James Fitzgerald joined the FISH of Vancouver team as its first paid Executive Director in March 2018. He has spent the last 25 years in the food banking industry. He was a part of the tremendous growth of Clark County Food Bank helping them move from a small, leased facility to their new building distributing millions of pounds of food a year to other nonprofits. James graduated with his Masters of Nonprofit Management program at Multnomah University in 2024 and is a Leadership Clark County Alumni, class of 2013. James and his wife Christy have been married for 30 years and they have 2 daughters who are married and live in the area. James loves music and plays bass and acoustic guitar on different teams at his church. He loves the outdoors, hiking, and kayaking. James has a passion for helping those in need and loves using his talents to further FISH’s mission.

Becky, a native Portlander, experienced food insecurity firsthand while being raised in a single-parent household. This personal history influenced a career shift from a successful role in software engineering to a focus on food insecurity. Living in Portland, Becky initially volunteered with organizations such as the Oregon Food Bank and Feed the Mass. Upon relocating to Vancouver, she became the Carter Park neighborhood coordinator for Green Bag and volunteered at both the Clark County Food Bank and FISH. At FISH, Becky found that the organization's mission to compassionately provide the community with nourishing food closely aligned with her values. In March, Becky joined FISH full-time as the Volunteer Coordinator to make a meaningful impact on the community.

Diane joined FISH in April of 2024. Diane made a career in all facets of the hospitality industry. She is honored to join the team at FISH where dignity and respect are part of the culture. She recently moved to Clark County and is excited to be working at FISH to fight hunger in her community. In her spare time, she loves being with her two grown daughters, watching sports and live music and doing anything outdoors.

Sam became part of the FISH team as our warehouse coordinator in August, 2024. Before joining us, he spent 18 years working on the docks at the Port of Vancouver. Sam enjoys being at FISH because it gives him the chance to give back to the community and make a positive impact. When he is not at work, you can find him with his kids at the skatepark.

Jake joined the FISH team in fall 2023, grew up in the Vancouver area, and has previously volunteered for small nonprofits so coming to FISH felt like a good fit. He joins the rest of his family on the FISH team, volunteers Keith and Barbara Bray, making this local family a unit of community compassion. Jake has a background in de-escalation and mechanics and you’ll find him helping in the pantry and warehouse. When he’s not at FISH he can be found playing guitar, hiking and camping, cooking, planning his next adventure, reading, and learning new things.

Lauren was born and raised in Vancouver. For 7 years, she lived oversees in Haiti doing humanitarian work and teaching English, and has a diverse background in hospitality and food service. Joining the FISH team aligns with her heart to connect with the community in ways that acknowledge people right where they are. Lauren enjoys time spent with her husband and two kids, attending concerts, and trying new recipes - especially ones that include cilantro!

Arthur joined the FISH team as Operations Assistant in August, 2024. He was drawn to our powerful mission of ensuring that no one goes hungry. Passionate about his community and making a difference, Arthur sees food security as one of the most meaningful causes to support. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with friends, whether cooking together or playing sports. At home, he cares for his three rabbits – though cleaning their cages isn’t his favorite part. Arthur graduated from homeschool in 2021 and worked in maintenance at various places before coming to FISH. He is also a Christian nerd rapper, combining his love for faith and music in a unique and creative way.

Beth Lee was voted to President of the board in 2024. Beth Lee is a Family Medicine physician who has worked in Clark County for more than 25 years. Now retired from local practice, she and her husband Art are active in humanitarian medical relief, and have worked in Puerto Rico, South America, and following domestic hurricanes, among other places. She’s a field journalist for a local radio station, (KXRW) covering local political and environmental issues, and is a member of “Physicians For Social Responsibility”, a group that advocates on environmental issues from a public health perspective. She and Art volunteer weekly at FISH, (recently fork-lift certified!) and both are impressed by the dedication and skill of their fellow volunteers. Beth believes that no matter our political inclination, we can all agree that no one should go hungry – and that we all have the potential to change the world

Terry was voted as Vice-President to the board in 2024. A native of Wyoming, Terry Murphy has lived in Clark County for more than 35 years and has been a business owner for most of that time. She has served on boards of non-profits as well as capital campaigns for many other non-profits including membership on the boards of Swift, the Y Housing Board, and the YMCA plus active an active member of multiple capital campaigns. She reports that her greatest achievement is being a grandmother to her five grandchildren!

Tom Lingo has served on the FISH Board of Directors for three years, currently serving on the Budget and Finance Committee. A lifelong resident of Vancouver, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gonzaga University. His professional career includes various sales positions for Freightliner Corp, TRW Automotive and Arconic (formerly Alcoa) all focused on supporting supply to the trucking industry. Thomas is a past member of the ACT1 Committee to the Truck Industry whose primary function was to identify specific industry needs and organize solutions to those problems. He and his wife Gayla have been married for 42 years and have three married children who have blessed them with seven grandchildren who all live in the Vancouver area. He is passionate about anything family and his interests include DIY home improvements and Gonzaga Basketball.

