The Vancouver Public Schools Board of Directors will interview six candidates on Wednesday, Jan. 28, beginning at 3 p.m., for the position recently vacated by retiring Board member Mari Greves. Interviews will be held at the Jim Parsley Center, 2901 Falk Road, Vancouver.

Board members will interview all six applicants on Jan. 28 and select one candidate to serve the remainder of Greves’ term until the next general election in November 2015.

Candidates are Katy Belokonny, Peter John Harrison, Heather Lindberg, Jill Nelson, Heidi Rosenberg and Nada Wheelock. Each applicant submitted a letter of interest responding to two questions. A synopsis of their professional and volunteer experience is included with this release.

Candidate bios

Katy Belokonny
  • Member of CTRAN’s Development and Public affairs team
  • Serves on the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Committee, Camas/Washougal Chamber of Commerce, Vancouver’s Downtown Association, Regional Transportation Advisory Committee, American Public Transportation Association and Washington State Transit Association
  • Holds a degree in communication from Washington State University
 Peter John Harrison
  • Computer scientist, biologist, chemist and professional writer
  • Volunteer for congressional candidate Bob Dingethal’s 2014 campaign and for Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
  • Prior volunteer experience includes working as a CPR and first aid instructor and as a Red Cross disaster action team member
  • Holds degrees in biology from Washington State University and computer science from Coleman College
 Heather Lindberg
  • Current president of the Vancouver PTA Council
  • Region 3 legislative chair for the Washington state PTA
  • Active volunteer in schools and independently
  • Holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Pacific Lutheran University and a master’s degree in teaching from City University
Jill Nelson
  • Founder/CEO of INUS Group
  • Served on boards of nonprofits including the Broward County LGBT Youth Group, A. Austin Amerine Retreat Center, Salem Rainbow Youth and Portland Area Businesses Association
  • Chair of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Pacific region of the LGBT Chambers of Commerce and Business and Organizations
  • Holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from the University of South Dakota and Drake University and a master’s degree in divinity from the Saint Paul School of Theology
 Heidi Rosenberg
  • Clark County public sector career includes positions focused on capital facility planning, community development and capital project design and construction for the Port of Vancouver, C-TRAN, Vancouver Public Schools and Camas School District
  • Current capital program manager at Clark Regional Wastewater District.
  • Former volunteer board member for the city of Camas Sister Cities Organization, Affordable Community Environments and YWCA of Clark County
  • Volunteered for Vancouver Public Schools and the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools
Nada Wheelock
  • Works with the SPOON Foundation to provide board development and volunteer program strategy
  • Serves on the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools’ board of directors and marketing and development and mentoring committees
  • Volunteering includes participating in district PTA and Booster Clubs, serving as a Lunch Buddy, co-funding the Tuck Nonprofit Fund, serving on the CampFire board of directors, consulting for Mother Caroline Academy & Education Center and serving as an adult literacy tutor and Big Sister mentor