About the board member.

Nikole Morrison, Vice President of the Yep Kanum Celebration Board, brings decades of local leadership to the event—she works at Stevens County Title & Escrow, co-owned Brown Boyz with her husband, spent fifteen years at KeyBank, and volunteers with the Hope Street Board and Colville Together. A festival enthusiast raised in Leavenworth—the home of celebrations—she moved to Colville in 1999, where she and her husband raised their family, embraced community events and sports, and experienced the town’s generosity firsthand. When she felt called to revive a signature festival in their park, Nikole drew on her fondest Rendezvous Days memories—running a craft booth, serving Brown Boyz specialties, and cheering on her boys in the baseball tournament—to launch Yep Kanum. To her, the Celebration embodies true community spirit, and when she isn’t planning events, you’ll find her making new memories with her grown children and grandchildren.

Sydney Gilmore serves as Secretary of the Yep Kanum Celebration Board and brings her expertise as Project Compliance and Contract Specialist for the City of Colville to every aspect of the event. A Colville-area resident for more than ten years—after growing up in Othello, Washington—she and her Kettle Falls–native husband cherish their small-town roots. Sydney fondly remembers the summer festivals of her youth—places where neighbors gathered to share music, sports, arts, and food—and she believes those traditions are essential for uniting and strengthening a community. She’s proud to help bring Yep Kanum to life and can’t wait to celebrate alongside friends old and new.

As founder and owner of Tarrel Cripps Entertainment, Tarrel infuses the Yep Kanum Celebration with his lifelong passion for music and event production. A Colville resident since 1995, his very first DJ gig was the junior-high dance here in 1996—and he’s been uniting communities through music ever since, producing events across Washington and Oregon. Tarrel believes that “music can heal the soul,” and he’s honored to bring that spirit to Yep Kanum. When he’s not behind the decks, you’ll find him sampling every food booth in sight—because, for Tarrel, great music and great food make Yep Kanum truly family, friendly, and fun.

Lynn Clark brings her keen eye for detail from her work as Secretary and Estimator at Davis Auto Prebuild to the Yep Kanum Celebration’s Car Show committee. A Colville resident for 46 years, she’s deeply proud of the town’s strong sense of community. For Lynn, Yep Kanum offers residents “something to be excited about—and something they can count on for years to come.” Her favorite parts of the Celebration are the community performances and vendor booths, which she says create “something for everyone.” When she’s not helping organize the car show, Lynn loves cooking and spending quality time with her family.

Rachelle Latapie is a licensed real estate broker at Ken Barcus Realty whose passion for renovation and home design complements her 42-year dedication to the Colville Valley. She volunteers with the Northeast Washington Association of Realtors—organizing their annual golf tournament and supporting local charitable events—and loves showing others why our Tri-County area is so special. A lifelong festival enthusiast who grew up attending Rendezvous Days with family and friends, Rachelle is thrilled to bring people together again, spotlighting a diverse vendor lineup, new nonprofit showcases, and the much-anticipated Car Show. To her, Yep Kanum embodies community, perseverance, and determination. When she’s not coordinating events, you’ll find her playing with her grandbabies or enjoying fishing and camping trips.

Shannon Lent co-chairs the Car Show for the Yep Kanum Celebration, bringing a wealth of local business expertise from 26 years at the Builders Shopping Center and the past four years at Edward Jones. A lifelong Colville resident, she cherishes the town’s small-town charm and its endless outdoor adventures. For Shannon, Yep Kanum is all about “bringing the community together and reminding everyone how special our home is.” Her favorite Celebration moments include browsing the local food and craft vendors, soaking up the live entertainment, and sharing time with friends and family. She sums up the event in three words—“Celebration of Community”—and when she’s not organizing cars, you’ll find her out camping and hiking with friends and family.

Brandi Lopata brings her organizational skills as Financial and Administrative Manager at Stevens County Solid Waste to her role as Volunteer Coordinator for Yep Kanum. A Colville resident since age four, Brandi is deeply invested in the community, from rallying behind her sons’ athletic teams to fostering the collaborative spirit that defines this valley. Inspired by childhood memories of playing in the 3-on-3 basketball tournament at Rendezvous Days alongside her dad, she’s passionate about reviving Yep Kanum and seeing neighbors come together. Brandi’s favorite part of the Celebration is watching people’s joy as the festival springs back to life—an energy she captures in three words: Engaged, Enthusiastic, Curious. She looks forward to expanding future events, from basketball tournaments to new entertainment, and drawing visitors and local businesses into the fun.