Taylor Heading EDC Board; Boos Honored

Bill Taylor, vice president of finance and administration for Wilder Construction Co., has been named board chairman of the Bellingham Whatcom Economic Development Council board.

The EDC also announced that Greg Boos, attorney in the Bellingham law firm of Chang & Boos, had received its Chairman’s Award. Boos was honored for his strong support of the organization, his efforts to assist businesses and the community on immigration and border-crossing issues and his promotion of Whatcom County as a place for investment by Canadian businesses.

The other board officers are Peggy Zoro, a longtime Bellingham banking executive, first vice chair; Kathy Larson, manager of corporate relations for Puget Sound Energy, second vice chair; Greg Boos, immigration attorney, secretary-treasurer; and Wayne Schwandt, managing director of Trillium Corp., immediate past chair.

New board directors are Bellingham Mayor Mark Asmundson; Christine Chin, publisher of The Bellingham Herald; Sam Crawford, Whatcom County Council member; Grant Deger, Bellingham City Council member; Steve Jilk, director of economic development, Port of Bellingham; Willie Jones, chairman, Lummi Indian Business Council; Ted Mischaikov, president and chief operating officer, Trillium Corp.; and Scott Walker, Port of Bellingham commissioner.

They join board directors James Cunningham, general manager, Georgia-Pacific West; John Gargett, president, Fairhaven International; Fred Haskell, president, Haskell Corp.; Guy Jansen, president, LTI Inc.; Jeff Kochman, president, Barkley Co.; Karen Morse, president, Western Washington University; Gary Nelson, president, FiberCloud; and Duane Sammons, president, Duane Sammons Insurance Center.

The purpose of the EDC is to encourage new business investments in Whatcom County. Its primary activities are centered on programs and projects to promote Bellingham and the county as a place to invest. For more information, call 676-4255 or visit www.bwedc.org.

Peoples Bank Names Madsen Assistant VP

Tami Madsen has joined Peoples Bank as assistant vice president and manager of commercial loan support.

Madsen is overseeing the sales support and production functions for the commercial lending teams of the business banking group in Bellingham, as well as Whatcom and Skagit counties. She has more than 17 years of banking experience, including production management for mortgage and commercial banking service centers.

Peoples Bank is a $410 million independent community bank that operates 15 offices in Whatcom, Skagit and King counties.

Photographer Joins Paper in Basketball Venture

Jon Brunk Photography of Bellingham took more than 13,000 action photographs of Class AA and A state basketball tournaments in Yakima in a joint venture with the Yakima Herald-Republic.

Brunk, who has 29 years of photojournalism experience, and David Rubert of Winlock shot the photos during eight days of games in March. Photos were published in the Herald-Republic as well as a special newspaper wrapper utilized for rack sales. Photos also were posted on the newspaper’s Web site, www.yakima-herald.com, which drew more than 10,000 hits.

“This program was conceived as a way to have the public see and purchase high-quality sport-action photography of their favorite teams and players,” Brunk says.

After working at newspapers in Washington and California, Brunk launched his business in 1983. He specializes in photojournalism and assignments for commercial and industrial clients and also has a large library of stock photos. For more information, call 733-8185.

Roggenburg Unveils Cruise Web Site

Linda Roggenburg, owner of Best Cruise Holidays & Tours in Bellingham, has introduced a Web site, www.bestcruiseholidays.com.

The site includes a link to a travel agent data base that allows users to check new promotions posted daily by 15-20 cruise lines and tour companies. Roggenburg also posts trip specials from other sources.

An archive offers still-current specials from the last several months. Users can specify searches for cruise or land-based vacations, as well as destinations and activities within those categories.

3D Computer Promotes Lafferty

Doug Lafferty has been promoted to account manager in the expanded commercial sales department of 3D Computer Corp. in Bellingham.

Lafferty has extensive product knowledge and more than 10 years of customer-service experience.

Located at 1423 Railroad Ave., 3D Computer has been serving clients in Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties since 1987. For more information, call 671-4906 or visit www.3dcomputer.com.

Acupuncturist Moves Office to Ferndale

Gayla Woodenlegs moved in February her Gentle Acupuncture practice to Ferndale.

Woodenlegs began treating clients in Bellingham in April 2001 after graduating from Southwest Acupuncture College in Albuquerque, N.M. with more than 2,400 didactic and clinical hours. She offers acupuncture and oriental medicine for relief of back pain, headaches, emotional issues and stress. Woodenlegs adds that acupuncture can be used in treating digestive and respiratory disorders, premenstrual syndrome and other gynecological issues. It also is used in helping patients with weight loss, acne and scar treatments.

