Five Questions: Dawn Picken

Dawn Picken, photo courtesy Dawn Picken

Dawn Picken is the director of Marketing and Communications for Greater Spokane Incoporated, Spokane’s regional chamber of commerce and economic development council. She’s also a figure skating fan and the mother of a budding ice princess.

Q. When was the last time you went ice skating?

A. ” Two years ago, with my then-3 year-old daughter, Fiona Stanelun. Where? ” Riverfront Park Ice Palace.”

Q. Any favorite skating memories?

A. ” I took Fiona to the 2007 Figure skating championships at the Spokane Convention Center. She was around four at the time, and paid close attention to the skaters in beautiful sparkly costumes whirling around the ice. We sat on bleachers, and I held her close so she wouldn’t fall. It was one of the first “grown-up” performances I’d taken her to. She made me very proud by behaving so well. I recently took Fiona and another mother-daughter team to Disney’s Princesses on Ice at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. The girls enjoyed the show and said Tinkerbell was their favorite princess.”

Q. Do you have a favorite figure skater or figure skating event?

A. ” I like the ladies’ and men’s solo skaters. They’re both so powerful and graceful. I’ve enjoyed watching Kristi Yamaguchi. She has great energy and a million-watt smile.”

Q. What are you most looking forward to about the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships?

A. ” I plan to take Fiona again to see the skaters. If I’m feeling brave, I’ll take my squirmy 4-year-old son, too.”

Q. What do you want guests and/or the television audience to remember about Spokane?

A. “This is a wonderful place to enjoy time with your family. We have so many options for recreation, dining, entertainment… there’s always something happening, yet the city’s not so hectic you’ll need a vacation after your vacation. The pace is just right. And once visitors are back to work, they should consider Spokane as a place to relocate or expand a business, since we have no state income tax, great quality of life and low cost of living.”