We recently completed our officer elections, and our new team is in place. Our officers have been through their initial comprehensive training and will soon be trained to support us in investigation meetings. Check out their stories below and if you need to contact one of them, you can find their information on our local unit homepage.

Tristan Twohig RN, CEN- WSNA Chair 

I work in the Emergency Department at Holy Family. I’m the President of the Inland Empire Nurses Association (IENA), a regional professional association representing over 2,000 nurses across Eastern Washington. At the state level, I serve on the WSNA Labor Executive Council, the labor arm of our union focused on advancing collective bargaining, organizing, and frontline leadership. I also serve as Co-Chair of the Hospital Staffing Committee and the Emergency Department’s Unit-Based Council. Nationally, I represent our region as a delegate to both the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). I live in Spokane with my wife, our daughter, and a cat with an inflated sense of self.

I have served multiple terms on the WSNA Political Action Committee, which reflects my ongoing passion for legislative advocacy. I’ve lobbied and testified during the development of Washington’s safe staffing law, helping to establish the standards that now govern staffing practices across the state.

My commitment to organized labor comes from a belief that healthcare systems work best when nurses are directly involved in shaping the conditions of care. Collective bargaining, shared governance, and open collaboration between staff and administration lead to better staffing, stronger retention, and improved outcomes for patients.

Emily Troyer RN, BSN- WSNA Co-Chair 

I have been a nurse for 14 years and currently workday shift in the Emergency Department. My many passions include baking, crocheting any article of clothing, and spending time outdoors. My love for baseball runs deep- my favorite player is Cal Raleigh, and my life goal is to watch a game in every stadium in the U.S.  I’m a proud mom, wife, and have a wonderful small dog named Albi.

Currently, I am elected and serve on our Nurse Practice council tackling issues that affect our nursing practice. Over the years I have served in a variety of spaces including code committee and UBC. I got more involved in our union when COVID happened. Our union helped put me in spaces with local representatives like Jenny Graham where I could share what nurses’ real experiences were. I have previously served as the WSNA Membership officer and am very excited to be elected to serve as our co-chair. I am passionate about engaging every single nurse at Holy Family so that we can secure a strong contract.

Eric Holden RN, BSN, CEN- WSNA Treasurer

I am from Spokane, graduated from WSU and have been a nurse at Holy Family for four years. I am a certified nurse working swing shift in the Emergency Department. In my free time I like hiking, camping, video games and traveling. Recently, I have traveled to Japan and am coming up on a trip to Hawaii.

This will be my second term as a WSNA officer, and I am excited to continue moving our union work forward. I previously served on the hospital staffing committee and feel strongly that our nurses have staffing levels that allow them to provide safe patient care.

Ashley Villelli RN- WSNA Secretary

I’ve been a nurse for 15 years, the last ten of those on FMC at Holy Family. I currently work dayshift and have been a local steward for our unit. I love baking, eating, and working out! Being outdoors in the PNW brings me joy. I’m a proud mom to 3 kids and wife to my husband. We enjoy hiking, snow skiing, and anything around a body of water!

Currently I am elected and serve on our Nurse Practice council to help address issues affecting nurse practice. After becoming a steward a few years ago, I quickly realized there was a large gap of unknown information between our staff and our local contract. In stepping into this elected role as WSNA Secretary, I hope to become a knowledgeable individual that others feel at ease approaching when seeking advice regarding our rights as union workers. I hope to continue to educate and empower our nurses with our contract language.

Madeline Ritter BSN RN-BC- WSNA Grievance Officer

I have been a nurse for 7 years, 5 at Holy Family. I am a certified nurse working on the Medical Oncology floor on day shift. I currently serve on our UBC. In my free time I love any outdoor activity or opportunity to be athletic. I’m part of the women’s golf league at Wandermere and enjoy playing pickleball, volleyball, and tennis. If you catch me listening to music, there’s a 99.9% chance it’s country.

Through my experience as a charge nurse, I’ve learned to be a strong advocate and support both staff and patients. I’m not afraid to speak up and do what’s right when it matters most. I’m excited to step into my new role as grievance officer and support our nurses whenever it may be needed.

MacKenzie Balser BSN-BC- WSNA Member at Large

I have been a nurse for over ten years and work on the Medical/Oncology floor. Beyond direct bedside care, I serve on my unit-based council and the Nurse Practice Council. These experiences have strengthened my ability to advocate for both staff and patient needs. They have also given me a deeper understanding of the collaborative work it takes to create a safe, supportive, environment for nurses. Outside of work, I’m a proud wife, mom of two kids, and I have a deep love for my chickens and German shepherds. I serve at my children’s school as Vice President of the PTO which helps support programs and foster engagement among staff and families.

In recent years, I have served as a union steward for my unit. I’m very excited to bring my experience, passion, and perspective to the role of Member-at-large that I have been elected to.  I believe in the power of a unified voice and will work hard to represent our diverse group of nurses- listening, advocating, and being a strong present for those I serve. With a deep commitment to both nursing and community, I’m ready to serve and stand with you as your union representative.

We have two open officer positions, one for our membership officer and one for our social media officer.

The membership officer is responsible for meeting newly hired nurses for 30 minutes every other Tuesday. Our social media officer will help run our media platforms including Facebook and Instagram. If you are interested- reach out today!

Questions? Contact your Nurse Rep Alle Machorro- amachorro@wsna.org