Durham awarded 2009 Distinguished Teaching Fellowship
Yvonne Durham has been given the Distinguished Teaching Fellowship Award by Western’s College of Business and Economics. The award recognizes a tenured faculty member in the College of Business and Economics who has demonstrated sustained excellence through scholarly contributions to the teaching mission of the college and to student learning in the fields of business and economics.
Durham was hired at Western in 2000 and is currently responsible for coordinating the teaching of the introductory economics courses at Western.
Horizon Bank recognizes employee volunteer activities
Horizon Bank employee Mary Wilson was recently recognized for her outstanding volunteer work with the Ferndale Boys & Girls Club in Whatcom County. Wilson has been affiliated with the club for 14 years and has served on their board of directors for the last four. Last month, she was appointed to Ferndale Capital Campaign Chairperson for 2009, with a goal to raise $500,000 by the end of the year. To date, the campaign has raised $243,000.
Bio Bug hires new technician
Bio Bug, a local pest management service in Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties, recently added Dan Potter to their team of technicians. With more than 10 years of experience Potter has a successful track record in providing pest control services to residential and commercial properties.
Potter holds a Washington State Department of Agriculture license, in addition to several other certificates and course completions, keeping him current on the latest pest control technology. Potter’s territory will be Whatcom County.
Local tax group creates opportunity for local veterans
Wanek Stein, of Wanek Stein Tax Advisory Group, recently attended a three-day training event in Topeka, Kan., to learn more about veterans’ benefits. Although this benefit has been around since 1951, it is very rarely utilized because people do not know what is required for them to apply and qualify.
Two employees promoted at Rocket Donuts
Johanna Schmitz has been promoted from assistant manager to general manager of Rocket Donuts. She started with the company in April 2007 managing the Rocket Express Drive-Thru. Schmitz has a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University and has been in the food service industry since 2001. Gabe Tucker, former lead baker, has been promoted to kitchen manager and head baker. Tucker was lead baker at North Coast Premier Breads before joining Rocket Donuts in January 2008.
Beyond Limits Yoga expands
Beyond Limits Yoga LLC recently expanded into Ferndale in partnership with Everyday Fitness located at 1920 Main St. They have added seven new teachers to their studio locations. The new teachers are Sarah Ogmundson, Alicia Mahaney, Jessica Perry, Josh Leman, Kendi Lehman, Susan Churchill and Heidi Mason.
Kiwanis Club selects Kiwanian of the Year,
announces officers
The Kiwanis Club of Bellingham selected Jim Carney as Kiwanian of the Year for 2008. He was honored for his many club activities such as bringing in several new members and spearheading the club’s Tuesday night bingo games at the Bellingham Elks Club.
Officers of Bellingham Kiwanis installed for the year are Rich Emerson, president; Jim Carney, president-elect; Barbara Audley, vice president; Dr. Emily Citron, secretary; Vaughn Hagen, treasurer; and Dick Zagelow, past president.
The club has distributed approximately $10,500 to agencies locally and worldwide. Among the local agencies receiving support this quarter are Computers for Kids in Need, Animals for Natural Therapy, Brigid Collins House, local Key Club, Salvation Army and the Bellingham Food Bank.
Carbajal named dean at College of Humanities
and Social Sciences
Brent Carbajal has been appointed to serve as dean for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Western Washington University, Provost Dennis Murphy announced last month.
Carbajal began as dean March 16. He has served as interim dean of the college since July 1, when former dean Ron Kleinknecht retired. Carbajal was selected following a national search for a permanent dean.
Carbajal has master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Washington. He has been at Western since 1997, serving as a professor of Spanish and for eight years as chair of the university’s Department of Modern and Classical Languages.
Clawson speaks at Building Industry Association of Whatcom County
Banner Bank’s Senior Vice President and North Sound Division Manager Bruce Clawson was selected as guest speaker for the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County (BIAWC) luncheon held March 13. Clawson covered several topics during his speech, including a profile of the TARP program, the current condition of Washington state’s banks and prospects for future banking support for the local real estate and construction industries.
Clawson has 25 years of financial experience and joined Banner Bank in 2002. Prior to joining Banner Bank, he served as a senior finance executive and chief financial officer of two local companies, where he was responsible for accounting, treasury, risk management and much of the companies’ bank financing.
Thompson, Anderson recognized for
multimedia presentation
John Thompson, assistant director of Western Washington University’s Office of University Communications, and Matthew Anderson, Western’s new media coordinator, were honored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) at an awards ceremony Feb. 20.
Thompson and Anderson received a CASE Silver Award for their work on a multimedia presentation of the research done by Eric DeChaine, an assistant professor of Biology at Western. The multimedia site tells the story of DeChaine’s research during the summer of 2008 on the Noatak River in northern Alaska.
