Board of Directors

Mark began playing hockey as an adult and found it a great way to keep in shape in the winter while enjoying the team camaraderie. He coached his son in youth hockey “until he was better than me.” He found watching the kids develop and compete was a true joy, so making sure the youth of the area have access to a regulation sheet of ice is a personal goal. Mark hopes the community can build a new facility in the very near future to support the continued growth for all activities at the rink. In his other life, Mark is Director of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of Idaho and conduct research in lactation and nutrition. He enjoys the diversity of agriculture and beauty of Idaho.

Tony joined the Palouse Ice Rink Board in 2014 and was elected to Vice-President in 2016. Prior to that, he became a customer of the ice rink the second year of its operation, playing ice hockey for the first time at the age of 32. After participating on several committees and seeing the value the rink offers the Palouse, he accepted an invitation to become a full board member. Tony is married with two daughters. He graduated from the University of Idaho and has worked at NRS for 24 years, serving as the CFO and Human Resource Director for 15 years. Tony finished a six-year term as a board member for the Moscow Chamber of Commerce in 2018.

Brenda Boyko joined the Palouse Ice Rink Board in 2013 after her children started playing youth hockey in Moscow. She is currently the treasurer of the Palouse Ice Rink Board. She grew up in Canada (on Vancouver Island) and moved to Moscow in 2000 to join her husband, Derek Pouchnik. She co-owns Moscow Mountain Sport and Physical Therapy, and works as a physical therapist. She is active raising her family. She (and her family) are competitive lumberjacks and travel around Canada and the US during the summers attending competitions.

Pete is the Founding President of the Palouse Ice Rink and still serves on the Board of Directors. He is an active skater, hockey player and referee. He coached youth hockey for 8 years and co-founded the popular Science on Ice Field Trip for 5th graders which is now in its 11th year. He is also the chief mechanic for the chiller and is constantly tinkering to keep it running. Pete is a scientist with the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station in Moscow.

Travis Wambeke, an avid NHL and youth hockey fan, joined the board in 2018. He moved to Moscow in 1988 to attend the University of Idaho, where he received his undergraduate and advanced degrees. Travis is a geotechnical engineer/geologist and CEO of GeoProfessional Innovation Corporation, and is active in the design/construction community. His wife, Connie, works in accounting at the University of Idaho, and they are proud to be raising 3 kids in the family-friendly Palouse region.

Jennifer grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and has lived in the Moscow area since 1992. She owns Jen O’Brien Real Estate, and has been an active volunteer in the community, serving on a number of boards. She was one of the original Palouse Ice Rink Board members and also a former team manager for the Palouse Youth Hockey Association while her sons were on the team. Jennifer has a BA in business management from St. Mary’s College, an M.Ed. in counseling and human services and an Ed.S. in school psychology from the University of Idaho.

Eric was born and raised in Moscow, Idaho like generations of family before him. He earned his bachelor of arts in finance from the University of Idaho and has been a financial advisor since 1999. He and his wife Kyla have 3 children ages 11, 9, and 5. Their 11-year-old daughter has been involved in the Palouse Youth Hockey Association for 5 years. Eric is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting, golfing, fishing and spends the summer weekends at the family lake home in North Idaho.