Submitted by South Puget Sound Community College
South Puget Sound Community College’s newest Board of Trustees appointee will be a familiar face to Olympia and Thurston County residents: former Olympia Mayor Doug Mah. Mah, appointed March 10 by Gov. Jay Inslee, replaces Trustee Brian Vance. Vance, CEO and President of Heritage Bank, served more than 10 years on the SPSCC Board of Trustees.
Mah is excited to join the Board of Trustees at SPSCC, citing his ongoing commitment to positive change within the community. He looks forward to expanding community connections to complement the ongoing work of the college and current Board. His first meeting will be April 5.
“I believe that community colleges are the cornerstone for building community and I am honored to be a small part of that work,” Mah said.
Mah owns Doug Mah & Associates, a full-service professional consulting firm based in Olympia. He serves on the boards of the Washington State Employees Credit Union, the Thurston County Food Bank, and is currently Board of Trustees Chair for Capital Medical Center. Mah is also a member of the Thurston Chamber of Commerce, Gateway Rotary Club, Bloodworks Northwest – Thurston Mason Advisory Council, and volunteers with the Olympia School District Education Foundation. Mah served as Olympia Mayor from January 2008 through December 2011.
Vance was appointed to the SPSCC Board of Trustees in October 2005 by former Gov. Christine Gregoire. The college saw some of its most significant expansions during Vance’s tenure. He is most proud of the development and establishment of the college’s Lacey campus. Vance was instrumental in creating Heritage Bank’s naming sponsorship for the Heritage Bank Center for Corporate and Continuing Education at the Lacey campus. Joining the Board of Trustees was an easy decision for Vance.
“I wanted to give back to the community and ensure access for others,” he said.
Before joining the SPSCC Board of Trustees, Vance served on the SPSCC Foundation Board of Directors. Vance will continue to be a SPSCC champion.
“It is my desire to continue to support the mission and vision of the college in whatever capacity I can,” Vance said.
