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Leadership 101: One Issaquah Volunteer Shows the Way
Christina Bruning serves as President of the Downtown Issaquah Association, a designation that lamely describes the breadth and depth of her advocacy for Issaquah. As a volunteer with DIA since 2016, Christina is hailed continuously by locals as she walks along Front Street and Olde Town hotspots. If it normally takes 5 minutes to traverse town, it takes Christina half an hour.
Her leadership is legendary. Just ask residents, businesses, and other organizations.
A fixture in every nook and cranny in town, passersby call her name in greeting, ask a question, need her expertise, or simply want to chat. They know what everyone knows: If it is knowable, Christina knows.
The Downtown Issaquah Association chose Christina to serve again as president in 2026, a decision board members say was an easy one.
Trailblazer, mentor, evangelist, Christina is a leader whose vision for Historically Hip Downtown is met with equal amounts of enthusiasm, capability, and an unequivocal love for her city. Conversations with hundreds of volunteers, residents, and business owners distill into this:
Christina works as hard as a volunteer as if it were her job. Her dedication is selfless. Her love for the community, its people, and culture is boundless.
-- Christina has helped shape the downtown area into what it is today. Without her vision and doggedness, many businesses would not have fared as well.
From the moment you meet Christina, her passion is unmistakable. Her deep knowledge of Issaquah’s history and brand reflects a natural ambassador at work. As she talks about the Main Street Approach to downtown revitalization, she brings its impact to life—during a five-mile walk past city landmarks, through neighborhoods, and into businesses tucked just off the well-worn path. Along the way, she’s stopped repeatedly by residents offering greetings and questions—a familiar sight. Her ideas flow effortlessly, each rooted in a shared purpose: keeping Issaquah vibrant with history, culture, and promise.
DIA’s annual calendar features a robust mix of economic impact programs, arts and cultural experiences, and imaginative blends of education and entertainment—often referred to as “edutainment.” These experiences, along with expanded outreach and a broader interpretation of the arts, form the centerpiece of DIA’s 2026 strategic plan.
Guided by Christina’s leadership, the DIA Board of Directors launched a purposeful communications initiative to anchor its outreach efforts. As a designated Main Street Community, DIA is focused on elevating awareness of the program’s impact—from strengthening small businesses and enhancing public spaces to advancing best practices shared by communities nationwide.
What began as an information push has become a catalyst for connection across Issaquah. DIA’s mission, vision, values, brand, and Main Street framework are now active points of dialogue with city officials, senators, state and national legislators, and aligned community partners—advancing a shared understanding that informs action.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive, a powerful testament to Christina’s leadership and her distinction as one of the most recognized and respected volunteers in the city. “I admire what DIA has done for this community,” said Sarah Perry, King County councilmember, as she personally partook in the information exchange.
“Christina is a tour de force,” said Charles McCrone, owner of Kaleidoscope School of Music on Front Street for 20 years. “It’s amazing what she gets done. She sweats the details and understands the needs of small businesses. She is impressive.”
Another business owner, Robert Lerch of Pickles Playland, said his Downtown business operations opened smoothly because of Christina’s know-how. “When we first moved to Issaquah, we were welcomed by Christina the very first day,” he said. “She answered our questions. If she didn’t have the answers, she got them for us."
Formerly a corporate executive, Christina’s business prowess has encouraged businesses to locate downtown, kept others in business, and has filled empty spaces that might otherwise have been abandoned. She was instrumental in creating “Strings of Change,” a program where artists reinterpreted cellos and violins that had been damaged in the 2024 bomb cyclone. It became a springboard for conversation in rotating galleries in downtown Issaquah and a symbol of reinvention in he face of adversity.
Business owners credit her with bringing cohesion to the downtown community through clear, consistent, and credible messaging. DIA communications have become the trusted reference point—information is checked against them, and action follows. Volunteers report the same confidence, noting they never have to guess what to do because expectations are clearly laid out.
Christina’s monthly blog broadens her communications to nearly 8,000 people throughout the Puget Sound. “To Issaquah, With Heart” brings her passionate leadership to life. With more than 50 percent engagement, her blog has further enhanced her cachet as a thought leader.
Shana London, a DIA volunteer and mental-health professional, puts it this way:
“As soon as I met her, I was struck by her energy. We are so lucky to have her. I wanted to be involved in anything she was involved in. She has this amazing ability to see the bigger picture, the humanity of everyone involved. She pulls the best out of people. “
Listening to her advocates makes it eminently clear. She is a prominent leader in our community. One whose impact sits just below the surface of the obvious. While others commend her work, she will humbly move on to the next project. There’s a downtown to revitalize, and another year in which to do so.
“Christina has a vision,” said Rick Ragan, owner of Montalcino. “It’s nice to see someone spend so much time helping businesses. She not only has the ideas, but she also actually does the work, so we don’t have to. That is unique. She’s genuine and really cares.”
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