Members of the Battle Ground Road Map Navigators committee gathered for the first time June 27 at City Hall. Left to right: Tim Gaughan, Denise Hayes, Ryan Moor (in back), Josie Calderon, Mike Brown (in back), Rick Sawczuk, Clark Worth (consultant team), Erik Hovee (consultant team – in back), Max Ault, Tim Schauer (in back), Ryan Kurtz, Stacy Kysar, Lisa Bechtold, Dave Kurtz. (Betchtold and Kurtz are not Navigators. They were filling in for Elizabeth Cerveny).
Excitement was in the air June 27, as the 12 Battle Ground Roadmap Navigators greeted each other for the first time at City Hall and started pinpointing a new vision for the community.
Battle Ground has grown rapidly from 9,605 residents in 2000 to 17,571 in 2010 and 20,370 in 2017. According to Community Development Director Erin Erdman, the last city vision plan was conducted in 2001. Battle Ground is long overdue for a new one.
• Max Ault serves as Interim President for the Columbia River Economic Development Council. He grew up between Battle Ground and Yacolt.
“As a lifelong member of this community, I am immensely excited that the CREDC is in the position to proactively contribute to building a shared vision for Battle Ground’s future,” Ault said. “Our cities are the true fabric of our community, not only supporting our compelling regional identity, but also providing unique and diverse experiences and opportunities for residents, visitors and businesses alike.”
• Mike Brown brings 40 years of experience in facilities, construction management and property asset management to the Navigators team. He has been a part of the Battle Ground community for about 18 years.
“I volunteered (for this) project to have an opportunity to be part of the direction of the city as it continues to grow. And to hopefully play a part in the quality of life for all the people that have spent their lives here as well as the ones that make the decision to move their families here,” Brown said.
• Josie Calderon is new to Battle Ground. She just moved here from Southern California eight months ago. She works at Daybreak Middle and Primary schools and serves on the Battle Ground Parks Advisory Board.
“Once you are here and you are part of the community, everyone knows you. And that’s a great thing to have because that way you can see what the community’s needs are and put it all into plan with this new committee that we have,” Calderon said.
• Elizabeth Cerveny has been the Executive Director for the North County Food Bank since 2012. She is a La Center City Council Member, served as the mayor and was a member of the city’s planning commission.
• Tim Gaughan moved to Battle Ground in 2012 after living in Wyoming for 37 years. He and his wife found the Pacific Northwest to be the perfect place to live their retirement years.
“Moving to Battle Ground has turned out to be a very good fit for us and our lifestyle. Close to the coast and the mountains with a familiar small city feel that we enjoy,” Gaughan said. “Government and the politics surrounding government have always interested me, wherever I have lived. So when I was approached about this advisory group, it appealed to me because I see it is an opportunity for citizens to participate in their community in a proactive way, instead of a reactive way.”
• Denise Hays is the Health and Wellness Program Manager at SNAP Fitness in Battle Ground. As a revitalization enthusiast for Old Town Battle Ground, Hays is thrilled for the opportunity to “help shape a collaborative integrative approach for a shared vision for our community.”
• Ryan Kurtz graduated from Battle Ground in 2005 and earned a law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 2014. He works at Jackson & Kurtz, a longtime family law firm in Battle Ground.
“I volunteered for this group because I am very enthusiastic about giving back, in any way I can, to a community that has given me and my family so much,” Kurtz said. “This is an opportunity to help, advise, and listen to residents on how they want to see Battle Ground move forward in the future.”
• Stacy Kysar graduated from Battle Ground High School in 1985. She lived in Los Angeles and Eastern Washington, but always considered Battle Ground to be her home. She made it official in 2013, when she bought a home in the town she grew up in.
“I am a landscape architect and a land use planner by trade, and I have a strong desire to have a positive impact on this community and hopefully help continue to make Battle Ground a wonderful community,” Kysar said.
• Ryan Moor is the founder of Ryonet, a business he started in Battle Ground in 2004 after printing shirts in his garage for his punk rock band. Now based in Vancouver, Ryonet has grown to 120 members. He hopes to share that business startup knowledge with the Navigators.
“I just love the community,” Moor said. “I love how the area is growing and changing so much. I think there is a lot of opportunity here and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
• Rick Sawczuk moved to Battle Ground in the summer of 2017 when he and his wife became the lead pastors of Battle Ground Foursquare Church. Sawczuk’s philanthropic work has taken him to 58 countries. He loves to interact with people from all different backgrounds.
• Tim Schauer has deep roots in Clark County. It’s where he has chosen to live, raise his children, build his career and center his life since 1977.
“I’m personally and professionally interested in helping Battle Ground thrive deep into the future. I grew up in Venersborg. I attended Chief Umtuch Elementary School, Lewisville Intermediate School, and Battle Ground High School,” Schauer said. “There were not sidewalks in downtown when I went to school here. The city has come a long way, but I believe Battle Ground’s best years are in its future and I am happy to be a part of this effort.”
• Kevin Tapani leads the Tapani Inc. construction company, with his brother Leigh. Their headquarters is in Battle Ground.
The first assignment for the Navigators will be to develop a community survey in time for the Harvest Days Festivities in July. Residents are welcome to attend the next meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday July 17 at City Hall Suite 148.
