A message from our sponsor
Davidson & Associates Insurance has been protecting what is important to individuals and business since 1990 in this great community!
We love this community and are excited about the future leadership which is exemplified in the Classes of Accomplished and Under 40.
We at Davidson & Associates Insurance are proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of this great event. Congratulations to the class of 2016! We appreciate what you have done in the past to get you here and look forward to your future accomplishments and contributions that you will make!
Accomplished & Under 40 Class of 2016
Chandra Chase
Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
Chandra Chase’s peers call her a visionary who brings forward-thinking to all of her projects. Serving as the Programs and Communications Director at the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, she has redesigned the Chamber’s Vision magazine, developed programs for the membership such as the Small Business Crawl and Small Business Day events, created a new workshop series and undertaken many more projects. Her nominators call her a proven communications leader and energetic beyond belief.
Besides working nonstop at the Chamber, Chase finds time for additional community service, such as being a member of Clark College’s Media Advisory Panel and the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Whatever she is doing, Chase is true team player, and always manages to foster positive discussions and bring the best out of the people she is working with.
David Cone
Northwest Custom Electric, NORTHWEST CUSTOM AUDIO/VIDEO
After jumping into the construction industry as a greenhorn at age 19, David Cone passed his two-year journeyman test at age 21 and by 2007 had launched his own electrical contracting business. The business now serves clients in four states.
“He is one of the most talented and dedicated electrical contractors in the Pacific Northwest,” says Kristi Smith, a colleague and friend. “His company is a true reflection of how hard he works for each and every client.”
Born and raised in Vancouver, Cone is a member of the Clark County Building Industry Association and a strong supporter of many causes including the Portland Winterhawks Education Fund, Alzheimer’s Association, the national MS Society and the Children’s Center in Vancouver, among other charitable organizations. With a core crew of 12 to 15 employees, Cone runs a small but successful business built on quality work and attention to detail, say those who nominated him.
Tyson Fuehrer
Biggs Insurance
Coaching kids and helping run football and baseball leagues takes up a great deal of Tyson Fuehrer’s free time these days. Since 2004, he has been a board member and head youth football coach for the Clark County Youth Football/Pop Warner League in Vancouver. He has been a coach and board member of Cascade Little League since 2010. His fundraising and grant writing are ongoing on behalf of these youth sports organizations. Fuehrer joined Biggs Insurance in 2014 after serving as president of Polestar Benefits Inc., an insurance business based in Lake Oswego, Ore. from 2009 to 2014.
During his career, Fuehrer has served as president, vice president and legislative chair for the Tri County Association of Health Underwriters in Portland. Health education and health sciences formed the core of his education while attending Portland State University and Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore.
Erica Gehlen
StarCycle
Small business owner, Erica Gehlen, is setting a new standard for start-up businesses in the charity field. Starcycle, her franchise indoor cycling exercise business was launched just last year. The studio offers cycling classes and a good cardio workout as well as childcare services.
Gehlen didn’t waste any time in becoming involved with the community by supporting local charities: Pink Lemonade Project, Dorenbecher Children’s Hospital, the American Lung Association, Daybreak Youth Services, among others.
Dr. Allen Gabriel, chief of plastic and maxillofacial surgery at PeaceHealth, said he was impressed with Gehlen’s broad support for so many local charities.
“Ms. Gehlen has set an example … for how a local business should be involved in giving back to the community.”
Gehlen holds a bachelor’s degree in applied science in apparel and textiles from Colorado State University, class of 2001. Starcycle co-owner Salina Philbrook describes Gehlen as a community advocate who has made a positive impact and brought physical health to so many, “always with a smile in her heart.” Camas residents, Gehlen and her husband have three young children that are all active in sports.
Melanie Green
Evergreen Public Schools
Since her graduation from Portland State University with a social science degree, Melanie Green has been helping families and kids. A Camas resident, Green coordinates the school district’s Family & Community Service Resource Center including supervision of the Outreach Staff. She began her career in the district as the family involvement coordinator at Pioneer Elementary School and has since worked at two other schools before joining the administrative staff.
In addition, she was a support specialist for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Columbia Northwest for two years. This year, Green was named ESD 112 Classified Employee of the Year and was further recognized as the Washington state Classified Employee of the Year for her work with kids and families. In 2009, Big Brothers Big Sisters gave her the Liaison of the Year Award. She was a George C. Marshall Public Leaderships Award nominee in 2014.
