Iris Thomas
Elma,WA
Summary
Strategic community development leader skilled in managing $40 million in grants and budgets to foster sustainable growth through partnerships. Facilitates community engagement and ensures compliance with environmental laws, strengthening cultural and natural resource resilience. Aligns operational goals with tribal sovereignty and community values.
Overview
1
1
Certification
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Community Development and Planning Director
Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe
Tokeland, WA
08.2023 - Current
- Lead and oversee all aspects of the Tribes Community Development and Natural Resources programs during the managed relocation of the community, ensuring alignment with tribal cultural values, sovereignty, and long-term resilience.
- Manage 26 active grants and 30 departmental budgets totaling over $40 million, including design, pre-construction, and construction planning, environmental restoration, housing, land, emergency management, transportation, and climate adaptation projects.
- Facilitated collaboration with tribal members, elders, Council, and inter-departmental teams to prioritize and address cultural, governmental, natural resource, health, transportation, housing, and relocation needs.
- Establish and direct land use plans, zoning regulations, environmental strategies, and long-term growth management policies.
- Assess environmental impacts and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws while protecting treaty rights, culturally significant resources, and ecological integrity.
- Create strategies for sustainable resource use that advance the Tribes environmental goals, climate resilience, and Shoalwater's unique coastal ecosystem.
- Coordinated government-to-government engagement with federal, state, regional, and tribal partners to enhance land management, environmental protection, infrastructure, and resilience initiatives.
- Facilitate community engagement through public meetings, workshops, and consultation sessions to gather input and ensure community-driven planning and natural resource decisions.
- Prepare and deliver detailed reports, presentations, plans, and policy recommendations for Tribal Council, federal partners, and other stakeholders.
- Identify funding opportunities, write and coordinate grant proposals, and ensure timely reporting and compliance across all grant-funded programs.
- Cultivated strategic relationships with federal and state agencies, universities, NGOs, Pacific County partners, and regional natural resource forums to enhance collaborative efforts.
- Represent the Tribe in environmental, planning, and resilience initiatives at local, regional, and national levels.
- Provide leadership grounded in tribal history, culture, and governance, supporting Indigenous rights, self-determination, and community-driven outcomes.
Interim Natural Resources Director
Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe
08.2025 - 04.2026
Senior Facilities Manager, Health & Safety Officer
Fujifilm Sonosite
09.2020 - 08.2023
- Facilities Management of a medical manufacturing company with laboratories, machine shop, office space, and warehouse for 4 sites, and over 165k sq. ft. with direct reports, serving 450+ onsite employees.
- Ensured compliance with health and safety regulations through oversight of facilities and safety operations.
- Served as Health and Safety Officer, administered Safety Committee, and reported EHS activities and audit findings.
- Led safety committee meetings to ensure workplace safety protocols were followed as Chairman of Sonosite Safety Committee.
- Maintained optimal facility performance and safety standards by supervising contractors across various trades.
- Led on a $2 million construction buildout consisting of manufacturing utility remodel and industrial dust collection system.
- Overall oversight and responsibility for sites and office maintenance, including repairs, decoration, plumbing, external and internal lighting, low voltage electrical infrastructure, supplies, mail delivery, and MAC (move, add, change) requests.
- Aligned department budget and expenditures with organizational financial goals through strategic management.
- Facilitated meetings to promote company culture and employee engagement as Co-Chairman of Sonosite Culture Committee.
Site Services Manager, Administration and Facilities
Boston Scientific, formerly BTG International Ltd
06.2015 - 08.2020
- Facilities and Administrative Business Operations Management with direct reports.
- Coordinate facilities resources for a medical manufacturing company with an ISO Class 8 clean room, laboratories, machine shop, office space, and warehouses up to 4 sites, and over 83,000 sq. ft., with direct reports.
- Led facilities operations for construction projects, ensuring effective coordination of resources and timelines. on a 34k sq. ft. $5.2 million construction buildout consisting of multi-use, flex, laboratory, and warehouse space.
- Managed vendors and contractors, including cleaners, HVAC, electricians, plumbers, waste management, pest control, and general contractors, ensuring service quality and compliance with standards.
- Monitored department budget and expenditures, maintaining accurate financial records and reports.
- Led safety inspections, managed contractor control, and ensured emergency readiness as Site Safety Officer.
- Supported global sites in standardizing appearance and approach through quality audits, site branding, and visual factory boards, enhancing consistency across operations.
- Facilitated communication as the main contact for all move management activities across multiple sites. Initiated and manage meetings to review move schedules with move vendors and key stakeholders.
Executive Services Manager, Tax Preparer
James Erickson & Co, P.S.
Bellevue, WA
02.2007 - 04.2015
- Oversaw operations of CPA office to enhance customer retention and ensure efficient tax preparation.
- Managed executive operations and streamlined communication processes to improve internal collaboration.
- Coordinated schedules and meetings for senior executives to optimize workflow efficiency.
- Oversaw project management initiatives and ensured adherence to timelines and objectives.
Education
Masters - Tribal Administration and Governance
University of Minnesota Duluth
Duluth, MNBachelor of Science - Business Administration
City University
Bellevue, WAAssociate of Arts - Journalism
Grays Harbor College
Aberdeen, WASkills
- Land use planning
- Environmental compliance oversight
- Community development
- Grant and budget management
- Stakeholder engagement and relations
- Government communications and relations
- Community and corporate engagement
- Strategic planning and resource allocation
- Project management methodologies
- Construction management
- Preconstruction planning
- New construction experience
- Construction planning
- Subcontractor management
- Facilities management
Certification
- FMP (Facility Management Professional) Certification IFMA, International Facility Management Association
- Professional Facility Management (ProFM) Certification Professional Facility Management Institute
- Project Management Training Certification
- Project Management Certification
- Supervision and Management Certification
- DOT HM/ RCRA Hazardous Waste Generator Certification
- OSHA 30-hour Certification
- CPR/First Aid/AED/BBP Certification
Timeline
Interim Natural Resources Director
Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe
08.2025 - 04.2026
Community Development and Planning Director
Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe
08.2023 - Current
Senior Facilities Manager, Health & Safety Officer
Fujifilm Sonosite
09.2020 - 08.2023
Site Services Manager, Administration and Facilities
Boston Scientific, formerly BTG International Ltd
06.2015 - 08.2020
Executive Services Manager, Tax Preparer
James Erickson & Co, P.S.
02.2007 - 04.2015
Masters - Tribal Administration and Governance
University of Minnesota Duluth
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
City University
Associate of Arts - Journalism
Grays Harbor College