Dr. Mark B. Nihart, President
Dr. Mark B. Nihart is a retired IT Professional who focused on Business Management, Process Management, Organizational Development, Data Management and Strategy side of IT while working at Boeing for 24 ½ years. He has a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership, A Master of Science in System Management, A BA in Business, A BA in English and an AAA in Computer Programming. Prior to working at Boeing he worked for PM Northwest at the local refineries as a pipefitter welder, commercially fished, and had a business in Anacortes. He is currently on the Evergreen Islands Board and serves on a Skagit Land Trust Committee as a volunteer.
Bill Turner – In Memoriam
October 2, 1951 – May 9, 2026
Bill Turner made Anacortes his home for more than fifty years. After leaving college in Nashville, Tennessee, he settled on Fidalgo Island and later moved into the city in 2003. In 1980, he founded Mt. Erie Construction Inc., building more than fifty homes and several developments before retiring in 2016.
Bill’s commitment to community service was deep and enduring. He served as President of Skagit Habitat for Humanity from 2019 to 2021, helping to build more than four homes and expanding opportunities for families in need. Alongside John Doyle, a past Habitat president, Bill volunteered countless hours lobbying the City of Anacortes to begin preparing for affordable housing initiatives.
Over the decades, Bill served on numerous boards and organizations dedicated to environmental protection, community well‑being, and housing equity. He was a founding member of Friends of Skagit County and Etta Projects, and contributed his time and leadership to Christ Episcopal Church, Habitat for Humanity, and Fidalgo Island Swimming Pool boards. Bill also was a long-standing member and past president of the Anacortes Rotary Club.
Bill served multiple terms on the Anacortes City Council and coordinated volunteer construction projects including the Washington Park restroom and shower facility and improvements to the Soroptimist building.
Bill helped create Smart Growth Anacortes (SGA) because he strongly believed that residents deserved a voice in how the city grows. He worked to ensure that environmental protections were upheld and that housing issues moved forward responsibly. As he said, “Our town’s 2016 Comprehensive Plan included the State‑required Housing Action Plan, but the City did not fully implement it until 2024—even after John and my lobbying.”
Bill’s legacy is one of service, persistence, and deep care for the community he loved. His work continues to shape Anacortes, and his dedication inspires all of us who carry forward the mission of Smart Growth Anacortes.
Ginger Decker, Secretary
Ginger Decker is a Northwest native and a retired IT Professional who provided software solutions to many Northwest industries for the past 40 years. Much of her volunteer work has been dedicated to public safety and environmental causes as well as providing input to the original Growth Management Act (GMA) in the 90s. Ginger currently volunteers for Downtown Alliance, Friends of the Salish Sea, and ABPAC (Anacortes Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee)
John Doyle
Experience Summary
John Doyle is a retired La Conner Town Administrator and Planning Director. John has held a variety of State and Local management positions with an emphasis on land use, environmental and energy policy.
Elected Experience
- Skagit County Sewer District #1 Commissioner, Chairman (1995 to 2001, 2021-Present)
- Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board, Skagit County (2005 to 2010)
- Skagit County Fire District 13 Commissioner (2021-Present)
Other Professional Experience
- Served as the Town Administrator and Planning Director for the Town of La Conner for 16 years.
- Worked for the Washington State Energy Office on the development and implementation of the first Washington State Energy and Indoor Air Quality Codes for 11 years.
Education
- BA in Biological/Ecological Sciences, University of California at Berkeley, 1972.
Community Service
- Skagit County Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board
- Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors, President 2019
- Volunteer Firefighter/EMT, La Conner and FD 13 (17yrs)
- Skagit Bay Search and Rescue, Training Officer
- Fire District 13 Commissioner (Current)
- Sewer District 1 Commissioner (Current)
