Board Members

Ted Toribara, MD, President

Ted attained his bachelor of science in 1966 and then his medical degree in 1970 from the University of Washington. He is a family practice physician currently practicing at Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake, Washington. He is a co-founder of SMILE and his medical affiliations include INAFP, AAFP, and WSAFP.

Christie Toribara, R.Ph., Executive Director and Spokesman

Christie attained her bachelor of science in pharmacy from the University of Washington. She is a practicing pharmacist and the co-founder of SMILE. She is also involved with the Spokane Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition, Spokane YSP Task Force and the WSYSP Steering Committee. As Executive Director, she oversees all the work, funding, grant writing and projects done by SMILE.

Susan Toribara, Vice President

Susan earned her bachelor of science in psychology from Portland State University and is currently pursuing her MBA at Marylhurst University. Her previous business experience includes operations, sales, marketing, customer relations systems, national projects, and resource management. She has served on the SMILE Board of Directors since 1997.

Tim Hunter, Vice President

Tim received his bachelor of science in psychology from Portland State University. He has worked in wholesale construction sales since 1995 and has served on the SMILE Board of Directors since 1997.

Amy Roberts, CPA, Treasurer

Amy graduated from Washington State University in 1999 with a bachelor of arts in business administration. She is a CPA and has worked for a national public accounting firm since November 2000. Amy joined the SMILE Board of Directors as the treasurer in 2002.

Anne Vigesaa Carr, Secretary

Anne is a graduate of Holy Names Academy and then attended business school. She worked for Dr. Curran Higgins for eight years, Physician’s Clinic for twenty years, and then worked for Spokane Respiratory Consultants. Since retirement, Anne has volunteered at Aids Network and SMILE. When time permits she takes on shorter volunteer commitments.

Linda Lang, R.Ph., Fundraising and Funds Management

Linda attained her bachelor of science from the University of Washington in pharmacy. She then worked as a staff pharmacist at Seattle Children’s Hospital. In 1982, she was appointed to Assistant Director of Pharmacy at Seattle Children’s Hospital. In 1993, she retired after 30 years of service. From 1993 until 2005, she managed an independent community pharmacy in Seattle. She has been an affiliate faculty member of the University of Washington School of Pharmacy since 1982 and continues to be a member of the school’s admissions committee. Linda has served on the SMILE Board of Directors since 1997.

James A. Lang, Fundraising, Historian and Photography

James received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Washington. He began his teaching career in the Seattle Public Schools at Queen Anne High School and while there he received his Standard General Teaching Certificate from the State of Washington. He was granted an Educational Staff Associates Certificate in Counseling from the State of Washington in 1972 through attending undergraduate and graduate classes at the University of Washington, Seattle Pacific University, Central Washington University and Western Washington University. He then served as a full time guidance counselor and department head of counseling at Mercer Island High School until his retirement in 1991. James has served on the SMILE Board of Directors since 1997.

Paul Quinnett, Ph.D., Psychologist/Suicidologist

Dr. Quinnett is a clinical psychologist and the President and CEO of the QPR Institute, an educational organization dedicated to preventing suicide. He is the author of seven books and serves as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington. In addition to directing a large, public sector mental health program for adults and elders for 30 years, he was the director of an APA-approved internship in clinical psychology and conducted a limited private practice. QPR institute delivers a wide spectrum of suicide prevention educational programs.

Lou Sowers, Ph.D., Child/Adolescent Psychologist

Dr. Lou Sowers is a child psychologist who completed his training at Indiana University and the University of Southern California. Dr. Sowers worked for the past 18 years at Spokane Mental Health where he served as the Chief Psychologist and Director of Outpatient Treatment Services including a large Child & Family Services division. Dr. Sowers recently took a position as the Lead Psychologist in charge of mental health services at Airway Heights Corrections Center where a primary focus is to help the 2,500 young men learn and utilize skills that will help them to find hope and success in their lives when they leave the facility. Dr. Sowers also runs a private practice, serves as Board President for Spokane Area Swimming, engages in activities focused on reducing youth suicide, and trains for triathlons with his two teenagers. He has served on the SMILE Board for over 10 years.