Gentle Acupuncture uses only sterile, disposable needles. The hours of the office at 2076 Main St. are 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays; evenings and Saturdays by appointment. For more information, call 312-1315.

Whatcom Veterinary Adds Dudenhefer

Dr. Pete Dudenhefer has joined the staff of Whatcom Veterinary Hospital in Ferndale.

Dudenhefer focused on small-animal medicine and surgery in Mount Vernon since graduating in 2000 from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University in College Station. His special interests include ultrasound and radiology.

Before attending veterinary school, Dudenhefer worked as a veterinary technician and a director of chiropractic.

Whatcom Veterinary Hospital is located at 5610 Barrett Road. For more information, call 384-0212.

Buckley Heads Board of Arthritis Foundation

Cathy Buckley, owner of Bellingham Athletic Club, has been elected board president of the North Puget Sound Branch of the Arthritis Foundation.

Other board members are: Roger Bourm, Coldwell Banker Miller-Arnason Real Estate; Peter Browning, Skagit County Health Department; Ann Hanson, retired teacher; Terry Hinz, Whatcom County Health & Human Services; Dean Hurst, BP Cherry Point Refinery; Jennifer Perry, Guideline Properties; Julie Ranson, North Coast Credit Union; Bill Schwartz, The Bellingham Herald; Bonnie Trenouth, retired nurse; and Jean Waight, Group Health Cooperative.

The branch presents Arthritis Walks in Everson and Skagit County on May 4, the Resort Semiahmoo Arthritis Foundation Charity Golf Classic on Sept. 13 and the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis in downtown Bellingham on Dec. 14. For more information, call the branch at 733-2866 or visit www.arthritis.org.

Chronister Receives Mutual of Omaha Award

Stan Chronister, an agent in the Bellingham office of Mutual of Omaha Insurance, has been named a President’s Club member by the company for the second consecutive year.

The award reflects the sales level achievement and quality of business of honorees. Chronister also was the company’s top agent in Whatcom and Skagit counties. He has been with the company since 1994 and handles life, disability and medical insurance, Medicare supplements and mutual funds.

Cosmetology Instructor Wins in Competition

Kenneth Carr, an instructor at Bellingham Beauty School, took first place Feb. 24 at a National Costmetology Association of Oregon competition in Jantzen Beach, Ore.

Carr placed first in the novice competition for cosmetologists with licenses for less than two years. Competitors were judged on cutting and styling skills. Carr has been an instructor at Bellingham Beauty School, located at 211 W. Holly St., for one year.

Also, two of the school’s students placed high in events. Meegan Moen won her division of men’s commercial cuts and Cassandra McIntyre placed second in evening comb out.

Veterinarian Opens Office in Blaine

Dr. Jack Schuman, a veterinarian with more than 30 years of experience, has opened Birch Point Cat and Dog Clinic in Blaine.

The clinic will prepare blood work, perform surgery, provide ultrasound exams and take X-rays as needed. Pet owners planning trips to Canada can bring their dogs and cats to the office for rabies shots and health certificates to ensure their animals will be able to return to the United States. Also, Schuman will make house calls.

“It’s easier to understand what’s going on because pets in their own home aren’t stressed as they are coming into the office,” he says.

Schuman plans to conduct a series of low-cost vaccine clinics for cats and dogs at his office and locations at Semiahmoo and Birch Bay.

He is being assisted by registered technician Monica Peterson, who has more than 12 years of veterinary experience.

Birch Point Cat and Dog Clinic is located in the Blaine International Mall at 1733 H St., Suite 800. It is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays (the latter for only half-days). For more information or an appointment, call 201-7614 or 332-2800.

Local Architect Receives National Recognition

Michael E. Smith, principal of Zervas Group Architects in Bellingham, has been elevated to a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

The AIA Fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society and who have achieved a standards of excellence in the profession. It also honors those who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.

Smith’s honor is in a category that recognizes architects who have led the AIA or related professional organizations over a sustained period of time and gained widespread recognition for the results of their work. He has been active in AIA since joining the Northwest Washington Chapter in its infancy in 1984 and becoming its first program chair. Smith soon was elected to the chapter’s board and became its president in 1988.

Smith also became involved with AIA on a statewide basis was was elected to the AIA Washington Council Executive Board in 1993.

In November, Smith became the first person in the 107-year history of the AIA Washington Council to be elected for a second time to its executive board. Currently secretary/treasurer, he will be president in 2004.

Smith will join the College of Fellows at the AIA national convention May 10 in Charlotte, N.C.

Boos Speaking on Border Issues

Bellingham immigration attorney Greg Boos has addressed post-Sept. 11 immigration, border and security issues at recent gatherings.

