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.
Stacey Brown
Vice President
My name is Stacey Brown. I have been on the Okanogan Chamber Board since 2015. 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
Denise Varner
Board Member
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).
Ted Reinbold
Treasurer
Born and raised in Okanogan, I have proudly served our community as an attorney for the past 15 years. As a long-standing member of the Chamber of Commerce, I am committed to contributing to our community’s growth and prosperity.
Chanelle Carlin
Board Member
My name is Chanelle Carlin. Over my years enjoying life on this planet, I have traveled the world, lived in Ireland for 8 years, and now live in gorgeous Okanogan County, Washington, USA with my family. Our beautiful home is nestled in a little valley surrounded by the Omak and Tiffany Mountains. I moved to Okanogan in 2014, have been a member of the Okanogan Chamber of Commerce since 2015, and served the Board of Directors since 2017. I am a Professional Wedding Officiant and the owner of Chanelle Carlin Weddings & Weddings in the Okanogan. I love this community and am honored to continue to help Okanogan Prosper.
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.
Josh Allenby
Board Member
My name is Joshua Allenby and I am a longtime Okanogan County Resident and active community member. I am an avid outdoorsman and enjoy nature, hunting, fishing and gardening in my spare time.
Doug Woodrow
Board Member
I grew up in Okanogan during the 1950’s. As kids we had free range of the town and surrounding countryside. Dinner time was a slight interruption as we enjoyed the twilight nights with all the other neighborhood kids. Returning vets from World War 2 and the Korean war were eager to start new families and they eagerly joined in volunteer projects to improve the town. I grew up watching civic boosters like Art and Jane Lucas, Louie and Dorie Wood, and Ralph and Doris Matson and Carolyn Clayton. Living in California for 12 years taught me the unique opportunities of living in a small town. I have been a carpenter, cabinet maker, glazier and a middle school teacher and Spanish speaker. These were all skills I learned from my mentors in this town. I own Monumental Task, a stone engraving/monument business. I am proud of our Chamber of Commerce and the community events we organize. My work in the Chamber allows me to curate the Matsura murals downtown and extend that historical narrative.
