Gov. Chris Gregoire recently appointed Debbie Ahl to serve on the Bellingham Technical College (BTC) board of trustees. Her term runs March 2011 through Sept. 2013.

Ahl, who earned her bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University in communications, is an experienced CEO with a career spanning 30 years at nationally recognized companies primarily focused in the health insurance industry.

She has navigated four corporate acquisitions and integrations and has experience in strategy development, business growth and corporate leadership.

“We are delighted to have Debbie as our new trustee,” BTC president Patricia McKeown said in a press release. “Her extensive experience with government regulatory issues coupled with her business acumen, her forward perspective and her support of Bellingham Technical College will be a fantastic resource.”

Before retiring in 2009, Ahl served as president and CEO of Sterling Life Insurance Company and Olympic Health Management Systems Inc., which specialize in Medicare and senior-related products.  Prior to joining Olympic in 1989, she held key management positions with UniHealth America, a multi-hospital system based in Los Angeles, and ElderMed of Washington, a health care service contractor. Ahl currently spends her time working with small businesses and entrepreneurial start ups.

“The trustees are so pleased to have Debbie joining our ranks. Her considerable expertise and her enthusiasm about the position will be a significantly positive addition to our board,” trustee chair Yvonne Cartwright said in a press release.

Ahl joins board members Cartwright, Jim Cunningham, Mark Asmundson and Jim Groves.