Boos spoke March 8 at a conference in Washington, D.C. The conference, sponsored by the American Immigration Lawyers Association, is widely acknowledged as being instrumental in shaping national immigration policy. He also spoke Feb. 28 at the Northwest Regional Immigration Seminar in Seattle.

Boos is a partner at the Bellingham office of Chang & Boos, a U.S. international immigration law firm that also has an office in Toronto. He limits his practice to matters relating to U.S. immigration law with an emphasis on business immigration. For more information, visit ww.americanlaw.com.

McKeon Honored as Top GE Agent

GE Long Term Care Insurance has honored John McKeon as one of its top agents in 2001.

McKeon ranked 14th among the company’s 1,800 long-term-care representatives throughout the United States. During the year, he requalified as a master agent and helped 225 people obtain long-term-care insurance. His territory covers Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan and north Snohomish counties.

NW Life & Times Hires Hansen, Fassett

Northwest Life & Times has named Len Hansen as editor and Scott Fassett as an account manager.

Hansen has specialized in communicating to, for and about mature adults for 29 years. Of his 102 professional awards, 63 were related to mature adults. Hansen has been a columnist for two syndicates for 20 years. He is the author of “Life Begins at 50: A Handbook for Creative Retirement Planning,” which is in its third printing, and has been an instructor for journalism and marketing communication classes at three colleges. He graduated from San Francisco State College with a degree in journalism and broadcasting.

Hansen also has been a contributor to Mature Outlook magazine and two Web sites. He most recently was editor of the “Mature Traveler” national newsletter.

Northwest Life & Times is a monthly magazine produced by Pulse Publications, which also publishes this magazine. It focuses on active and affluent mature adults who are homeowners in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan and north Snohomish counties.

Hansen is overseeing an editorial expansion of the magazine, which now includes health, fitness and travel departments, a calendar of events and features on mature adults.

Fassett most recently was an account manager for Office Systems Northwest, specializing in fully integrated document management systems for clients in Skagit and Whatcom counties.

Zoro Leaving KeyBank Post

Peggy Zoro, president of KeyBank’s Bellingham-based Trans-Mountain District since 1996, has left the company as of March 31.

Zoro’s departure is in conjunction with Key’s decision to merge the Trans-Mountain and Seattle-Bellevue districts into the Seattle-Cascades district. The resulting district, covering King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom and Island counties and all of Eastern Washington, is KeyBank’s second largest in terms of assets and deposits. Jim Peoples, formerly president of Key’s Seattle-Bellevue district, now is president of the Seattle-Cascades district.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity this change will give me to pursue other career and community interests, while remaining an active participant in the greater Bellingham community,” Zoro says.

Zoro joined Key Bank in 1993 and in April 1996 became district president, overseeing all community banking, corporate banking and Key PrivateBank sales and service activities in 11 counties in northwest and Eastern Washington.

She currently serves as president of the Western Washington University Foundation Board and vice president of the Museum Without Walls Board and is next in line to become board president of the St. Luke’s Foundation and the Bellingham/Whatcom Economic Development Council. Zoro was named the 1996 Whatcom County Business Person of the Year by Business Pulse.

Peoples says the merger of districts resulted in only a few other staffing changes and wasn’t made to cut costs. He adds that Whatcom County clients of KeyBank won’t be affected and the bank will continue to support community activities.

Bank NorthWest Expands Mortgage Department

Bellingham-based Bank NorthWest has expanded its mortgage department by hiring three employees.

Glenn Powell joined the bank as a real-estate loan officer. He has 11 years of banking experience and most recently was a branch manager in Lynden for another financial institution. Powell is assisting customers in north Whatcom County with new home purchases, refinancing, home-equity loans and construction financing. He is available to meet customers in the bank’s Everson and Birch Bay branches.

Rick Cornelius was hired as a real-estate loan representative. He has been assisting people with home loans since 1996. Cornelius is particularly knowledgeable in helping first-time buyers and those eligible for FHA and VA government loans programs, as well as helping people with conventional mortgages and construction financing. He focuses on serving home buyers in south Whatcom County from the bank’s Barkley branch in Bellingham.

Darla Cannon joined the bank’s downtown office as a real-estate loan processor. She has more than 15 years of experience in real-estate and construction lending.

Bank NorthWest, founded in 1997, has branches in Bellingham’s downtown and Barkley District, Everson and Birch Bay.

Gass, Curtis Join First Union Securities

Brian Gass and Casey Curtis recently joined the Bellingham office of First Union Securities.

Gass is a vice president-investment officer and financial adviser for the firm. He is closed to obtained his designation as a certified financial planner. Gass previously was employed by the financial services firm of Morgan Stanley for four years. He also has worked for Retail National Liquidators, assisting chains of companies that were going out of business in liquidations.

