2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Bill Heaton is a retired physician and urologist who enjoys volunteering for several organizations, acting as groundskeeper and carpenter for The Coop’s outreach, a voting member of the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Association, representative to the Spokane CA Land Use Committee, and member of Christ Our Hope Bible Church.

His special interests include automotive technology, mechanics and restoration, traveling, cycling, and skiing. He has supported the arts in Spokane with the goal of growing a passion for the arts in the Inland Northwest. He believes opera is needed because of the spectrum of music and emotion which reaches and enriches the public. Furthermore, opera tells timeless and fundamental lessons and stories needed today.

Rev. Dr. Mike Bullard, D.Min. is a Retired Presbyterian Pastor, speaker and author who has spent ten years organizing disaster recovery across the country. An avid chorister, he has performed in 25 States and 7 countries, including Carnegie Hall and Coventry Cathedral, has been in several musicals and in 2005 and 06 did the grandparents dance in Nutcracker performances. A former board member, board chair and chorus member, he has performed in every fully staged opera since the beginning of Opera Plus, Opera CdA, and INO. His wife Betsy plays violin in the CdA Symphony where they live, and they have two adult sons.

Randi has spent the last ten years in public schools working as a music educator for grades Kindergarten through 12th grade.
Much of her passion lies in helping provide community members of all ages with an excitement for education and learning, and an appreciation for arts and culture. She has special interest in providing learning opportunities and experiences in the arts to underserved and impoverished communities and individuals.

Prior to attending law school, Mary worked for the largest healthcare system in Western New York for 24 years. Here she gained experience in many areas including payroll, human resources, risk management, organizational development, and special event planning. Mary returned to college in 2004 as a single parent of two young children while still working full time obtaining her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Medaille College in Buffalo, New York. After moving to Texas and then Southern California, Mary obtained a Juris Doctor degree from Chapman University School of Law and was admitted to the California Bar.

In January 2012, Mary moved to Spokane, Washington and was admitted to the Washington State Bar later that year. Mary has been active in the communities where she has lived and since moving to Washington has volunteered for several organizations.

​Owen is a retired Professor of Chemical Engineering and Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and former Air Force Chemist who enjoys constructing and flight-testing experimental aircraft designs. He earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley before working as a Professor at UCLA where he still meets with UCLA graduate students to review their research as Professor Emeritus. Owen was on the All USAF Rifle Team while in the Air Force, where he held two national records and was a member of the Palma Team representing the USA in Australia in 1988. He also established a 501c3 foundation to support back-country aviation projects in 2014. Owen is an avid bridge player, and he has been a substantial supporter of INO since 2015. He also supports Opera Santa Barbara.