The Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival has announced the appointment of Leslie Rae Schmitz as Executive Director effective April 1, 2015.

Most recently,  Schmitz, pictured at right, worked with the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle as Director of Education/Membership/Pilot Funding with the Institute of Translational Health Sciences.

“I have great respect for this organization and the people who have created such success. I look forward to joining the festival going forward,” Schmitz said.

Her life-long attachment to Orcas Island began as a YMCA Camp Orkila camper, then as a staff member for 10 years. She has been a full and part-time resident of Orcas since 1999 and held consulting appointments with OPAL Community Land Trust, San Juan County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services, Orcas Island Parks and Recreation, San Juan Island Community Foundation and Frontline Call Center.

Her husband Brian works for the Washington State Ferry system and they have a daughter, Vivian.

OICMF Board President Sam Coleman welcomed Leslie, saying, “During her interviews, Leslie has shown the warmth of her personality. She’s a people person as well as a skilled manager.”

Schmitz holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs. She began her career in Washington, D.C. as the special assistant to the senior vice president for National Security Policy for Science Applications International Corporation. Her work with the U.S. Department of Energy/Defense Programs to restructure national security programs at the end of the Cold War led to the receipt of the Hammer Award for Reinventing Government.

She has provided operations, event and project management leadership and oversight in a myriad of sectors, including foundations, nonprofit, technology, medical research, academia, capital improvements, human resources, financial and government.