The West Center team is rapidly growing. In August, we welcomed two new staff members: Susan Lawson and Alison de Grassi. Lillian Rubie joined the organization in June. I’m happy to introduce them all.

Lillian Rubie joins West Center after working at the Greater Ukiah Business and Tourism Alliance. Lillian is a founding member of the Deep Valley Arts Collective and serves on the board of directors for the Arts Council of Mendocino County.  Lillian’s job with West is the Customer Care Specialist, where she is the first point of contact and provides an orientation for new clients seeking business support. In her free time, when not caring for her two children, Lillian enjoys drawing, painting, photography and costuming.

Susan Lawson joined West on August 3rd! Susan comes to us from the City of Ukiah where she worked as the Assistant Facility Administrator. She particularly enjoys being in part of local economic growth and community involvement in her new position as the Administrative Coordinator at West Center. Susan enjoys swimming, hiking and taking her three-legged dog Nigel on walks during her days off.

Alison de Grassi became Director of Marketing at West Center on August 17. Originally from the UK, Alison has lived in Northern California for most of her adult life, with 26 years of that in Mendocino County. She spent almost nine years with Visit Mendocino County as Director of Marketing and Media working to promote the county as a tourist destination and has previously worked in instructional design, book and music production, and as an amateur caterer. She and her husband, Alex, live in Ukiah and love to spend time at their house in Albion watching the fog roll in.