board members

The Step UP and Go Board

We want to recognize the incredible experience our board members bring to Step UP and Go

Stefanie Bruno

Stefanie Bruno works at Premera Blue Cross as the Community & Broker Relations Coordinator. In this capacity, Stefanie works with and supports many of the non-profit agencies’ walks and health-related events in our community. She sees the correlation between health risks and lifestyle choices when observing and talking with people at these events. Heart disease runs in her family and is a constant reminder of how important it is to take care of yourself and to stay active. One of the goals for Stefanie is to set a good example and “walk the talk” while serving on the Step UP and Go Board. “I care about this community and the health of the people who work, live and play here!” Stefanie and her husband, Scott enjoy camping, fishing, traveling, entertaining, and making their own Bruno’s Sweet n Spicy BBQ Sauce!

Cindy Green

Cindy Green is the Program Manager, Health Promotion Division for Spokane Regional Health District for the past 5 years and has worked in public health for more than 20 years. She works in public health because she is committed to helping create a community where all people can make the healthy choice the easy choice. Locally Cindy has worked on many community health projects including SmartRoutes, Healthy Communities, and the Food Access Coalition. She believes being healthy includes not only personally choosing to walk or ride her bike to work, or the store, or for pleasure, but having a community where all people can walk and bike safely because there are sidewalks, bike lanes, paths, and parks throughout the community. Cindy truly lives her work. She and her husband did a 3600 mile tandem bicycle trip in 1992 in the west looking for a new place to live. They chose Spokane for the four seasons, great road biking, and livability!

Bill Akers

Bill Akers is Vice President for Washington Health Care Delivery Systems for Premera Blue Cross. Akers oversees network development, provider relations management and contracting throughout all of the Premera and LifeWise markets for medical, dental and ancillary services. Akers also serves Premera in the capacity of General Manager for the Spokane campus and its 375 Associates, overseeing local relations and the ongoing development of Premera's community activities. In this role, he is active on many community boards including the American Heart Association and Project Access, as well as Greater Spokane's Health Industry Leadership Group.

Premera's mission is to provide peace of mind to their members about their health-care coverage. Premera provides health insurance and related services to more than 1.4 million people in Washington and Alaska. Premera is the title sponsor of Step UP and Go because the company believes in helping people take control of their own health through exercise and healthy eating which Step UP and Go provides tools for and promotes.

Julie Humphreys

Julie Humphreys is a longtime television news reporter who now writes health and other stories for magazines and web, and does independent video production and voice work. She enjoys telling health stories as people share their struggles and challenges with health and weight issues and inspire others. Julie served as Step UP’s Director for two years and continues to serve on the board. “I have watched Step UP grow into a true community health initiative and am excited about how our FREE tools can help people make healthy lifestyle changes!”.

Emily Fleury

As the Director of the Health Training Network and Community Wellness at INHS (Inland Northwest Health Services), Emily Fleury helps the community become and stay healthy every day. Emily has worked at INHS for the past 11 years developing and implementing hundreds of education programs for the community, worksites, and healthcare professionals. "One of the things I enjoy most about the Step UP and Go board, is that it is a collaboration of members with different backgrounds and expertise coming together to help the community. I enjoy being on a team that helps our community members succeed at taking steps to a healthier future"

Hal Goldberg, md

Dr. Hal Goldberg is the founder of Step UP and Go and the Chairman of the Board of Directors. As a Cardiologist with Spokane Cardiology he sees firsthand the effects of lack of exercise and poor diet on the heart. It is his passion to get people moving before they end up in his office. Dr. Goldberg realizes each person must make the decision to be healthy themselves but also knows it takes a community of support for individuals to succeed. There are many diet and exercise plans out there, but Step UP, according to Dr. Goldberg is not a quick fix, it's a lifestyle change we must do together!

Julie Banks

Working for the YMCA of the Inland Northwest for the past 6 years, Financial Development Director Julie Banks understands the need for Health and Wellness opportunities to enhance quality of life. As a health seeker herself, Julie recognizes that both actual and perceived barriers prevent many of us from achieving healthier lifestyles. Struggling to overcome these barriers takes encouragement and commitment, yet the minor changes required yield big results. Representing the Y's Healthier Spokane Initiative led to her involvement with Step UP and Go. Creating a free tool to help community members find easy ways to make healthier choices is an extension of this effort.

Heidi Green

Heidi Green has spent the past 19 years in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation as both an exercise specialist and registered nurse. She has worked extensively with individuals recovering from cardiac disease as well as those at risk for developing it. Heidi is a long-time health educator focusing on Risk Factor Modification as well as lifestyle and behavior change. She works with patients and their families as they adopt new exercise and lifestyle habits. Heidi chooses to participate in the Step UP and Go Board because she feels it's a great forum to spread the word about "stepping up" and making small changes to live a healthier lifestyle.

Kristina Crane

Kristina Crane loves the outdoors and is passionate about keeping in shape so she can continue to enjoy them. Kristina is President of KL Crane Associates, a local agency that offers project management, corporate training, and the development of web based applications. Some of their notable clients include Health-E-Well, a corporate online wellness solution and the Washington Department of Health where Kristina has worked to help implement the State's immunization registry. Kristina and her firm are big believers in giving back and donate many hours of services including the online registration for Spokane's premier bike ride, Spokefest. Step UP and Go is fortunate to have Kristina and her firm developing the Step UP and Go tracking system as it is one of the most sophisticated yet simple and user-friendly trackers around!

Ponrat Pakpreo, MD, MPH

Ponrat Pakpreo, MD, MPH is a board certified pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital. She works with adolescents in a broad range of health needs, but has a particular interest in eating disorders and childhood obesity. She works with adolescents (and younger children) and their families to adopt healthy lifestyle changes and manage medical complications related to obesity. Ponrat has been in Spokane since 2006 and enjoys the friendly community and the access to outdoor activities in all 4 beautiful seasons. She has collaborated with the YMCA to create a fitness program, Fun and Fit, that is accessible to any overweight and obese youth in our community. Ponrat has also worked with other community members on childhood obesity grant proposals, has been featured in health and fitness public service announcements, and has presented to professional groups on the topics of eating disorders and obesity. She is an active member of the Inland Northwest Coalition on Eating Disorders and has joined Spokane Public Schools Nutrition and Fitness Health Advisory Committee.

Heidi Hershly

Heidi Hershly is the Executive Director for the Spokane chapter of the American Heart Association. She is a cancer survivor who also lives with heart disease. Heidi is a longtime advocate of exercising and living a healthy lifestyle. She attributes her passion and determination to the community of volunteers who selflessly give so much. Step UP and Go was a natural fit for Heidi giving her an even stronger voice when it comes to empowering the public about living healthier lifestyle and being heart healthy. The American Heart Association mission is help build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Our 2020 goal: to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20% while reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20%