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Business Pulse
Quehrn Representing County’s Builders Longtime radio announcer Bill Quehrn has been appointed executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County. Quehrn will serve as executive officer of the 400-member association that represents builders, contractors, remodelers and associates in a number of related industries. “After reviewing their mission statement, which is founded on keeping housing costs as affordable as possible, providing service to their members and maintaining their record of making many positive contributions to the community, it seemed like a good fit for me,” Quehrn remarks. “We were looking for someone with strong community-service credentials and volunteer organization background to be our executive officer,” says Dick Skeers, BIAWC past-president. “We believe Bill brings a considerable share of both to our association.” For more than 25 years, Quehrn was an announcer on KGMI Radio in Bellingham before resigning in August. He also has served countless local charities and community-service organizations as a master of ceremonies, auctioneer and participant. Earlier in December, Quehrn received the 2001 Community Service Award at the Whatcom County Red Cross Real Heroes Breakfast. The BIAWC also announced its 2002 officers: Gary Reid of Gary Reid Homes, president; Dick Skeers of Skeers Construction, past-president; Ken Isenhart of Tiger Construction, first vice president; Dan Williamson of Williamson Construction, second vice president; Audrey Borders of Borders & Son Quality Roofing, secretary; and Bev Dawes of Bev Dawes CPA, treasurer.
Humphrey Leading Local IAAP Chapter Joanna Humphrey of Regence Blue Shield has been elected president of the Bellingham chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals. The other board members for 2002 are Arlene Zimmerman, president-elect, Associated General Contractors of Washington; Pam Clark Hamilton, vice president, Western Washington University; Connie Hernandez, recording secretary, WWU; Ellen Richards, corresponding secretary, Adams Management; and Diana Williamson, treasurer, Seafood Producers Cooperative. Also, chapter members received several awards at the organization’s international convention in Toronto. Judy McCoy was recognized as outstanding division president for top membership gain in her role as president of the Washington-Alaska Division, which led member growth in the United States. Pat Brown, the chapter’s immediate past-president, received a distinguished chapter president award for membership growth. Hamilton was presented the International Plus One award for a net gain in chapter membership. IAAP is the world’s largest association for administrative support staff. It has nearly 700 chapters and 40,000 members and affiliates worldwide. IAAP provides current research on office trends, cutting-edge publications, outstanding seminars and conferences and top-notch resources to help administrative professionals enhance their skills and become more effective contributors to their employers. The Bellingham chapter, founded in 1962, conducts monthly dinner meetings the second Tuesday of each month September through June. For more information, call Hamilton, 650-3981, or visit http://bellingham-iaap.freeservers.com.
3D Computer Adds Network Administrator Jason Kelley has joined the network services department of 3D Computer Corp. in Bellingham. Kelley has certifications from Novell, Microsoft and Cisco and also is a certified firewall administrator. He has more than 10 years of network administration experience and has worked with many law and accounting firms, the banking industry and city governments. “Having a networking staff of eight allows us to offer a broad range of services and provide the fastest response in the area,” says Dave Koshinz, 3D’s chief executive officer. Located at 1423 Railroad Ave. in downtown Bellingham, 3D Computer has been providing professional services in Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties since 1987. For more information, call 671-4906 or visit www.3dcomputer.com.
Larson Gross Adds Silves to Accountants The Whatcom County accounting firm of Larson Gross has hired Tanya Silves as a staff accountant. Silves earned her bachelor of arts degree from Western Washington University in June. She is continuing her education there to complete a required fifth year before taking the certified public accountant exam. Larson Gross is a full-service, CPA firm serving a wide variety of clients. It has offices in Bellingham, Lynden and Blaine. For more information, call 734-4280.
Bradley Establishes Engineering Firm David Bradley has launched Bradley Engineering, Inc., in Bellingham. Before starting his business, Bradley was a structural engineer at Boeing for nine years at Alcoa Intalco Works in Ferndale for five years. Bradley Engineering, located at 811 Yew St., provides structural analysis services for residential and commercial markets, including foundations, retaining walls and most steel- and wood-framed structures. It also performs structural analysis on steel and aluminum structures for the industrial market. “We add value to the project not only by providing the required structural analysis but also making suggestions on how to minimize usage of expensive building materials,” Bradley says.
