Staff changes at San Juan County Economic Development Council

Victoria Compton, founder of At Home magazine and former director of Westcott Bay Institute, is the new executive director of the San Juan County Economic Development Council.

She succeeds Bill Watson, who retired from the position. Her first day on the job was Dec. 1.

In addition, Peggy Bill was hired as coordinator of the San Juan County Agricultural Resources Committee. She succeeds Eliza Buck, who is leaving to pursue a master's degree.

Compton has been an island resident since 1989, working as the advertising director of The Journal of the San Juan Islands, and as the founder of At Home magazine. She worked as marketing director of a giftware manufacturing company in New York City, as a PR agency owner, and as the director of Westcott Bay Institute on San Juan Island.

In years past, she served as the vice president of the San Juan Islands Chamber of Commerce board of directors and on the board of the San Juan Islands Business Association (now the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau).

Bill, the new ARC coordinator, has 20 years of professional experience advancing land conservation, natural resource management and innovative market approaches to conservation in the Puget Sound region. Some of her work experience includes the Cascade Land Conservancy, King County, and the Washington Department of Ecology.

Locally, she has served on the Agricultural Resources Committee, the Lopez Community Land Trust, and the San Juan County Land Bank. Bill's family has been involved in agriculture on Lopez Island for decades. Her first day as ARC coordinator was Dec. 1.

"Please join us in welcoming both Victoria and Peggy and lending them your support as they begin their new roles," the EDC board sated in an announcement. "We also wish to thank Bill Watson and Eliza Buck for their outstanding contributions to the EDC and ARC respectively. We wish them well as they begin their future endeavors."

The EDC and ARC will host an open house on Dec. 16, 3-5 p.m., 540 Guard St., Suite 110. Refreshments will be served.

The EDC advocates to diversify and strengthen the economy of San Juan County and to promote and preserve the overall quality of life of islanders. The EDC is the county’s primary source for island business-related information. The EDC strives to enable business success by linking resources, rendering assistance, and improving conditions for local business.

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