Tourism Development Committee

Toby Nixon, Chair

Toby Nixon has served on the Kirkland City Council since January 2012, and as chair of the Tourism Development Committee since 2013. He grew up in a tourism-dependent area of Northern California and has traveled extensively around the world for his employment in the computer industry. He’s had a lifelong interest in event management, and considered a career in hotel and restaurant management prior to deciding on high tech. He’s also deeply involved in musical performance, and a former boat owner, both important areas for tourism in Kirkland. More information about his background is available here: Kirkland City Council.

Lori Goldfarb 

Lori Goldfarb, CMP is a prior resident of Kirkland, Washington (and one parent still resides here). Lori has enjoyed the honor of serving on the Kirkland TDC since 2015. Lori’s professional perspective emanates from her role as President of World Class Corporate Events, Inc.— a site selection, planning and destination management company. With new opportunities present in 2020, Lori has added another layer of expertise, thanks to her role as a real estate broker with CBBain, focused on Kirkland’s beautiful and diverse neighborhoods.

She recognizes that Kirkland's unique combination of waterfront and shopping opportunities, restaurants, art galleries/installations and access to parks and trails draws guests and residents alike, to stay in Kirkland to experience it all. Lori is a past president of the Washington State Chapter of Meeting Professionals International; was chair of the Global RISE Awards Committee for Meeting Professionals International, and most recently received MPI’s Washington State Corbin Ball Industry Leadership Award for her continuing devotion to travel and tourism. 

Phil Megenhardt

Phil Megenhardt is a creative event director with vast experience in event production and a passion for community building, brand activations, and flawless event execution. Phil founded Bold Hat Productions in 1997 on the roots of over 20 years of sales, marketing, and business development experience. As President and Creative Director of Bold Hat, Phil has created several signature Puget Sound area events, including nationally recognized Fremont Oktoberfest and Kirkland Uncorked, in addition to many corporate and municipal celebrations.

Jackie Socha

Jackie Socha is the General Manager at Kirkland Urban, a word class, award winning mixed use development located in the heart of the downtown Kirkland core featuring various premiere retail and office space.  Jackie graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Minor in Scandinavian Studies.  Over the past 16 years, Jackie has worked in various roles in Real Estate and is working for JLL, an international commercial real estate company.  She has been assigned to Kirkland Urban for the past 4 years.

Being born and spending a lot of her childhood in Stockholm, Sweden, Jackie grew up traveling and seeing the world through the eyes of a tourist.  After relocating to the Seattle area, she quickly made the Pacific Northwest her home and hasn't left since! She has grown up on the east side and lived in the Bridle Trails neighborhood of Kirkland for 10 years before relocating to Duvall where she resides now with her two young daughters (9 and 4).  Jackie loves spending time with her girls exploring new areas, finding new restaurants, and attempting DIY projects around the house (some end up better than others!).  She is very excited about the future of Kirkland and the potential of tourism for the area and surrounding businesses.

Skye Branson

Skye Branson is the General Manager of the Courtyard Kirkland Marriott located in Totem Lake, just minutes from The Village at Totem Lake. Skye has worked in the hospitality industry for 11 years at Marriott branded hotels in King County.  Skye has been devoted to the hospitality industry since she was a child. Growing up, her father was a Task Force Manager with Starwood and so Skye got to spend her weekends staying at different hotels on the East Coast and fell in love with the hospitality industry.

Skye is also passionate about the education system and providing career experience to youth in Kirkland. She volunteers her time working with classes in the Lake Washington School District and providing intern opportunities for high school students.

Scott Guthrie 

Scott Guthrie has been with the Woodmark Hotel and Still Spa since 2020 and was appointed their General Manager in 2022. Prior to The Woodmark, Scott served as Hotel Manager for the SLS Seattle and then acting General Manager for Equinox Hotel. Scott honed his hospitality management career in New York as Director of Front Desk Operations at the prestigious Mandarin Oriental Hotel, helping the property to achieve a AAA 5 Diamond and Forbes 5 Star Awards in 2013. He returned to his Northwest roots in 2014 to serve as Hotel Manager and ultimately General Manager for Salish Lodge & Spa in Snoqualmie, where he led the historic property to new heights. In the ten years prior, Scott built the foundation of his hospitality centric career. He managed front office operations at New York’s Intercontinental Barclay Hotel; opened operations at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Las Vegas; and held front desk, meeting sales and conference services positions at the renowned Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Scott began his career in 1999 and held various management positions at the Four Seasons Olympic Hotel in Seattle.

Mike Hill

Mike Hill is the General Manager at The Heathman Hotel Kirkland, the only boutique hotel located in the vibrant neighborhood of downtown Kirkland. In this role, Hill oversees and manages the daily operations of the property. Additionally, Hill has Area Manager responsibilities in Business Development and oversees the Facilities Workgroup with Columbia Hospitality, the management company that operates The Heathman. Hill brings more than a decade of hotel experience to The Heathman, with a majority of his time in management roles at Kimpton Hotels in Seattle where he served as Complex General Manager for Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle and Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle. Prior to his positions in Seattle, he was the General Manager of the Kimpton Grand Hotel in Minneapolis.