Washington Conference introduced two new vice presidents during camp meeting this year. Craig Carr will serve as vice president for administration, and Craig Mattson will serve as vice president for education.
"Camp meeting time is a good ministry boot camp," says Carr. "I heard many great stories of how God is working in and through the ministries of western Washington."
Carr is filling the vice president role left vacant when Doug Bing was elected conference president in December 2016. His selection came after months of prayer and a nationwide search to find leaders who would be a good fit with the conference's team and mission.
Prior to coming to Washington, Carr served as ministerial director for Rocky Mountain Conference. He has a degree in business management and human resources, which served him well while working in the business world. He returned to seminary to complete a Master of Divinity degree and also earned a doctoral degree from Denver Seminary. He pastored several churches including in Boulder, Colo.
“Carisa and I are excited about coming to the Northwest to join the leadership team,” Carr said in a brief interview during camp meeting. “We felt called to come and join the mission.”
Washington Conference also introduced Mattson as the new vice president for education. Mattson is replacing Archie Harris, who is re-entering the classroom.
Mattson is no stranger to Washington Conference. He most recently served as principal of Northwest Christian School in Puyallup, Wash., and is a graduate of Auburn Adventist Academy. Prior to leading Northwest Christian School for five years, Mattson served as a principal, grade-level teacher, recruiter and a graduate assistant at various academic institutions.
Mattson recently finished his term as board chair for the Washington Federation of Independent Schools (WFIS), an official liaison for private schools. He also served a two-year term on the North Pacific Union Conference board of education.
In addition to two new vice presidents, Washington Conference is also pleased to introduce David Salazar as the new youth, Pathfinder and Adventurer director. He’s been involved with youth and club ministries his entire life and has been heavily involved in these ministries as a pastor in Central California. He and his wife, Nitza, and their young daughter will join the Washington Conference team in August. David Yeagley will continue as Washington Conference's young adult director and Sunset Lake Camp director.
We appreciate all who have been praying for God’s leading in this process and are looking forward to having the Carr, Mattson and Salazar families join us in ministering here in western Washington.
Craig Carr (center), Washington Conference's new vice president for administration, and his wife, Carisa, greet the Washington Adventist Camp Meeting audience after being introduced by conference president Doug Bing.
Craig Mattson, Washington Conference's new vice president for education, shares a vision for growing education scholarship support with camp meeting attendees and his wife, Lizzette.
