Festival at Sandpoint welcomes new board members

The Festival at Sandpoint recently welcomed five new members to its board of directors. Joining the board are Mike Eisenstat, Barb Leedle, Heather Twidt, Justin VanCleave, and Willie Wittezehler.

“I am excited to welcome Mike, Barb, Heather, Justin, and Willie to the board and look forward to seeing how their diverse backgrounds and professional expertise help guide the Festival as we continue to expand our impact and grow the organization,” Festival at Sandpoint board president Ben Higgs said.

Mike Eisenstat moved to Sandpoint in 2023 after retiring from a career in technology, drawn to the area by its natural beauty and strong sense of community. As a regular concertgoer and lifelong music enthusiast, he is excited to support the Festival and help steward the organization into the future.

Former high school English teacher Barb Leedle earned degrees in communications and teaching and taught across the country, retiring from Sandpoint High School in 2023. Since moving to Sandpoint in 2009, she has been a longtime supporter of the Festival and is excited to contribute to its future and educational programming. She is also active in the community through volunteer work with Better Together Animal Alliance and Friends of the Library.

North Idaho native Heather Twidt graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in accounting and currently serves as Head of Accounting at Homera Health, overseeing financial operations for multiple telehealth and technology entities. She also serves as treasurer for several nonprofit organizations, including the Coeur d’Alene Library Foundation, Selkirk School, and Gizmo-CDA. 

Willie Wittezehler was raised in Sandpoint, attending his first live concerts at the annual Summer Series, experiences that sparked his lifelong appreciation of music and the Festival. Wittezehler is Creative Director of Roadtrip Nation, an organization focused on career exploration and storytelling that he grew from a startup to a national nonprofit. He is looking forward to following his father Bob Witte’s example of lifelong commitment to service to the Festival and the community.

Justin VanCleave also joins the Board of Directors, bringing his own dedication to community involvement and support for the arts as the Festival continues to grow its impact across the region.

Learn more about the Festival at Sandpoint’s Board of Directors at festivalatsandpoint.com/board.