Jill Karmy
Karmy Law Office PLLC
A recipient of the Washington Super Lawyers Rising Star award in both 2015 and 2016, Jill Karmy’s peers say she brings expertise and enthusiasm to everything she does. That includes running her own solo law practice, serving on the Washington State Bar Association’s Board of Governors (BOG), actively supporting The Gardner School of Arts & Sciences, and raising her family. She volunteers hundreds of hours a year to serve at BOG meetings and on committees. She headed a Bar Association fundraiser that generated over $10,000 in just one week – the funds will help provide affordable legal assistance to Washington residents who do not qualify for free legal aid. At the Gardner School, she has donated funds with which to purchase Fitbits for students, serves on the Parent Teacher Organization and has revolutionized fundraising efforts. Those who know Karmy call her a rock star – she handles a hefty workload and difficult personalities with poise and agility; is capable, funny and compassionate; is a good problem solver; has a keen sense of collaboration; and is a great connector of people and organizations.
Catherine Kroll
PeaceHealth Southwest Washington Medical Center
Catherine Kroll has extensive experience building and maintaining strong community partnerships to produce measurably better patient outcomes. Currently an Infection Preventionist with PeaceHealth Southwest Washington Medical Center, Kroll has previously worked for several years at the Clark County Public Health Department. She has taken a leadership role throughout Southwest Washington in bringing together healthcare providers, hospitals, long-term care providers and public health to address communicable disease control. Her dedication, hard work and passion for improving the quality and safety of healthcare delivery have inspired her colleagues to be better, more compassionate healthcare providers and public health professionals.
Seemingly capable of being in several places at once, she is the treasurer elect for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control, chairs the Southwest Washington Healthcare Acquired Infections Taskforce, serves on the board for nonprofit CDM Caregiving Services, and is a member of the Washington State Healthcare Acquired Infections Advisory Board and Big Sister, Big Brothers and Sisters Columbia Northwest.
Marcus Logan
Teach One to Lead One
Whether teaching wood technology and leadership skills at the high school level, working with Portland’s Mentoring Project, or in his current role as executive director of Teach One to Lead One® (T1L1), Marcus Logan shows a clear desire to help young people adopt a leadership role to better serve their community, wherever they may go and wherever they choose to call home. Logan works tirelessly to identify T1L1 community partners and coordinates the fundraising efforts to meet the organization’s financial needs. He also serves on Connect Battle Ground’s Caring Adult Network, the Clark County Mentoring Roundtable, the Safe Communities Task Force, and the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools.
Christopher Magana
IMS Capital Management
A Vancouver resident, Christopher Magana has been with IMS Capital since 2005 when he joined the independent fee-only investment management business. As president, Magana oversees the firm’s investment research, portfolio management and the company’s business strategy. However, that is only part of Magana’s career profile. Since 2009, he has been an adjunct professor in the College of Business at Washington State University Vancouver. He is a graduate school contributing assistant professor at Willamette University. Magana earned his law degree from Willamette University College of Law in 2004 and at the same time received a graduate school degree in finance from the Atkinson Graduate School of Management in Salem. This year, he was honored as Outstanding Financial Executive by the Financial Management Association International. He also serves on the executive committee as treasurer of the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools.
Dennis Malin
Empire Hospitality
A foster child himself, Dennis Malin and his wife, Therese, are parents to six children, some in their foster care.
“Whether biological, adopted or in foster care you would never be able to guess which ones are biologically his because he has loved each child,” says Therese. Dennis is active in his church, volunteers at Fisher House on the Vancouver Veterans Administration Campus and mentors veterans through an advisor program. After several years working in the hospitality industry, Malin founded and continues to operate Empire Hospitality, a company that contracts with federal agencies to operate lodging services Empire is the only contractor to be awarded a General Services Administration Multiple Award Task Order with the U.S. Dept. of Defense. Malin has grown the company from three to 50 employees in the past five years with 18 contracts and a managed portfolio worth $76 million.
Daniel Rogers
Clark College Foundation
As the chief financial officer for the Clark College Foundation, Daniel Rogers has played a critical role in assuring the financial integrity of the Foundation in the eyes of the donors, the board, the college and the community. An experienced CPA – he was previously the audit manager for the CPA firm Moss Adams in Portland for seven years – he has been successful in instilling the high level of trust that is necessary for the success of a nonprofit organization like the Foundation. In his role as CFO, Rogers oversees all the financial and administrative aspects of managing approximately $95 million in assets. This in itself would be a daunting task, but Rogers manages it with ease, while balancing his work and passion for philanthropy and education with the needs of his wife and five boys. He also serves on the board at Partners In Careers.
