Board and Staff

Bellingham BPDA Board of Directors

The BPDA Board of Directors consists of seven civic and business leaders whose individual and collective expertise support and maintain the mission of the BPDA.  Board members represent the fields of finance, corporate management, real estate development, industrial development, law, technology, and construction management.  The governing board also is responsible for advising the BPDA's director and staff in tasks related to achieving the triple bottom line - financial, social, and environmental - while pursuing the city's vision for redevelopment of city properties and the special focus areas of the waterfront, downtown and Old Town.  Their concurrence is necessary to authorize all essential BPDA business transactions.

BPDA Staff

James Long, Executive Director

James Long has more than 35 years experience in real estate planning, development and management experience.  This includes significant expertise in mixed-use projects, public-private development collaborations, and large-scale community and economic development initiatives.  As owner-developer, chief executive or master developer for a variety of projects in Colorado and the southeast, he has been responsible for projects exceeding $1.5 billion in capital investments and 6 million square feet of building programs for a wide range of residential, corporate, office-commercial, and institutional uses in urban, suburban and resort settings.  Jim and his projects have been the recipient of numerous awards from professional and business organizations and communities recognizing a legacy of responsible development, job creation and community service.  Jim holds a Master of City Planning degree from Georgia Institute of Technology.  A long-time resident of Boulder, Colorado, Jim is in the process of relocating to Bellingham.  He was named the BPDA's executive director in October 2009.

"The Bellingham Public Development Authority promotes balanced development and redevelopment in Bellingham's Downtown, Old Town and Waterfront Districts.  My goal is to undertake and support development that will enhance Bellingham's economy while preserving the character, historical attributes and natural beauty of this City."

Alison Henshaw, Administrative Assistant

Alison Henshaw moved from Cornwall, England to Bellingham in January 1990 after working and travelling in France, Australia, and New Zealand.  Alison has more than 25 years of experience in the legal field and local government.  She worked as a legal secretary in Bellingham until 1996, when she became executive assistant to former Bellingham mayor Mark Asmundson.  Since 2002 she has been working as administrative assistant for the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District, and added the Bellingham Public Development Authority to her duties in September 2008.  Alison is qualified as a bilingual secretary (French and German).

"The BPDA is presenting me with a unique opportunity to be closely involved with changes that will help Bellingham continue to be a great place to live."

BPDA Board

Scot Barg

(Awaiting approved biography).  Scot's term expires July 21, 2013.

Heather Wolf

Heather Wolf is a land use and real estate attorney with the Bellingham firm Brownlie Evans Wolf & Lee, LLP.  In addition to advising private individuals and businesses in land use and real property matters for the past thirteen years, Heather has represented a number of municipal clients, including the City of Ferndale and the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District.  Heather has a vast knowledge and wealth of experience in regard to real estate and land use law, having worked extensively on many residential, commercial, and industrial development projects.  Heather is a member of the Whatcom County Bar Association and Washington State Bar Association.  Heather's term expires July 21, 2012.

"My land use and real estate practice reflect my personal interest in local planning and urban development issues.  Serving on the governing board of the BPDA is both an opportunity to help achieve the city's vision for redevelopment and a means of contributing to the continuation of the exciting redevelopment that has already occurred."

Rud Browne

Rud Browne is founder and chairman of the Ryzex Group, a privately owned $70 million multi-national electronics company headquartered in Bellingham.  The Ryzex Group was established in 1989 and operates worldwide.  The Ryzex Group was named by Inc. Magazine as one of America's Top 50 green businesses and was selected as a finalist by the Seattle Times People's Choice "Most Eco-friendly Company."  Rud was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2007.  He serves as a board member of Whatcom County Ethics Commission and the Bellingham City Club.  He is a member and past chairman of the Pacific Northwest chapter of the Young Presidents Organization, a member of the Chief Executives Organization, and The Rotary Club of Bellingham.  Rud's term expires July 21, 2012.

"My intention, in serving this board, is to help attract new investment and jobs to the community and to make a meaningful contribution to the community."

Anne-Marie Faiola

Anne-Marie Faiola is the owner of several local businesses: Brambleberry.com, a company that specializes in raw materials for soap and toiletry makers, Otion – The Soap Bar, a bricks’n’mortar store downtown that does children’s soapmaking parties and sells soapmaking supplies and ELF Industrial, a manufacturing facility that designs and produces chocolate, soap and candle molds. Anne-Marie was awarded the Washington State Woman Business Owner of the year in 2009 and Bramble Berry is a past Best Small Business of Whatcom County award winner. Anne-Marie has her Masters in Business Administration and in her spare time, enjoys running, reading and scuba diving.  Anne-Marie's term expires July 21, 2013.

"I love Bellingham and am here for the long-term.  I am excited and honored to be asked to be on this Board and believe it will be interesting to see how we can change the face of Bellingham over the next 5 to 10 years."

 
Dan Guyette 

Daniel G. Guyette is Dean of the College of Fine and Performing Arts at Western Washington University. Dan has served as a university dean, department chair and professor for the past 22 years in North Carolina, Colorado, Utah and South Dakota. He has worked on over 250 theatrical productions around the country and recently finished a six-year term as the Commissioner of Scene Design for the UnitedStates Institute for Theatre Technology. He has won numerous awards for his creative work and his designs have been featured at national design exhibits, and textbooks and other publications. He currently serves on the board of directors for the International Council of Fine Arts Deans and regularly makes presentations on arts administration and related topics. He moved to Bellingham in June of 2009 with his wife, who is a professor at Western, and his young son.  Dan's term expires July 21, 2014.

"When I interviewed at Western, I was excited by the quality of the university and the chance to work here. When I saw Bellingham, I knew this was the place my family and I wanted to live. I am blessed to be able to call Bellingham home and the opportunity to serve on the BPDA allows me the chance to give back to the community while using my design and planning skills in a new and exciting way."

 
Kenneth Hertz

Kenneth Hertz, former two-term mayor of Bellingham (1976-1984), is president of Blossom Management Corporation, specializing in real estate acquisitions, development and management.  He has served as executive vice president and chief operating officer for Trillium Corporation, a $500 million privately held company headquartered in Bellingham.  He also served as the first director of Whatcom County Parks.  He is the recipient of many awards, including the Whatcom County Parks William Dietrich Award and one from Western Washington University for implementing one of the largest land exchanges in the State of Washington.  During his tenure as Director of Whatcom County Parks, he received 11 awards of excellence for park design and management.  Ken's term expires July 21, 2014.

"Working with the BPDA Board of Directors is an opportunity to help move Bellingham into the 21st century and create a new era for our downtown and waterfront.  It's both a challenge and an exciting opportunity."

Christopher Webb

Christopher Webb is a licensed civil engineer of 17 years and a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited professional. The focus of his expertise is on the implementation of systems and technologies that support sustainable development. He has gained substantial professional experience working on projects with local and state governments, private and public entities, utilities, and non-profit groups. Christopher has worked as part of diverse design teams on projects of all scales—from single lot to multi-unit developments, from the conceptual and master-planning phase through permitting and construction documents. He is a frequent public speaker and workshop leader on the subject of sustainable development as it applies to aspects of civil engineering, including low-impact development and water resource management. Chris's term expires July 21, 2012.