The Markets announces management appointments
The Markets LLC, formerly Brown & Cole Stores, announce several appointments to its senior management team.
Clark Jordan has been named vice president of operations. Jordan most recently worked as a sales manager for Associated Grocers, now Unified Grocers, and has an extensive background in the retail side of the supermarket industry.
Michael Tyson has been named vice president of center store for The Markets. He has more than 24 years of industry experience. Tyson previously worked as director of grocery and procurement for Associated Grocers.
Sal LoGrande has been appointed vice president of perishables. LoGrande, with more than 40 years in the grocery industry, was most recently director of perishables for Northwest Grocers.
The Markets includes 20 supermarkets in Northwestern and Central Washington, operating as Food Pavilion and Cost Cutter. The company is headquartered in Bellingham and will be opening its next store in Birch Bay Square later this year.
Portionables gains plant manager
Sandi Howard will be joining the Portionables management team as plant manager. Howard has spent the past four years working in engineering and new product introductions for Sargento. Prior to that, she spent 18 years working for General Mills in a variety of areas, including operations, training and engineering.
Local photographer accepted in American Society of Media Photographers show
Local photographer Jeanne McGee had her work accepted to the National Competition of the American Society of Media Photographers. The show was held in the Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, Colo., in June.
The selected work was from her series called “Board Dance,” depicting skim boarders jumping waves along the west coast of Mexico. McGee is the owner and photographer of the local Bellingham studio, The Art of Photography, specializing in family, high school senior and children’s portraiture.
Patterson gains QuickBooks certification
Diane Patterson has recently become a 2008 certified QuickBooks pro adviser at Moss Adams LLP. Patterson provides advice and help with the QuickBooks accounting software for any type of business.
Moss Adams LLP in Bellingham provides accounting and consulting services to public, private, and not-for-profit entities in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction, food/agriculture, financial institutions, and gaming operations.
Squalicum Family Dentistry awarded EnviroStars rating
Dr. Aaron Lemperes and Squalicum Family Dentistry have been awarded a three-star EnviroStars rating. The EnviroStars program recognizes businesses based on their practices and policies that demonstrate a commitment to protecting the environment by properly managing and reducing hazardous waste. The dental office was awarded three stars because it has changed practices, processes, or products in order to reduce environmental hazards.
Whatcom County native joins local Thrivent office
Keith Atneosen, a Whatcom County native with three years of experience in financial services, recently joined the Bellingham office of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
Atneosen, a Western Washington University graduate, became a Thrivent Financial representative in 2005, serving members in Illinois. He is now teamed with Thrivent financial consultant Holly Whittle.
Atneosen has earned the Fraternal Insurance Counselor designation and is a member of National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and National Association of Fraternal Insurance Counselors.
Whatcom Young Professionals shifts advisory
council leadership
The Whatcom Young Professionals, a division of the Bellingham and Whatcom Chamber of Commerce, announced changes to its advisory council.
Current social co-chair Troy Wills accepted the position of vice president at last month’s board meeting. Wills, manager of the downtown Peoples Bank, was voted in by majority and will work closely with President Jodie Beatty in leading the Whatcom Young Professionals for 2008 and 2009.
The council also welcomes Diana Bailey as co-chair of the Adventures in Success, an interactive business development seminar. Bailey brings experience of planning and coordinating from her role as events coordinator at the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County.
Larson Gross expands professional team
The Larson Gross Bellingham office has announced the addition of Matt Peterson as senior accountant.
Peterson came on as a team member in February 2008 and officially joined Larson Gross in May. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Central Washington University.
Previously, he worked at a Seattle public accounting firm for two years as a senior associate in audit.
Haggen appoints Roos as director of meat
Jeff Roos has been appointed director of meat at Haggen, Inc. and will oversee the company’s meat departments in 33 stores in Washington and Oregon.
With more than 20 years of experience in the grocery industry, Roos now manages meat departments at Haggen Food and Pharmacy, TOP Food and Drug and Larry’s Market stores.
Roos began his career as an apprentice meat cutter and most recently was a meat and poultry coordinator for Whole Foods Market, directing operations for 30 stores in seven states and Canada.
Color specialist joins studio 910 Salon
Bellingham native Anna-Rose Biemold joined Studio 910 Salon in Fairhaven’s Harris Square as a hair stylist and color specialist. Her 10-year professional experience includes attending Bellingham Beauty School, Vidal Sassoon in London, training with Robert Cromeans, the international artistic designer for Paul Mitchell, and extensive training in cutting techniques with Gary Manuel.
