People in Business
Paul Burgess has been appointed as Fourth Plain Forward’s new executive director, effective Jan. 5. Burgess has an extensive background in the international development sector, most recently founding a social enterprise specializing in pro-bono capacity building programs for marginalized nonprofits in the Global South. Burgess is excited to join the Fourth Plain Forward team, and to continue the impressive development and growth that Vancouver’s International Business District is experiencing. Burgess has lived in Vancouver since 2018 and is married to a local high school teacher. Burgess brings over 20 years of professional experience to bear, working internationally for the last 15 of those years in both the education sector and the international development sector.
PeaceHealth recently announced that Sarah Ness is serving as its new executive vice president of people and culture. An accomplished executive leader with more than 20 years of health care experience, Ness has spent most of her professional career dedicated to PeaceHealth. With a deep understanding of PeaceHealth’s mission, she has successfully filled multiple key leadership roles including chief of staff, system vice president of marketing and consumer analytics and system director of strategic communications and engagement.
Providing oversight for human resources, patient experience, marketing and communications, and governance, Ness will foster stronger connectivity across these core functions as PeaceHealth strives to be a person-first, community-centered organization, delivering greater value to people and health justice for communities.
Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce, established in 2018, promotes and connects the Ridgefield business community with the development of goals, programs, and education cultivating growth and prosperity. The Chamber has appointed the following members to its 2022 volunteer board of directors. The officers include: Immediate Past President Jim Holder of NWCPA, President Dawn Bell of Evergreen Home Loans, Vice President Rachel Coker of Corwin Beverage/City of Ridgefield, Secretary Darcy Alitzer of Matrix Roof + Home, and Treasurer Scott Flury of Latte da Coffeehouse and Wine Bar. The directors include: John Rose of Rose Real Estate, Kelli Montei of First Citizens Bank, Neil Daly of State Farm Insurance, Kristeen Millett of Sprout Digital/The Columbian/The Blue Crew, Steve Dronen of Ridgefield Craft Brewing, and Eric Husemoen, a Ridgefield resident. “The Chamber is excited to welcome 2022 and support the existing and new businesses moving into Ridgefield. We are proud of the economic development happening in the community. On behalf of our members, we want to make sure we maintain the thriving economy and our healthy community,” Bell said in a press release.