Anderson also was given a CASE Silver Award for writing for his story of Thomas Tran, a WWU custodian who runs his own hair studio, teaches dancing and designs clothes, among other pursuits. Tran also helped his family leave Vietnam in the mid-1990s.
Horizon Bank announces two new hires
Sandra Wilcox has joined Horizon Bank as a senior internal auditor and control specialist. Wilcox graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara with a bachelor’s degree in business economics with an emphasis on accounting. Her most recent position was a senior accountant for the City of Newport Beach in California.
Pennie Talbot-Whitish has joined Horizon Bank as a mortgage loan officer serving the Bellingham-area offices. Talbot-Whitish has more than 22 years of extensive financial lending experience. Talbot-Whitish is affiliated with the Whatcom County Associate of Realtors and the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County.
Lakeway Inn names two new managers
The Lakeway Inn & Conference Center, Bellingham’s largest hotel, has appointed Kari Fenton catering sales manager and promoted Kate Carson to marketing manager.
Fenton coordinates large events that involve Lakeway Inn’s catering services such as weddings, conferences, fundraisers and Christmas parties. Fenton spent the last two years as an event/wedding coordinator for a Bellingham caterer. She is professionally trained and a member of the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants. She also has 15 years of experience as a cook for fine-dining restaurants and five years as a restaurant’s assistant manager.
Carson, a member of the Lakeway Inn’s sales staff for nearly two years, now handles promotions and marketing for the hotel and its two restaurants, The Oboe Café and Poppe’s Bistro & Lounge. She also produces monthly e-newsletters for people interested in upcoming specials at the hotel or either restaurant. Carson is a graduate of Whatcom Community College’s Hospitality and Tourism Program and previously worked for the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Mischaikov offers keynote address at
Western commencement
Alumnus Ted Mischaikov, owner of M:KOV Inc., a real estate development company, addressed the Western Washington University winter commencement ceremony on Sat., March 21, in Carver Gymnasium. Approximately 504 undergraduates and 42 master’s candidates received degrees winter quarter.
Mischaikov’s work focuses on urban infill, mixed-use development along with master-planned neighborhoods. He currently is involved in waterfront and brownfield redevelopment, mixed use development in Fairhaven, the creation of a public market for the city of Wenatchee and entitlement for the Larrabee Springs Neighborhood Project, destined to be Whatcom County’s first accredited LEED Neighborhood Design community.
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network adds two
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network recently added Nathan Donohue and Matt Karuza to its nationally recognized Financial Representative Internship program.
Karuza, a senior, and Donohue, a junior, both attend Western Washington University. They join Tam Phan who has been an intern in the Bellingham office since May 2008.
Goodrich achieves membership in Executive Council
Larry C. Goodrich, CFP and branch manager at the 12 Bellwether Way office of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., has been named to the firm’s 2009 Executive Council in recognition of outstanding client service and exemplary professional growth.
Executive Council honors are presented only to those financial advisers who have demonstrated an extremely high level of commitment to clients through personal service and professional integrity.
Goodrich, who joined Raymond James in 1982, has more than 40 years of experience in the financial services industry. He also opened the first Pacific Northwest location for Raymond James.
Cedarbrook Lavender and Herb Farm picks
sales representative
Cedarbrook Lavender and Herb Farm, based in Sequim, Wash., recently announced Daryl Madill as a wholesale sales representative for their Bellingham and Olympic Peninsula businesses.
Opportunity Council announces new manager
The Opportunity Council has named Kathy Washatka as manager of the Northwest Training Institute.
Washatka has more than 30 years of training and organizational development experience working with individuals, businesses and organizations throughout Washington state. Her experience includes 22 years at Whatcom Educational Credit Union, where she was vice-president for operations, human resource specialist, trainer and organizational developer. Most recently, Washatka has worked as an independent consultant providing management training, facilitation, and professional development. She has taught several classes for Northwest Training Institute, including human resource management courses and a six-week “Supervision Essentials” course.
Ladies Auxiliary elects new president
Tami Elliott was elected president of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Her theme is, “Paying it Forward – Because We Care.” Elliott, office manager of Dr. Fredrick Wicknick Oral Surgeon in Belligham, hopes to encourage the support of veterans and their families.
Elliott has been in the dental field for 32 years and is past president of the Dental Office Managers Association. She serves on the Front Office Advisory Board for Washington Dental Service and is a lifetime resident of Ferndale.
Beatty completes retirement plan program
The College for Financial Planning, located in Denver, recently announced that Jodie Beatty of Bellingham has successfully completed the Chartered Retirement Plans Specialists (CRPS) program. Individuals who complete the program, pass a final exam, and sign a code of ethics and disclosure form can earn the right to use the CRPS mark.