McCallum Receives HR Chapter’s Award Jack McCallum has been named 2001 Member of the Year by the Mt. Baker Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. McCallum served on the chapter’s board as vice president of communications and public relations in 2001 and was elected to serve in the same capacity for 2002. The human-resources manager for Current Industries, an electrical manufacturing subcontractor in Whatcom County, McCallum also is pursuing a master’s degree in business management. Also, the chapter announced three scholarship winners. Camille Gatza was awarded a scholarship to Bellingham Technical College, where she is taking postgraduate classes in human resource management. She is a graduate of Western Washington University with a master’s degree in business administration. WWU students Elizabeth Thayer and Eric Minshull also received scholarships. Both are in their final year at WWU, majoring in business administration with a focus on human resource management. For more information about the Mt. Baker Chapter, visit www.mtbakershrm.com.
Bellingham CPA Moves Office Vaughn Hagen, a certified public accountant in Bellingham for 11 years, has moved his office to 1015 Dupont St. Hagen says his new location is easily accessible and offers free parking. For more information, call 671-6961.
Birch Bay Chamber Elects Jerns President The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce has elected Nick Jerns, manager of Bank NorthWest’s Birch Bay branch, its president. Other Chamber officers for 2002 are: Julie Gerity, owner of Elma RV Park, vice president and membership chairperson; Pat Palmer, secretary; and Ted Morris, manager of Birch Bay State Park, treasurer. Directors include Richard Emerson, Economic Development Council chairperson; Cheryll Ryan, activities manager for Worldmark, The Resort, Events Committee chairperson; and Ruth Lauman, owner of NWcascades.com, Marketing Committee chairperson. The Birch Bay Chamber conducts general meetings at noon the third Tuesday of each month at Bob’s O-Ke-Do-Kee Corral, 7876 Birch Bay Drive. The public is welcome. The Jan. 15 meeting will feature Hans Herman, chief executive officer and president of TechHaus Washington Inc. TechHaus, a German manufacturer of prefabricated housing, proposes to build a 143,000-square-foot plant in Blaine. It initially would employ 140 people and would expect to employ up to 300 people within three years of operation. For more information about the meeting or the Birch Bay Chamber, call 371-5004.
Scheffer Attends Wine Institute Charity Davis Scheffer, a manager at the Olive Garden restaurant in Bellingham, attended a five-day class at the Olive Garden Wine Institute of Napa Valley in California. The class gave participants a better understanding of wine history, good and wine dynamics and how to make wine more enjoyable for guest by taking the mystery and intimidation out of ordering and enjoying wine. Olive Garden is located at 4276 Guide Meridian in Bellingham. For more information, call 733-6286 or visit www.olivegarden.com.
Larson Gross Partner Heads Hospice Foundation The board of directors of Whatcom Hospice Foundation has elected Alan Knutson, a partner at the Whatcom County accounting firm of Larson Gross, its president for 2002. Other officers for 2002 are Nels Olds, senior vice president for First Union Securities, vice president; Sylvia Holmstrom, owner of Cloudy Mountain Pottery, secretary; Bob Becker, treasurer; and George Bowen, senior vice president for Peoples Bank, immediate past president. Whatcom Hospice Foundation raises funds and friends for Whatcom Hospice, a program of St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham. The mission of the foundation is to help ensure that everyone in the county can choose to use hospice service if they must face the personal and financial crisis of a terminal illness. For more information about the foundation, call 733-1231 or visit www.HospiceHelp.org.
Bank Appoints Hovde to Senior Position Whatcom County resident Richard Hovde has been appointed senior vice president and manager of the Northwest Business and Professional Banking Team for Pacific Northwest Bank. Hovde has more than 32 years of commercial banking experience, including 24 years in Bellingham and Whatcom County. In 1992, he was one of the founding officers of the Bank of Bellingham, which was sold to Horizon Bank in 1999. Hovde now is directing and managing the commercial and business banking activities in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties for Pacific Northwest Bank. Also, Graham Haight has been appointed vice president and residential district manager for Pacific Northwest Bancorp. Haight now is responsible for the management and direction of the bank’s residential lending officers in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties, Whidbey Island and the Olympic Peninsula. He has more than 25 years of experience as a mortgage lender in Snohomish County and most recently worked for the bank in Marysville and Everett.
