Governor, Northwestern Region, Soroptimist International of the Americas

Sue Riney has served on the Board of the Northwestern Region of Soroptimists since July 2004, and has been a Soroptimist since 1996, bringing a lifelong passion and commitment to helping improve the lives of women and girls.  Riney is Vice President and Project Manager for Wells Fargo Bank where she is responsible for leading project teams and managing companywide initiatives.  She resides in Oak Harbor, Washington, where she served as Executive Director of the Whidbey Playhouse for 25 years, as well as directing and producing numerous mainstage and youth productions for their stage.  She is an Elder at Whidbey Presbyterian Church, serving on the Finance Committee and directing the Chancel Choir and Praise Teams.  Riney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Park and Recreation Administration from Western Washington University.

Governor Elect, Northwestern Region, Soroptimist International of the Americas

Kathy King has been an active Soroptimist for 21 years, first in Davis California, and then transferred her membership to Klamath Falls when she moved to Oregon in 1998.  She has served in many leadership capacities and joined the Northwestern Region Board in 2008 after being elected as the District 2 Director.  King holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Corrections, and spent 5 years with the California Department of Justice before embarking on a 16 year career as the Executive Assistant for McNaughton Newspapers in Davis California.  In her current professional career, she is the Administrative Assistant for four Vice Presidents at Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, a position she has held for 12 years.  She and her husband Al have been married for 34 years and jointly have Al King Farms, a cattle and hay ranch located in Malin, Oregon.  They have an adult daughter, Amber, living in California.  King’s volunteer activities span most of her life, culminating with her passion for Soroptimist, its programs and mission of improving the lives of women and girls. In addition to Soroptimist, she holds lifetime memberships in both the Order of Eastern Star and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary.

Secretary, Northwestern Region, Soroptimist International of the Americas

Carol Hansen has served on the Board of Northwestern Region of Soroptimist since July 2008 when she began her duties as District 3 Director. She has been a member of Soroptimist International of Pasco-Kennewick for 19 years and has served in many leadership capacities. It is her passion and desire to help those who cannot help themselves, which is accomplished by raising awareness of important, relevant issues affecting women and girls, locally and globally, and by participating in Soroptimist programs. She attended Brigham Young University and has taken courses at local community colleges. Carol has been a paralegal with the law firm of Hames, Anderson & Whitlow, P.S., for 26 years, specializing in many aspects of the law. Her work currently focuses on personal injury and general litigation. She is a past alumna and board member of Leadership Tri-Cities. She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and currently serves as a Sunday School teacher for the youth and on the Public Affairs Council as the Multi-Stake Media Affairs Specialist. She lives in Kennewick, Washington, with her husband, Evan. They have four boys, two wonderful daughters-in-law, and one terrific grandson. She enjoys baking, reading, snow skiing, recreational golfing, and camping.

Treasurer, Northwestern Region, Soroptimist International of the Americas

Janet Hall Schempf has been a Soroptimist since April 1990, though she has worked to improve the lives of women and girls in rural and urban Alaska and throughout the world since the 1960s.  A graduate of Lewis and Clark College, Janet is employed by the State of Alaska as an Environmental Impact Analyst for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.  Janet has participated in numerous panels, task forces, working groups, and forums to address the intersections of science, economics, politics, and public policy at local, regional, national, and international levels.  She currently serves on the City and Borough of Juneau Utility Advisory Board and is a trustee of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council.  Janet has performed on stage for over five decades; recent highlights include jazz, opera, and chorale performances in Juneau, Sitka, and New York with Barney McClure, the Juneau Bach Society, Opera to Go, the Juneau Symphony Chorus, and MidAmerica Productions.  Janet is married to actor and woodworker Phil Schempf; they live in Fritz Cove, Alaska.

District I Director, Northwestern Region, Soroptimist International of the Americas

Bernie has been a member of Soroptimist International of Tacoma since 1993. Bernie believes becoming a Soroptimist was one of the most important decisions of her life, because one of her core values is the opportunity to be of service to others. Bernie is the Associate Director of Community Counseling Institute an outpatient substance abuse treatment agency. She lives in University Place Washington. She is trained mediator for Lewis County Washington, a retired Executive staff member for the Girl Scouts and attends Life Christian church. Bernie volunteers for the Joyful Sound Singers on a monthly basis. Bernie is completing her AA in Applied Science and plans on beginning her BA in Winter of 2011.

District 2 Director, Soroptimist International of the Americas   2010-2012

Past Owner MC Cully House Inn, Jacksonville, Oregon 1993-2005 Bed & Breakfast, Restaurant & Catering Company.   Joined Soroptimist July 1, 1999, President (2004-2005).  President of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce 1994 – 1996.  I was selected “Person of the year” in Jacksonville, Oregon in 1996.  Ambassador for the Medford Chamber of Commerce from 1994-2005.   Board of Directors for the Peter Britt Music Festival -1995 – 2005.  Board of Directors for Mobility Unlimited 2003 – 2005.  Currently Vice President for the Jacksonville Booster’s. Board of Directors for the Medford Jazz Jubilee, 2007-present.   Volunteer for Jacksonville’s Victorian Christmas and S.O. Historical Society.

District 3 Director, Northwestern Region, Soroptimist International of the Americas

Kristi Puckett has served as Northwestern Region of Soroptimist as Chair of The Ruby Award:  Women Helping Women (formerly known as – Making a Difference for Women) since 2006.  She has been a Soroptimist since 1990 with a goal to help improve the lives of women and girls locally, regionally and internationally.  Puckett is the Personnel Director for Grande Ronde Hospital, where she is responsible for all aspects of human resources, including labor relations, compensation, benefits, recruiting, workers compensation and payroll.  She resides La Grande, Oregon, where she is active in her EOU Community Choir and Zion Lutheran Church.  Puckett holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Eastern Oregon University

District 4 Director, Northwestern Region, Soroptimist International of the Americas

Chris Kelly has been a member of Soroptimist of Missoula since 2000. Chris is Assistant Marketing Manager for HDR Engineering in Missoula, MT. She and her husband reside in Stevensville, MT, where she enjoys gardening and small-town Montana life. Chris served 4 years as Secretary for Stevensville’s American Legion Auxiliary Unit 94 and 5 years as Secretary for the Town of Stevensville Planning Board. Chris holds Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Communications from the University of Montana. Go Griz!