Washington Policy Center elects new chair and vice chair

John Otter of Mercer Island elected chairman and

Heidi Stanley of Spokane will serve as vice chair

SEATTLE -- Washington Policy Center (WPC) has elected John Otter as its new Chairman.  Mr. Otter is the Chief Executive Officer and President of CBC Partners, LLC., a capital investment lender for high-growth, middle-market companies in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. A graduate of the University of Puget Sound with an MBA from the University of Washington, Mr. Otter has deep roots in Washington state and has served on the WPC board since 2009 and as the organization’s vice chair since 2014.
 
“We have the unique freedom to leverage our individual initiative to make for a better society,” said Otter. “As Chairman, I am proud to be a part of Washington Policy Center, one of our nation’s premier state-level policy organizations, as we harness the power of information to lead Washingtonians to a more responsible and limited government.”
 
Mr. Otter’s election comes after WPC’s chairman, Craig Williamson, announced last week he’d be stepping down. “I have proudly served as chairman of Washington Policy Center for over three years,” Williamson said. “However, to keep WPC from being distracted by my new ventures, I must reluctantly resign my role as chairman, but I look forward to continuing to advance the WPC mission as an active board member.”  Mr. Williamson announced he had agreed to lead the Worker Rights Alliance, a political advocacy organization, and the Government Transparency Initiative 1608 campaign. The new pursuits are beyond WPC’s independent work as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
 

WPC board members elected Heidi Stanley as vice chair.  She will also retain her current role as treasurer.  She is co-owner and chair of Empire Bolt & Screw, a privately-held international distribution company headquartered in Spokane. Prior to this, Ms. Stanley had 24 years of experience in the banking industry, reaching the position as CEO of Sterling Savings Bank in 2008/2009.  She currently serves as a director of Avista Corporation and Forterra, Inc.  She has extensive involvement in the Spokane region, having served on many industry and business boards. Her direct involvement with WPC started nearly a decade ago as a member of the WPC Eastern Washington Advisory Board and has been on WPC’s Board of Directors since 2014.

Media Contact:  David Boze, Communications Director, 206-946-1018

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