Beatty is the district manager and a financial adviser of Waddell & Reed, Inc. Additionally, she serves on the Advisory Council for the Whatcom Young Professionals. Beatty is also a member of the Women’s Professional Network.
Lynden Print Co. promotes new general manager
Lynden Print Co., a division of the Lynden Tribune, promoted a new general manager and promoted a production manager.
Aaron Schiffman, with 20 years of experience in the printing business and about 13 years at Lynden Print Co., has been promoted to general manager.
Steve Engholm has been promoted to handle all print pricing estimates, inside sales and customer service. In a new pledge to customers, Lynden Print Co., will return quotes in four hours.
Ryan Oppewall, formerly the pre-press manager, has been promoted to production manager.
In an effort to better serve the local business community with the new IKON press, Lynden Print Co. has hired Bob Lodder as a new print consultant specializing in outside sales.
Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism adds new staff
Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism recently added Mike Mors, director of sales, and Angie Wrzesinski, administrative assistant, to their staff.
As director of sales, Mors is responsible for developing and implementing strategies that support convention and membership activities for the organization. A Lynden resident, Mike has more than 26 years of experience in sales and marketing.
Wrzesinski, also a Lynden resident, has more than 20 years in the field of accounting and administrative support.
PeaceHealth names new St. Joseph Hospital
foundation director
A longtime fundraiser is taking on that role for the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation, as of March 2.
Glenn Welch, a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), is now chief development officer for the foundation. Chris Phillips, director of community affairs and mission integration for PeaceHealth Whatcom Region, served as interim director of the foundation since July 2008.
Welch, who has extensive experience in all aspects of fund development, has most recently been a consultant for Shands HealthCare in Gainesville, Fla.
Wetherell named interim vice president at Western
Kathy Wetherell has been appointed interim vice president for Business and Financial Affairs at Western Washington University.
Wetherell, currently assistant vice president for Business and Financial Affairs at Western, will succeed George Pierce, who retired March 24.
Wetherell previously had agreed to serve as interim vice president after Pierce retired and until his replacement was named.
Farmers Insurance Agent Rollo Van Slyke earns
“elite” status
Rollo Van Slyke, owner of the Rollo Van Slyke Farmers Insurance Agency, Inc., has qualified as an “Elite” Agent during 2008 by Farmers Insurance. “Elite” status is awarded to agents for consistently high sales volume of commercial insurance policies, plus high client retention, service and profitability.
Bellingham Police introduce Young as public
information officer
The Bellingham Police have introduced Officer Mark Young as their new public information officer (PIO).
Officer Young is currently serving as the department’s crime prevention officer and is a 20-year veteran of the Bellingham Police Department. Prior to coming to the Bellingham Police Department, Young served with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s office as a deputy for five years.
Synergos welcomes new members
The Synergos Business Development & Networking Group recently inducted two new members: Becky Raney, owner of Print & Copy Factory in Bellingham, and Corey Alderson, owner/operator of Alderson Tree Service.
Whatcom Lawns promotes pair as clientele increase
Whatcom Lawns, Inc., which has provided lawn and landscape maintenance since 2000, recently promoted Jeff King and Levi Jansen as the company’s staff expands to handle its increasing clientele.
King, who has four years of management experience, was promoted to operations manager, where he will oversee quality control, customer service and inside sales for Whatcom Lawns. Jansen, an employee since 2004, was promoted to field supervisor and directs the training and safety compliance of work crews. He also is the lead sprinkler-system technician for Whatcom Lawns.
Boundary Bay Brewery general manager receives
award nomination
Janet Lightner, general manager for Boundary Bay Brewery, has been nominated for a Washington Restaurant Association award. Lightner is in the running for 2008 Full Service Operator of the Year and is up against Lane Hoss from Anthony’s Home Port and Mo Shaw of Ray’s Boathouse.
Lightner has worked in the industry for 35 years and has been Boundary’s general manager for the last 10 years. Lightner started working at Boundary Bay as a chef when the brewery first opened.
Local real estate professional earns
EcoBroker certification
Jillian Trinkaus of Coldwell Banker Miller-Arnason in Bellingham has earned the EcoBroker Certified designation, having successfully completed a unique and informative training program on the energy and environmental issues that affect real estate transactions. Trinkaus joins the movement of professionals pushing the real estate market toward energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthier design/features in homes and buildings.
Larson Gross accountants pass CPA exam
Kristin Visser, staff accountant, and Lauren Gaiser, tax intern, recently passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination. The CPA Examination is one of the nation’s most comprehensive professional certification examinations. Passing it is the first step toward a career dedicated to continuous learning.
