June Volunteer of the Month: Charlie Herb

Congratulations to Pine Crest resident Charlie Herb for being recognized as our June Volunteer of the Month!

Charlie’s long-standing dedication to Highlands Fiber Network (HFN) has been instrumental in shaping its success and evolution. His contributions have helped bring the network to where it is today—on the verge of launching a multi-gig speed offering that will serve the community well into the future. From his name appearing in early foundational documents to leading feasibility studies as the neighborhood explored owning and operating its own network, Charlie has truly been part of every chapter. Thanks for all you do for our community, Charlie!

***

My wife and I moved to Issaquah Highlands in 2003, one year after getting married.  We were drawn to the community by Port Blakely’s vision of an urban village concept, which included the promise of a diverse community; numerous parks, trails and open spaces; a future school, hospital and shopping center; and a state-of-the-art fiber network.  We’ve really enjoyed watching that original vision become a reality over the years we’ve lived here.

We’ve moved twice since moving to Issaquah Highlands about 22 years ago. We started in Sorrento, then moved to Discovery Heights for six months before moving into our current home in Pine Crest.

All four of our children were born and raised in Issaquah Highlands. In fact, our last two children were born at our very own Swedish Hospital. Our oldest will be heading off to university in the fall and our youngest will be entering middle school.  This community has offered something for each stage of our family’s lives, which is what we had hoped we would experience when we first moved here.

Photo by Anya Hartshorn.

A few months after my wife and I moved here, I saw a notice for an upcoming Highlands Fiber Network (HFN) Advisory Group meeting.  This was a group of community members formed by Port Blakely to provide input into the future of the fiber network.

I’ve remained closely involved in the development of the network since that first meeting that I attended.  I was part of a small group that negotiated the purchase of HFN by the community in 2013, and I’ve been serving on the board of directors for the last 12 years of community ownership.

The Issaquah Highlands has a tremendous amount of volunteer opportunities for all ages and stages of those living here.  My recommendation is to start small and find something that interests you. While it’s possible to find something that keeps you motivated and interested for over 20 years, I’ve found that most often, people move around and try different things depending on their changing interests and the time they have available.  The important thing is to try something.

Our volunteer opportunities are a big part of what make the Issaquah Highlands such a vibrant community.