Orcas Park and Rec hires first director
Published 12:52 pm Thursday, August 2, 2012
The Orcas Island Park and Recreation District has hired Marcia West, a former Army major, landscape architect project manager and teacher, to serve as the first director of district.
“Marcia (pronounced Mar-see-ah) has had three incredible career moves, each involving skills we see as integral to the success of OIPRD,” said board chair Bob Eagan. “We feel so lucky to have her on board.”
West completed a career in the Army and Washington National Guard as a major in engineering and logistics, which gave her management skills and budgeting expertise. After active duty she returned to school to get a masters degree in landscape architecture that led to 20 years in the private sector working as project manager for a variety of large scale parks, plazas and ecological restoration projects, including the Seattle Civic Center and The Museum of Fine Arts Boston’s landscape redesigns. She also served as project manager for developing a master plan and environmental restoration program for Arches National Park in Moab, Utah requiring interagency and consensus building with a large number of interest groups, state and federal agencies.
Six years ago, West made a decision to try teaching and returned to school for middle school teaching certificate. She became a middle school math and science teacher at Brighton Middle School part of the Nobel Learning Community of Schools. In 2010, she was honored as middle school teacher of the year within that system.
West was born in Bellingham and at one year old moved to Orcas Island along with her mother and father, June and Father Johnson West, Episcopal minister at the Church in Eastsound. From the age of seven on, she went to school all over the country as Father West completed his career as a Chaplin in the Air Force. West is sister to Deborah Hansen, local realtor and community volunteer, and her mother June and aunt Thelma Kallem live in Olga.
Nine years ago Marcia, and her partner Cynthia Fugate, purchased a cottage at Sea Acres, which will be their retirement home. Fugate is currently the senior associate dean of libraries at the University of Washington. Adjusting to island life is their three-year-old Corgi, Dinah.
“The park and recreation position blends all my past experiences and gives me the opportunity to serve Orcas,” West said. “It allows me to focus on things I love: Orcas, seniors to kids, park development and recreation activities. Plus, I am an admitted computer wonk and the opportunities of a start-up, online registration systems and accounting – all those system set ups are challenging and actually fun for me.”
The public is invited to a welcome reception for West at the new OIPRD offices at the Funhouse Commons on Sept. 16.
