Don Welander

Welander has been a lifelong resident of Mason County, graduating from Shelton High School. Welander is married to Lisa Welander, a newly elected Mason General Hospital Foundation board member, and they have two grown sons that currently reside in Shelton. Welander worked 38 years for Safeway in various capacities, retiring as a director in 2015. He worked in many areas of Washington state as well as California, all the while residing in Shelton.

Shortly after retiring from Safeway, Welander went to work for the Shelton School District. He taught business, marketing and financial math at CHOICE High School before accepting the position as the District’s Director of Career Connected Learning. Welander worked with Career and Technical Education and was instrumental in the creation of the Academies at Shelton High School.

“We could not ask for a better successor for Don Wilson,” Moody said. “Don Welander is truly the nicest person and a stellar community volunteer. His volunteer service, just to name a few of many, includes Oysterfest and the Shelton School District. All that he has achieved is more than most people are able to accomplish in a lifetime. We are truly fortunate to have him join our leadership team.”

Welander said he is honored to be selected to serve as one of Mason Health’s trustees.

“As a lifelong resident of Mason County, I have admired the work and care that our citizens receive through Mason Health,” Welander said. “I am excited to join the District’s leadership team and I look forward to learning more about Mason Health as well as serving the community from a different perspective.”

Welander has been involved in many civic organizations and currently serves as Skookum Rotary Foundation President and is a trustee of South Sound YMCA. Welander was awarded the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award in 2021.