Bess Derting
President
My name is Bess Derting. I am an attorney at Derting & Appel, PLLC and primarily practice in real estate and estate planning. I was born and raised in Okanogan and returned home after college to open my practice and raise my family. I have been active in the Chamber since 2011 and have been the President since 2014. I live on a small farm just south of Okanogan with my husband, Ryan and our three kids, Lexi (16), Aleena (14) and Johnny (13). Our farm has mini donkeys, mini goats, chickens, cows, dogs and cats. Our kids play basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, softball and tennis for the Okanogan Bulldogs. I am proud to have grown up here in Okanogan and to be raising my family here.
Bryan Cook
Vice President
Bryan Cook here. My wife and I found the land of our dreams just a few miles up in the hills outside of Okanogan in 2007, and we settled here full-time in 2011. To me the best part about the Okanogan Chamber is working with others who call this home, who are passionate about making Okanogan as vibrant and as “happening” as it can be. I’ve been on the Chamber board since 2014 (?), serving first as Treasurer and then as Vice President. I am the Operations Manager at Okanogan Land Trust, a community nonprofit organization that works to preserve agricultural lands, wildlife habitats, and the wide open spaces that make this place so special. I also serve on the Okanogan Valley Farmers Market Board, another dedicated group bringing home-grown and hand-made goods to Okanogan.
Denise Varner
Secretary
Hi there! My name is Denise Varner, a retired Okanogan School District educator and Okanogan resident since 1989. I have been a Chamber of Commerce member since 2019, the same year I was voted in as the Chamber Secretary for 2020-22. My husband, Scott Duncan, is a life-long resident of the Okanogan-Malott area and a retired educator of the Okanogan District. We are both strong believers in giving back to the community to support businesses, youth, and to help make our community safe, healthy and prosperous. Besides serving on the Chamber, I am a member of the Okanogan City Council, OCTA Transportation Board and the Okanogan-Omak Rotary Club. Scott is a retired member and officer of the Okanogan Fire Department and Loup Loup Ski Patrol. Our two grown sons, Matt and Mike graduated from Okanogan High School but have moved to the distant lands of Kent (where Matt works for Boeing) and Los Angeles (where Mike has his own set medic EMT business, MikeAid.com).
Stacey Ladoux
Treasurer
My name is Stacey LaDoux. I am the Owner and Title Officer at Baines Title and Escrow. I have been on the Okanogan Chamber Board since 2015, currently as the Treasurer. I was born and raised in Okanogan County and always knew I wanted to come back to the area after graduating from Washington State University. My children, Lexi and Trace, enjoy spending time enjoying the many outdoor activities that the Okanogan County has to offer including hiking, fishing, riding bicycles, running and snowmobiling. I have a passion for running and fitness and enjoy assisting in bringing events and races to our community for people to enjoy and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Chanelle Carlin-Black
Board Member
My name is Chanelle Carlin-Black. I am the owner of Chanelle Carlin Weddings and officiate elegantly rustic outdoor micro-weddings and elopements. As a professional wedding officiant, I have the honor of serving couples who are committed to creating a successful marriage. I collaborate with each of them to create unique, custom wedding ceremonies that fit their personalities and vision for their dream weddings and then continue to support them throughout the milestones of their life together. Additionally, I founded Weddings in the Okanogan, a professional network for wedding pros in the Okanogan who serve couples coming to this region for their elegantly rustic destination wedding as well as an online resource for those couples. I live in Omak, Washington with my husband, Bill, our son, Aaron, a graduate of Omak High School and student of Dakota Wesleyan University, and our beautiful orange tabby/maine coon cat Griffey, Jr. I have been a member of the Okanogan Chamber of Commerce since 2015, serving on the board since 2017. I am also currently the host of a monthly video podcast for the Okanogan Chamber of Commerce, “Okanogan Prospers.”
Budd Featherly
Board Member
Hello! Thank you for visiting the Okanogan Chamber of Commerce’s website. My name is Budd Featherly. Though I wasn’t born in Okanogan, I was raised here when my father moved his wife and young children back to the Okanogan, where he was born and raised, when I was 6 months old. Okanogan has always been my home and I have chosen to raise my family here just as my father did. My wife, Lyn, and I have 2 boys, Zackery and Hudsen, and we enjoy what the Okanogan has to offer young families – the great outdoors, the Okanogan School District, small community where you could say “everyone knows your name” and great small businesses. I work for one such great small business – Rawson’s. At the time of this writing in 2020 I have been a part of this third generation business for 19 years. I am happy to call Rawson’s my “second” family. Working for a small business you realize how much they do for small communities such as ours. This led me wanting to contribute as well. I joined the Okanogan Chamber of Commerce, forgive me, I think in 2010? It has been a long time. In that time the Chamber has grown so much and we have expanded so many things. I am very proud to be a part of that. I was Vice President for quite a few years, but after passing the baton, I remain as a board member. I was a part of the Okanogan Volunteer Fire Department for 14 years. Within the Okanogan Volunteer Fire Department, I moved through the ranks from Firefighter, to Lieutenant, to Captain, to Assistant Chief, and Association Chief. Though I love my brothers/sisters of the fire department, I decided to resign to focus more on my family. These guys do sacrifice so much for us in terms of not only putting their lives on the line for others, but also the many hours away from their families. I greatly respect them for that. Okanogan is a true community of friends, families, small businesses, a great school, great organizations such as our Chamber, plus so much more. Again, thank you for taking the time to visit our website to explore and learn about the community I love – Okanogan.
Jamie Woolschlager
Board Member
My name is Jamie Woolschlager. I am the branch manager for North Cascades Bank in Okanogan. I have lived in the Okanogan area for most of my life, I graduated from Okanogan High School. I enjoy being able to live and work in such a wonderful community. I really enjoy being outdoors and taking advantage of the opportunities the Okanogan area has to offer – golfing, kayaking, hiking, fishing and camping, just to name a few. I live on a micro-hobby farm and have the opportunity to enjoy gardening and raising steers. I am happy to be a part of the Okanogan Chamber and hope to help Okanogan be successful.
Janet Culp
Board Member
I am Janet Culp and have lived in Okanogan County most of my life except for 15 years away for college and my husband’s 10 years in the US Army. I have four grown children, 8 grown grandchildren and one 2 yr old Great-Grandchild. I currently am a volunteer and board member with the Okanogan Chamber of Commerce and focus my efforts on the Okanogan Improvement Committee, city council liaison and fundraising. I also enjoy volunteering as a board member and fundraiser with Green Okanogan Recycling Center in Tonasket. I felt very honored to be the 2019 Citizen of the Year for the Chamber of Commerce. I love Okanogan, my home town, and will continue to put my efforts into making it a great place to live and do business.
Irene Jordan
Board Member
My name is Irene Jordan. I have lived in Okanogan my entire life except when I went to college. I worked 30 years for Yokes/Food Depot under 3 different owners until it was closed in 2007. I then went to work for Worksource Okanogan County in Omak. I worked there for 5 years and then was laid off and then went to work for North Cascades Bank for a short while and was hired back with Worksource as Business/Employment Specialist. I had an opportunity to work in Wenatchee, but decided I wanted to be home in Okanogan.
