Rich Elstrom

President

President of Rich Elstrom Construction Inc.

Building career starting in the early 70’s. Specialize in construction, remodel and repair of ocean front homes on the north Oregon coast since the early 80’s.

Currently serving as director and Treasurer for the North Coast Building Industry Association. Have served as President and Vice President in the past.

Currently serving as director for the Oregon Home Builders Association.

Currently serving as director for the Astoria Yacht Club and head of the building committee for clubhouse relocation.

Julie Walker

Treasurer

Julie Walker is the founder and owner of Center Diamond, a popular fabric store in Cannon Beach, Oregon. Prior to opening her own business,Julie spent nine years at Microsoft Corporation as the head of Technical Recruiting and in Reseller marketing, then later served as Director of Recruiting at Drugstore.com for three years. She founded Center Diamond in 1994.

Lynette Vollmer

Secretary

Lynette Vollmer is a graduate of Clatsop Community College earning her associate degree and she is an Oregon State University graduate holding a bachelor of arts degree in Graphic Design. Her graphic design career spans a wide range from newspaper and magazine advertising to the printing and website design industries. She has designed for “The Weekly American,” “Flyfishing” magazine, “The Daily Astorian,” Astorian Printing, and for Ag-Bag, an agricultural equipment manufacturer’s in-house ad agency. As a native Astorian, Lynette realizes the uniqueness of the North Oregon Coast. Lynette has enjoyed volunteering her time and skills on publicity committees for the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival and the Astoria Regatta.

After several years employment in graphic design settings, Lynette Vollmer established her own business, Columbia Graphics, in 1995. Offering professional graphic design services, she is passionate about helping customers with layout & design, printing, website design, and advertising specialties needs. Columbia Graphics not only offers powerful design for print services, but website design and development services as well, creating striking and viewer-friendly sites.

Lynette believes in continued education. She is an alumna of Clatsop Community College’s Small Business Management Program continuing studies in small business management, website development, and current computer software applications. For more information visit www.columbia-graphics.com

Diana Thompson

Member

Diana Thompson is a graduate of the Small Business Management programs at Clatsop Community College and Clackamas Community College in Portland. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from University of Oregon and is a PUD Commissioner at PUD #2 of Pacific County in Washintton state.

Diana and her husband, John Adams, own and operate Harmony SoapWorks, manufacture of fine handcrafted soap sold regionally and private label soap for export to Japan. In addition they own and operate Soap Impressions, a company that manufactures custom stamps for soap makers.

Diana is a board member of Water Music Fesitival and coordinator of Jazz & Oysters. She is a Rotary member, Secretary of the Knappton Cove Heritage Center and secretary of the board of Washington Public Utilities Districts Association. She and her husband have lived near Oysterville, WA since 1999.

Packy Coleman

A co-owner of 46 North Farm, it was an appreciation for small town life that brought Packy to the Oregon Coast in 2003. He and his partner Teresa Retzlaff founded the small farm and joined an emerging community of local food enthusiasts. Packy utilized his design and sales skills to help build their farm’s strong presence at farmers markets all along the North Oregon Coast.

In 2009 he and Teresa were able to move to land that they purchased near Astoria. There they began rebuilding their farm business from the ground up, a challenge made possible with the skills developed through the Small Business Management Program, which they both graduated from in 2006. Along with his extensive farm to-do list, Packy helps to support the farm through his work as a brewer at another North Coast small business, the Fort George Brewery and Public House in Astoria. He and Teresa live and farm on 46 North Farm in Olney, Oregon, where they are building both their soil and some very big elk fences.

Keleigh Schwartz

Member

Keleigh is an alumna of the Small Business Management program at Clatsop Community College. She holds advanced certifications in marketing, graphic design, and education, having earned her Bachelors degrees at California State University, Chico.

2006 Recipient of the Pacific County Economic Development Council’s Business of the Year, Keleigh, along with her husband Keith, takes satisfaction in creating living wage jobs in a tourism-dependent community. Their company, beachdog.com, is a full-service marketing firm, providing marketing, graphic and web products, education and services to small businesses and agencies throughout the US.

As a Past President and Assistant Governor for her Rotary club and district, Keleigh currently serves on multiple committees. She is Past President of her local no-kill animal shelter, South Pacific County Humane Society, fervidly involved in Great Dane rescue and education, and is an active member of the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau, Long Beach Merchants Association, and the World Kite Museum. She has lived with her husband, and an ever-varying number of giant dogs, on the Long Beach Peninsula since 1995.

Sarah Nebeker

Member

Business Manager for artist Royal Nebeker, Atelier Elan
Business Manager, Uppertown Station
Clatsop County Board of Commissioners Elect, District 2
Planning Commissioner, Gearhart Planning Commission
Board member, Gearhart Homeowners Association
Board Member, W.H.A.R.F.

Thor Sorensen

Thor is a graduate of the Small Business Management program at Clatsop Community College. He also holds a bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington. Thor and his wife Lydia have lived in Astoria since 1994, where they own and operate Homespun Quilts, a small company retailing fabrics , patterns, notions, and sewing machines for the local quilting community. They also provide sewing machine repair services to the North Coast region. Thor is currently serving as a board member of the Astoria Yacht Club.