Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
Master of Arts, Communication & Leadership — December 2016 | Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA | GPA 4.0
Bachelor of Arts, Journalism — March 2003 | Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA | GPA 3.97
EMPLOYMENT
Chief Executive Officer — August 2023 to Present | Blue Mountain Humane Society, Walla Walla, WA
Provide leadership, vision, and strategic direction while serving as the public face of BMHS. Oversee operations, financial management, and fundraising, ensuring alignment with the strategic plan and organizational goals. Cultivate relationships with community leaders, donors, and stakeholders to advance the shelter’s mission.
Business Operations Director — September 2022 to August 2023 | Blue Mountain Humane Society, Walla Walla, WA
Oversaw all operations. Worked with other directors and managers to develop and follow budgets. Managed finances and reported to the CEO and Board. Developed and maintained internal financial controls. Responsible for all human resources tasks.
Newspaper Senior Editor — February 2020 to September 2022 | Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Walla Walla, WA
Led the executive board of managers after publisher resigned. Responsible for all digital and print content, newsroom staff, budget, and strategy. Led paper’s shift from printing daily to publishing three days per week. Steered paper through the COVID-19 pandemic.
News Section Editor — February 2018 to February 2020 | Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Walla Walla, WA
Responsible for the news section of the paper (digital and print) as well as other publications, including monthly lifestyles magazine. Supervised reporters and photographers, edited content, and managed the daily news budget.
Regional Reporter — December 2015 to February 2018 | Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Walla Walla, WA
Provided daily news and photo coverage of rural communities in the Walla Walla Valley. Planned, executed, and managed short-term and long-term reporting projects including investigative work.
Operations Manager/911 Dispatcher — May 2011 to December 2014 | Columbia County Emergency Management, Dayton, WA
Began as 911 dispatcher handling calls and radio traffic for multiple law enforcement and fire/EMS agencies. Promoted to manager and supervised the 911 center, served as training officer, deputy emergency manager, and public information officer for Columbia County. Responsible for department finances, schedules, grants, and emergency plans.
Managing Editor — May 2010 to May 2011 | The Waitsburg Times, Waitsburg, WA
Responsible for the news section of this weekly, rural newspaper (digital and print) as well as other affiliated publications, including seasonal tourism guide. Wrote articles and took photos, designed pages, supervised staff, edited content, and managed the news budget.
Partner/Co-Owner — January 2007 to December 2009 | Bear Canyon Tree Farm LLC, Mossyrock, WA
Partnered with my brother and mom in owning/operating our third-generation family Christmas tree farm. Responsible for the business financials including sales, payroll, banking, accounting, taxes, negotiating our annual line of credit, and strategic planning.
City Reporter — April 2003 to September 2005 | The (Centralia) Chronicle, Centralia, WA
Covered city government, health, and other issues for this daily newspaper. As rookie reporter, covered breaking news, took photos, wrote features, and more as assigned.
GRANTS & FUNDING
Sunny Day Foundation Grant, October 2024 — $15,000
Supported BMHS vet clinic and funded free vet care to Walla Walla Alliance for the Homeless.
Petco Love Animal Welfare Organization Grant, March 2024 — $10,000
Supplemented general, lifesaving operations at Blue Mountain Humane Society.
Humane America Animal Foundation Grant, February 2024 — $1,000
Used to underwrite adoption discounts for senior dogs at Blue Mountain Humane Society.
Blue Mountain Community Foundation Discretionary Grant, December 2023 — $10,000
Supported BMHS general operations, sheltering over 1,300 animals per year in the community.
Sunny Day Charitable Foundation Grant, October 2023 — $15,000
Funded new equipment and increased capacity of the Blue Mountain Humane Society vet clinic.
Petfinder Play Yard Renovation Grant, October 2023 — $2,400
Installed fence extenders on two BMHS dog play yards, enhancing our enrichment program.
Fundraising Campaigns:
- Dog Jog, Spring 2025 — $34,000
- Dog Jog, Spring 2024 — $40,000
- Dog Jog, Spring 2023 — $9,000
Family fun 5K walk/run to raise money for Blue Mountain Humane Society.
- Fall Furr Ball, Fall 2024 — $250,000
- Fall Furr Ball, Fall 2023 — $200,000
Elegant gala with plated dinner, silent & live auctions to support BMHS.
- Valley Giving Guide, Winter 2024 — $100,000
- Valley Giving Guide, Winter 2023 — $90,000
Month-long online giving campaign hosted by local philanthropic foundation.
OTHER COURSEWORK & TRAINING
Memoria College (2023 to Present)
Graduate-level coursework in philosophy and classical literature for personal enrichment through the Master of Arts in Great Books program online (degree not currently conferred; program seeking accreditation).
- Seminar on T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land (1 credit | GPA 4.0 | Spring 2023)
- Seminar on select modern philosophers (1 credit | GPA 4.0 | Spring 2023)
- Core class on ancient epics: Iliad, Odyssey, and Aeneid (3 credits | GPA 4.0 | Spring 2024)
- Seminar on Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov (1 credit | GPA 4.0 | Summer 2024)
- Core class surveying great books of western philosophy (3 credits | GPA 4.0 | Fall 2024)
- Core class surveying history of western art and music (3 credits | GPA 4.0 | Fall 2024)
- Core class on ancient Greek drama ( 3 credits | GPA 4.0 | Spring 2025)
Poynter Institute (2019 to 2022)
Poynter Institute is a nonprofit journalism school and media think tank focused on elevating journalism standards through education, training, and research.
- “Follow the Money,” July 2022
- “Writing for SEO, Social, Newsletters and More,” June 2022
- Executive Leadership Summit, October 2021
- “Getting Practical About Conflict,” August 2021
- “Practical Tools for Sound Election Coverage,” October 2020
- “The Lead Lab,” April 2020
- “Five Small Things That Have Made a Big Difference in Local Newsrooms,” July 2019
- “The Art and Science of Editing,” July 2019
- “Taking the Reins: Growing into Your Role as an Editor,” July 2019
Leadership Walla Walla (2018-2019)
A nine-month leadership program by the Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce and Walla Walla Community College introducing new community leaders to the region’s key sectors (education, health care, government, economic development), fostering engagement and networking.
Emergency Management & Communication Trainings & Certifications
- Fire Service Communications Certification, APCO Institute – August 2017
- Emergency Medical Dispatch Certification – June 2017
- FEMA Advanced Public information Officer Course, National Emergency Training Center, Emmitsburg, Maryland — June 2012
- Washington State Patrol Basic Public Information Officer Course, Washington State Patrol Academy, Shelton, Washington — November 2011
HONORS & AWARDS
- Lambda Pi Eta National Communication Honor Society, Gonzaga University, 2016
- Outstanding Journalism Graduate, Western Washington University, 2003
- Presidential Scholar, Western Washington University, 2003
- Golden Key International Honor Society, Western Washington University, 2003
- Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Western Washington University, 2003
MEMBERSHIPS
- Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (2023-Present)
- Nonprofit Association of Washington (2023-Present)
- Washington Federation of Animal Care & Control Agencies (2023-Present)
- Rotary Club of Walla Walla (2020-Present)
Dian Ver Valen 
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