Our Team
Staff
Victoria Compton has been the Executive Director of the EDC since 2009 and has worked in business management and marketing for most of her life. Her focus is on sustainable community and business development, and on championing initiatives that benefit island workers, their families, and our small businesses – always with the understanding that our environment sustains everything that we do. She loves working with the amazing people who make up the EDC Team, striving together toward beneficial goals.
Her family has had a home on San Juan Island since 1976. As a 4th generation Washingtonian, she has lived on the island for over thirty years, with a short break working in New York City and Canada. That time away enabled her to see what the world is like out there, but she came back because this island is her home, and she believes it’s truly the best place on earth.
Gail has returned to her Business Coordinator position at the EDC after a two-year hiatus. Previously when she was at the EDC, she helped businesses navigate through Covid restrictions, receive grants and was a resource for any business needs. She was also the contact for the Fire Relief Fund during the Spring Street fire.
She and her husband moved to Friday Harbor in 2009 when they bought a small business here. They both worked there until closing in 2022. During that time, she was also Chamber President, and active in the business community. She is excited to be back at the EDC helping businesses grow!
A full-time islander since 2017, Marti McConnell is a small-business owner, kayaker, naturalist, and camping enthusiast. Marti has extensive experience as both a building designer and an instructor, but, more importantly, a passion to inspire and empower people and a desire to contribute positively to our community and the people who call it home.
Lara joined the EDC team after almost two decades of entrepreneurship. She’s an ecommerce specialist with expertise in Shopify, Etsy, web design, search engine optimization, and social media marketing. Once upon a time she made wooden jigsaw puzzles for a living, but she pivoted to providing marketing and web design services to artists and business owners. She’s a whiz at helping people start and optimize online businesses.
Liam G-Watson was raised on Orcas Island since he was 2 years old, attending Orcas Island Elementary School, Middle School and graduating from Orcas Island High School. Liam has been a local worker as he grew up on the islands, always enjoying the community and environment of the islands. Liam graduated later from Bellevue College Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He has great technical skills and is happy to help and give back to the community that helped raise him.
Board of Directors
The Economic Development Council of San Juan County is governed by a Board of Directors, made up of community members in both the public and private sectors.
Anji Ringzin
Anji Ringzin and her husband Robert Austin bought their house on Orcas in 1998 and were part-time residents until 2006, when they moved to Orcas full time. Anji is an entrepreneur and co-owns a small business called MindPlace with her husband. MindPlace designs and contract manufactures niche market electronics which are sold on their retail website and Amazon, and via international distributors. Anji graduated from San Juan Islands Leadership Course in 2008 and as her final project worked on the 2008 Transportation Summit.
Ashley Draffkorn
Ashley Draffkorn grew up on San Juan Island. She acquired over 20 years of experience in strategic planning, marketing, technology, and product management while working for a variety of companies including Amazon, Dell, and JP Morgan Chase. She returned to San Juan Island in 2016, she now helps with her family’s local businesses, Kings Market and Friday Harbor Marketplace.
She and her family are passionate supporters of the community, and she spends her spare time largely trying to keep up with her children alongside her husband, Rick. She is a graduate of Duke University and The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.
Barbara Thomas
[Bio coming soon.]
Chris Reed, Treasurer & Secretary
Chris Reed has been a founder or early leader in 8 start-ups, several of which grew to become $1B businesses. In the islands, Chris established a business mentorship program under the SCORE aegis, advised 85 local businesses on accessing pandemic funds, and has supported other EDC programs. Chris is active in the island boating community as past Commodore of the San Juan Island Yacht Club and Executive Officer of ABCSJI. He serves on the board of The Friends of Lime Kiln Society, the San Juan Island Yacht Club and Roche Harbor Neighborhood Association. Chris is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Business School.
Gretchen Bailey, President
Gretchen Bailey moved from Texas to the San Juan Islands in 2001 and later graduated with her BA from Western Washington University. Upon graduation, she moved back to the Island to work at Heritage Bank in 2009 as well as the San Juan Island Visitor’s Bureau. She has been with the bank for over 14 years now and is involved in many nonprofits in the county. She is a graduate of Leadership San Juan and a member of San Juan Island Rotary Club. She has been involved with the EDC since 2015 and is a past President. As a mother of two, she is passionate about how the EDC is shaping the future of our community for generations to come.
Mark Madsen, Vice President
Mark has lived on San Juan Island since 2006. Mark is a serial entrepreneur, having founded three technology companies (including AllRecipes.com and WattIQ) and worked as a founding engineer at Real Networks and Internap Network Services. In addition, Mark worked for a year at Microsoft licensing technologies for the Server and Tools group. Mark is board emeritus at the EDC and for the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild, and a current board member for OPALCO, the San Juan Island Library District, and SJI Food Cooperative. His background is in biology and anthropology, with a Ph.D. from the University of Washington.
Steve Hushebeck, Honorary, Town Council Liaison
Steve Hushebeck has been a home owner since 2003 and resident of Friday Harbor since 2007. He served on the Town of Friday Harbor Planning Commission in 2008 through 2009. He has since served on the Friday Harbor Town Council since January 2010 to present. He serves as an ex-officio member on the San Juan County Economic Development Council Board and the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce Board and other Friday Harbor and San Juan County support groups and committees. Another of his interests include a local non-profit called Leadership San Juan Islands (LSJI) which is a local group that provide guidance and training for County residents who wish to improve their professional and communication effectiveness and skill. Steve’s interests and hobbies include most outdoor activities including fishing, skiing, bicycling, and hiking. He also enjoys gardening and landscaping. Steve and his wife, Jean, also have an enthusiasm for dogs and related outdoor activities.
Thomas Sandstrom
[Bio coming soon.]