Meet the GoHumCo Team

  1. Scott

    Scott Adair

    Director of Economic Development

    Scott Adair is the Director of Economic Development for the County of Humboldt, California. Scott also presently serves as the Executive Director to Humboldt County’s Cannabis Micro Grant and Loan Advisory Committee. Scott is a former Planning Commissioner, Trainer, Business Owner, and Commercial Real Estate Agent. He also remains an active community volunteer.

    Scott possesses over eighteen (18) years of experience in real estate asset management and public/private economic development. Scott completed his basic economic development certification through BEDC (in partnership with Colorado State University) and he recently graduated from Oklahoma University's prestigious EDI (Economic Development Institute) program.

    Scott and his spouse live with their two dogs in a home overlooking the Eel River Valley. They enjoy spending their weekends tending to their orchard and tinkering in their workshop.


  2. Peggy

    Peggy Murphy

    Economic Development Coordinator

    Peggy Murphy is an Economic Development Coordinator for the County of Humboldt's Economic Development Team. In her role she provides oversight to Project Trellis and the Workforce Development Board. 

    Prior to working with the County, Peggy spent over 3 years as the manager of the North Coast Small Business Development Center where she helped all kinds of businesses pursue their goals. Peggy's primary focus was on art businesses and Ecommerce businesses. In addition to supporting businesses, Peggy was tasked with making sure office functions ran smoothly from both a financial and an operational perspective. Peggy’s work history also includes Google Maps, The University of Washington and MediCann. Additionally, she owned the Hat Rac Fine Art Gallery in Oakland, CA. Peggy brings to the Economic Development Department lessons learned from both the public and private sectors.

    In her free time, Peggy is a silversmith, a gardener, and is an active participant in her husband’s art career. She also loves to spend time with her family, dogs, chickens and bees.


  3. Dianna

    Dianna Rios

    Economic Development Coordinator

    As the Economic Development Coordinator, I'm the Executive Director for the Headwaters Fund, assist the County with business attraction, retention, expansion, and support for entrepreneurship. In addition, I'm the lead on Project SOAR, a partner in the CalForestWRX initiative, & staff and vice-chair of Prosperity!

    As staff to the Headwaters Fund, we manage, attract & leverage additional capital and grants in the local economy to keep the funds working in the community in perpetuity. We use the values, principles, and strategies of the County's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), currently known as Prosperity! We manage the funds by tracking and publicizing economic, social, and environmental gains. Our objective is to maximize the amount of money working within the community providing desired benefits while preserving the Headwaters Fund principal.

    Project SOAR (Sourcing Opportunities for new Airport Revenues) to enhance and improve economic autonomy and sustainability for the California Redwood Coast - Humboldt County Airport (ACV) and other county-operated airports. We know that travel in and out of the County is an integral part of economic Prosperity for residents, companies, and tourism organizations. Therefore, my role is to support the Humboldt County Department of Aviation by providing internal marketing, branding, promotional support, and commercial leasing.

    Through CalForestWRX, my role is to work with partners to increase and diversify value-added forest products manufacturing in our communities, cultivate investment in emerging high-growth forest product markets utilizing biomass & small-diameter wood. In addition, this project will allow the California forest wildland restoration for social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Our partnership includes Six Rivers National Forest.

    The Prosperity Network is the County's comprehensive economic development strategy partners. Prosperity acts as a venue for collaboration with regional economic development practitioners. Our purpose is to foster community and economic development to improve the quality of life for Humboldt County and is designed to create networking and education opportunities.

    Prior to my new role, I worked in economic development as the Executive Director at the Fortuna Business Improvement District for twelve years. My role was to oversee and support the cities three merchants associations through; area promotion, community events, business support, citywide business recruitment, retention, business expansion, marketing, & tourism.


  4. Ryan

    Ryan Heitz

    Economic Development Coordinator

    Ryan is a graduate from Humboldt State University with a degree in Business Administration and currently serves the County's Economic Development Department as an Economic Development Specialist. Ryan works on a number of special projects ranging from administering grant programs to supporting the Headwaters Fund. 


  5. Tanner

    Tanner Etherton

    Economic Development Specialist

    Tanner interned with the Economic Development Division as a Cal Poly Humboldt student and helped with the assessment of the Samoa Peninsula Enhanced Infrastructure District. After graduating with a bachelor's in economics and a minor in geospatial analysis, Tanner was hired full time to continue his work on the proposed EIFD, as well as support the Headwaters Fund, Project SOAR, Cal Forest WRX, and CEDS programs. Tanner is also in charge of web and software development, supports Business Retention and Expansion, and helps with a variety of other Economic Development projects and initiatives. Tanner has been working for the County's Economic Development Division since 2021 and is currently the Lead Specialist. 


  6. GoHumCoPic

    Logan Ashworth (They/Them)

    Economic Development Specialist

    Logan (They/Them) is an Economic Development Specialist for the County of Humboldt with training from Cal Poly Humboldt and Southern Utah University. Logan's goal is to further equitable economic development initiatives with the intention of supporting underserved populations within Humboldt. They have been with the County for two years and have support Project Trellis, the Headwaters Fund, Workforce Development and improved the division's fiscal processes as well as leading employee-driven diversity, equity, & inclusion initiatives such as chairing the organization's queer affinity group and DEI committee. 


  7. Kim Hopmann Profile Picture

    Kim Hopmann (She/Her)

    Administrative Analyst

    Kim joined the team in January 2022 with a strong background in administrative work and has been assigned to work primarily with the Workforce Development Board, alongside several other projects and is also the team office assistant.

    I grew up in Portland, Oregon and have only recently moved to the area. I live here in Eureka with my Husband, two daughters, two dogs, a cat and a few chickens. Growing up in Portland, I am right at home here in the Pacific Northwest region of California. I love the scenery and being so close to the ocean. In my spare time I volunteer with Girl Scouts, I started my very first garden, I love to paddleboard as well as crafting of all kinds.  I have spent the last 6 years in the fitness industry and started powerlifting in June 2021 and I have plans to compete in powerlifting before the end of 2022.  


  8. Shay Duarte

    Shay Duarte (She/her)

    Administrative Analyst

    I'm new to the team and prior to entering my career into Economic Development I worked for the court systems for a few years where I had experience assisting the public and handling civil suits of all kinds from general civil matters, restraining order cases, unlawful detainer, confidential matters and was privileged to have access to CLETS a law enforcement database to enter protective orders.I have been assigned to working on Economic Development, Headwaters Fund and Project SOAR along with other projects and duties that may arise.