The City of Sultan honored resident Elizabeth Emmons during a recent council meeting as the Volunteer Spotlight for the month of March. Each month, the Volunteer Spotlight program recognizes individuals, groups, organizations and committees for above-and-beyond community outreach.
Volunteer Spotlight recipients are honored before the council and given certificates of appreciation signed by Sultan Mayor Carolyn Eslick. Emmons was recognized for her high level of commitment to the community and exemplary volunteerism.
Sultan Grants and Economic Development Coordinator Donna Murphy gave the presentation, providing the council with an overview of the many projects and events that Emmons has been involved in.
Emmons and her husband, Ben, live in Sultan with their two children, 8-year-old Elianna and 5-year-old Luke. As the Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce events coordinator, a volunteer position, Emmons has served as project manager for numerous fundraisers and other community events, including Winterfest, the Sky Valley Farm Festival, the Sultan Easter Egg Hunt and Shindig.
She has volunteered at the Volunteers of America Western Washington Sultan Food Bank and has served as the president of the Sultan Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization since 2013.
Originally from Bothell, Emmons moved to Oregon with Ben in 2002 to attend Portland State University. She graduated summa cum laude, with a bachelor's degree in psychology, while working as an executive assistant in a commercial brokerage firm. Elizabeth and Ben married in 2003 and moved to the Sky Valley in 2007, shortly after their daughter Elianna was born.
After being hired by a local law enforcement agency, Ben went to live in Spokane, temporarily, while attending the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy. This meant that when Emmons initially took up residence in their new home in Sultan, she was on her own.
"In the span of one month, Elizabeth went from working full-time, managing multi-million-dollar sales transactions in a busy downtown office, to standing in the middle of Sultan with a baby on her hip, wondering what she's going to do,GÇ¥ Murphy said.
A community asset
To Emmons, who loves to stay busy, happiness is directly related to productivity. Looking for a way to make a contribution to her new community, she met up with Murphy, who has long served as the City of Sultan's volunteer coordinator. In turn, Murphy introduced Emmons to Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Copple.
"Debbie Copple became Elizabeth's lifeline,GÇ¥ Murphy said. "She became her role model and friend. She inspired Elizabeth to ask not what Sultan could do for her, but what she could do for Sultan and the Sky Valley.GÇ¥
Over the last eight years, Emmons and Copple have worked together, organizing numerous community-wide events. She's also stepped up to manage several events on her own, including the Sky Valley Farm Festival, which Emmons took over simply because she loved the event so much and she wanted to help facilitate more family-oriented activities.
When the farm festival originally started, it was spread out among numerous local farms in the Sultan area, and festival attendees would drive themselves from farm to farm. Emmons loved the way the event showcased the Sky Valley's rich farming heritage, but thought that less driving would make the event easier for families to navigate.
With Copple's assistance, Emmons restructured the event to take place in a more centralized, consolidated area, collaborating with four farms located just outside of Sultan on Fern Bluff Road. Rather than having to drive from farm to farm, guests were invited to travel between farms on tractor-pulled wagons.
"Elizabeth has truly embraced the Sky Valley "can do' attitude,GÇ¥ Copple said. "Even more than that, she understands that what we do today impacts tomorrow and wants to be sure it's the best tomorrow she can leave.GÇ¥
Gratitude for recognition
Emmons addressed the council after the presentation, expressing gratitude for the Volunteer Spotlight honor. She took the opportunity to formally thank Ben, Elianna and Luke, for their endless support of her efforts. The three have helped her be successful at whatever she's working on, she explained, whether it's advocating for a school levy or coordinating an event.
Emmons joked that her kids are often recruited to help with projects, whether they want to or not, and are always willing to cheerfully lend a hand.
"And Ben, who's up for anything ' whether it's assembling levy signs, riding a tractor all day at the farm festival, placing barricades for our Easter eventGǪ whatever is needed, he's not only supportive and sweet and enthusiastic, but he is my rock,Gǥ Emmons said.
She also acknowledged her mom, Bothell resident Brigitte Hallert, who raised her and her brother as a single parent. Growing up, Emmons said, Hallert always encouraged her to pursue her dreams, and it's something that has always stuck with her.
"She taught me that you have to work hard, and you have to go after what you want,GÇ¥ she said.
She then gave a heartfelt thank you to her "Sky Valley Family,GÇ¥ including Debbie and Brian Copple, Donna Murphy, Mayor -áCarolyn Eslick and Councilmember Marianne Naslund.
"We so passionately believe that we can do absolutely anything, and when we work together, we do it,GÇ¥ Emmons said. "It's so exciting, and I'm so honored to be a part of that team.
"This community is amazing. Everybody can make such a big impact. It's an incredible thing to show my kids GÇô that they can do anything,GÇ¥ she continued. "And they're seeing it happen through the work we're all doing together, so thank all of you for that. I'm very grateful.GÇ¥
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