She chose Studio 910 Salon because of its creative and welcoming environment. She specializes in “peek-a-boo” color that gives versatility to a hairstyle.
Wells Fargo adds Zollitsch to National Health
Solutions Program
Wells Fargo Insurance Services announced the addition of Mark Zollitsch as corporate wellness consultant in the company’s Wells Fargo Health Solutions group, an Ohio-based consulting team offering health-preserving strategies and practices to enhance conventional medical care.
As the group’s corporate wellness consultant, Zollitsch will be responsible for designing, implementing and managing healthy lifestyle initiatives for Wells Fargo Health Solutions customers across the country.
Prior to joining Wells Fargo Health Solutions, Zollitsch founded and built corporate and governmental wellness programs for the Lummi Indian Nation.
Page hired as associate at Zender Thurston
Bryan Page has been hired as an associate by Zender Thurston P.S. and will primarily practice in the areas of business and real estate including litigation. Page earned his Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Zender Thurston is a civil practice law firm located in Bellingham.
Fritts, Haskell join ownership at Rice Insurance
Rice Insurance, LLC announced the addition of two current agents to the ownership of the company. James Fritts of Lynden and Troy Haskell of Bellingham will be joining the current ownership consisting of Greg Gudbranson, Ron Thorneycroft, Tim Dickerson, Roger Chamberlin and Dan Dahlberg.
Fritts began working at Rice Insurance shortly after completing a degree in economics at Western Washington University. Haskell, a Central Washington University graduate, also started at Rice shortly after completing a degree in business. Since launching their insurance careers at Rice, both Fritts and Haskell have worked with a wide range of clientele, excelling in both the personal and commercial insurance fields.
The new owners will continue the long-standing tradition of local ownership at Rice Insurance, LLC.
Hudak, Greene promoted at Peoples Bank
Peoples Bank announces the promotions of Staci Hudak to vice president, operations manager and senior underwriter, and Scott Greene to assistant vice president and senior loan officer at the bank’s Bellingham Real Estate Loan Center.
Hudak joined Peoples Bank a year ago, with more than 20 years of experience in the mortgage business, to manage the loan underwriting and loan delivery team. Greene joined the bank with several years of professional experience and has now been with Peoples Bank for more than four years.
Peoples Bank is a $950 million, independent community bank. Headquartered in Lynden, the bank was founded in 1921 and operates 27 branches throughout Washington.
Village Books announces new events coordinator
Nan Macy will be assuming the role of events coordinator for the Village Books Literature Live! program. Former coordinator Sheri Toomey will remain at Village Books as a buyer and bookseller. Macy brings a diverse background that includes writing, videography, print and video editing and community activism.
Village Books, the area’s largest independent general bookstore, also recently celebrated its 28th anniversary in Fairhaven. Welcoming more than 250 authors each year for talks, readings, workshops, and signings, the bookstore’s Literature Live! program is the largest readings and events program in Washington outside of the Seattle area.
Local author launches book tour
Bellingham author Clyde Ford will launch the book tour for the release of his suspense thriller “Precious Cargo” at the Leopold Ballroom, Sept. 2. Ford’s book allows readers to enter a world of murder and intrigue amid the landscape of the Pacific Northwest. The evening includes an exclusive premiere of the exciting special features video filmed for “Precious Cargo,” narrated by Morgan Freeman and starring Ruby Dee, Roscoe Orman, and Swil Kanim.
Loughmiller of RMC Architects named president
of local IAAP
Melanie Loughmiller of RMC Architects was installed as president of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), Bellingham Chapter this month. Loughmiller has been a member of the organization for 12 years and served as its president elect last term.
Loughmiller will also act as the chapter delegate at the IAAP International Convention in New Orleans. She has worked for RMC for eight years.
The IAAP works in partnership with employers to promote excellence among administrative professionals through continuing education, authorized programs, and publications.
Youtsey joins Wells Fargo
Graham Youtsey has been named senior business banking relationship manager at Wells Fargo.
Youtsey, a 15-year financial services veteran, will serve customers in Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan counties. He’s worked as a business banker for Washington Mutual and most recently as a mortgage banker for Homestead Mortgage.
Jerns adds apprentice funeral directors
Jerns Funeral Chapel and Crematorium in Bellingham has added a pair of apprentice funeral directors with long family ties to the funeral home.
Greg Peterson and his daughter, Tiffany Arnett, recently entered the apprenticeship program. They will be assisting families in making arrangements for services, burials and cremations at Jerns Funeral Chapel and Jerns-McKinney Funeral Chapel in Blaine.
