Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe welcomes new EDA director

Kyle E. Johnson, a former Marine Corps officer and manager with a leadership background in technology startups and healthcare administration, is taking over as the executive director for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s Economic Development Authority, based in the Carlsborg Business Park near Sequim.

Johnson has more than a decade of professional experience in project management, tech systems integration and organizational development, most recently serving as an administration manager for the tribe’s Social and Community Services Department.

At the Economic Development Authority, Johnson is responsible for the helping progress the tribe’s economic development strategy by creating and supporting business opportunities that benefit the Jamestown people as well as the Olympic Peninsula as a whole, tribe officials said last week.

Johnson will work closely with the authority board, comprised of tribal citizens Jack Grinnell (chair), Matthew C. Adams (secretary/treasurer), Celeste Dybeck, Louis Kardonsky and LaTrisha Ollum-Suggs.

“Kyle brings a passion and a young, entrepreneurial perspective to the EDA,” Grinnell said. “He’s a good fit. He’s energetic. He’s already met with his two predecessors, as well as many local and regional leaders and business owners. He’s got his eyes open and his feet on the ground. He’ll take a good look at where we are now and then begin vetting all of our opportunities for the future.”

Contact Johnson at kjohnson@jamestowntribe.org or 582-5791.