McKendry Returns to Applied Digital Heather McKendry has returned to Applied Digital Imaging in Bellingham as its director of marketing and client relations. McKendry is leading the company’s marketing efforts, focusing on generating new client relationships and presenting educational technology seminars to the public. Founded in 1987, Applied Digital Imaging is the largest copy house in northwest Washington. Its services include black-and-white and full-color digital printing and photocopying, desktop publishing, large-format color printing, oversized digital prints and photocopies, blueprinting, laminating, bindery and finishing. For more information, call McKendry at 671-9465 or visit www.applieddi.com.
Savage Provides Research for Here’s How Marketing Jerry Savage has been hired as project manager for Here’s How Marketing of Bellingham. Savage is heading the firm’s new department of market research. His background in research methods include survey design and statistical analysis. Here’s How Marketing now is able to provide a variety of new services, including customer satisfaction surveys, product development research, values and lifestyles research, functionality research and other projects designed to test the effectiveness of advertising themes, graphics and venues. Here’s How Marketing, led by president Judith Sult, specializes in creating comprehensive and customized marketing plans for products and services in niche markets. For more information, call 733-1848.
Kelly Moves Business to Blaine Maureen Kelly has moved her business, Sage Butterfly Design from Nashville, Tenn., to Blaine. Sage Butterfly Design was launched three years ago in Nashville as a Web and graphic design. A year ago, Kelly added videography (photo collages on video with music), which are used for weddings, vacations and business presentations and can be placed on videotape or CDs. Clients may submit photos or have Kelly take them. Kelly also has been conducting communication workshops based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator for more than 11 years with a variety of businesses, including Northwest Airlines and MCA Records. For more information, visit www.sagebutterfly.com or call Kelly at 371-7466.
Rogers Heading Fairhaven Association Vicki Rogers, owners of the Inside Passage gift shop, has been elected president for the Fairhaven Association board for 2002. The other officers are Jim Altman, Dos Padres, vice president; Anna Williams, Anna’s Kaddyshack, treasurer; and Alice Maurey, neighborhood resident, secretary. The nonprofit group is chartered to preserve and promote the Historic Fairhaven District. It prints and distributes historical walking tour brochures and organizes events such as “It All Ends in Fairhaven,” “The Bite of Fairhaven” and gallery walks. It recently installed wrought iron benches on corners throughout the district and is working on a project to provide new banners.
Cordova Attends Mold Workshop Bryon Cordova, owner of Service Master of Whatcom County, recently attended a three-day mold remediation course. Mold contamination has been identified as a major issue in water-damaged homes and businesses. The workshop provided technical information and practical techniques for cleaning and removing mold safely and effectively in situations ranging from mild to severe contamination. The course was presented by ServiceMaster Clean in cooperation with Restoration Consultants, a division of Restoration Services, Inc. (RSI). For more information, call Cordova, 734-0314.
Stern Rewarded by Shaklee with Trip Mary Lou Stern of Bellingham recently earned a trip to Las Vegas, Nev., as one of Shaklee’s top sales achievers. Stern, who started Foxstar Wellness Enterprises two years ago, attended business workshops and learned about new Shaklee health products during her stay. For more information, call Stern at 734-7846.
MTC’s Steele Licensed as Engineering Geologist Brian Steele, who has worked on projects in Whatcom County for Materials Testing and Consulting, recently was licensed by the state as a professional engineering geologist. Steele previously earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology. During his five years working for MTC in Burlington, Steele has been involved in projects that include Western Washington University’s Campus Services Facility and St. Joseph Hospital. About 200 people have been licensed in Washington as professional engineering geologists.
Wallace Joins Windermere’s Bellingham Sales Staff Sales associate Kimberly Wallace has joined the Bellingham office of Windermere Real Estate. Wallace previously was a sales associate with Prudential-Kelstrup Real Estate in Bellingham. She has earned the Graduate Realtors Institute designation.
Herndon Becomes Partner at CPA Firm Kathy Herndon, a certified public accountant for 13 years, has become a partner at the Bellingham accounting firm now known as Varner Sytsma & Herndon. Herndon, who has worked for the firm for four years, specializes in international tax transactions, financial planning and tax planning to minimize state and federal taxes. She is close to earning her master’s degree in taxation from Golden Gate University. The firm, formerly known as Varner Sytsma & Associates, also announced two personnel changes. Diane Patterson, previously the office administrator, now is a bookkeeper and tax return preparer as the company positions itself to provide more services in those areas. Lorraine Starr was hired as the new office administrator. Varner Sytsma & Herndon moved its office in December to Barkley Building III at 2200 Rimland Drive, Suite 205. For more information, call 734-8715.
