REKAH STRONG
Rekah Strong appointed to the Clark College Board of Trustees
Rekah Strong, who serves as Clark County’s chief diversity and inclusion officer, has been appointed to the Clark College Board of Trustees by Gov. Chris Gregoire. She will succeed Rhona Sen Hoss, who has served as a trustee for 10 years.
A Camas resident, Strong has more than ten years of experience working with public and private agencies to develop strategies that improve organizational cultural humility. As chief diversity officer for Clark County, she leads the county’s efforts to integrate diversity and inclusion measures into policy and practice in the county.
Strong is currently the committee chair of the Clark County Diversity Advisory Committee and the Clark County Diversity Steering Committee. She is co-chair of the 2012 Northwest Public Employees Diversity Conference and serves on the board of We Reign.
“Rekah’s commitment to community and its success makes her a valuable asset to the board,” said Gregoire. “She cares about the people she serves and understands the importance of a solid foundation in education. I welcome her to this new role.”
After attending Clark College, Strong transferred to Portland State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in social work (administration). She is currently continuing her studies at Portland State, pursuing a Ph.D. in social work.
BRANDI WADE
The downtown Vancouver branch of Stewart Title recently announced the addition of Brandi Wade to its team.
An escrow officer, Wade relocated to the Pacific Northwest from Georgia, where she worked in real property law and closed transactions at several different law firms.
Wade holds a doctorate of jurisprudence from the Mississippi College School of Law, and dual bachelor’s degrees in political science and criminology.
NICK HAIJ
Bank of America has appointed Nick Haij as a small business banker for the Vancouver area.
In his new role, Haij will consult with small business owners and assess their companies’ deposit, credit and cash management needs.
Haij comes to Bank of America after spending 11 years in the financial services industry with Wells Fargo Bank.
JEROME PEREZ (not pictured)
Bureau of Land Management Acting Director Mike Pool announced the selection of Jerome Perez as the BLM’s new director for the agency’s state office in Oregon and Washington.
Perez is currently the deputy regional forester for the U.S. Forest Service’s Intermountain Region in Ogden, Utah. He succeeds former Oregon/Washington State Director Ed Shepard.
“I am pleased that Jerry will be bringing 20 years of diverse and wide-ranging natural resources management experience to the BLM in Oregon and Washington,” Pool said. “Jerry has the background, knowledge, and a proven track record to lead our efforts in the Pacific Northwest in an era of immense challenge and opportunity for the public lands.”
Perez will offer his experiences specific to natural resources as well as knowledge in planning, budget and communications, at the local, regional and national levels, the BLM said.
JAN HARTE
After more than 20 years of serving the local business community as a SBDC certified business advisor, Janet Harte is stepping down from her position, effective December 31.
Harte said the decision to resign stemmed from a desire to re-open her consulting business, Harte & Associates.
“I’ve enjoyed my work at the SBDC and have worked with thousands of business owners in Southwest Washington,” Harte wrote in an email. “After the first of the year, it will be fun to go back to the private sector and become a small business owner again.”
Buck Heidrick, a SBDC colleague of Harte’s for the past two years, said this is a resignation that will be felt throughout the community.
“I’ve learned an awful lot from her in terms of funding and finance for small business. But what has been key is that she contributes that knowledge to her clients,” said Heidrick. “She’s brought a lot to the community in terms of our understanding of moving through the financing process. She’s a heck of a resource.”
In addition to her role at the SBDC, Harte has been a regular contributor at the Vancouver Business Journal.
SW WASHington AMERICAN RED CROSS
The Southwest Washington chapter of the American Red Cross has named six new members to its board of directors.
New members include: Daniel Kern, retired from Washington National Guard; Natalie Lucey, Mountain View High School senior class VP (Class of 2013); Hunter Simpson, Hudson’s Bay High School sophomore; Aaron Kraft, Veolia Water North America project manager; Darcy Altizer, Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce; and Ryan Nisle, Miller Nash.
Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 1,000 chapters and Blood Services regions dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
{jathumbnail off}
