working, Brian enjoys playing drums and singing in his band as well as backpacking, weight training, and snowboarding.
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 Inclusion 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.”
Jessica Edwards
Deirdre Farnsworth
Deirdre grew up in Spokane and is married with two children.  Her educational background is in the medical field, and she graduated from Spokane Community College.  Deirdre's career has primarily been in the medical industry as she held professional positions in medical offices and most recently worked as a phlebotomist at a blood center.  She also worked for a non-profit organization for five years in the past, helping people receive the medical care they needed, which was also a very fulfilling job. Deirdre really enjoys making a difference in people lives, and in May of 2021 she started working with Artisans to apply her passion for helping others in a new capacity.  In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and outdoor activities.
​Kate Heidergott
 Kate moved to Spokane in high school when her dad was stationed at Fairchild AFB and considers it her forever home. After graduating from Mead HS, she attended the University of Washington for her B.A. in History and Economics and then Seattle University for her Masters in Teaching. She went on to enjoy teaching History at Skyline HS in Issaquah, WA for seven years.  While teaching Kate learned firsthand the skills needed to help people of all abilities.  

Kate left teaching to be home with her first son and now has three boys that keep her extra busy!  She joined the Artisans team in 2020 as a job developer, a month before the first COVID-19 shutdown.  Although it has been a challenging time, she greatly enjoys working with her clients.  They are her favorite part of the job! 
Kayti Hilzinger
Kayti Hilzinger is currently a pre-nursing student at Eastern Washington University who, through acting as a caregiver to her older sister with Down Syndrome, has life-long experience working with individuals with varying intellectual and physical disabilities. In High School, she volunteered with Special Olympics, played on the Unified Bowling team, and was an active member of the school’s Diversity Club. After graduation, she began working with the City of Spokane’s Therapeutic Recreation Services Department accompanying groups of individuals to various events and activities in and around the Spokane area. Last summer, she also worked at ‘Funshine Day Camp,’ a TRS-supported summer camp for kids and adults with disabilities. Kayti loves seeing many of the same clients both at work here with the Artisans and at play with TRS.

Kayti has been with the Artisans since January of 2019 and she is thankful to have found an organization that works as tirelessly as this one to serve the clients and make Spokane a more equal and fair workforce for all.
Avery Myers
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!
Alona Petru
Alona was born in the Ukraine and moved to the United States four years ago. Alona is fluent in English, Ukrainian, and Russian. She has been in the workforce for the past fifteen years working in sales management, accounting, childcare, and food services.
Alona is very positive and cheerful person who enjoys helping others. She has a great deal of life experiences and understands firsthand what it is like to be in a vulnerable position and handicapped.
Alona believes life is what you make of it and enjoys being around good people who believe in helping others.  In her spare time she enjoys being outdoors, soaking up nature, and viewing wildlife. ​
Barnabas Sirak
​Barnabas is a Seattle native, and graduated class of 2021 from Gonzaga University, with degrees in Criminology and Psychology, and a minor in Sociology. He has a deep passion for social justice and working with people of a variety of backgrounds. Prior to joining Artisans, Barnabas has had experience working within government and community organizations. He has held various leadership positions during his time at Gonzaga, through which he worked to make the school a more equitable institution for all students. He is excited to apply this same passion for equity to his work with Artisans, helping to strengthen the Spokane workforce by ensuring all workers have access to the opportunities they deserve.
Andrew Wakamoto
Andrew grew up in Southern California until attending Gonzaga University in the Fall of 2017. He started his college career by majoring in business administration, but soon after, he knew that just was not where his heart was. In the spring of 2019, he changed direction to focus on attaining a degree in Special Education. As part of his curriculum, Andrew interned at Artisans, and discovered he absolutely loved the team approach to providing client support, as well as the overall loving and selfless community throughout the organization. A large part of what affirms him everyday in this field is the mindset that we are blessed to be a blessing to others, and Artisans' mission and the way it is operated aligns with this mindset. After graduating in Spring 2021, Andrew will be staying on board with Artisans and will be serving remotely from California. Outside of the office, he loves anything beach or sports related, spending time with his family, and is a die hard Zags fan.
Matt White
Matt grew up in North Spokane and attended Mead High School. He spent his college years in Oklahoma City and returned home to take on a position managing local gyms. A career change was needed and joining up with the Artisans has been the most rewarding career choice he has made so far. Interacting and working with the Artisans' clients fills each day with new surprises and challenges. No two days are the same, and that is what he loves most about working at Artisans. 

When he is not working with clients at Artisans, Matt can be found coaching high school football at Mt. Spokane High School. Hiking, fishing, and backpacking are his favorite hobbies with his wife and dog. 
Emmy Wise
Emmy grew up in Spokane and is married with two children. She worked for Artisans from 2008-2013 and came back to us in 2018 after a 5 year hiatus to stay home with her two girls.  She went to Eastern Washington University and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Technology.  She has a previous background in medical office management.  Emmy is excited to be back and her favorite part of being at Artisans is making local business connections to help our clients find their dream job.​
Jackie Worobec
Jackie comes to Artisans with a long career in non-profit management, fundraising and volunteer coordination as well as a diverse community volunteer background. Her education is a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Washington and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management. She believes everyone has a talent to share and is excited to help our clients find their perfect job. Meaningful employment is an important piece of making our community strong.

In her spare time, Jackie and her husband enjoy golfing, traveling, and spoiling their yellow Lab.