Beth Van Elswyk has accepted a leadership position to advance Clatsop Community College’s career and technical education programs related to trade industries. Her new role as Interim Executive Director of Workforce Innovation and Partnerships transitions her from the position of Director of the Clatsop Community College Foundation that she has held since January of 2025.
In her new role, Van Elswyk will provide leadership for the College’s career and technical education programs which includes oversight of the Maritime, Welding, and Automotive programs based at the Marine and Environmental Research and Training Station, known as the MERTS campus. She will also assist in helping the college expand Career Pathways opportunities, strengthen industry partnerships, and support workforce-related advancement through grants, fundraising, and corporate partnerships.
CCC President Jarrod Hogue sees this new leadership role for Van Elswyk as a great fit, “Her experience in fundraising, entrepreneurship, and corporate sales, along with her collaborative and positive energy has me very excited about this work for the college.”
Van Elswyk will work to ensure the College’s workforce programs remain relevant to industry, responsive to regional labor-market demand and aligned with employment opportunities for students. She will oversee department faculty and staff as well as program development, scheduling, evaluation, budgeting, resource development and continuous improvement.
“I’m thrilled to take on the Executive Director of Workforce Innovation and Partnerships role, overseeing MERTS and the trades,” Van Elswyk said. “It’s a natural next step from my Foundation work, building industry relationships and channeling support into our Maritime and CTE pathways. Now I get to do that further upstream, in the programs themselves. I’m especially excited to lead the Career Pathways grant and work alongside our grant teams.”
Van Elswyk will also pursue workforce-development grants and cultivate corporate and industry support in collaboration with the College president and CCC Foundation. Her experience connecting donors, businesses and community partners with college priorities will support efforts to expand educational pathways and prepare students for careers in high-demand fields.
“What excites me most is applying a more systemic view to workforce development,” Van Elswyk said. “Maritime and the trades sit at the intersection of industry demand and community opportunity. I see real potential to strengthen that connection, deepen employer partnerships and make sure our students graduate directly into the workforce our region needs. I’m ready to bring the same rigor and relationship-building I’ve applied to the Foundation to this next chapter.”
The CCC Foundation views Van Elswyk’s transition as an opportunity to strengthen support for MERTS and the College’s trades programs. Van Elswyk will continue working closely with the Foundation on projects that advance the College and expand its service to students, employers and the community.
“The Foundation is not losing Beth but gaining a strong partner at the MERTS campus”, stated CCC Foundation Board Chair Jim Alegria. “With Beth at MERTS, the Foundation will still be able to benefit from her knowledge of fundraising to support the students and programs of the college.”
The Foundation Board will meet Tuesday, Sept. 15, to determine its next steps for leadership.
Through this new role, Clatsop Community College is strengthening its commitment to workforce innovation, industry collaboration and accessible education that connects students with meaningful careers while meeting the evolving workforce needs of the region.
