05 Jul THE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Columbia Basin Development League announced that Sara Higgins has been promoted to Executive Director. Vicky Scharlau, who served as Executive Director will continue in an advisory role. Higgins, who has served as Assistant Director since 2011 has 20 years of experience in nonprofit management and governance.
“Sara has been a steadfast leader of the League’s team. She is focused on breaking down complex issues and has expertly utilized limited resources to continually advance our work with federal, state, and local policymakers and stakeholders. As we look to meet the future needs of the Columbia Basin Project in a difficult political environment, Sara is the right person for the job.” said Matt Harris, League Board Chair and Washington State Potato Commission Director of Government Affairs and Assistant Executive Director.
Higgins is a Class 42 graduate of AgForestry. She has a BA in Liberal Studies from Seattle University and is a life-long resident of Eastern Washington.
Higgins added, “Opportunities have been presented to the League to strengthen stakeholder and partner relationships as well as secure funding both for the League and the Columbia Basin Project. I look forward to leveraging these opportunities to increase the capacity of the League and, ultimately, deliver greater impact in support of the Project.”
Completion of the Odessa Ground Water Replacement Program is a current focus for the League. Other issues include reinvestment in aging infrastructure, availability of adequately funded government programs used by the Project’s three irrigation districts, Project completion, and stakeholder awareness and engagement in challenges and solutions.