Western Oregon University

Term Expires December 2024.

Dr. Stephen Scheck has been in the Monmouth-Independence area since 2006 when he joined Western Oregon University (WOU) as dean of the college of liberal arts and sciences. Subsequently, he served as vice president for academic affairs and provost of the university before returning to the faculty as a professor of biology. When his children were younger, Dr. Scheck served in various capacities with the Boy Scouts of America, worked with local Girl Scouts, 4-H groups, and offered science lessons in local elementary schools. Dr. Scheck received B.S. and M.S. degrees from Fort Hays State University, Kansas, and a Ph.D. from Iowa State University.

Managing Member, Graham Oregon Properties, LLC and Tax Attorney, Ernst & Young, Retired

Term Expires December 2023.

Susan Graham joined the MICF Board after her retirement from Ernst & Young, where she worked as a Tax Attorney for more than 15 years. She currently runs a rental real estate management and development business and is a member of the Monmouth Independence YMCA Board. She has served on non-profit boards and other volunteer organizations in California and Oregon since 2006. She has generally focused her volunteer efforts on education, diversity and inclusion, professional development, and health and wellness.

Susan has lived in Independence since 2014. Prior to moving here, she lived in San Francisco, San Diego, up and down the East Coast of the US, and even in France for a few years. She tells everyone who asks that she is not moving anymore. She is married and has an adult son living in California. In her free time, Susan is active with the Women of Independence and Monmouth (WIM) group and enjoys driving her Miata on local backroads.

MINET, Independence City Council.

Term Expires December 2025.

Marilyn Morton is the Office Administrator at MINET. She has lived in Independence, Oregon, since 1990 and is an active member of the community. She was elected to the Independence City Council in 2002 and still serves in that capacity. As a counselor, Marilyn has been an active participant in the MINET’s conception, formation, and evolution. MINET – Monmouth-Independence Networks – is jointly owned by the cities of Monmouth and Independence.

Marilyn serves on a variety of local organizations in Independence. Some of her current affiliations include serving as chair of the Monmouth-Independence Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that holds endowment and non-endowment funds for many local charitable groups. The Foundation gives out several annual scholarships to local graduates. She is an active member of each city’s Business Associations.

Marilyn’s work history includes finance, escrow, teaching piano, and running her own home office business for many years. In addition to City Council, as a local volunteer, she is involved in several annual festivals and events and for 20 years led and operated an award-winning volunteer-run reading program at Independence Elementary School. She is also a published author. She believes deeply that excellent communication is the cornerstone of any successful business or organization and works hard to promote that principle in all that she does.

Retired from City of Independence

Term Expires December 2023

Vernon Wells has lived the Monmouth – Independence area for most of his life and is a graduate of Central High School. He worked in emergency services for our community for over 40 year before his retirement. While attending college he lived at the Monmouth Fire Department and worked as a dispatcher, firefighter, and medic. Vernon then began a career in law enforcement. He worked at both Monmouth Police Department and Polk County Sheriff’s Office before serving the last 26 years of his career as the Independence Police Chief.

Vernon received a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon University). He worked for over ten years as a part-time instructor at the Oregon Department of Public Safety and Training. He also worked as an adjunct professor at Western Oregon University, and as a contract trainer for Western Community Policing Institute focusing on Community Policing and Ethics training. He was active in the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police (OACP) serving in all the elected positions including their President in 2007-2008.

During Vernon’s life he has served on many committees, commissions, and clubs. Vernon says the one he feels has the greatest potential for doing good in our local community is the Monmouth Independence Community Foundation. He has been on the Executive Board of the Monmouth Independence Community Foundation since 2006 and has served as Board President since 2015.