Al Barton has been tabbed as the new permanent executive director of Mid-Columbia Center for Living.  The Tri-County Mental Health Board made the selection.  Barton has been acting as the interim director since July of last year.  He began his career at Center for Living in 2008 as a Clinical Supervisor before becoming a Clinical Services Manager in 2009.  Prior to assuming the interim executive director position, Barton served as the agency’s deputy director for five years.  Before joining Center for Living, Barton held the Executive Director position and Director of Needs Assessment and Outpatient Services at Piney Ridge Center, a psychiatric residential health facility in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  He has worked in correctional, developmental disabilities and residential settings.