Clark County Business Briefing

People in Business

Clark County Manager Kathleen Otto this week appointed April Furth as the director of the county’s Community Development department. The appointment is effective Tuesday.

Furth was hired by the county in February 2021 to lead the Permit Center in Community Development. She has more than 17 years’ experience in retail management including serving as regional merchandising manager, store manager and vice president.

During Furth’s tenure at Clark County, she has worked with Permit Center staff to reduce permit intake times and improve overall customer service.

“Since I started working at the county, I’ve worked with staff to evaluate and improve the processes of Clark County Permit Center by creating small wins and building momentum of success for a highly skilled long-term team,” Furth said. “I’m excited to be the Community Development director and make a difference on a larger scale.”

The county’s Community Development department provides services from many divisions including Building, the Permit Center, Development Engineering, Land Use, Animal Control, Code Enforcement and the Fire Marshal’s Office.

After a nationwide search, Clark College has announced the hiring of two new members of its Executive Cabinet. Michele Cruse was named Vice President of Student Affairs and Paul Wickline was named Vice President of Instruction. Cruse is starting in the position in November and Paul Wickline will begin on Jan. 3. 

Michele Cruse has been serving as interim vice president of Student Affairs at Clark College since October 2020. Prior to coming to Clark, she served as vice president and dean of Student Affairs and associate dean of Student Affairs and Experiential Education at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in Pennsylvania. A native Pittsburgher, Cruse earned her associate degree from the Community College of Allegheny County, her bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh, her master’s degree in public administration and nonprofit management from Portland State University, and her doctorate in community college leadership from the University of Oregon.

At Clark College, Cruse leads Student Affairs, a unit that includes a wide range of services and programs including enrollment services, athletics, career services, international programs, financial aid, disability support, the Veterans Resource Center, and the Counseling and Health Center, among others.

Paul Wickline brings with him many years of experience in both teaching and leading in a variety of educational settings. He began his educational journey at Edmonds Community College studying vocal music. From there, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Education degree from Western Washington University and his Master of Education degree from Central Washington University. He is currently working on his doctoral dissertation in the Higher Education Leadership program at Portland State University.

Wickline began his teaching career as a high school English and drama teacher in Walla Walla. He then began teaching theater at Walla Walla Community College. In 2008, he moved to the College of the Canyons in Southern California, where he served in a series of roles that brought increased leadership: faculty member, department chair, faculty outcomes and assessment coordinator, Academic Senate president, dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, assistant vice president of Educational Pathways, and finally associate vice president of Instruction. He is a past faculty fellow of the Association of American Colleges and Universities Collaborative Project and a mentor in the Association of California Community Colleges Association mentorship program.

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