Haggen Announces Promotions, Hiring Haggen, Inc., with headquarters in Bellingham, recently announced several promotions and other personnel news. Frank Reddy was promoted to store manager for the Haggen Food & Pharmacy at Sehome Village in Bellingham. Reedy joined the company in 1993 as a night stocker in Puyallup. He has worked in various positions since then and was named the company’s Perishable Manager of the year in 2000. Tracy Cozby was promoted to Orient Express merchandiser. She joined the company in 1997 as food service manager at the Barkley Village store in Bellingham and most recently was perishable manager at the Meridian Street store in Bellingham. Cozby attended South Seattle Community College’s Food Production and Management program. Before joining Haggen, she was a manager at Glacier Bay Tours and Cruises in Alaska. Ben Wohl has moved up to the position of wine and beer merchandiser. He joined the company in 1995 as a wine specialist at the Barkley Village store. In 1998, he helped open the Woodinville TOP Food & Drug as a wine specialist. Wohl was promoted to wine marketing field specialist in 1999. Lee Seeger was named the company’s floral and garden merchandiser in the fresh foods department. She will oversee the direction of the floral and garden departments. Seeger has worked the past nine years for QFC in several floral positions. She also worked for Haggen in 1991 and 1992 as a garden center clerk and then as garden manager at the West Lynnwood store. Haggen also reported that Derrick Anderson and Ron Johnson have been selected to attend the 2002 Food Industry Management Program at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business. The 14-week course is designed exclusively to develop management skills, leadership qualities and communication expertise in high-potential individuals or proven ability. Anderson is the Barkley Village store manager. He began his grocery career nine years ago as a dairy clerk and in 1995 was promoted to store manager. He worked at several Haggen locations before arriving at the Barkley Village store in 1998. Anderson, who has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western Washington University, was named the company’s store manager of the year for 2000. Johnson is the company’s grocery, deli and self-service deli buyer. He joined Haggen in 1995 after more than 23 years in the food industry. Johnson also has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from WWU. Haggen operates 27 supermarkets in Washington and Oregon under the Haggen Food & Pharmacy and TOP Food & Drug names. It is Washington’s largest independent grocer and the sixth-largest private company based in the state.
Bellingham Architects Elected to AIA Posts Three Bellingham architects have been elected to positions in the American Institute of Architects. Michael Smith, principal of Zervas Group Architects, was elected as secretary-treasurer of the AIA Washington Council. Smith will ascend to the presidency of the council in 2004. He previously served on the Washington Council’s executive board from 1994 to 1997 and was president in 1996. The council serves more than 2,200 licensed architects in six chapters across the state. Jed Clark of Ross McClure Cornwell Architects in Bellingham has been named 2002 president-elect for the Northwest Washington Chapter of the AIA. Susan Kartman of SHK Architects in Bellingham was elected secretary. The other officers are David Pelletier of Pelletier & Schaar Architects in Stanwood, president; John Cheney, The Cheney Architects in Mount Vernon, treasurer; and Jean Steinbrecher of Steinbrecher Architects in Langley, past-president. For more information about the chapter, contact its executive director, Tom Entrikin, 671-9555.
ATG Gains Pair in Bellingham Office Dawn Correll and Kay Judson have joined the Bellingham office of Advanced TelCom Group. Both came from the Bellingham office of FairPoint Communications, which sold its Washington and Oregon customers to ATG in November. Correll now is the Bellingham sales manager for ATG after serving as district sales manager for FairPoint. In addition to sales management, she has a background in both hardware and voice and data sales. She graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor of science degree. Judson is an account relations manager for ATG after serving in a similar position for FairPoint. Her background also includes information systems. Judson graduated from Western Washington University with a bachelor of arts degree. ATG, based in Santa Rosa, Calif., is an Internet and facilities-based telephone company that serves medium-sized businesses. An integrated telecommunications provider, ATG offers medium-speed (DSL) and high-speed (DS1/DS3) Internet services and local exchange, domestic and international long-distrance and other enhanced voice services supported via advanced digital networks. It has more than 700 employees serving the needs of more than 30,000 business customers. ATG is moving this month its Bellingham office into the former FairPoint office at 1201 Cornwall Ave. For more information, call the Bellingham office at 738-8506 or visit www.callatg.com. |
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