Staff and Counsel

President and
Chief Executive Officer
Jan Simon Aridj
(206) 306-1001
Toll-Free: 1-(877) 906-1001
FAX: (206) 306-1006
jansimon@wshla.com

WSH&LA's Chief Executive since 1999, Jan Simon previously served four years as executive director of the 1,000-member Washington State Chiropractic Association. Prior to that, she was Northwest regional manager for Landmark Education, a worldwide training and development company, marketing director of Crossroads Mall in Bellevue, and owned and published City Kids Magazine. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications from Columbia College in Chicago and moved to Washington in 1980.

Public & Governmental Affairs Counsel
TK Bentler
5838 Athens Beach Road NW
Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 923-5466
Fax: (360) 923-5467
Cell: (360) 769-1176
tkbentler@comcast.com

TK Bentler has been a contract lobbyist in Olympia since 1985 and received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Washington. Prior to that he interned for U.S. Senator "Scoop" Jackson, paged for U.S. Senator Warren G. Magnuson and managed state and local campaigns.

He is currently a board member on the Washington Research Council, United for Washington's CSC (Washington's Business PAC), the National Association of Convenience Stores' Legislative Committee, and the Business Advisory Committee for the Washington Liquor Control Board.

TK enjoys spending time with his wife, Anna, and 2 daughters.

Public & Governmental Affairs Counsel
Robert Taylor
2029 Autumn Place
East Wenatchee, WA 98802
(509) 884-3033
Fax: (509) 884-4362
Cell: (360) 951-6605
taylor.bob@verizon.net

Robert Taylor, a resident of East Wenatchee, represented Alcoa Inc. in the public relations, communications and government relations areas for more than 25 years…the last 14 in Washington state. His career took him through seven plants in five states before retiring from the company’s aluminum production plant in Wenatchee. Taylor, an Accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America for more than 20 years, became president of his own government relations firm, Issues Inc., following retirement from Alcoa in 1996. A Texas native and journalism graduate of Texas Christian University, he also worked in the newspaper and telecommunications industries during the 1960s and '70s.

Bob and his wife, Carol, have five children and five grandchildren.

Membership Sales
Lisa DuPere
NW Regional Sales Manager
American Hotel & Lodging Association
PO Box 1284,
Terrebonne, OR 97760
(503) 806-4730
Fax: (541) 548-0106
ldupere@ahla.com

We are pleased to announce the addition of
Lisa DuPere with American Hotel & Lodging Association to partner with us for membership sales and retention! Lisa comes to us from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon as their Vice President of Resource Development & Events. She has a proven sales track record. Her ability to build relationships and focus on customer service has contributed to her success. Lisa also has an extensive hospitality background, including Director of Sales for two prestigious golf clubs in Oregon and the Avalon Hotel in Portland Oregon. Born in Seattle and raised in Vancouver Washington she is truly a “Washingtonian” at heart and knows the Geographic’s of the state well. Lisa will be representing the Northwest part of the US for AH&LA and will work remotely from her home in Terrebonne, Oregon.

Legal Counsel
Dennis McLaughlin
Dennis McLaughlin & Associates, P.S.
W. 601 Main, #1015
Spokane, WA 99201
(509) 624-3525
FAX: 624-3710
dmassoc@concentric.net

General counsel to WSH&LA since 1993, Dennis McLaughlin also serves in that capacity for several hotels in Spokane, the Spokane County Hotel & Motel Association, the Empire Innkeepers Association and the Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau. He received his BA from Washington State University and his law degree from the University of Idaho.

Financial Advisor
Clark Nuber
10900 NE 4th St., Suite 1700
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 454-4919
FAX: (425) 454-4620
www.clarknuber.com

A locally owned CPA and consulting firm headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., Clark Nuber has helped to shape the growth of entrepreneurial businesses and non-profit associations in the Northwest for over more than four decades. Its professionals advise WSH&LA and its members in the many accounting, taxes and other financial and legal issues affecting the lodging industry, providing business and technical solutions while developing long-term professional relationships.

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