The Festival at Sandpoint operates year-round and is supported by a large network of employees, board Members, volunteers, and more.
meet The team
STAFF
madison canale
DARRA collison
CAROLINE HAWKINS
Veronica knowlton
paul gunter
Production & Education Manager
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Paul was born and raised in Sandpoint, Idaho, and music has been part of his life for longer than he can remember. His work days are filled with music, and when he’s off the clock (surprise!), you will find him playing music. If he’s enjoying the outdoors with his family, there’s a good chance music is still involved.
He’s very active in the community, both on stage and behind the scenes. You might have seen him playing in one of his many bands or producing an event to make sure everything runs smoothly. From dance recitals and plays to Lost in the 50’s and the Heart Ball, he’s probably had a hand in it, usually with a coffee nearby.
Fun Fact:
If Paul could go to any concert, it would be Prince’s 1984 birthday show at First Avenue.
Sarah morgan
Cienna Roget
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Sarah grew up across the high desert of California, including Apple Valley, Pinion Hills, Wrightwood, and Big Bear. She earned her BA from Cal State San Bernardino before eventually making her way to North Idaho.
When she’s not teaching music for the Festival at Sandpoint, she’s usually teaching it somewhere else. She’s deeply involved in regional theatre and choral singing, and also makes time for traveling, studying, and a good movie.
When asked what her dream concert would be, she wrote an entire paragraph. It’s safe to say music plays a pretty big role in her life. Possibly a full paragraph’s worth.
Fun Fact:
She has an impressive sock collection, some silly, some mildly inappropriate.
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Cienna was born and raised in Sandpoint, Idaho, and went to college at Chapman University in Orange, California. At work, she keeps marketing and communications running smoothly, and is viralmaxxing our social media. Off the clock, she’s usually keeping up with all things pop culture. If you have a question about current events or celebrity news, she’s your go-to. She can find just about anything online, and fast.
When she’s not on the internet, she’s baking something sweet, curating the perfect playlist, or more recently, teaching herself guitar.
Fun Fact:
When asked what concert she’d go to if she could pick any, Cienna said, “I mean, Taylor Swift is so obvi.”
Festival at Sandpoint Orchestra Coordinator
Jason Moody
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Jason grew up in Sandpoint, Idaho, and studied at Seattle Pacific University, Rice University, and the University of Washington. He now calls Spokane home, where he works as a violinist, conductor, and educator.
He serves as Associate Concertmaster and Director of Education and Community Engagement for the Spokane Symphony, and we’re lucky to have him involved with the Festival at Sandpoint. He coordinates the Festival orchestra and helps support our education programs, bringing a lot of experience (and a lot of talent) with him.
When he’s not making music, he’s spending time with his kids, skiing, or out on the river fly fishing.
Fun Fact:
Jason hates sitting down.
Development & Community Engagement Manager
Programming Manager
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Madison was born and raised in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and studied Music Business at Full Sail University. She interned with the Festival at Sandpoint in 2023, and while we don’t pick favorites around here, she was definitely a favorite. Luckily for us, she came back full-time in 2024.
She reads all the books, goes to all the concerts, and travels whenever she can, international preferred. She’s a proud auntie and loves spending time with her niece and nephew. Put her near any body of water with a book and an iced matcha, and she’s set.
Fun Fact:
She has over 70 curated playlists for every mood, character, movie, and season.
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Darra grew up in Texas, San Diego, and Idaho, but considers Sagle home. She studied at Cal State East Bay and recently completed her Master’s in Organizational Leadership at Gonzaga University.
Around here, Darra is known for being the loudest one in the office, and she fully owns it. She’s a natural people person who loves connecting with the community, which works out well since that’s a big part of her job. You’ll often find her out and about representing the Festival at farmers' markets and local events, probably mid-conversation or mid-laugh.
When she’s off the clock, she’s usually snowboarding, spending summer days at the lake, heading to a concert, or getting lost in a good book.
Fun Fact:
Her favorite quote is, “Don’t threaten me with a good time.”
Director of Operations & Programs
Director of Community & Strategy
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Veronica grew up in Livermore, California, and graduated from California State University, Stanislaus (say that five times fast) with concentrations in Marketing and Accounting.
She’s our operations expert through and through. Organized, meticulous, and always up for a challenge, she’s the one keeping things on track and the one hyping everyone else up along the way.
Outside of work, you’ll usually find her skiing, swimming, or soaking up the sun and recharging. She’s also a year-round bookworm and loves to quilt.
Fun Fact:
She has a hype button in her office that makes airhorn noises, and it gets used at least three times a week.
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Caroline was not only born and raised in Sandpoint, Idaho, but she’s a 7th-generation Sandpointian. And not only did Caroline graduate from the University of Idaho (V’s Up!), she graduated with three majors: Business Management, HR Management, and Operations Management (and a minor in Marketing and an emphasis in Accounting, if we’re being specific).
Fitting for North Idaho, she loves anything and everything outdoors. Her hobbies are endless - hiking, fishing, horseback riding, backpacking, rafting, mountain biking, golfing, skiing, swimming, and much, much more. She also loves attending local events, meeting new faces, and connecting with the community.
Fun Fact: Any time she gets in her car, she sings a little 'on the road again', even if it was just to run an errand on her way to the office.
