Nicole Willis serves as the Chief Operating Officer for North Sound ACH, where she leads organizational operations, strategic initiative implementation, performance management, and organizational effectiveness efforts that support the ACH’s mission and long-term impact. As a member of the executive leadership team, Nicole works across departments, initiatives, and partnerships to ensure organizational priorities are aligned, resourced, implemented, and evaluated to maximize impact across the North Sound region.
Nicole joined North Sound ACH in 2017 as a Data Analyst and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2018. Over the past nine years, she has helped guide the organization through significant growth and transformation while strengthening partnerships across health care, public health, Tribal nations, community-based organizations, and government agencies throughout the region.
With more than 20 years of experience in public health, epidemiology, informatics, health systems integration, and nonprofit leadership, Nicole has supported implementation of Washington State’s Medicaid Transformation efforts through both Waiver 1.0 and Waiver 2.0. Her work has included developing partner action plans, designing funding opportunities, supporting regional implementation strategies, and helping partners align efforts to advance shared goals and improve outcomes.
Nicole has extensive experience in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. She led North Sound ACH’s COVID-19 response efforts and served in the Situation and Intelligence Unit for the Whatcom Unified Command response, supporting regional planning, situational awareness, resource coordination, and data-informed decision-making throughout the pandemic. She has also supported regional response and recovery efforts following the 2021 and 2025 flood events, working alongside partners to strengthen coordination, address emerging needs, and support long-term community resilience.
Prior to joining North Sound ACH, Nicole served as an epidemiologist and community health specialist with the Whatcom County Health Department and completed the CDC Informatics Training in Place Program Fellowship. She holds a Master of Public Health degree in Community-Oriented Public Health Practice from the University of Washington and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).
Nicole believes meaningful change happens through strong partnerships. She enjoys bringing people together, sharing expertise, and helping organizations navigate opportunities that advance collective impact while strengthening systems that improve health and well-being across the region.