They are the son and granddaughter, respectively, of Quentin “Pete” Peterson, who worked at Jerns Funeral Chapel for more than 30 years.
Jerns Funeral Chapel was founded in 1887. The Bellingham and Blaine funeral homes became family owned and operated again in 2007.
WorkSource Whatcom hosts small business
requirements seminar
WorkSource Whatcom will host a free two-hour seminar for small-business owners. Dave Woods, of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (S.C.O.R.E.), will present small-business requirements Sept. 18. Seminar participants receive referral information about community resources for planning and funding a new business.
WorkSource Whatcom is a joint venture of organizations dedicated to addressing local work force needs. This seminar is provided in association with S.C.O.R.E. and the Western Washington University Small Business Development Center.
VanderStaay named vice provost for undergraduate education at WWU
Steven VanderStaay has been appointed Western Washington University’s vice provost for undergraduate education.
VanderStaay, an English professor at Western, will serve a two-year term as vice provost, with possible extension, starting Aug. 11.
North Coast announces new director
of information technology
North Coast Credit Union announced that Mark Favro has joined its team as director of information technology. Favro, a native of Washington, has more than 11 years experience in information technology management. He has a degree in business administration and management from Western Washington University.
Favro was selected from more than 50,000 employees as one of 20 participants in a former employer’s junior executive/mentorship training program and was named I.T. person of the year in 2006.
Founded in 1939 by local firefighters, North Coast Credit Union employs more than 60 people in Skagit and Whatcom counties.
Spencer launches new interior designer business
Lisa Spencer, a Whatcom County interior designer with extensive experience serving residential and commercial clients, recently launched Lisa Spencer Interiors.
Spencer has been an owner and co-owner of an interior-design business in the county for 12 years. She previously worked as a managing senior designer for a firm in California, and as the primary consulting designer and coordinator for The Pebble Beach Company Resort and Golf Course on California’s Monterrey Peninsula.
Lisa Spencer Interiors formulates interior and exterior paint packages for a specific location’s lighting and aesthetics, as well as providing comprehensive turnkey service for new construction, renovation projects and model homes that covers design coordination, planning, budgeting, purchasing and installation.
Gray, Sands, McNamar earn GRI designation
Patty Gray, Jim Sands and Nanc McNamar, sales associates at Fairhaven Realty, recently earned the Graduate Realtor Institute designation from the Washington Association of Realtors. The designation is awarded to professional real estate practitioners who complete three 30-hour classes. The material covers every facet of real estate practice from the laws that apply to transferring real property to how to effectively market homes for sale.
Lehman hired as director of Futurewise Whatcom
Cathy Lehman is the newly hired chapter director for Futurewise Whatcom, the local chapter of statewide smart-growth group Futurewise. Futurewise works to protect rural areas of Whatcom County from irresponsible development.
Lehman was previously the sustainable business development manager for Sustainable Connections, where she helped organize the efforts of more than 600 locally owned businesses in campaigns to buy green power, reduce waste, and increase overall sustainability.
Mount Baker Theatre Board of Directors adds Sidhu, Woo
Satpal Sidhu and Lisa Woo have joined the Mount Baker Theatre board of directors.
Sidhu, a professional engineer, has been dean of professional technical education at Bellingham Technical College since 2002. Satpal has served on the advisory board of Northwest Clean Air Agency since 1998. He is also on the community council of St. Joseph Hospital and the board of directors of Whatcom Counseling and Psychiatric Clinic.
Woo has been a Bellingham resident and active participant in the community since 1982. She owns the Gateway Building in downtown Bellingham, which houses businesses including Bob’s Burgers and Brew and Red Berry, a business she owns. She serves on the board of directors of the Western Washington University Foundation. She is also the Cheong Ju chairperson of the Bellingham Sister City Association, and is currently building a sister city relationship with Cheong Ju, South Korea.
Johnson joins Waddell and Reed
Layne Johnson has joined Waddell and Reed as the firm’s financial adviser in the Bellingham area. Johnson was previously a director with Homeworx Partners, Inc. for eight years.
As a personal financial adviser, Johnson will help develop customized financial plans, recommend investment strategies and counsel clients throughout the area.
Founded in 1937, Waddell and Reed has grown to include more than 500 offices nationwide. The company offers a wide array of investment products and services, as well as a variety of insurance products through arrangements with outside insurance companies.
Ellison, Lloyd gain authority in financial
aspects of divorce
Stew Ellison and Laurie Lloyd have earned professional services designations of Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), the only current CDFAs north of Seattle. This designation, along with Ellison and Lloyd’s combined 41 years of experience, will provide consulting expertise for attorneys and their clients.
