Meet Our New BOD Members!
Welcome and THANK YOU!
The Spokane Youth Hockey Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Chris Foster, Tony Baird, and Buddy Richardson to the Spokane Youth Hockey BOD for the 2023/24 season. Read more about our newest BOD members, their roles, and their terms of service HERE.
The Board of Directors would also like to express their gratitude to outgoing Board Members Sarah Stevens (VP-Admin), Nicole Adams (PR Director), and Matt Laidlaw (Community Development Director) for their service to SAYHA and our membership. We're grateful for your expertise, support, and leadership. Thank you!
Meet our New BOD Members
CHRIS FOSTER
Chris has worked in executive leadership roles in technology development, FinTech, and the marketing space for over 15 years, including 10 years as CEO and Co-Founder of a mobile technology and marketing company. For the last 5 years, Chris has been working for a Canadian FinTech company holding the position of Chief Marketing Officer and later Executive Director of Canada. Recently, Chris made a career change to stay closer to home and family and is pursuing his license as a Real Estate Broker.
Chris has had a lifelong passion for hockey. Growing up in Mission, B.C. Canada, he has played competitive hockey at many levels including Midget AAA in Canada, Jr. B, and recreationally, as an adult.
Over the last 8 years, he has had various youth hockey coaching roles within Spokane and Coeur d'Alene. Chris was previously the head coach for 8U Advanced, 8U Academy, and Intermediate teams, 10U A2, and 10U A1, and has served as the 8U Coaching Director for the Spokane Jr. Chiefs. Currently, he is the head coach of a Spokane Jr. Chiefs 10U A team, 2014 NW Flyers spring team, and assistant coach of the 14U B team.
Chris has a passion for volunteerism and enjoys dedicating his time to helping coach youth athletes. In addition to coaching hockey, Chris has spent 6 years coaching various youth sports, including soccer and lacrosse, as either a head coach or an assistant coach, as well as coaching the Eastern Washington All-Star Lacrosse team.
TONY BAIRD
Making his way to Spokane via Fairchild (Air Force brat), Tony graduated from Cheney High School and then Eastern Washington University with a B.S. in Business Marketing. From there, he began a marketing career at KXLY Radio, working with hundreds of businesses and writing 1000+ radio ads over a 7-year stint.
He then took a Marketing Director role for a home services company which led to the creation of his Ad Agency, The Woodshop. Tony now has 17+ years of marketing experience, including 8 years running his own company.
Tony is a first-year hockey dad (2023), learning quite quickly how involved the sport can be. And with no hockey background, he is excited to have found a way to support his son and the organization by contributing to this position.
Tony's previous volunteer experience includes several years with the Spokane South Rotary Club where he managed an annual golf tournament and became a Paul Harris fellow.
Tony is married (to Jessica) with 2 boys, August (10U) and Ian (TBD). Outside of hanging at the rink, the family loves to spend time at the lake.
BUDDY RICHARDSON
Buddy has coached with SAYHA for the past five seasons, working with Learn to Play, 8U, and now as Assistant Coach of the 10U-Silver team, in addition to on-ice roles at 8U. He loves to put his skates on every day.
He's proud to join the Board of Directors and work to reduce the costs of hockey for our players and families by connecting with sponsors to make hockey more affordable for our community,
He is the co-owner of the Hub Tavern, one of Spokane's amazing hockey bars, and works to promote hockey in our community through the passionate fans and vibrant neighborhood community around the Hub. Stop in and say hi!
Buddy is married to Lea, with three boys who all play at SAYHA - one in 10U and two in 8U.