Board of Directors
The SBA Board is composed of key community leaders who meet monthly to guide and direct the work of the organization. See below for more information about our Board of Directors.
Chris Batten
Danny Beard
Jack Heath III
Sue Horton
Dr. Thayne McCulloh
Tom Simpson
Larry Stone
SBA Board Chair
Larry Stone
Stone Group of Companies
President
Larry Stone has founded several manufacturing and real estate development companies, including SCAFCO Steel Stud Manufacturing Company, L.B. Stone Properties Group, and CWallA Building Materials. Stone also acquired manufacturer Steel Construction Systems in 2016.
SBA Vice Chair
Chris Batten
RenCorpRealty
Principal and Designated Broker
Chris Batten’s primary focus has been on adaptive reuse and renovation of historic properties in and around downtown Spokane. To date, RenCorpRealty has been involved in more than 20 historic properties being listed on the Spokane Historic Register.
SBA Treasure
Sue Horton
Wheatland Bank
CEO
Susan M. Horton is the President and CEO of Wheatland Bank, headquartered in Downtown Spokane. Ms. Horton serves on the national FDIC Community Banking Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors of the Washington Bankers Association.
SBA Secretary
Tom Simpson
Ignite Northwest
CEO
Tom Simpson has over 35 years of experience as an investment banker, venture capitalist, angel investor and entrepreneur. He is CEO of Ignite Northwest which focuses on funding, accelerating and mentoring explosively growing companies in the Spokane region.
SBA Director
Danny Beard
UGM
Strategic PartnershipsÂ
Beard retired in 2017 as the Senior Vice President of NBC Camps, the world’s largest residential basketball camp, where he worked for 40 years mentoring young people. He now serves part-time for the Union Gospel Mission, a homeless shelter in Spokane.
SBA Director
Jack Heath, III
Washington Trust Bank
CEO
Jack Heath is Chief Executive Officer of Washington Trust Bank. He is also a member of the Washington Trust Bank and W.T.B. Financial Corporation Boards of Directors. Jack most recently served as President and Chief Operating Officer.
SBA Director
Dr. Thayne McCulloh
Higher Ed Leadership Partners, LLC
Founding Partner & Principal Consultant
Thayne McCulloh is a nationally recognized higher education administrator and consultant with more than 30 years of experience guiding his and other institutions through transformation, growth, and challenge. As the 26th President of Gonzaga University (2009–2025), he led the university through a period of historic achievement— strengthening academic excellence, expanding access, and deepening community impact. Dr. McCulloh is currently the President Emeritus of Gonzaga University.