A Legacy of Reliability
This year, we proudly honor Pine Crest resident Charlie Herb as our 2025 Volunteer of the Year, a recognition earned through his calm leadership, generous service and longstanding commitment to Issaquah Highlands.
Charlie embodies what it means to be reliable. He shows up prepared, engaged and ready to solve problems, a quality that has helped Highlands Fiber Network (HFN) navigate important decisions for more than
two decades. His influence is mirrored in the network’s latest upgrade, which allows residents to benefit from the same reliability Charlie has championed for years. Learn more about the upgrade on pages 64-65.
Charlie has been a guiding force on the HFN Board of Directors for the past 12 years, since the community purchased it from Port Blakely in 2013. Prior to that, he joined HFN’s advisory group upon moving into the neighborhood about 22 years ago.
That move marked the beginning of a defining chapter for the Herb family. In 2003, Charlie and his wife Lisa moved to Issaquah Highlands to put down roots and begin growing their family. At the time, less than 500 homes had been constructed and new businesses were just starting to pop up.
The Herb family (left to right): Daniel, Luke, Lisa, Charlie, Catherine and Anne. Photo by Anya Hartshorn
“We were drawn to the community by Port Blakely’s vision of an urban village concept, which included the promise of a diverse community; numerous parks, trails and open spaces; a future school, hospital and shopping center; and a state-of-the-art fiber network,” he said. “We’ve really enjoyed watching that original vision become a reality over the years we’ve lived here.”
All four of their children were born here and raised in Issaquah Highlands. The Herbs found comfort in the area’s open spaces, spending countless hours hiking and biking the local trails. Charlie said they’ve always appreciated the community’s walkability and easy access to parks, especially as their kids grew older and eager to explore the neighborhood on their own.
Charlie’s early involvement with HFN began soon after settling into the community. He remembers seeing “lots of residents around the table” at early advisory meetings. At the time, the internet wasn’t built to support the community’s growing needs, and reliability issues were a regular challenge, he said.
“It’s been a long journey,” he noted. “There have been points of frustration, but I never wanted to end my service [to HFN]. If anything, it kept me going.”
Looking back, Charlie is especially proud of helping negotiate the purchase of HFN from Port Blakely, a process that included gathering input from neighbors through community forums to better understand their priorities for local ownership. He also takes great satisfaction in being part of hiring HFN’s first general manager, Frank Pineau, followed by me in 2020.
Charlie demonstrates strong long-term strategic thinking, carefully weighing risk and reward to keep HFN on the right path while approaching all decisions with precision and care.
Sometimes it’s the decisions that you don’t make that end up being the most important. Charlie’s thoughtful approach to decision making has allowed HFN to avoid some huge pitfalls in the past. HFN’s solid foundation today—both from a network perspective as well as financially—is due in large part to avoiding the wrong decisions at critical moments. His consistency in service to HFN provides an invaluable perspective on the network and the decisions made over the years.
Charlie’s service to HFN reflects his belief that it’s necessary for people to volunteer and serve in their community, whether joining a board or helping a neighbor with something as simple as a cup of sugar. He explained that giving your time becomes even more meaningful when you find joy in it.
“Volunteers make community happen,” he said.
Congratulations, Charlie! Thank you for decades of steady guidance and reliability.
Photos: Charlie and his family over the years in Issaquah Highlands. The Herbs enjoy exploring our local trails, walking and biking around the community, and
watching the community continue to grow.
What They’re Saying About Charlie
“I love working with Charlie! As a 20-year community member, he is always thinking about his neighbors and the impact of our decisions. He is super thoughtful and listens to all perspectives before helping us make decisions.”
Allen Enebo
HFN Board of Directors & Ashland Park Resident
“Charlie could just as well be named Volunteer of the Decade for his tireless work with the community-owned HFN. He has been a part of the executive leadership team there since before the purchase of HFN from Port Blakely. His quiet, strong leadership and technical background have proven invaluable in the development of the network. The community is fortunate to have such talented and dedicated leadership within the
Issaquah Highlands community.”
Larry Norton
Former Board President of HFN & Highlands Council
“During my tenure as general manager, Charlie was always supportive, a great source to bounce ideas with, and always has the community in focus.”
Frank Pineau
Former HFN General Manager
As published in the winter 2026 issue of Community Connect magazine.
Inspired to get involved in our community?
Getting more involved in our community is a fun and easy way to meet people and contribute to the participatory culture of Issaquah Highlands. From community boards and committees to community groups and events, volunteer opportunities are always available.
