Susan Locke:

I would like to officially put my name in as a candidate for the SICA board.  I’ve really enjoyed being with the team and working together toward a common goal. Being a member of the Website Special Committee has enabled me to learn so much about how important SICA is to the island and how dedicated individuals volunteer their time to help the island’s residents and businesses.

I feel being part of the SICA group is exactly what I need in my life and I think my experience could be an asset to the team.  Throughout my career in the apparel business, I’ve been the person who just took care of things.   I had nice positions in local, mid-sized apparel companies with responsibilities ranging from product ideation to surplus liquidation.  In my most recent gig (as a long-term consultant), I was one of the original team members in a merino wool based e-commerce apparel company.  This experience feels like it’s very applicable to the SICA board.  If you didn’t know something, you just figured it out by doing research, testing processes, and asking experts.  I started in the e-commerce business as a technical designer/merchandiser and after working on website management, marketing, and sourcing, I ended up being responsible for the warehouse operations, including inbound import logistics, along with being responsible for the accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting for the business.  Efficiency and austerity were the key aspects of how we grew the business from 4 people to around 28 people over 7 years.

My main volunteer experience was working with the Pendleton Round-up, the world’s largest 4-day rodeo. For about four years, I took vacation from my job to help out the Pendleton, Oregon community and their week-long celebration. We worked hard and had a lot of fun. I’m proud of my efforts, along with the Director of the Office, to design, build, and stock (with exclusive, branded merchandise) a new 900 square foot retail store in the Round-Up Hall of Fame, but I’m the most proud of how the locals welcomed and accepted me into their community.

I really enjoy being retired and the freedom it allows me to be creative and spend time with friends and family.  I do miss feeling like I’m being a productive member of a community, so having a purpose of helping the SICA community feels like it could be a really good thing. After being an island resident for over 30 years, it’s about time I give back! 

Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you for all that you do!