Alice Davies retired from Consolidated Freightways Inc after 36 years working in payroll accounting. She has volunteered for many years at FISH and is the current Treasurer. She also volunteers at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center and is a lifetime member of Girl Scouts. She also works with the infants and toddlers at her church. She has two married daughters, five grandchildren and four great-grandsons. Her family is her most treasured blessing.

Bennett Brandenburg grew up in Ridgefield, WA and graduated from George Fox University with a degree in psychology and a minor in Spanish. After law school, he joined his father’s law practice to emphasize criminal defense and personal injury. Bennett also serves as the criminal defense attorney for participants in Clark County Superior Court’s Residential DOSA program, which offers treatment to criminal drug offenders over traditional incarceration. Additionally, Bennett serves on the Board for Clark County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section. Bennett married his high school sweetheart, Crystal, and they live downtown Vancouver. Bennett and Crystal belong to Van City Church where they pursue missional outreach and community service opportunities.

Debra became a member of the FISH of Vancouver Board of Directors in spring of 2023. Originally from the east coast, she’s lived on the west coast for close to 40 years, running a chiropractic practice with her husband in Vancouver. She has held a variety of careers over the years, from selling real estate to professional dancing, and a love for art has followed her through each one. These days she is focused on the business she and her husband own, their investments, and raising their children. Debra connected with FISH of Vancouver through current board member Terry Murphy when they were on the Parks Foundation Board and found the nonprofit was a good vehicle for her passion for social justice and equity. “Food shouldn’t be a hardship for anyone,” she said. “I strongly believe that everyone deserves to feed themselves and their families."

Syble Crow became a member of the FISH Board in December 2022. Syble has been a community advocate for many years, currently serving on the Parks Foundation of Clark County Board and the Vancouver Parks and Recreation Commission, where she held leadership roles. She also served on the Clark County Drug and Alcohol Board, Share, YWCA, Friends of Doernbecher, Furry Friends - as well as numerous non-profit boards, local charities, and community activities. Syble received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and Social Sciences from Marylhurst University, is Certified in Conflict Resolution and Mediation, and in Trauma Intervention. She received the President’s Citation for the Rotarian of the Year from the Rotary Club of Vancouver Metro Sunset. Syble moved to Vancouver from Portland, OR in 1970, worked for the Boettcher Law Firm, then 8 years at Educational Service District 112 and 189, and retired from her 34-year career in management at Vancouver Housing Authority. Her interests include community volunteering, her passion for challenged children, elderly and animals, nature, outdoor activities, gardening, and being with friends, family, and her animals.

Attending both high school and college in the Vancouver area, Justin knew he wanted to start his career in Vancouver and be involved with local businesses. He graduated from WSU Vancouver magna cum laude in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and major in accounting. Before beginning his career, Justin spent a month backpacking around Western Europe with a friend living in France. Along the way he befriended some rather famous musicians from London. That experience changed his view of the world and solidified his resolve to come home and prepare for his future. Justin earned his CPA certificate in 2018. In his free time Justin is an avid disc golfer, and in the wee hours of the morning you can find him at the gym getting the physical exercise he needs before a full days work.

Bob Durgan is a lifelong resident and 5th generation Durgan/Nye pioneer family in Clark County. He is the retired Vice President, Development Services, for Andersen Construction. Bob is Past President and Board member St. Vincent DePaul Society (St James/St Joseph/Our Lady of Lourdes). He participated in setting the SVDP first food and clothing bank at the St. James Parish Hall. Bob and his wife, Debbie, are active donors to FISH and other local charities, focusing on food, clothing and shelter for people in need and were recognized by the Council for the Homeless in 2005 and received Oregon Associated General Contractor’s Bill Mc Nutt Award for volunteer advocacy roles.

Dr. Greves has been a member of the FISH Board since 2014. He has practiced cardiology at The Vancouver Clinic for over 35 years and continues there part time. John helped in the development of the Heart and Vascular Unit at Peace Health Hospital and currently serves on the Peace Health Foundation Board. He is a past President of the state affiliate of the American Heart Association and has also served on the NW Board. For many years John has volunteered at the Free Clinic of SW Washington. John and his wife Mari attend First Presbyterian Church where they focus on mission and outreach needs in the community. They have six thriving granddaughters with lots of family activities.

