A longtime executive at Valley Medical Center, Barbara Mitchell, has died.
She drowned in a pond near Issaquah and Sammamish Aug. 8. She was 66.
Mitchell was the medical center’s senior vice president for Human Resources and Marketing.
She was known for her vivacious spirit and love for her family and career.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, in the Healing Garden at Valley Medical Center. Those who attend are encouraged to wear bright celebratory colors, in tune with her spirit and style.
Mitchell spent 35 years in corporate business management, with a primary emphasis and focus on human resource leadership, serving in a spectrum of industries spanning healthcare, broadcasting, and insurance in both union and non-union, for profit and not for profit, private sector and public sector arenas, according to the medical center.
She worked at Valley Medical Center since 1999, initially as director of Human Resources, promoted to vice president of Human Resources, and then as senior vice president for Human Resources and Marketing.
Consistent with her prior work as vice president Human Resources and Corporate Services for KIRO, Inc., and her consulting work throughout the Puget Sound, she was focused on strengthening workforces through management development, effective labor relations, strategic organizational development, and the fostering of energized, productive, responsive teams that readily achieved corporate goals, according to the medical center.
Under her leadership, Mitchell garnered “Best Workplace” recognition for Valley Medical Center for 10 consecutive years, saluting a high level of excellence in staff training and involvement, benefit enhancement and recruitment in a competitive industry.
“Barbara has always been an incredibly valuable member of Valley’s management team. She was smart, insightful, compassionate and a friend, and will be missed by so many on both a professional and personal level,” said Rich Roodman, CEO, Valley Medical Center.
Mitchell grew up in Alaska, attended Marylhurst University, served as chairman of the board for First Choice Health, and was active in fundraising with American Cancer Society, Washington Women in Need and Lake Washington Technical College. She also participated in community involvement with Renton Community Foundation, Rotary International, Renton Technical College, various Chambers of Commerce and community organizations.
She is survived by her husband Robb; son, Jordan Miller; daughter-in-law, Mistilyn Miller; grandson, Zayden; and granddaughter, Adel. The family requests donations to the American Cancer Society or VMC’s Healing Garden.
