Jessica is the Director of Environmental Research and Operational support Weyerhaeuser Company and was recently named volunteer of the year by Weyerhaeuser.. Jessica and her husband Tom Gorman took the leadership role as co-chairs creating and implementing a strategic plan to replace the dearly loved wooden playground structure at Penny Playground. Jessica formulated a plan of action that included recruiting a steering committee, assisting with playground design and providing public outreach presentations to gain community support and funding. The result is a 1.3 million dollar state of the art, inclusive and accessible playground. Jessica, Tom and their two children reside in Chehalis.

Tim Sayler is the President of Service Saw/Workwears Inc. in Chehalis. He has owned and operated Service Saw since 1992, selling and servicing Stihl power equipment, light logging supplies and outdoor work wear. Prior to starting Service Saw, Tim’s professional experience included time with Cascade Loggers Supply, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., Tires Inc., and other retail–oriented companies in management, sales and service.

In 2009 Tim was asked to become part of the board for the Chehalis Foundation and in June of 2012 became its President. He also serves on the Board’s Development Committee. In addition to his involvement with The Chehalis Foundation, Tim supports Chehalis by serving in the Chehalis Activators Club and on the Board of the Chehalis Industrial Commission.

Tim is a graduate of W.F. West High School in Chehalis and received his degree in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado. Born and raised in Chehalis, he has a son and daughter and lives with his wife about a block from where he grew up.

She has three children and four grandchildren.

J. is an attorney in the Chehalis firm of Vander Stoep, Blinks & Unzelman. In addition to property law, his work includes crisis communications and public issue problem-solving. His early career included time as a Washington state representative and Chief of Staff to a U.S. Senator.

One of the original Chehalis Foundation members, J.’s volunteer Foundation work focuses on the board’s Educational Excellence efforts.

J. and his wife, Ann, have three daughters.

Tyler has been a dedicated committee lead and member to both the Leonard CTE Endowment Committee and the WF Turf Project at the Chehalis Foundation for the past 1 ½ years. Allen Unzelman (Foundation Treasurer and Nominating Committee co-lead) states; “Tyler has tremendous passion for the Chehalis community and the goals of the Chehalis Foundation. As demonstrated by his involvement in a number of foundation projects, he possesses the tactical and operations intellect necessary to turn passionate ideas into successful community projects. We look forward to having him on our team.”

“The Chehalis Foundation has a proven history of completing great projects as demonstrated in their work at Penny Playground, the Shaw Aquatic Center and other notable projects likes the Student Achievement Initiative. I look forward to collaborating with the board for a stronger community,” said Tyler.

The Chehalis Foundation supports projects that benefit the city, the community, and academic excellence in Chehalis schools. Our purpose is to better the quality of life for our community while lessening the financial burdens to taxpayers and government and provide more opportunities for our children.

Kent Hojem joined the Washington State Fair in March 1996, and has been Chief Executive Officer since January 2005. He oversees all operations of the Fair and Fair properties. Those operations include one of the top attended fairs in the world, the Washington State Fair, which is held in September, as well as the Washington State Spring Fair each April. Kent is also involved with Oktoberfest, a joint venture project, as well as all interim rental activities that occur at the Washington State Fair Events Center throughout the year. He also serves as secretary of the Washington State Fair Foundation.

Prior to taking on the role, Kent was Assistant Fair Manager, overseeing all operations. His background in fair management is extensive, having been manager of the Thurston County Fair for ten years, and another ten years prior to that as assistant manager of the Southwest Washington Fair.

Kent is a past chairman and a current board president of the Washington State 4-H Foundation and has served on the board since 2004. He has been involved in numerous youth and livestock committees and foundations over the years, including serving as a former chairman of the North Thurston Vocational Agriculture Advisory Committee, and as a member of the Pacific NW Livestock Judging School steering committee. He has served as chairman of Communities In Schools of Puyallup and served on the board from 2005 to 2020, and was a past board member of Communities In Schools of Washington.

He has served on the board of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) since 2009, and served as its chairman in 2016. In 2019, Kent was inducted into the IAFE Hall of Fame. Kent is a past chairman and director of the Western Fairs Association, and served as president of Washington State Fairs Association in 1995 and was recognized as the Washington State Fairs Association Lifetime Achievement award recipient in 2021.

He has also held other board positions, such as the Tacoma Convention Bureau, Fred Oldfield Western Art History Museum, past president of the Puyallup Main Street Association and the past president of the Puyallup-Sumner Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the Lodging Tax Advisory committee of Puyallup. Kent is a Senior Fellow and alumni of the American Leadership Forum, and was a participant in the 2005–2006 class.

Kent was born and raised near Chehalis, Washington where he showed dairy cattle in 4-H. He was a mathematical sciences major at Stanford University. Kent and his wife Carolyn live in Puyallup, and are surrounded by family, including Criss (wife, Andie) and Trent (wife, Toni), and four grandchildren: Tucker, Sydney, Monica, and Mackenzie.

Born and raised on an organic dairy farm outside of Chehalis, Samantha is a WF West Graduate and longtime supporter of Lewis County. After a corporate career with LINE-X Protective Coatings, Samantha left to dedicate fulltime to her family’s businesses, Lewis County Coffee Company and Nomad Truck and SUV Outfitters. Samantha enjoys time with family and friends and all the beauty the Pacific Northwest has to offer, you can find her and her husband Spike hiking, fishing, or adventuring somewhere outdoors!

Jonathan Hubbert is President of Powersports Northwest located in Centralia. He is native to Lewis County and is a 2007 graduate from W.F West High School. Jon is married to Maggi Hubbert who is a 5th grade teacher in Chehalis, and they have a daughter named Hudson. He serves on the Centralia College Foundation Board, The Boys and Girls Club of Lewis County and the Lewis County Economic Alliance Board.

Cindy was born and raised in Chehalis, WA and graduated from W.F. West in 2005 and Portland State University in 2010. She is the President and owner of STI Holdings LLC and Sorenson Transportation Co. Inc., a refrigerated, LTL trucking company. Sorenson Transport was founded by her father, Darrell, in 1970. Sorenson operates within the seven western states and employs 75 people locally. Cindy lives in Chehalis with her fiancé, Adam McKenzie and their daughter, Indiana.

Collins is the former executive director of the Visiting Nurses of Lewis County, a position she had held since 2010. She knows our community and we are sure that many of you know her. Jenny has been serving our community with compassion and essential human services for over 20 years. She’s served on several non-profit boards and led over 30 fundraising events and campaigns.

Jenny has expressed her excitement about her new role by sharing the following; “Chehalis Foundation’s volunteer board is a team of outstanding professionals who share core values and have a great depth of experience working within community. I am so excited to work with them and expand their good work and positive impact on the Chehalis community that they have been building over the past 17 years. The Chehalis Foundation is a thriving community foundation and I look to the future with joy.”

Samantha Johnson, a Chehalis native with over three years of professional experience in the non-profit sector and numerous years of volunteering, is joining The Chehalis Foundation. She brings her expertise in event planning and coordination to the heart of her community. A graduate of W.F. West High School, Samantha’s commitment to her hometown runs deep, embodying its values of hard work and community spirit. Alongside her husband, Jeremy Johnson, and their children, Tatum and Kannon, who attend Orin Smith and Lintott Elementary, Samantha exemplifies professional success and family devotion. Her proven track record in event planning, coupled with her unwavering dedication to service, positions her as a valuable addition to The Chehalis Foundation team. Samantha’s passion for uplifting her community, both in her career and personal life, promises to drive positive change and inspire those around her.