George Henny, President
George Henny is Co-CEO of Whidbey Telecom and is a 30-year veteran in the telecom and technology fields. He is passionate about change and motivating people to discover how to empower, enhance and inspire people and companies to thrive in their communities. George is highly entrepreneurial and enjoys sharing insights on technology innovation with leaders, changing company culture, and being proudly different. In his role, he provides vision and strategy for business and technology. He holds a BA in Drama and an MBA from the University of Washington, and has served on numerous community boards. He is a featured performer in local theatrical and film productions. George is proud to be a Rotarian since 1993 and has served as president of the South Whidbey and Whidbey Westside Rotary Clubs.
Dave Paul, Vice President
Dave Paul has served in higher education for over 20 years, both as an instructor and administrator. For the past 11 years, Dave has worked at Skagit Valley College, where he has served as Dean of Students, Vice President of Student Services, and Vice President of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness. Dave also has significant experience with PreK-12 schools. Dave served on his local School Board in Ohio. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Oak Harbor Educational Foundation since 2009, where he is currently President. He was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives in November 2018 and serves on the Transportation Committee, the College and Workforce Development Committee, and the Education Committee. Dave and his wife Rachel Anderson-Paul live in Oak Harbor with their four children and two dogs.
Skagit Valley College Representative, 10th Legislative District
Todd Morrow, Treasurer
Todd E. Morrow is a graduate of Stanford University, University of Washington School of Law, and the Dan Evans School of Public Administration at the University of Washington. He is a 23-year transit industry veteran. Throughout his career, he has worked to promote public transportation at the local, state, and federal level. Morrow, Island Transit’s Executive Director, brings a wealth of experience to his role serving as a leader in the public, private and non-profit sectors. In his role as Island Transit’s Executive Director, Morrow has helped the agency weather the pandemic, expanded the agencies dedication to safety, successfully secure increased funding for capital improvement projects including the installation of solar panels on the Camano and Coupeville Transit Facilities, and guided the agency through the interagency process of moving towards a ZERO emission fleet. He currently serves as the President of the Washington State Transportation Association’s (WSTA) Board of Directors and continues to be an integral part of The Bus Coalition, serving as the Treasurer. Morrow believes transit is an integral part of the community, providing residents access to opportunities, and a means to reduce their carbon footprint and improve their environment.
Jeff Pleet, Secretary
Jeff Pleet has enjoyed an over 30-year career in financial services, currently employed by Edward Jones. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce and previously as President of the Skagit Valley College Foundation, the Board of the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce, and as Past President of the Board of the Northwest Washington Estate Planning Council. As Jeff sees it, the role of the EDC, is to promote the amazing community and geographic setting of Island County while striving to secure new opportunities for rational growth. He believes we can look for creative, collaborative solutions for our challenges while looking forward to enhancing our common economic goals.
Magi Aguilar
Magi is the Executive Director at the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce. She brings over ten years of professional community and branding experience. Her previous roles include Director of Marketing for radio stations in Chicago and San Diego as well as the Director of Events & Logistics for Washington State University. Before her role at the Chamber, she was the Associate Director at the State of Washington’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance program on Whidbey Island and Anacortes.
She has a passion for marketing, community engagement, creating resources, and building relationships. She is looking forward to incorporating her experiences for building a stronger economy and tourism on Whidbey Island.
Magi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and a Master’s degree in Strategic Communication, both from Washington State University.
Samar Arny
Michelle Callihan
Michelle Callihan is the West District Manager for Sno-Isle Libraries. She has a Master’s of Library and Information Science from Syracuse University and a BA in Business Management from Western Washington University. Michelle has served entrepreneurs and small business owners through her work on the Business Services Team at Sno-Isle Libraries. She was the President of the Granite Falls Chamber of Commerce and an Ambassador for the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County prior to working on Whidbey Island. Michelle is committed to helping connect the business community with resources to support economic growth and vitality.
Mayor Scott Chaplin
Mayor Chaplin spent a large portion of his career consulting with local, state and federal government agencies on resource management issues before entering politics as an elected official. His work at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR.org) in Washington, DC combined economic development with solid waste reduction and social justice issues. His work at Solar Energy International helped promote local economic development by keeping more consumer dollars in a community through greater energy independence (solarenergy.org). In the late 1990s he served on a White House Office of Science and Technology's panel to assess the potential impacts of climate change in the U.S. and on the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory(PNNL) /Battelle's Greening of the White House project while working for Rocky Mountain Institute (www.rmi.org). He is a strong proponent of economic development that promotes a cleaner environment, social justice and a stronger democracy; and supports a move to Regenerative Tourism as an important part of Island County's future.
Jim Deanne
Jim Deanne, along with his wife Lori, owns and operates Tyee Farms LLC on Camano Island’s south-end. Jim’s career has included working as a law enforcement officer/investigator in the public sector and a variety of banking roles in the private sector. He has started, operated and sold several businesses and is keenly aware of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and small business. Jim will be an advocate and resource for all Island County businesses with a focus on Camano Island.
