About Us
About FailSafe for Life's Team
Sabrina Votava
Founder and Executive Director
Sabrina Votava is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and an educator on suicide prevention and intervention. Having worked in this field for over two decades, Sabrina’s passion is evident in her work. After growing up in the Spokane area, Sabrina moved to Seattle where she got her B.S. degree in Public Health. While earning her undergraduate degree, two of Sabrina’s brothers died by suicide just six months apart. She knew she always wanted to be in a helping profession, but it was then that she made a commitment to working in the field of mental health and suicide prevention. She returned to Spokane in 2010 with her husband Jason to start their family. In 2016, she left her position working for a youth serving non-profit to start FailSafe for Life and return to school at Whitworth University where she earned her M.A. in Social and Behavioral Health. Sabrina enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and neighbors, camping, kayaking, dining, and going to concerts.
Margot Petersen
Operations Manager
Margot was born and raised in Spokane and is proud to call the Pacific Northwest home. She spent most of her career in the financial services industry, and has been an active volunteer in the community for many years.
Her commitment to the community has included volunteer roles as a CASA Guardian ad Litem, foster parent, and she is currently the Executive Director at Free Rein Therapeutic Riding.
She is mom to a witty and smart 22-year-old son and two adorable dogs. In her free time, she enjoys spending time at Priest Lake and any kind of travel adventure.
Sophia Pengra
Communications Manager
Sophia was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and is proud to call it home. She spent more than five years in healthcare marketing and treatment coordination before joining FailSafe in 2025, where she now serves as communications manager. She also serves as community manager at Fellow Coworking.
In both roles, Sophia is driven by a simple purpose: helping people feel seen, bringing a smile to their day, and reminding them that a better day is always coming, and that a day without them is not a day anyone wants to live.
Outside of work, Sophia loves spending time with her family at the lake, and she’s never one to pass up a beach day.
Governing Board
Tasha Walsh
President
Tasha Walsh is a professional accountant with a deep commitment to education, community service, and helping others thrive. With years of experience in financial management, she brings precision, integrity, and a heart for service to every aspect of her work. In addition to her accounting career, she teaches math and tumbling at Deer Park Home Link, where she combines structure and enthusiasm to support students in building both academic and physical confidence.Tasha also volunteers as a youth cheer coach, encouraging teamwork, resilience, and self-esteem in young athletes. Her love for animals led her to volunteer at SpokAnimal, where she devotes time to caring for cats and supporting the shelter’s mission. Tasha lives on a farm in Deer Park with her husband and two boys, whom she homeschools with creativity and intention. Whether managing books, mentoring students, or bottle-feeding kittens, Tasha’s passion lies in lifting others up and serving her community in meaningful ways.
Brandy Singer
Secretary
Brandy Singer brings a wealth of experience and heartfelt dedication to FailSafe for Life as a Board Member starting in 2023. Since moving to Spokane in 1997, Brandy has been an active member of the community, raising a family and building a successful career as a pharmacist. With a deep-seated compassion for people and a profound understanding of their needs, Brandy has consistently found ways to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those in our community.
Tragically, in 2021, Brandy’s family faced an unimaginable loss when they lost their teenage son to suicide. This personal experience has ignited an unshakable passion within Brandy to advocate for mental health empowerment, especially among the youth community.
Through her work on the board, Brandy is able to support FailSafe for Life’s mission to end suicide in our community. She brings her unique perspective, blending professional expertise and personal journey, to drive initiatives that bring about lasting transformation in suicide awareness and prevention strategies. Brandy’s steadfast dedication, combined with genuine empathy, contributes to FailSafe for Life as they continue to pave the way for a brighter future in mental health.
Lisa Ridgeway
Treasurer
Born and raised in the PNW, Lisa acquired her Business Administration degree with a dual focus in Marketing and Finance from Gonzaga University in 2008. While working in many different industries including healthcare, hospitality and the non-profit sector, Lisa currently is the Director of Operations of Sodexo at Gonzaga University where she oversees 16 different businesses on campus. Lisa brings over 15 years of marketing and business strategy experience with her, having specialties in brand strategy and multi-unit business operations.
