Claxton joins Recreation Northwest staff as program director

April Claxton joined the staff of Recreation Northwest as program director. Claxton is a co-founder of the outdoor recreation promotion organization and has volunteered with Recreation Northwest for the past two and a half years, according to a press release.

Claxton will continue her work building and implementing programs, writing grants and performing general organizational management for the organization, according to the press release. She is also organizing people to support a new program aimed at getting people outside and active in local parks.

Her past work with the organization includes championing the creation and delivery of the Whatcom County Recreation Economy Study, about the economic impacts of recreation spending and tourism in the county.

Claxton has 18 years of nonprofit management experience. She previously worked with local nonprofit Sustainable Connections.

“We’re finally at a point financially where she can comfortably leave Sustainable Connections and come here,” said Todd Elsworth, executive director of Recreation Northwest. “I’m really excited to have her on board working with me full-time.”

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Sallee named spa director at The Chryslis

The Chrysalis Inn and Spa hired Sandy Sallee as new spa director. Sallee will manage the spa team, guest relations, service menu development and promotional events for the upscale Bellingham hotel.

Sallee’s professional experience includes operating a health club in Lake Chelan, attending massage school, operating a wellness center in Edmonds, and most recently, she was spa manager for Campbell’s Resort in Lake Chelan. She was instrumental in opening and managing the spa at the Chrysalis’ then-sister property, the Majestic Inn & Spa in Anacortes, in 2003 according to a press release.

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RE/MAX adds four agents

RE/MAX Whatcom County added four agents to its Bellingham and Sudden Valley offices: Andrew Fouse, Mark Frye, JoAnn Pepperell and Chris Smithson.

Fouse joined the Lakeway office. He earned his real estate license earlier this year and is focused on the residential arena.

Frye, a Whatcom County resident, earned his real estate license earlier this year and has a sales background—he managed two office locations for a major Pacific Northwest insurance company, according to the press release.

Pepperell recently returned to Washington after living in Colorado for the past 28 years. After earning her first real estate license in 2013, Pepperell was an Associate of RE/MAX Alliance Central out of Denver, Colorado. She will focus on residential properties for first time home buyers and clients relocating to the area.

Smithson has resided in Whatcom County for 21 years and just recently earned his real estate license. Chris has been a sales professional for over 25 years in the industrial and print media arena, according to the news release.

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