About Us

Our History

For over a decade, many local people have talked about the importance of creating a leadership program for Whatcom County. In 2003, the Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities reviewed studies of national, regional, and local programs to better understand the numerous benefits of leadership development and what type of leadership program would best meet the needs of Whatcom County, the Lummi Nation, and Nooksack Tribe communities. In the winter of 2004, the Coalition sponsored a series of work sessions that engaged key stakeholders in examining the feasibility and design of a collaborative leadership program. This diverse body of participants affirmed a strong interest in creating a program for existing and emerging leaders in Whatcom County. These early program recommendations serve as a foundation on which Leadership Whatcom is designed and built. Our first program began in September 2005 with 21 participants.

"Healthy communities need to be nurtured. Leadership Whatcom is a way of strengthening our community at its core by investing in our human capital."

- Patricia Decker, Manager
Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District

 Governance Committee

The members of Leadership Whatcom’s Governance Committee are responsible for bringing a broad range of community perspectives to the program, maintaining the program’s vision, mission, and values, developing and implementing the program, modeling ethical and transparent processes, and ensuring effective communication and collaboration with the Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities staff and board. The Governance Committee includes people from business, government, education, and non-profit sectors across Whatcom County.

Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities
Leadership Whatcom is a program of the Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities and is coordinated by Mary Dumas, Dumas & Associates, Inc. and Elizabeth Jennings, Executive Director of the Coalition. The Mission of the Coalition is to collaborate with the community to define opportunities and facilitate action to improve the health of Whatcom County.

Leadership Whatcom Governance Committee Members
Kathy Berg, Birch Bay Steering Committee
Cindy Daily, WalMart Community Outreach
Patricia Decker, Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District
Mauri Ingram, Trillium Corporation
Elizabeth Jennings, Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities
Carole MacDonald, The Inn at Mt. Baker
Chris McCartan, Whatcom/Bellingham Chamber of Commerce
Joy Monjure, City of Bellingham Public Works
Dennis Rhodes, City of Ferndale Planning
Dee West, Early Childhood Opportunities Northwest

Program Committee Members
Lesa Boxx, Agriculture Preservation Committee, M. Boxx Farms, Inc.
Mary Dumas, Dumas & Associates, Inc.
Cindy Franklin, Consultant
Aimee Frazier, Consultant
Trula Nicholas, Professor, Human Services Department, WWU
Carl Oekerman, Bellingham Technical College instructor

Whatcom Coalition Board Members
*Ron Bauleke, Metcalf, Hodges & Co., PS
Linda Crawford, Bellingham Technical College
*Regina Delahunt, Whatcom County Health Department
David Doll, Assistant Police Chief - Operations, City of Bellingham
Tim Douglas, Retired-Former Bellingham Mayor
Rafeeka Gafoor, Regional Business Serivces Manager, WorkSource Northwest
Ken Gass, Pediatrician/Bellingham School Board
Jerry Hunter, Retired-Mt. Baker School District
Mauri Ingram, Trillium Corporation
Lisa McShane, Conservation Northwest
Trula Nicholas, Professor, Human Services Department, WWU
Ken Oplinger, President/CEO Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce
*Chris Phillips, St. Joseph Hospital
Stephanie Salzman, Dean, Woodring College of Education, WWU
Greg Stern, Whatcom County Health Officer
*Peter Theisen, United Way of Whatcom County
Cheryl Thornton, Cloud Mountain Farm/Nooksack School Board
Dee West, Early Childhood Opportunities NorthWest

Ex-Officio Members
Dale Brandland, Washington State Senator, 42nd District, Ex-Officio
Bill Elfo, Whatcom County Sheriff, Ex-Officio
Dale Kinsley, Bellingham School District, Ex-Officio
Pete Kremen, County Executive, Ex-Officio

*Indicates Officers of the Board of Directors

Funders
The Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities is sponsored by the City of Bellingham, St. Joseph Hospital, United Way of Whatcom County, and Whatcom County. These organizational sponsors are joined by the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce, Lummi Nation, and Whatcom Community Foundation in supporting Leadership Whatcom and its alumni programs.