The two attorneys educate clients about how critical decisions made during the divorce process will impact their overall financial outlook at the time of divorce and into the extended future. Areas of consideration include: personal versus marital property, property value and division, retirement and pension implications, spousal and child support, keeping versus selling a house, tax problems and solutions and creating settlement agreements.
Trans-Ocean promotes four employees
Trans-Ocean Products, Inc., the market leader in the U.S. retail surimi seafood category and a top refrigerated seafood brand, announced the promotions of Sharon Thompson to safety and training manager, Kenji Maeda to consumer service supervisor, Xiomara Jorissen to payroll and benefits assistant and Janet Morris to human resource assistant.
As safety and training manager, Thompson’s responsibilities include coordinating and conducting all of the company’s safety and training programs and developing training protocols.
New consumer service supervisor Kenji Maeda will now be responsible for answering consumers’ questions about all Trans-Ocean’s branded and non-branded products and managing customer and vendor questionnaires and surveys.
Xiomara Jorissen is responsible for compiling and maintaining employee records as they pertain to wages, transfers, insurance and retirement plans.
In her new human resource assistant position, Janet Morris is largely responsible for hiring and new employee orientations.
Trans-Ocean Products, Inc., founded in 1985 and headquartered in Bellingham, is one of the country’s largest processors of surimi seafoods.
Awards/Anniversaries
Alpha Technologies named one of the
top broadband companies
Power systems provider Alpha Technologies was recently named one of the top 100 broadband companies in the July issue of Broadband Properties magazine.
Alpha was selected due to its innovative battery backup systems, which the industry deems as increasingly crucial to residential fiber deployments.
Working closely with its contract manufacturer, G.B. Enterprises, Alpha has built a business partnership able to react quickly in the development and manufacture of products to serve the rapidly growing fiber-to-the-home market.
Kirschman celebrates 20 years
Leena Kirschman, licensed mortgage adviser at Neighborhood Mortgage, just celebrated her 20th year in the mortgage industry. She has been honored for many accomplishments throughout her career. Some of her recent acknowledgments were being named 2nd Quarter Mortgage Adviser of 2008 along with 1st and 4th Quarter Mortgage Adviser of 2007.
Solar Powered Massage celebrates fifth anniversary
Solar Powered Massage just celebrated its five-year anniversary. Located in the Bellingham Herald building, Solar Powered Massage has grown into a practice specializing in the management of stress-mediated conditions, wellness plans, and the relief of chronic pain and migraine.
Since opening this massage business in September of 2003, owner Beccy Bayne has received additional training in structural relief therapy for correcting soft-tissue pain and dysfunction patterns. Services have also expanded to include an educational lecture series on a range of wellness topics, such as self-care for chronic pain and stress management for women.
WCAR honors Kinney and Thompson
The Whatcom County Association of Realtors presented its second-quarter awards to Ben Kinney of Keller Williams Realty and Jennifer Evans Thompson of North Coast Credit Union.
Kinney was named WCAR’s Realtor of the Second Quarter. After starting in real estate full time in 2004, Kinney now leads a team of 10 agents and three administrators at the Keller Williams Bellingham office.
The WCAR also selected Thompson as its Affiliate of the Second Quarter. A Bellingham native, Thompson is the loan manager for North Coast Credit Union and has 11 years of credit union experience.
WCAR is a nonprofit organization celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. With a membership of more than 800 Realtors, 50 brokers and 60 affiliates, WCAR provides continuing-education classes for members and information for prospective buyers and sellers of real estate.
RE Store celebrates its 15th anniversary
The RE Store opened in July 1993 on Meridian Street with grant money from the Whatcom County Solid Waste Division. This July, the RE Store celebrated its 15-year-anniversary as a leader in the Pacific Northwest with close to 10 awards and more than 50 employees.
The RE Store has two retail stores, located in Bellingham and Seattle. Crews are highly mobile with a fleet of trucks that help people and organizations to save money on removal and disposal fees. RE Store services and stores promote reuse and recycling, while reducing waste. Contributors receive tax receipts for all donated items.
Trans-Ocean named ‘Category Colonel’ by
PL Buyer Magazine
Bellingham-based Trans-Ocean Products, Inc. was recently awarded the designation of Category Colonel by the food industry publication PL Buyer following a survey of retail food purchasing executives at supermarkets and other food retailers. The publication asked the executives to name the suppliers and vendors who delivered “excellence in private label partnership programs.” Trans-Ocean was named the winner in the refrigerated seafood category, in which it produces and packs private label surimi seafood products for several leading supermarket chains.