Lisa joined Failsafe For Life in 2022 after being a longtime supporter, with a passion for elevating the business side of the organization. She is proud to be part of an organization making such an impact in the PNW and looks forward to reducing the barriers and stigma’s around suicide through connection, education, and hope.
Melva Moore
Board Member
Melva Moore (she/hers) is currently the Director of Mental Health Services at the YWCA Spokane. Not only does Melva hold her own caseload where she provides mental health therapy to people impacted by trauma, but she also supports her team and oversees the strategic direction of the mental health program. Melva also works on departmental budgets, grant compliance and overview, and moving initiatives forward for the mission of the YWCA. She's worked serving survivors of intimate partner violence for over ten years and has supported survivors in a variety of capacities. Melva is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a Masters Degree in Social Work. With years of experience working with people who have been impacted by trauma, Melva brings an important mental health lens to the board and is excited to bring that perspective to the team.
Katie Bousley
Board Member
Katie (Prichard) Bousley grew up in Elk, Washington and has lived her whole life in Spokane County. After a high school sports career that included five state track championships, she went on to play basketball at Gonzaga University. Her inspiring and selfless attitude was rewarded when the coaches chose to name one of the team awards the “Katie Prichard Most Inspirational Player” award. While at Gonzaga, Katie earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in mathematics and history and following graduation went on to Whitworth University, earning her Master’s in Teaching. She began teaching math at Central Valley high school in 2007, where she has been ever since. In 2012, Katie furthered her education by earning her National Board Certification. She currently teaches algebra, advocates for students in support programs, and is an assistant cross country coach.
Katie found her passion for working with youth, specifically those under represented, while volunteering with Gonzaga University’s Special Recreation teams. Through her teaching career, Katie has seen the mental health struggle that current and former students deal with on a consistent basis; she is passionate about helping people connect to the community and find their self-worth. Katie is excited to be a board member of FailSafe for Life and advocate for mental health issues/suicide prevention in the school system and locally in the community.
Sassy Henderson
Board Member
Sassy grew up in the Lewis-Clark Valley and relocated to Spokane in 2020. After attending a QPR training in 2023, she knew she wanted to be involved in Failsafe for Life’s mission in whatever capacity she could, first volunteering at events and then joining the board. You can often find her at events like Pride and Unity in Community, where she engages with attendees and encourages them to write uplifting cards for those in need. Sassy’s personal experiences with chronic illness, mental health struggles, and suicide have shaped her empathetic approach to life. She is committed to fostering open conversations about suicide and mental health, aiming to break down the stigma through connection, education, and hope.
Sassy crochets for the annual Baskets of Kindness event in collaboration with Light a Lamp each fall and founded Failsafe for Life’s Compassionate Crafters to foster connection amongst fiber artists and project creation and contribution. In addition to her work with Failsafe for Life, she mentors at Odyssey Youth Movement and is pursuing a Psychology degree at Eastern Washington University.
When she’s not working on these initiatives, Sassy enjoys spending time with her cats, creating, reading, and listening to music. Her grandmother is her biggest cheerleader.
Julio Valencia
Board Member
Julio Valencia currently serves as a security officer at Valley Multicare Hospital in Spokane Valley, where he continues his lifelong commitment to protecting and supporting others. With nine years of military service, including two combat deployments, and four years in
law enforcement, Julio brings deep experience in crisis response, de-escalation tactics, and mental health advocacy.
During his military career, Julio served as the Suicide Prevention Representative for a unit of over 300 soldiers while stationed in Hawaii. In that role, he became a trusted source of strength and support for service members navigating mental health struggles. Drawing from both professional experience and his own personal journey—including supporting suicidal friends, fellow soldiers, and confronting his own suicidal ideations—Julio developed a powerful sense of empathy and purpose.
Now pursuing a degree in psychology, Julio’s mission is rooted in humility, compassion, and service. He is known for putting others first, always showing up with a smile, and never asking for recognition or reward. His heart for community and mental health awareness perfectly aligns with FailSafe For Life’s mission to reduce suicide through education, connection, and hope.