Ben Stokes appointed medical center
heart and vascular center director

Ben R. Stokes has been appointed executive director of cardiovascular services at Southwest’s Washington Medical Centers Heart and Vascular Center.

With a strong clinical and business leadership background, Stokes will oversee operations and opportunities at the premiere cardiovascular facility in southwest Washington. Stokes began his new role at Southwest on June 22.

Most recently, Stokes has served as the president of Heartland Partners, LLC, a multi-member healthcare consulting firm primarily focused on hospital-based heart and vascular services. He also served as the senior manager of Healthcare Economics for Medtronic, Inc., a Fortune 500 biomedical device company.

“With so much experience in the cardiovascular field, Stokes is an excellent addition to our incredible heart and vascular team,” says Rainy Atkins, chief operating officer at Southwest Washington Medical Center.

Stokes, a Washougal resident, earned his Bachelor of Science degree in International Business Management at American InterContinental University in Atlanta, Georgia,Suma Cum Laude.He is currently completing his masters in international business administration in Healthcare Administration at Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has served as an Apollo Teaching Fellow at the Lally School of Business, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, and a faculty lecturer of economics for the International Heart Rhythm Society. He serves on the National Health Policy Committee for the American College of Cardiovascular Administrators and has served as a content advisor for the Advisory Board’s Cardiovascular Roundtable in Washington, D.C. 

Andrew Long named Clark
College director of advising

Andrew Long, an education professional with experience as an instructor, academic ombudsman, and program director in support of student success, has been named director of advising at Clark College.

A native of England, Long graduated from the University of Essex in Colchester, England. He earned a Master’s degree in history from California State University, Los Angeles.

Prior to joining Clark College, Long served on the faculty at California State University, Dominguez Hills, as director of the university Advisement Center, director of the First Year Experience program, academic ombudsman, and instructor for Freshmen College Success courses

Tracy Fortmann gets award

Tracy Fortmann, superintendent, of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, has been named regional winner of the Appleman-Judd-Lewis Award for Cultural Resource Stewardship and the 2008 Pacific West Region Superintendent of the Year for Cultural Resource Stewardship.

She is being recognized for her leadership at Fort Vancouver in building a strong cultural resource program
that works with multiple partners within the Vancouver National Historical Reserve and beyond in the Portland-Vancouver area to preserve and interpret the multi-layered prehistory and history of the Reserve.

Columbia River Crossing
project listening session

The Columbia River Crossing project meets in a listening session from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, in the

state Department of Transportation regional office, 11018 NE 51st Circle.

The main topic for the session is tolling.

The project will be funded by federal, state and local sources. However, a funding gap will remain. The project is looking at tolling as a way to help fund part of the CRC project. Several scenarios are being studied. Transportation officials say they want to hear how these scenarios could work for commuters, nearby communities, and people who use the I-5 and I-205 bridges.

WSU Vancouver offering fall
online deaf education program

Washington State University Vancouver will offer a fall-start option for its new Online Deaf Education Endorsement in addition to the summer-start program now in session. The program is designed for teachers and education students who want to expand their career opportunities with the ability to teach children with hearing loss. Deaf education is a growing field and teachers are currently needed.

WSU Vancouver's endorsement program is the only one in the region that offers teachers and education students the opportunity to prepare to teach in auditory/oral, English-based sign or American Sign Language classrooms.

Farmers Market extends
Fourth of July hours

Vancouver’s Farmers Market will extend its hours to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 4 at Esther Short Park. Although there will be no fireworks, Esther Short Park will be the place to bring the family for a day of festivities including music and children’s activities.

“The objective of this free event is to provide Vancouver Farmers Market patrons a family- oriented day at the park to celebrate our nation’s birthday,” says Debbie Whitman, VFM president. “The market will remain open until 8 p.m. with musicians on the stage in Esther Short Park.”

The market will open at its regular time while events on the stage in the park will begin at 10:00 am and continue to 8 pm; groups include The Slim Jim’s, Ruby Hill, Johanin, Shadows Awake, Mother Joseph and the Altar Boys, Fadin by Nine, The Thirsting, There She Goes and the Portland duo ‘the Maries.”

News brief

The Clark County Chamber of Commerce Business Seminar and Networking meeting is 7 to 9 am, Tuesday, July 14, in the Bell Tower Cathedral, 113 S. Main St, Ridgefield. The topic of interest is how to thrive in the current economy. Clark County Chamber of Commerce meetings are open to the public. For further information, call 258-1181

Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber

• City of Vancouver Calendar