Our Staff
Executive Director
Mike Forness, Executive Director
Mike came to Ronald McDonald House Charities from the Health Improvement Partnership in September 2003. He previously was with Deaconess Medical Center as a program manager for more than a decade. He has 25 years' experience in healthcare administration, marketing, fundraising and strategic planning. Mike has a Masters degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University. He enjoys traveling with his wife Jacquie.
Leadership Team
Melissa Luna, Director of Development
Melissa is a lifelong resident of Spokane with a deep commitment to our community. She joins us from the financial services arena where she worked for over 10 years helping clients plan and organize their financial futures. Our organization is excited to utilize her expertise to cultivate donor and business relationships thus strengthening our ability to grow the scope of services we provide for our families. Prior to being hired, Melissa has volunteered with Ronald McDonald House for over 14 years, served two terms on the Board of Directors and has co-chaired both the SK Ball and the Cobra Polo Classic. Melissa and her husband Greg enjoy traveling abroad and spending time at their home in Montana. She’s also a very proud Mom and still spends lots of time managing her two daughters who attend WSU.
Julie Delaney, Director of Marketing and Communications
Julie found her love for nonprofit work over 15 years ago. She first started in the field by creating a non-profit, with her husband Shane, to raise money for children and their families dealing with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. What started as an idea for a simple cocktail party grew into a fully functional foundation which held one of the largest 3rd party fundraisers for Type 1 Diabetes in the region. After 8 years of running that foundation she was hired to work in the Community Engagement department for Northwest Harvest. During her 10 years at Northwest Harvest she oversaw the areas of marketing, communications, large fundraising events and volunteer management regionally as manager and eventually as the statewide director. As a wife and busy mom of 2 teenage boys, she looks forward to spending time with her family, especially at the lake in the summer.
Jodi Clutter, Director of Family Service and Human Resources
Jodi is a Spokane native and graduate of WSU with over 30 years' experience in healthcare. Her professional experience includes counselor, case manager, managed care, organizational development consultant and assistant manager. At Deaconess, Jodi was responsible for successful site surveys/compliance audits, and accreditation reviews by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations. She completed a year-long training program with the Sherer/Yoell Group, specializing in managing change in the workplace, motivating employees in challenging work environments, and other human resources issues. Jodi and her husband Dave have 2 beautiful and very active daughters. She believes, like RMHC, that it is "All about Families!", and is humbled to be working for such a great organization.
Sharon Forsyth, Director of Finance
Sharon is a Spokane native, however she spent 8 years in Seattle while attending Seattle University and working after college. She returned to Spokane to join her family's small business, which she co-managed for 8 years. She spent 12 years with the Spokane Regional Health District, managing support staff in Clinic Services and later managing Patient accounts. After leaving the Health District in 2006, she returned to school attending Gonzaga University to obtain her Masters in Accounting and eventually her CPA license. She joined the Inland Northwest Blood Center as the head of their accounting and finance departments for 6 years. She became a member of the RMHC of the Inland Northwest team in early 2017. She is very happy to be a part of RMHC and our mission.
Kathie Vlahovich, Special Projects Director
Kathie came to Ronald McDonald House Spokane as a volunteer when it opened in 1987. She previously worked at Deaconess Medical Center as a nurse and became very aware of the need to provide a compassionate, home-like atmosphere for families traveling to Spokane for medical care for their children. She was very involved in implementing the House addition and the Family Rooms at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. Kathie is married and has 3 grown children, 6 grandchildren, and a golden retriever. She enjoys spending time with her husband at Pend Oreille Lake and cross-country skiing. She is also an avid Gonzaga basketball fan and freely admits to following the New York Yankees.
Family Service Team
Bill Aoyama
Canister Collections
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Courtney Paul
Family Service Coordinator
Debbie Fucile
Volunteer Coordinator
Emily Andrews
Family Service Site Coordinator
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Gail Bennett
Family Service Coordinator
Heather Nalbone
Family Service Coordinator
Lisa Riddle
Family Service Coordinator
Vicki Seely
Family Service Coordinator
Melanie Ullrich
Family Service Coordinator
Nancy Markley
Family Service Site Coordinator
Peggy Maxwell
Cannister Collection Yakima
Theresa Phillips
Family Service Coordinator
Linda McKoon
Family Service Coordinator
Erika Strandley
Family Service Coordinator
Darlene Knight
Family Service Coordinator
Sharon Hust
Family Service Coordinator
Cindy Ackland
Family Service Coordinator
Development Team
Katie Huckabee
Development Associate
Asia Plaza
Development Associate
Administrative Support
Sandy Watkins
Executive Assistant