BANKING
Steve Hatfield has been named Wells Fargo’s new northwest Washington area president. Hatfield will oversee four Wells Fargo retail banking districts (from north Seattle up to the Canadian border), 40 stores and about 400 team members. The Seattle-area native earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and communications from University of Washington. He has been with Wells Fargo for 11 years.
Russ Lee will join the leadership team at Skagit State Bank as president and chief operating offices on Nov. 5. He will handle the day-to-day operations for the bank, while Skagit State’s current CEO, Cheryl Bishop, will focus more on developing new opportunities for business growth.Lee received MBA from Western Washington University, and a bachelor’s degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Sara Greenleaf, owner and primary accountant of Greenleaf Bookkeeping & Accounting Services in Bellingham, has been named to Intuit Inc.’s Accountant and Advisor Customer Council. Greenleaf is one of 18 council members who will share their insights, experience and expertise to help Intuit develop new products and services for accounting professionals and small business owners. Greenleaf has more than 14 years’ experience in accounting and information systems.
The council meets periodically at Intuit’s Silicon Valley headquarters, getting an inside look at the company’s strategy and products in development. Members participate for two years, sharing their thoughts on critical accountant and small business tools, such as new online and mobile-based solutions.
Irene Lee-Sluys has joined Waddell & Reed in Bellingham as a certified financial planner and financial adviser. Lee-Sluys previously held a similar position for nearly five year with LPL Financial, located at Peoples Bank.
Rick Rosbach has been promoted to resident director of Merrill Lynch’s Bellingham office. Rosbach has been with Merrill Lynch since 2002, and is currently a wealth management adviser with the firm. He is a partner on the Kehoe Rosbach Group, a family team specializing in wealth management solutions for individuals and families.
PUBLIC SECTOR
Marvin Waschke, a newly-retired former manager and software architect at CA Technologies, has been appointed to the Whatcom County Library System’s board of trustees. Waschke joins the five-member volunteer board that is appointed by the Whatcom County Executive. The trustees are responsible for budget oversight and setting policy for the county’s library system.
REAL ESTATE
Brandon Nelson has joined Keller Williams Western Realty in Bellingham as a residential real-estate broker. Nelson previously spent seven years with RE/MAX.
TECHNOLOGY
Big Fresh, a Web design and development firm in Bellingham, has hired Chris Clizbe as a technician in its Tech Help divison. Clizbe is the former owner of Lynden IT, which he closed last year. Clizbe has more than 17 years of experience in the information-technology industry, and also has a background in quality control, logistics, communications, and security in the U.S. Army National Guard.
Big Fresh has also hired Jordan Andersen as graphic designer at Big Fresh. Anderson graduated from Western Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in design. He has previous experience as a graphic designer in WWU’s College of Fine and Performing Arts.
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