Lindsey Salvestrin
Columbia Credit Union
Lindsey Salvestrin describes herself as “a visionary and innovative leader who inspires others to be more than they thought they could be.” As senior vice president and chief experience officer for Columbia Credit Union’s executive leadership team, she harnesses operational expertise with emotional IQ.
Despite her full-time responsibilities at Columbia Credit Union and family responsibilities (she has two small children of her own), Salvestrin has served on the board of directors for Innovative Services NW for three years, and also helps develop fundraising events and provides strategic guidance for programs and the development of grants. Her peers call her an excellent team player that exhibits genuine concern for the most vulnerable children and families in our community. While she is well-organized and takes her responsibilities in and out of the office seriously, she is also sensitive, creative and has a great sense of humor.
Salvestrin’s nominators say her positive contribution to Clark County is an example for others to follow.
Matt Schoolfield
Toast Inc.
Matt Schoolfield spent 16 years at PeaceHealth before recently joining Toast Inc., a software company that specializes in point of sale and restaurant management systems. During his time with PeaceHealth, Schoolfield produced countless innovative design products and conducted numerous award-winning campaigns for web, video, mobile, print, email and interactive media. His projects supported PeaceHealth operations in four states – Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska – but that is not all. Schoolfield also freelances with a global design research consultancy used by Fortune 500 companies for enterprise, institutional and “consumer-facing” products. In 2015, he won ISTE Best in Show from Tech & Learning Magazine. His work for PeaceHealth also garnered recognition: Outstanding healthcare Web sites, 2003; Pioneering Medicine campaign, 2005 and Responsive Web Design in 2015.
At his own website, Schoolfield says he stays “humble and grounded” by volunteering regularly in the community and elsewhere. In 2010, he and his wife, a nurse, traveled with a medical team to Haiti to aid earthquake victims. He used his skills to document the journey and helped out where he could.
“It’s an experience which has shaped the way I try to live each and every day,” he said.
Paige Spratt
Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt
As the 2016 recipient of the George C. Marshall Leadership Award, Paige Spratt already has built a strong track record that combines community service with her professional goals. Before law school, Spratt earned a bachelor of science degree in construction management from California State University in 2005 and worked for a variety of businesses including Boeing Co. where she was a contract manager.
Spratt earned her law degree at Seattle University Law School in 2011. Since joining the Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt team in 2015, she has served on the board of the local Workforce Development Council where she focuses on building community partnerships. She is a board trustee of the Clark County Bar Association and serves on the education committee of the Southwest Washington Contractors Association. Spratt is a member of the Leadership Clark County Class of 2017, and her specialty at Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt centers on construction and real estate matters.
Kristina Walsh-Daarud
LSW Architects
Kristina Walsh-Daarud’s peers know her as a strong team player who inspires enthusiasm within her project teams at LSW Architects. Her unique ability to listen and understand enables her to stay focused on the details and use her positive outlook to reach the best outcome for all.
Walsh-Daarud has embraced LSW’s passion for serving in the community by joining the board of FISH, a nonprofit food bank in downtown Vancouver. She has helped bring several education facilities to life including projects at Jemtegaard Middle & Columbia River Gorge Elementary, Sarah J Anderson Elementary, South Ridge Elementary and Union Ridge Elementary. Currently, she is working to support affordable housing projects in downtown Vancouver – all while raising two active daughters.
Joe Yoder
Legacy Health Salmon Creek
Joe has been with Legacy Health since 2008; he is currently director of clinical and support services at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center. He is the recipient of several awards from Legacy Health for process improvement and leadership, and has led many projects to advance care and service for the residents of Clark County.
When not at the medical center, Yoder blends his passion for community involvement and his love of sports by serving on the board of directors for the Northwest Association of Blind Athletes. He has been an invaluable asset as NWABA has grown their life-changing programs for individuals who are blind and visually-impaired. He has provided sound financial guidance; trained staff on lean management strategies; attended program events; and has been a steadfast ambassador in the community. Yoder’s peers say they appreciate his honest, straightforward and collaborative spirit.