Jack McClellan, MD, Child Psychiatrist

Dr. McClellan is a professor in the Division of Child Psychiatry at the University of Washington. He is the medical director of Child Study and Treatment Center, the State Hospital for children and adolescents in Washington State. His research addresses the diagnosis and treatment of early-onset psychotic disorders and the genetics of schizophrenia. Dr. McClellan has also been involved in the development of the Practice Parameters for the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and is the primary author for the Academy’s practice parameters on early-onset schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
 

Ramona (Mona) Griffin, Ed.D.
 

Ramona (Mona) H. Griffin is currently a counselor educator in the Counselor Education program in the School of Education at Gonzaga University, teaching school counselor master's level candidates.  Mona received her BA and MA from Gonzaga University and recently earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Washington State University.  Mona's professional experiences included 23 years as a high school counselor in three different buildings; she also served as a central office administrator for the final eight years of her career with Spokane Public Schools.  Prior to her current position, Mona was employed by Northeast Washington Educational Service District, coordinating a drop-out prevention program, The NET.  Mona is a consultant to The College Board in the area of advocacy for students by school counselors.  She is an active member of St. Aloysius parish, serving as a volunteer and Eucharistic Minister.  

Consultants to the Board

Matt Sanger, Attorney

Matt graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law and passed the bar in 1976. He began his career with Delay, Curran and Boling where he had interned. Marty Salina, Al Gauper and Matt formed the law partnership of Salina, Sanger and Gauper and have been in practice together for over 26 years. Their practice is located in the US Bank Building in downtown Spokane.

Matt Layton, MD, Ph.D.

Dr. Layton received both an MD and Ph.D. in pharmacology from Kansas University Medical Center and is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. After completing his psychiatry residency training at the University of Washington in Seattle, he has served as Medical Director at Spokane Mental Health and Program Director for the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Residency Training Program – Spokane Track. He is currently a Clinical Associate Professor in the Washington State University-Spokane WWAMI (Washington-Wyoming-Alaska-Montana-Idaho) Medical Education Program and the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Layton is a member of the American College of Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association, Washington State Psychiatric Association, Washington State Medical Association, and the Spokane County Medical Society. He has published numerous scientific articles in the fields of psychopharmacology and neuroimaging, presented research findings in national and international forums, and received awards from the National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Depression, National Institute of Mental Health, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Psychiatric Association, Washington Community Mental Health Council, and he is listed as one of “America’s Top Psychiatrists”.

Jason Miller, North by Northwest

Jason specializes in project management, brand strategy, and campaign implementation. His desire to tell stories through various forms of media. He has done everything from produce local television programming and commercials to overseeing the marketing efforts of a large 100 plus million dollar revenue generating health care organization.

A graduate of the University of Idaho in Visual Communication, Jason is married to Chelsey, a Vascular Technologist at Inland Imaging. Jason also coaches track and field at Central Valley High School and helps SMILE with digital media requests.

Deanna Camp, Camp Creative
 

Deanna graduated from the Burnley School of Professional Art, now the Seattle Art Institute, in 1980.  After a long career working for Seattle and Hawaii advertising agencies, and 5 years as in-house senior art director at REI, she now runs a successful graphic design business in Spokane.  On a grant from SMILE, she worked as an Artist in Residence at the Libby School where she taught students from 3rd - 8th grade the process used to create a personal logo.  She consults with SMILE on graphic design and continues to volunteer in her school district teaching art in classrooms on Five Mile Prairie.
 
She is married to David Camp, a marketing strategist and creative director and has two teenage children in the Mead School District.  A fine artist, illustrator and avid cyclist, she and her family spend a lot of time in art galleries and outdoors; exploring all Spokane's bike trails, back roads and camping spots.