Marketing & Communications Manager
Music Instructor
tess howell
Director of Finance & HR
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Tess was born and raised in Sandpoint, Idaho, and graduated from the University of Idaho with two engineering degrees. After college, she worked as a whitewater river guide before finding her way into accounting. Now she’s fully at home in finance, where numbers and spreadsheets are her professional joy.
When she’s not deep in a spreadsheet, she’s usually outside fly fishing, rafting, trail running, or skiing. She also appreciates a slower day with a good book or a creative crafternoon. She’s known for finding the humor in just about anything and slipping something witty into most conversations.
Fun Fact:
Her biggest pet peeve is when someone turns off their car, and the windshield wipers stop mid windshield.
Board of Directors
ben higgs
President
AMBER REMILLARD
Vice President
Mike eisenstat
CALE KANACK
Barb Leedle
Marcella Nelson
Bea Speakman
heather twidt
justin vancleave
AMY WARKER
willIe wittezehler
Sarah Pillsbury
Doug hawkins jr.
Treasurer
Secretary
Interested in volunteering on our board of directors? Send a letter of interest to info@festivalatsandpoint.com.
The Board of Directors provides strategic direction, oversight, and governance to ensure that we fulfill our mission. Members participate in various committees such as fundraising, finance, and governance.
VOLUNTEERS
2025 DEPARTMENT COORDINATORS
Chair Rental: Shelly Ackerman, Sharon Gunter
Cheers! Tasting Event: Melinda Offer
First Aid: Sharon Bistodeau, Mary Logsdon
Gates: Tim Rosco, Connie Rosco, Kelly Whitman
Green Team: Jon Knepper, Makaia Knepper
Merchandise: Mary Ann Hamilton
Transportation: Frank Cafferty
VolunteerS of the Year
Volunteer of the Year is awarded based upon nominations from all of the volunteers and takes into consideration time dedicated, positive attitude, and more.
2025
Justin Bistodeau & Tim Kaufman
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First Aid volunteers, Justin Bistodeau and Tim Kaufman have been dedicating their time to the Festival for several years, with Justin’s mother Sharon being our long-time volunteer First Aid coordinator.
On the final Sunday of the Summer Series, after an especially long Saturday spent volunteering at both the Long Bridge Swim and Summer Series, they arrived at the venue early to help move bar product.
After assisting at the bar, they noticed that help was needed at the Cheers Tasting Event and jumped right in. Tim and Justin moved tents, coordinated multiple product deliveries, and found extra taps for a brewery that had forgotten theirs.
Justin and Tim saw a need and didn't hesitate to help out and solve the problem. We are incredibly grateful for their hard work and dedication.
2024
Makaia Knepper
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Knepper started volunteering with the Festival at Sandpoint at six years old in 2014. She is now 17 years old, marking the 2024 Summer Series as her eleventh year volunteering.
Knepper is the current department chair in training for the Green Team and is the leader of all youth volunteers in the department. She helps lead the Green Team through performance setup, keeping backstage clean, and a full venue sweep at the end of each night.
“Makaia is one of our youngest volunteers, and her dedication to this organization and our community is inspiring.” Executive Director Ali Baranski said. “It has been so exciting to watch her grow into her role with the Green Team over the years.”
Although much of the Green Team’s work is done behind the scenes and therefore may go unnoticed, they are instrumental in keeping the venue clean for our guests, staff, and artists.
“We welcome thousands of guests into the venue for each performance, which, as you can imagine, can create quite a mess,” Baranski said. “Thanks to the Green Team, after every evening we can return to a clean venue, ready for the next performance.”
Knepper's involvement as a volunteer started at a young age, following in the footsteps of her parents, Jon, Green Team Chair, and Amanda, Festival Street vendor, and Green Team volunteer, both of whom have volunteered with the Festival for more than 10 years.
When asked what sets her apart from other teenagers, Jon Knepper said, “She is very compassionate and kind. Her volunteering comes naturally to her. She looks forward to [volunteering at] the Festival as a huge part of her summer.”
2023
Tim Rosco
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Tim has been volunteering for the Festival for 15 years, and he is one of the Front Gate Volunteer Chairs, who helps oversee and manage one of our largest departments, with upwards of 60 volunteers working each night.
He has dealt with several changes over the years, including navigating a new ticketing platform in 2022 and a new volunteer management software this year, where he took the lead in scheduling all of the front gate volunteers every night.
The front gate is not only one of the largest and is instrumental as it is also the guests’ first introduction to the Festival at Sandpoint experience.
While overseeing and training hundreds of volunteers and managing five different gates, Tim always remains positive and respectful and is dedicated to giving not only guests a great experience but also his fellow volunteers and Festival staff.
The Festival at Sandpoint would like to thank Tim Rosco for his dedication, tireless efforts, thoughtfulness, dependability, and selflessness throughout the years.
2022
Kelly Whitman
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Kelly Whitman has volunteered for the Festival at Sandpoint for 27 years and is the Front Gate Co-Chair. Kelly helps coordinate, schedule, and train upwards of 75 volunteers per night. Our Executive Director, Ali Baranski, said, “Kelly has continued to ensure there is dependable coverage at all gates at the venue and does an excellent job at cross-training, supervising, and helping volunteers.” The Festival at Sandpoint would like to thank Kelly for her dedication, thoughtfulness, dependability, and tireless efforts throughout the years.