Kristin Visser earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Western Washington University in June 2007. She is a member of the Larson Gross International Tax & Cross Border Services Team.
Lauren Gaiser also earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Western Washington University. Gaiser graduated cum laude and a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society. In the fall of 2008, she began a tax internship at Larson Gross and works full time in the Lynden office.
AWARDS
Philbin Group receives award for Bellingham projects
The Philbin Group has received the 2008 Environmental Landscape Grand Award for Residential Construction from the Washington Association of Landscape Professionals (WALP). The presentation was made during the Association’s Annual Conference, held in January at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Wash.
The recognition was given for the Samish Highlands Residence and the 10th and Taylor Condominiums, in the category of Landscape Design. The Philbin Group is located in Bellingham and specializes in residential, commercial, mixed-use, multi-family, and religious projects. The WALP awards program recognizes outstanding performance of its more than 380 member firms throughout the State.
Long one of Top 5 leading women of sustainable business
Sustainable Industries Journal named Bellingham’s Michelle Long as one of the Top 5 First Ladies of Sustainability. The honor recognizes West Coast women who are leading the way in sustainable policy and practice.
Long is the co-founder and executive director of Sustainable Connections, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming and modeling an economy built on sustainable business practices.
Flats awarded wine honors
Flats Tapas in Fairhaven has been awarded Wine Enthusiast’s “Restaurant of Distinction” Award for the second year in a row. Restaurants are judged on the depth of their wine list, their food menu and how its cuisine pairs with the wines. Flats is the only restaurant in Whatcom County to receive the award.
The restaurant, which just celebrated its fourth anniversary, offers more than 200 wines and beer.
Local builder wins statewide award for innovative
custom home
Built Green Washington announced Astal Construction of Bellingham as the 2009 winner of the Western Washington Custom Home category. While competing among entries from all over Western Washington, Astal’s project, “rose above the rest,” in a competitive field among other homes designed for health, safety, energy efficiency and sustainability.
Csaba Horvath, owner of Astal Construction, has been a member of Built Green Whatcom County since 2005. Horvath works on custom projects in Whatcom, Skagit, and San Juan counties, as well as in Alaska and Suncadia, near Cle Elum, Washington.
Port of Bellingham wins Excellence in Financial
Reporting Award
The Port of Bellingham’s Board of Commissioners presented its accounting department with a financial reporting award at its regular meeting on March 3. The department was honored with a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its comprehensive annual financial report.
The certificate of achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. This is the 13th consecutive year the port has won the award.
Aiki Homes named National Green Building Award finalist
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently announced that Aiki Homes is a finalist for the 2009 NAHB National Green Building Awards. The prestigious annual awards honor home builders, remodelers, home builders’ associations and other organizations for advancing green building through innovative design and construction techniques, excellent educational programs and successful advocacy efforts.
Aiki Homes was nominated in the builder category for advocate of the year. The awards will be presented at a gala dinner during the NAHB National Green Building Conference, May 8-10 in Dallas.
Bayside USA nationally certified by Women’s
Business Enterprise
Bayside USA, a Bellingham company specializing in professional recruiting and employment services, recently achieved national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.
The council is the nation’s largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. Bayside USA is solely owned by Sharon McDaniel, the company’s chief executive officer. McDaniel has 35 years of experience, primarily in the field of technical staffing services.
Retirement Residence scores 95 percent walkability score
The Leopold Retirement Residence, located in the heart of downtown Bellingham, scored 95 percent on Walk Score’s walkability scale.
Walk Score calculates the walkability of any address by locating nearby stores, restaurants, schools, parks, etc., according to its Web site, www.walkscore.com. It measures how easy it is to live without a car while accessing local amenities.
With nearly 90 residents with an average age of 85, the Leopold is in an ideal location for ongoing independence for seniors. The Leopold is within walking distance, from one-tenth to two-tenths of a mile, of at least 45 restaurants, cafes, clothing stores, home stores, banks, and a drugstore, and within a quarter-mile of bookstores, the public library and theaters.
Copy Source named to Nation’s Top Business List
for 2009
In recognition of the economic power of privately held businesses, DiversityBusiness.com, the nation’s leading business-to-business Internet site, recently named Copy Source as one of the top businesses in the United States.
This is the ninth annual listing of the Nation’s Top Businesses by DiversityBusiness.com. Companies listed on the Top Business Lists represent the Nation’s top multicultural earners and challenge the long-held notion that a privately held business is small or insignificant.
The winning companies will be honored at a special awards ceremony at the Ninth Annual Multicultural Business Conference, taking place April 29–May 1 at the Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Orlando, Fla.