Brandon Ericson
Brandon Ericson is the Owner of Camano Commons Marketplace, the president of the Camano Island Chamber of Commerce, and host to the Camano Voice Podcast.
Though he has owned the Marketplace for only 4 years (and managed it for 2 years prior to owning the store), he has learned to pivot quickly due to the pandemic.
He is excited to be involved in the EDC to see entrepreneurship grow in Island County, especially on Camano Island.
Dan Fouts
Brian Heinrich, Ex-Officio
Brian comes to PSE after over a decade in the Mayor’s Office in Bellingham. Prior to municipal administration Brian worked in higher education, managing national services programs and communications, and has a background in nonprofit fundraising. Brian and his wife, Angie, have two kids, Marina (14) and AJ (11) and they all are avid outdoor recreationists, making the most of what Bellingham and the nearby North Cascades have to offer. Brian is originally from Colorado and has a degree in Political Science from Colorado State University.
Mayor Molly Hughes
Molly Hughes has lived in Coupeville for 29 years, has served on the Town Council for 12 years and is currently serving her second term as Mayor. Molly has been a member of the EDC Board since 2018 and enjoys working with elected and business leaders and nonprofit Board members. Molly feels representing Coupeville in Island County economic plans and opportunities is important. As partners we can bring more funding, training and information to our Island County business community.
Ozell Jackson
Ozell Jackson grew up in Oak Harbor. Upon graduating from Oak Harbor High School, he moved to the Seattle area to study at the University of Washington. Later he began a career in mortgage banking. As a community development manager, he partnered with several different organizations. Through these partnerships, he helped implement programs supporting home ownership for tribal members and new immigrants. He also focused on programs that help people afford to live and work in the same city.
Ozell understands the benefits of growing up on the Island. In 2013, he returned to Oak Harbor so his two children could have the same experience. Now, he’s focused on giving back to the community that has given him so much.
Currently, Ozell works as a mortgage originator for CMG Mortgage, Inc. ("CMG"). He also serves as an Opportunity Council board member and is a Habitat for Humanity volunteer.
Rob Mellish
Rob Mellish has lived on Whidbey Island for 25 years and has served on the board of the Island Economic Development Council previously. Rob has been in banking for 35 years with experience in Finance, Marketing, Commercial Lending and Branch Banking, now overseeing the three south end branches for Whidbey Island Bank. Married to Kelli, an instructor with Skagit Valley College, he has four children (one at home – age 12) with all attending the South Whidbey schools. Residing in Freeland, Rob is currently the Treasurer for the South Whidbey Schools Performing Arts Boosters and has been actively involved in scouting for the past 18 years, recently taking the reigns as Scoutmaster for Troop 57 in January this year.
Marian Myszkowski
Marian Myszkowski has lived on the Island for 19 years, just a smidgen longer than she’s been working for Goosefoot, a non-profit economic and community development organization located on South Whidbey. Her career has been devoted to the non-profit world, including positions at the Institute for Policy Studies, the Harvard University Art Museums, and Boston Architectural College, all on the East Coast. Her current work passions are collaborating with others on strengthening our local food system through the Agriculture Resources Committee/Island County and providing support for Goosefoot’s affordable housing development in Langley. Outside of work, you’ll find Marian enjoying the local and regional theater and music scene and visiting off-Island poker rooms to play some $1/3 no-limit Texas hold’em.
Blaine Oborn
Blaine Oborn, City Administrator for the City of Oak Harbor since 2018 brings over 30 years of experience in local, state, and federal governments. For the past 18 years he has served in local government leadership supporting economic development in three states. He has a Master of Public Policy and Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accountancy). His favorite challenge is to help local government support tourism, industry, and commerce.
Janet St. Clair, Ex-Officio
Marie Shimada
Marie grew up on south Whidbey and brings a wealth of experience in the community advocacy sector. Before her current role as the Reserve Manager of Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, she spent years in the nonprofit sector, ultimately creating a niche for herself in the farmland preservation field. She also serves on the inaugural Advisory Board of the Maritime WA National Heritage Area and is a founding member of the Agricultural Resources Committee of Island County. Marie is a graduate of the University of Washington and University of San Diego School of Law, as well as the local Leadership Whidbey program, and she has a professional certificate in Diversity and Inclusion Leadership from Cornell.
Brian Tyhuis, Ex-Officio
Brian Tyhuis is the Community Planning and Liaison Officer for Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island. He represents the installation regarding encroachment management and land use. He is a Whidbey Island native who grew up in Oak Harbor. Brian began working at NAS Whidbey Island in 2009 as a facility planner with the Public Works Department. Previously, Brian worked for URS, in Albuquerque, New Mexico before returning to Whidbey Island.