Comprehensive Health Education Foundation (C.H.E.F. ®), one of the nation’s leading health and prevention education organizations, announced that it has elected Judge James R. Orlando to its Board of Directors. Currently serving as the Presiding Judge of the Pierce County Juvenile Court in Washington state, Judge Orlando brings significant leadership and expertise in programs for at-risk youth and their families to the C.H.E.F. Board position.

Judge Orlando has been a Pierce County Superior Court Judge since 2000, having served most newly as the Presiding Judge for Pierce County Superior Court. Before being elected to Superior Court Judge, he was a Superior Court Commissioner and a Municipal Court Judge. Previously, Judge Orlando worked in private practice with the law firm of Rovai, Miller, Orlando, and Helbling, and also had his own practice. Active within numerous community organizations, Judge Orlando recently served on the Pierce County Chemical Dependency Advisory Board and Planning Commissioner for the City of Fircrest. Within the legal community, Judge Orlando is currently the chair of the Presiding Judges Education Committee for the state of Washington, and was also a past chair of the Family Law Committee and the Guardian ad litem Committee.

According to Larry Clark, President and Chief Executive Officer of C.H.E.F., “Judge Orlando brings tremendous value to our Board and organization as a highly accomplished local and state leader dedicated to helping at-risk youth and their families. As an organization focused on improving the lives of our nation’s youth, we are extremely fortunate to welcome him as our newest Board member, and look forward to the opportunity for our senior management team to work closely with him.”

Judge Orlando said, “I’m delighted to serve on the C.H.E.F. Board because there is a great deal of synergy between us. Our mutual focus on addressing the issues of today’s at-risk youth is critically important, and I look forward to helping C.H.E.F. further its mission and make an even greater positive impact on at-risk youth within Washington state.”

Comprehensive Health Education Foundation established in 1974, Seattle-based Comprehensive Health Education Foundation (C.H.E.F. ®) is devoted to promoting health and quality of life through education, addressing such important topics as childhood obesity, stress, and other unhealthy behaviors. As a nationally known nonprofit organization, C.H.E.F. develops a variety of health promotion and prevention education programs and products targeted to the early childhood, school-aged youth, and healthy aging markets.