Fast Five: Christy Markham

Meet Christy Markham, director of development and marketing at the Salvation Army Kroc Center. She is married to Ben Markham, a teacher at Lakes Middle School. Christy enjoys running, drinking Evan's Bros. coffee and road trips.

Generation: I identify with the resourceful, self-sufficient traits of Generation X. Also the bit about working hard and playing hard — on the trail, at the beach or getting the kids to cello and swim practice. Just please don't ask me if my house is clean.

Career and community involvement: I never anticipated spending my entire professional career in the nonprofit sector, but I've been afforded many incredible opportunities to see a need and be part of the solution. I focus most of my energy on work and home, but couldn't turn down the opportunity to serve on the United Way Impact Council, to get a bird's-eye view of the network of nonprofits reaching out to the underdogs in our community.

Parental status: The "eternal optimist" Jacob Carter plays two instruments, loves all things science and is an awesome big brother. Eleanor Soleil is at such a fun age: 6 and a half. She is reading like crazy, learning to swim and hiked Mineral Ridge on her own two feet ... mostly.

1. What is something you love about your work at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene?

Hands down, the people I get to work with. If you were going to pick the very best person to run the theater or create our summer camp program or pray with someone contemplating suicide, we have them on staff. I also love that there is always something exciting happening like when the camp kids blow off rockets outside my office window or the Kroc Water Polo Team became the Idaho state champions for the sixth year in a row!

2. Why do you feel it's important to be involved in your community?

The community needs us! To vote our conscience, to volunteer and to support the schools and programs that are helping raise the next generation of Idahoans — that every child, regardless of their family situation, would know their God-given value and potential.

3. Who is your hero?

There are numerous figures I have admired, but my first "hero" was Corrie ten Boom. As told in her autobiography, "The Hiding Place," she and her family rescued several Jews during the Holocaust until they were arrested and sent to a concentration camp. Despite the atrocities she faced, Corrie never lost faith: "When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer."

4. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I'm pretty much a goody goody, but I did have a short rebellious streak in high school when I started a collection of stolen menus. My belated apologies to Tomato Street, Shari's and about 20 other restaurants.

5. If you could go on any game show, what would it be and why?

I heard that Nickelodeon rebooted "Double Dare" last year. I'd love to do that game show with my kids, green slime and all.

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Devin Weeks can be reached by email: dweeks@cdapress.com

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