LD 24
Education and professional experience
Marcia benefitted from our country’s and state’s opportunities and wants to turn that around to further serve her community. She is the grandchild of immigrants, and within the first generation of her family to go to college. She worked her way through schooling, earning a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and then a Masters of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington, where she conducted forestry-related research. She discovered a love of the Pacific Northwest over 40 years ago, and never left.
She then worked for the U.S. Navy for four years as a civilian engineer, before leaving to earn her law degree at the University of Washington School of Law. While in law school Marcia worked in an externship at the Washington State Attorney General’s office in Snohomish County, handling child abuse and neglect cases. After passing the bar, she began practice as a patent attorney, protecting the inventions of entrepreneurs as they started business as well as working for established companies.
Marcia was fascinated by the energy and promise of emerging business, and after 12 years in private practice leaped with both feet into a start-up biotechnology company for which she had obtained core patents. She served as that company’s top lawyer, referred to as its General Counsel, and as a senior executive for 19 years. During this time, Marcia guided the company from being a start-up to being a publicly traded, revenue-generating company with an approved product that is used widely to improve cataract surgery experiences and outcomes. And through that process, she helped create over 250 high-paying technology jobs.
With a first grandchild on the way, and before committing to the expected multi-year launch of another product, Marcia decided to retire early at the start of 2020. This gave her the opportunity to help out with a new grandbaby and to finish a build-out of her property in Quilcene. And it now provides her the opportunity to use her experience and skills to give back to the community, ensuring that others have the chance to live their American dream.
Applicable skills
Marcia’s work experience translates directly to the responsibilities of governance. While her company grew from a start-up to the development stage, she worked with fellow executives to set priorities and budget scarce resources. As a Section 16 Officer of a publicly traded company, she was accountable to shareholders, as legislators must be to their constituents.
She worked in a highly regulated environment and oversaw the administration of grants. Marcia set corporate policy and worked cross-functionally to achieve common objectives. She negotiated the key terms of many business transactions. Marcia litigated when she had to do so, but preferred to settle disputes through mediation, which she did very effectively.
Marcia has worked with many entrepreneurs and has lived the business start-up process. Her professional efforts created jobs, and she hired, built, and supervised teams. Marcia understands technology and the needs of technology companies.
Rural and Olympic Peninsula ties
Marcia lived on a small farm in Kitsap County for 40 years. The Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park has always been the home of her outdoors-loving heart. Starting with her Girl Scout troop over 30 years ago, she enjoyed taking her family hiking, camping, snowshoeing, boating, fishing, shrimping, horseback riding, bicycling, and motorcycling on the Olympic Peninsula whenever possible. Marcia first purchased property in Quilcene approximately 25 years ago, and moved there full-time four years ago.
Marcia lives on a Quilcene tree farm with her husband of 42 years and a boxer dog named Chago. Two of her adult children and a very dear granddaughter also live locally. Marcia is vested in the future prosperity of the Olympic Peninsula.
Civic engagement
Marcia currently serves as an elected Quilcene Fire Commissioner and volunteers for Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County, the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, the Washington DOT Adopt-A-Highway program, and NW Boxer Rescue. She has provided pro bono legal services to the North Hood Canal Chamber of Commerce and the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Association. Marcia previously volunteered as a Girl Scout troop leader, with North Kitsap Babe Ruth Baseball, as president of homeowner and property owner associations, and for community road maintenance. She served on a regional board of Catholic Community Services and provided pro bono legal services to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. In Marcia’s role at her former employer, she facilitated the no-cost supply of medicine to medical missions and of investigational medicines on a compassionate use basis for gravely ill patients, throughout the U.S. and internationally.
Marcia is financially secure and is positioned to serve the Olympic Peninsula and our State as an independent legislator who is free of conflicts of interest.
Paid for by Elect Marcia Kelbon, PO Box 181, Quilcene, WA 98376
Contact us: e-mail: info@electmarciakelbon.com , Call or text: 360.774.0150