Al Smith
Occupation: Retired self-employed
Relevant experience: I have lived in the Wishkah Valley the past 50 years and have spent 37 plus years of that time as a community activist and volunteer on the local fire department as a firefighter and EMT. I have been self employed for the last 26 years and own my own business in the alternative energy field.
1. Moving forward after layoffs is difficult for an organization. What should the board do, specifically, to create a workplace culture that fosters teamwork?
Establish team meetings with employees in each department to meet once a month on company time with respective department heads, top management and at least one board member. Employees of each department must take turns in attendance of this meeting with the same rule applying to board members as well. The objective and intent of this is employee empowerment, or as I would call it, the hospital’s brain trust, to share in the discussion process and to improve overall operation in the work environment. It is also a knowledge source for all in attendance, knowing each person’s commitments and responsibilities to staff and patients is a plus to a true team environment. (I should note that while it may be out of protocol for board member(s) to attend such meetings, it is an excellent opportunity for each to know how and what it takes to keep our hospital a viable facility.)
2. What are your thoughts about expanding Hospital District services in the Ocean Shores area?
Speaking as a small business person I would initially give precedential consideration to the financial predicament our hospital is in. With that in mind I would urge citizens of the North Beach community to put together a well-organized petition effort and gather signatures from all Ocean Shores and North Beach community property owners. Without the written sanction of property owners it is my experience the concerned citizens’ voices of the past 15 years will continue to fall on deaf ears. As a past EMT volunteer, that in itself is unfortunate as there is no question in the need for an urgent care unit in the North Beach area. If elected I would help in being an extra body for gathering names.
3. What qualifies you to serve on the Hospital Board, and what district-related issues are important to you?
During my tenure at ITT Rayonier I served in various administrative positions for the union. I also served on the Wishkah Valley School Board and Harbor Plywood Credit Union board of trustees. Following the closure of the ITT Rayonier/Grays Harbor paper mill in 1992, I and other volunteers were instrumental in working with the Grays Harbor Economic Development Council, local civic leaders, legislative leaders and congressional delegates in developing an innovative business plan to reopen the mill.
It was in that time period that I also started my own business, which I have successfully operated for the past 27 years. If elected, it is the experience, knowledge and work ethic gained from my past work and volunteer environment that I will bring to the commissioners’ table. On the need side of the equation I can share the importance of our hospital to fellow board members from a volunteer EMT’s perspective and its importance to all who work and serve in the capacity of emergency medical treatment. If elected, my ultimate goal is to help keep and maintain our rural hospital in a viable and sustainable state in the health care market of our Pacific Northwest.
