About 'Living in Southwest Washington' Site

Several years ago I served as Chairman of what was then the only hospital in Clark County.
It had been recognized as one of the top hospitals in the nation, yet had difficulty recruiting physicians and surgeons. Later, through association with Washington State University Vancouver, I became aware that it sometimes had problems recruiting good people.

After that, as Chairman of Identity Clark County, I not only found that some industries had a similar problem, but I came to appreciate that Clark County had more national and regional attractions and quality-of-life advantages than I had previously realized.

With that awakening, I found that various entities in our county had a website that extolled their particular strengths and the specific interests of its particular audiences (business; tourism, history, etc.). But there was little, if anything, in a single brochure or website addressing the overall style of life that we are privileged to enjoy here.

What was needed, I thought, was to supplement each entity's website with a factual, practical addition that provided the missing element about the quality of life in Clark County – something that would appeal to the spouses and families of prospective job recruits as well as to the would-be recruits themselves.

With the excellent assistance of Gregg Herrington, the Washington State University-Vancouver Department of Digital Technology and Culture headed by Professor Dene Grigar and her students led by Taylor Black, and the talents of Vancouver photographer Ed Vidinghoff and also the participation by the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, this website is made available to any entity that desires to use it.

Ed Lynch
May, 2009