An Oak Harbor small town politician and businesses leader, Bob Severns, has made a global name for himself.

Earlier this week, the Washington Banking Company elected Severns to serve on its board of directors. Severns was also elected to serve on the board of Whidbey Island Bank, the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary.

“Bob is extremely involved in the community and has developed a great reputation among local business people,” said Tony Pickering, chairman of the board for Washington Banking Company. “His considerable amount of experience as a director makes Bob an ideal candidate to represent our shareholders, and we are very pleased to have him join our Board.”

Severns, a longtime Oak Harbor resident, is the president of the Island Division of Chicago Title Insurance Company, a position he has held since 1999. He is currently chairman of the board for Land Title of Kitsap and Mason counties, and formerly served on the Island Title Company board of directors.

Severns also chairs the public safety standing committee and serves on the finance standing committee meeting as part of his responsibilities as an elected Oak Harbor City Councilman.

Aside from his professional and civic duties, Severns spends his time across a broad swath of island organizations. Some of his current and past community involvement include the city of Oak Harbor Civil Service Board; the Limited Practice Law Board, an appointment he earned from the Washington State Supreme Court; all officer positions and as director of the Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce; the Oak Harbor High School Business Advisory Committee; a life member and former board member of the Navy League; all officer positions and as director of the Oak Harbor Rotary; the board of directors of the Child Abuse Protection Foundation; the Island County Economic Development Committee; and the Oak Harbor Downtown Development Committee for the Chamber of Commerce.