PORT ANGELES — Washington State University has hired a director for the Clallam County Extension Office.
Clea Rome’s first day on the job will be Feb. 1.
She is now the resource conservation and development coordinator for the Natural Resources Conservation Service serving Clallam and Jefferson counties out of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center in Port Angeles.
“I’m really excited and happy to be able to continue working with a lot of the great people I’ve been working with in the county,” said Rome, 37.
‘Lot of work to be done’
“There’s a lot of work to be done.”
Clallam County Extension has been without a director since former agent Curtis Beus took a lateral transfer to Okanogan County in April.
Gena Royal, 4-H program coordinator, has served as the interim director during the transition.
Rome’s selection follows a national search that involved WSU Extension faculty, staff and stakeholders.
“Clea brings an excellent skill set and a fresh perspective to this important Extension position in Clallam County, and we are delighted to have her join the faculty of WSU Extension,” said Randy Baldree, interim associate director of WSU Extension.
Rome moved to the Port Angeles area with her husband, Chad Theismann, nearly eight years ago.
Before joining the Natural Resources Conservation Service, she was a conservation planner for the Clallam County Conservation District.
“In addition to being the director of the office, one of my duties will be helping communities to develop small-farms programs in Clallam County,” Rome said.
“I’ll be working with farmers in Clallam County to help them be successful.”
WSU Extension offices in rural counties around the state work to foster economic development and help small farmers get their products to the market.
More than 300
The Clallam County Extension office has more than 300 active volunteers, including robust Master Gardener and 4-H programs.
Once of Rome’s first tasks will be meeting with administrators at Washington State University’s main campus in Pullman.
She will then meet with stakeholders in Clallam County to learn more about their expectations for the Clallam County Extension Office.
Muriel Nesbitt, Clallam County Master Gardeners program coordinator, said Rome has the advantage of being rooted in the community.
“We had the chance to see the three finalists, and Clea Rome was definitely our favorite,” Nesbitt said.
“We’re looking forward to having a director and particularly to having that director.
“She has skills that we need.”
Not only has Rome worked for the Conservation District — and so knows about native plants — she also seems to “have a great deal of information about small farms,” Nesbitt said.
“That’s really a piece that we were missing without her.”
Rome holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture with a focus on conservation biology and ecosystem management from the University of Michigan.
Recently, her key projects were a feasibility study for a North Olympic Grain Mill, improving access for underserved communities and co-organizing the Clallam and Jefferson Farm-to-Cafeteria Conference, she said.
Clallam County pays a portion of the extension agent’s salary and provides office space in the Clallam County Courthouse.
A full-time staff assistant position was eliminated last year in the wake of budget cuts.
Master Gardener
The county road department has since entered into an agreement with WSU Extension to fund the Master Gardener coordinator position at a little bit of a reduced level of about $11,000.
The road department has an interest in eradicating noxious weeds along county roads.
Rome said the Extension Office is faced with the challenge of “doing more with less” as state and local funding diminishes.
Clallam County Commissioner Mike Chapman said he supported Rome’s candidacy.
“Clea is a member of our community,” Chapman said.
“She is enthusiastic and dedicated to her job.
“I believe the citizens of Clallam County will be well-served.”
Tom Schultz, San Juan County’s WSU Extension director and the head of the selection committee, said Rome “is a real ‘get it done’ kind of person and was the best choice of the three candidates that we brought in to interview.”
21 applications
“We had 21 applications from around the U.S. and one from Asia,” Schultz said in an email to the Peninsula Daily News.
“She has a lot of challenges ahead of her with getting the funding issues resolved and moving the Extension program in new directions.
“I’ve offered to mentor her as I can relate very well to being isolated from the rest of the organization.”
In Jefferson County, Laura Lewis was named WSU Extension director last summer.
She replaced longtime agent Katherine Baril, who retired in January 2011.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
Reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz contributed to this report.