George Laing became a FISH Board member in 2017. He is a graduate of Clark College and Oregon State University. At OSU he received a BS degree in Social Studies Education and later received an MBA from the University of Portland. George taught four years for the Portland Public School District at Marshall High School then joined Clark Public Utilities where he retired as the Human Resources Manager after 25 years of service. George has served on the Clark County boards for the Salvation Army and American Cancer Society. He is a graduate of Leadership Clark County and has been involved in youth baseball for many years serving as manager, coach and umpire. George and his wife Kay attend New Heights Church, have two grandchildren and love to spend time with family.

A 44-year resident of Clark County, Betty Sue Morris is best known for her 20 years in elected office: eight years as a Washington State Representative and 12 as a Clark County Commissioner. A graduate of the University of Missouri with an advanced degree from the University of Portland, Morris has also taught high school, been a news reporter for The Oregonian, a hospital community affairs director and served on U.S. Congressional staff. A wife and mother of two grown children, she has served on multiple non-profit boards in Clark County and joined the FISH Board in early 2015. She also serves on the boards of the Salmon Creek Hospital Foundation of Legacy Medical Center, Community Home Health and Hospice Advisory Board, H-Roc women’s Political Action Committee and is a member of Rotary Club of Vancouver. In 2016 she was named one of Clark County’s “Founding Mothers” by the YWCA. “We’re blessed to live in a thriving and vibrant community. It breaks my heart to know there are still people who go hungry right in the middle of such prosperity,” she says.

Eddie Odoms is a relationship builder, community philanthropist, Desert Storm Veteran and mentor to children in the communities of Vancouver & Portland. He is President of Odoms Home Mold Remediation. Eddie also serves on the Board of Directors of Friends of the Children an organization that mentors underserved children starting in kindergarten until and beyond high school graduation. Born in NE Portland to a single mother who did the best she could raising two children in the underserved neighborhood near Dawson Park. Eddie credits the communities of Portland and Vancouver for helping his mom raise him and his sister. FISH played a huge role starting in 1970 helping to feed his family. His company quickly has became the go-to mold solution for hundreds of Realtors in the Vancouver & Portland area. He credits the success of his small business once again the community that has always taken care of him.

Born and raised in Seattle, Bruce Paris is a graduate of Western Washington University and the University of Washington Pacific Coast Banking School. He has lived in southwest Washington since 1980, has been married for more than 50 years, and has two sons and 9 grandchildren. Bruce was a commercial and private banker for 43 years before retiring. He has served on many boards including March of Dimes, Free Clinic of SW Washington, YMCA, Swift, Vancouver Rotary Club, and Vancouver Rotary Foundation, Clark College Foundation, and Clark County Historical Museum.

Born and raised in Napa, California, Sandford Plant went to college at Lewis and Clark in Portland. She graduated from medical school at OHSU in 1985. She practiced internal medicine at the Vancouver Clinic for 28 years, and during that time, served as the Medical Director of the Hospice program at PeaceHealth for 20 years. She has traveled all over the world throughout her working years and retired in June of 2020. She now is busy with travel, bike riding, other outdoor activities, and giving back to the community.

Katlin Smith was president of the board for 8 years. She is the retired Principal of UrbanWords Group, a Vancouver public relations firm that specialized in communications for nonprofit organizations. She has provided communications services for nonprofit groups for more than 30 years. She has a Master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon and is past President of the Vancouver Rotary Foundation. Along with volunteering for FISH, she is currently Leader of the Vancouver Chapter of Dining for Women and is actively involved with the Rotary Club of Vancouver.

A 30 year resident of Vancouver, Larry Smith is a retired career Army officer having served in the infantry for over 26 years. He has had deployments in Vietnam, Korea and Germany as well as several stateside assignments. Upon retiring from the Army, he began working for the City of Vancouver. He was the Assistant to the City Manager for 5 years, then the Parks and Recreational Director for another 7 years. In 2003, he was elected as a city council member, 6 years as the Mayor Pro Tem, and served until 2015 upon retirement. Larry is a graduate of the Army War College. He has a BA from Clemson University. He also has Masters Degrees from the University of Missouri (Kansas City) and Pepperdine University. Larry is active is several non-profits which include Partners In Careers, Parks Foundation, The Historic Trust, Clark County Commission on Aging, Meals on Wheels, Clark County Historic Society, Military Community Appreciation Committee, and Rotary. He is married to Patti. They have one daughter and two grandkids that live in Vancouver.

George Kaufer was the volunteer Manager of FISH since 2003 until his retirement in 2015 after the acquisition and move to our new building. He has been a member of our current Board of Directors since 2014. His career included 37 years as a CPA with the IRS, including two years of military service. The last seven years he was the Chief, Appeals Office in Portland, Oregon. George’s family includes three living children, six grandchildren and three step grandchildren. He has been married to Joe Ann, another long-time FISH volunteer, for 27 years.