Curtis became a financial consultant for First Union Securities. She formerly was a registered sales assistant at Morgan Stanley for five years and also worked five years in the construction industry.

First Union Securities is located in the third floor of the Bellwether Building. The company has more than 400 offices, $230 billion in client assets and more than 3.3 million accounts nationwide. It is a non-bank affiliate of Wachovia Corp., one of the largest commercial bank holding companies in the country.

For more information, call 527-2120 or visit www.firstunionsec.com.

Hampton Inn Adds Pair in Sales

The Hampton Inn Bellingham Airport has named Mary Baskerville as sales manager and Chris Lindberg as a sales associate.

Baskerville started working in the hospitality industry in 1984 and moved to Bellingham three years ago. Her experience includes positions in the Holiday Inn, Best Western and Shilo hotel chains. She will direct the hotel’s sales and marketing efforts, focusing on its 132 guest rooms.

Lindberg will direct the hotel’s meeting and event services, focusing on its adjacent Fox Hall. She began her hotel career in 1985 with West Coast Hotels in downtown Seattle, gaining more than seven years of experience at convention and resort hotel properties.

Fox Hall’s 3,726-square-foot ballroom is capable of seating 250 people or being divided into two large meeting rooms. It includes an audio/visual system, wireless microphones and a caterer’s kitchen.

Both the hotel and Fox Hall, located off the West Bakerview Road exit of Interstate 5 at 3985 Bennett Ave., are locally owned and operated by Alexander and Associates Management, Inc. For booking or reservation information, call 676-7700 or visit www.hamptoninn-bellingham.com.

Keller Williams Realty Adds 2 in Bellingham

Arlene Eskin and June Ventimiglia recently joined the sales staff of Keller Williams Realty in Bellingham.

Eskin has nearly 20 years of experience in various aspects of the real-estate industry, including construction, mortgages and investment properties. She has been a real-agent agent for more than two years. She currently is associated with a builder who offers custom homes.

Ventimiglia has had a longtime interest in real estate and interior design. She has 20 years of experience in managing a swimming pool service business.

Keller Williams Realty has more than 165 offices and 12,000 agents in North America. The Bellingham office is located in the Lincoln Professional Center at 3800 Byron Ave., Suite 112. For more information, call 738-7070.

 

RE/MAX Honors Bellingham Realtors

Dean and Lori Reece, owners of RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc., since 1991, have been named Broker/Owners of the Year for Pacific Northwest Region of RE/MAX.

“This award goes to owners who have provided exemplary office and community leadership, excelled in recruiting and retaining top agents and consistently participated in and supported RE/MAX events,” says Brad Hanks of RE/MAX Pacific Northwest, which covers Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

RE/MAX Whatcom County has 46 full-time sales agents working out of offices at 913 Lakeway Drive and in Sudden Valley. The company also has a property management division.

Also, Chuck McCord of RE/MAX Whatcom County recently became the agency’s first to receive the RE/MAX Hall of Fame Award.

Realtors who have helped at least 350 families buy or sell homes during their careers with RE/MAX earn the award. McCord has been a Realtor since 1981 and joined RE/MAX in 1992 with wife Roberta McCord as an assistant. He has been named the Whatcom County office’s Realtor of the Year in 1994, 1996 and 1997 and has received the company’s 100% Club award, based on sales production, since 1994.

McCord specializes in waterfront properties but handles all residential properties. He has earned the designation of an accredited buyer’s representative.

Coldwell Banker Honors Local Sales Associates

Coldwell Banker recently honored real-estate sales associates at Coldwell Banker Miller-Arnason in Bellingham.

Dan Cantrell and Greg Flint were named to the company’s International President’s Elite for achieving sales that rank them among the top 4 percent of 75,000 Coldwell Banker agents worldwide.

Donna Ebright, Mike Hill, Doug Nesbit, Chuck Occhiogrosso and Monte Young qualified for the International President’s Circle for sales that place them in the top 11 percent of Coldwell Banker agents.

 

The International Diamond Society, honoring those in the top 19 percent of sales, includes Billy Brown, Anne Cantrell, George Geer, Greg Grant, Bob Harnden, Jan Harper, Dick Martin, Rick Monrean, Richard Eggemeyer, Mike Rawls, Lori Jo Smith, Dean Ulrich and Fred Wepprecht of the Bellingham agency.

Bonnie Strode, Mary Schreck and Bob Rice were chosen for the International Sterling Society by ranking in the top 26 percent in sales.

Coldwell Banker Miller-Arnason is located at 3610 Meridian St. For more information, call 734-3420.