BATTLE GROUND – It’s often said that free clinics are the best kept secret but community and faith-based Battle Ground Health Care (BGHC), located in the Meadow Glade neighborhood, hopes to change all that.
With the addition of four new board members, BGHC has set their sights high for 2016. Here’s a look at the new board members:
Carolyn Noack
Carolyn Noach is dental program manager for the Free Clinic of SW Washington (FCSWW), is also a dental hygienist with over 35 years in the industry. What led her to join with BGHC was anything but fortuitous. Dr. Gary Waldron, DDS gave Noack her start fresh out of dental school and they retained a strong professional relationship throughout the years. After his retirement, Dr. Waldron was involved in creating the dental portion of BGHC and reached out to Noack to come on board.
Noack brings her community partnership and program development skills to BGHC along with experience securing dental care for low income and/or uninsured patients. Noack is particularly excited to connect the strengths of both free clinics to create seamless dental care for the most vulnerable area residents.
“I’m not able to provide hygiene for patients (at the FCSWW) but BGHC has that. Critical to controlling diabetes is regular vision and oral health screenings,” Noack said.
As a lifelong Vancouver resident, Noack feels that north Clark County, specifically, is underserved so one of her personal goals is to educate other businesses and individuals of the presence of BGHC. In her free time, Carolyn enjoys running, reading, hiking and watching sports.
John Cozzi Jr.
John Cozzi Jr. is president and CEO of Tailored Logistics Inc. – a world-wide freight company. He holds a dual BS in Business Management and Marketing and is a mentor to and member of several organizations including the Washington State University Business Growth Mentor & Analysis Program, ITT Technical Institute Advisory Committee, Butte Creek Horse Ranch and Boy Scout Troop 71.
Cozzi was recently appointed Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce (GVCC) 2015 Ambassador of the Year.
“I was really surprised by it because I try to do as many of the ribbon cuttings and mentoring new businesses as I can,” Cozzi said. “When awarded I was really shocked because it shows that my peers really understand and value what I’m doing for the Chamber out in the community.”
Cozzi’s vision for BGHC is to utilize the strong leadership, collaborative and negotiating skills he’s developed from 42 years of business management to expand the awareness of its presence throughout Clark County and up into the Longview area.
April Salsbury
April Salsbury is CEO of Salsbury & Co., LLC, a business and healthcare consultancy firm, has dedicated her career to the healthcare field from humble beginnings as a medical assistant to becoming CEO of the surgical training and non-transplant anatomical tissue bank MedCure, Inc.
She has experience in legislative advocacy prompted by a desire to set standards, raise the bar and be innovative. From the structural components of running a business to implementing streamlined and cost-effective measures, Salsbury brings a strong financial background to BGHC but it’s the faith component that she feels helps BGHC have lasting effects on patients as well as volunteers.
“We have people all the time that received the services at some point in their life when they were struggling and things weren’t meeting (in their finances) and later on are able to donate funds or their time to give back,’’ Salsbury said. “The church (Seventh-Day Adventist) backing up what we’re doing and keeping a spiritual element to it makes everybody feel very loved and that we’re all working together for this higher mission.”.
On her off time, this lifelong Northwest native can be found soaking up the great outdoors with her husband and three daughters.
Rose Chavez
Rose Chavez is owner of Booking by Chavez & Associates, has made a career out of bookkeeping for nonprofit organizations with approximately 75 percent of her current clientele in this sector. Hers is the voice of personal experience on the Board.
For two years beginning in 2011 Chavez sought treatment through BGHC for an ongoing medical issue that she wasn’t in a position to afford to have covered elsewhere.
“I’m a previous patient and I’m at a position in life where I can give back and I think this (being a board member) is a great way to do that,” Chavez said.
But sitting on the board is not the only way Chavez has found to give back over the years. This Battle Ground resident has participated in numerous mission trips, volunteered with Crisis Pregnancy Centers, provided street counseling and assisted women and children with Open House Ministries and with Truth in Love's Safe Haven. It is this intimate insight that she brings to BGHC; compassion from serving and being humble enough to allow others to serve her.
Chavez has a great appreciation for BGHC’s role in the community.
“They provide hope for people that are typically in a vulnerable place in their life because when you’re dealing with chronic health issues life can seem bleak and hopeless and that you’re a burden to your family and friends. The staff is just so genuinely caring about their patients,” Chavez said.
