PORT ANGELES — FaLeana Wech, executive officer of the North Peninsula Building Association, is leaving her post to become the public relations and communications director for the Building Industry Association of Washington.
Wech, 41, has led the Sequim-based North Peninsula Building Association since February 2009.
“I am very excited to continue my work on behalf of the building industry and its members in Olympia,” Wech said in a bulletin to association members.
“I thank each and every one of you for the opportunity you have given me to lead this amazing organization and I look forward to continued service to each of you at the state level.”
Wech said Friday the directorship of the state association’s communications office “seemed to be the perfect fit.”
Wech, who studied politics at Whitman College and worked for her family’s construction company in Sequim, said she has always been interested in government affairs.
“It’s been an honor to serve the association during my tenure, and I look forward to the future,” she added.
North Peninsula Building Association board members have formed a committee to select a new executive officer.
Wech plans to remaining living in Sequim — commuting to Olympia — and will help train the new executive officer once one is hired.
Board President Garret DelaBarre said Wech will be difficult to replace.
“She’s been a real dynamic executive officer for us and helped us a lot with our marketing,” DelaBarre said.
“She’s going to be sadly missed.”
The North Peninsula Building Association has posted the opening on its website, www.npba.info. Interviews will be conducted this month.
“We’re going to be doing a pretty aggressive hunt here right out of the gate and see if we can fill those shoes as soon as possible so we can get some time for FaLeana to train them,” DelaBarre said.
“It’s a different animal, this association. As dynamic as it is, it’s definitely got its own quirks.”
The executive officer of the North Peninsula Building Association leads about 175 members and oversees a $200,000 operating budget.
He or she is “tasked with assuring compliance with governance procedures, developing, recommending and monitoring budgets and implementing the strategic vision of the board,” according to the job posting.
The next executive officer will earn between $35,000 to $45,000 per year.
DelaBarre said the board is looking for an executive with business savvy and good organizational and public outreach skills.
When asked to assess her time with the local building association, Wech said: “It’s been a very, very challenging few years for the building industry.”
Wech predicted a recovery on the horizon, citing improvements in the Seattle market and the typical one-year-plus lag for outlying areas.
“The general consensus from builders is more positive going into the summer than it has been in the past,” Wech said.
“People seem to be optimistic about the future.”
Wech will spend her work week in Olympia and come home on the weekends.
“I’m going to be around,” she said.
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
