Search set to begin for Orcas Center’s new director

A search committee has been named, and this week Orcas Center will begin advertising for a new executive director to succeed Candace VerBrugghen, who has given notice that her last day at the helm would be April 15. At the time, VerBrugghen believed that a new executive director would be on board April 1, and that she would stay on for an additional two weeks helping to orient her successor.

It now appears, however, that the timetable will have to be extended. The search committee won’t start reviewing applications until March 15. It will select several finalists who will then be interviewed by board members, staff and the community as a whole. The final selection will be made by the trustees, probably some time in April. If the new executive director needs time to give notice at a current job, then move to Orcas Island, it could be May or even June before a successor is on the job. VerBrugghen has since told the board that she will stay on as long as necessary.

Search committee members were selected because they “have lots of skills in hiring,” board President Kathy Youngren said.

They are Betty Barats, now vice-president of the Orcas Center Board of Trustees who formerly did the hiring for a state agency in Alaska; Vince Monaco, a former teacher on both the secondary and college levels who has appeared on the Orcas Center stage many times; Victoria Parker, former Orcas Island Librarian and currently director of the San Juan Nature Institute; Sue Carroll, Orcas Center bookkeeper who is familiar with the business side of the operation; and David Williams, former director of Personnel Services at the University of Washington.

The committee’s work will be overseen by Orcas islander Steve Garrison, who previously headed up local searches for a new fire chief and three trustee positions with the Orcas Island Library.

Orcas Center will advertise the position on the Internet, and in arts publications based throughout the Pacific Coastal region, but Garrison also intends to have the committee recruit candidates who come highly recommended. Youngren, meanwhile, is encouraging local people to apply.

A job description for the new executive director will be reviewed by board members at their monthly meeting, Jan. 26, at 3 p.m. at Orcas Center. No salary terms will be listed.

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