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Serka reelected at NCCU Attorney Phil Serka of Adelstein, Sharpe & Serka has been elected to his third three-year term on the board of directors of the North Coast Credit Union. Serka also serves as chairman of the board at the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce. North Coast Credit Union was founded in 1939 and serves members in Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties. Call North Coast Credit Union at 733-3982 or see www.northcoastcu.com.
Attorney assists Red Cross Bellingham attorney Jeff Fairchild is lending his expertise to the human resources committee of the Whatcom County American Red Cross. Fairchild is associated with Adelstein, Sharpe & Serka where he specializes in employment law issues. Some of his areas of expertise include employee manuals and contracts, confidentiality and noncompete agreements, policy drafting, and employee training. Adelstein, Sharpe & Serka can be reached at 671-6565 or www.adelstein.com.
Powell heads Lynden loan center Bank NorthWest has named longtime Lynden resident Glenn Powell as manager of its new loan center in Bender Plaza. The loan center opened in May and is the fifth Bank NorthWest location in Whatcom County. Powell will staff the loan center by himself until such time as demand for service increases. Bank NorthWest was founded in 1997 with the goal of providing the highest level of personal service while focusing on helping the local economy grow. Call the new loan center at 318-8780 or see www.banknorthwest.com.
Bellingham trainer attends seminar Certified Personal Trainer Kristy Moseley, owner of Designed Fitness, attended an Arizona seminar hosted by Gambretta Sports Training Systems. The seminal covered a variety of strength training methods from the individual completing rehabilitation to those new to fitness training to athletes seeking to enhance specific skills. Moseley added 1.7 continuing education credits to her personal training credentials. Call Designed Fitness at 752-2259 or access the website at www.designedfitness.com.
Business leaders join advisory group Fourteen community and business leaders have been named to the Whatcom Literacy Council’s new advisory group, Advocates for Literacy. The group is helping with efforts to raise awareness of the Literacy Council’s mission as well as finding resources to accomplish that mission. Members of Advocates for Literacy are: Jan Bode, technology manager for Anne Bowen, vice-president of Dennis Carroll, site director for Yvonne Cartwright, advertising Maxine Coyne, tutor/trainer for Joe Deeny, of Samuel’s Furniture in Bobbie Dolph, Semiahmoo Ladies Brad Finn, controller for Bellingham Elsie Heinrick, retired from SPIE, Dave Huber, president of Impero Pete Kremen, county executive; Peter Paulsen, owner/developer of Phyllis Self, chair of Whatcom W. A. Taylor, tutor for Whatcom For further details, see the WLC website at www.whatcomliteracy.org, or call 647-3264.
Lahr moves up at Grizzly Industrial Colleen Lahr, controller for Grizzly Industrial, Inc., has been promoted to chief financial officer for the Bellingham firm. Lahr has been with Grizzly since 1996 and a certified public accountant since 1994. She earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Montana State University and has worked in the real estate, small business consulting, and public accounting fields. As CFO, Lahr will head the accounting departments for Grizzly Industrial and its sister companies. Call Grizzly at 647-0801 or see the website at www.grizzly.com.
Writer cites pros and cons of own company Frederick Su, author of the novel An American Sin, is getting a lot of attention and favorable reviews. The Bellingham novelist formed his own company, bytewrite LLC, to publish the book. Su said he formed the company in order to control costs. Most bookstores purchase their stock from wholesalers who generally discount at a 55-60% rate. If publishers fail to hold costs down, the author gets the short end of the bookmark. By forming his own company, Su was able to keep the cost below $2.00 per book. The downside, according to Su, is having to deal with printers who don’t always meet expectations. An American Sin is a fictional memoir of growing up Asian in American society, exploring issues of racism, war and identity. Most of the best-selling Asian authors in this country have been women, so Su’s book brings a fresh perspective. It has won the Multicultural Fiction category of the Independent Publisher Book Awards, and is a finalist in both the Benjamin Franklin Awards of the Publishers Marketing Association and the John Gardner Fiction Book Award from Binghampton (NY) University. Most local bookstores carry the work or it can be ordered online at www.bytewrite.com.
Pudebraugh picks up HR certification Amy Pudebraugh of Tree Island Fastener Division in Ferndale has earned certification as Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). The certification, awarded by the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI), signifies that Pudebraugh possesses the knowledge and experience necessary to pass a rigorous examination demonstrating a mastery of the field. HRCI is affiliated with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), which promotes the establishment of professional standards in the field and recognizes professionals who meet those standards. For further information, see the SHRM website at www.shrm.org.
Employees blossom at Belle Flora Janice Oberg-Barrett, owner of Belle Flora on State Street introduces two floral designers on her staff. Dianne Meishner comes to Belle Flora from Blaine Bouquet where she was manager for the past six years. She began her design career in Hawaii making leis and tropical arrangements. Tatum Brown, according to Oberg-Barrett, “…is the most promising new wedding designer in town.” She comes to Belle Flora from Bakerview Nursery and is a plant specialist as well as designer.
Sterling promotes Sutton Larry Sutton, branch manager for Sterling Savings Blaine office, has been promoted to assistant vice president. Sutton joined Sterling in 1999 after five years as a branch manager with the Bank of Hawaii and six years with SeaFirst. He is president of the Blaine Banker’s Association and the Kiwanis Club, secretary of the chamber of commerce, treasurer of the Whole Town Team, and a member of the Semiahmoo Men’s Club.
Letchworth revives old dance hall Ferndale’s oldest commercial building was originally designed to be a dance hall. Newly certified Jazzercise instructor Lisa Letchworth will help bring the building back to its roots, with a new twist. She will be holding dance aerobics, body sculpting classes, and junior Jazzercise for ages 3-12. There will also be a certified personal trainer and exercise therapist on site to provide training and therapy for those who are injured or unaccustomed to exercise. Jazzercise combines effective exercise with jazz dance-based choreography and popular music. Call Letchworth at 312-1334 for more information or see www.jazzercise.com.
Auto dealer aced out of car Keith Cox Autobahn of Bellingham sponsored hole #5 at the Homestead annual open golf tournament in June. Mike Wade of Mukilteo landed an hole-in-one and won a 2000 Volkswagen GTI VR6 valued at $20,000. The car dealership is located at James and Ohio Streets and specializes in certified pre-owned Volkswagens. For more information, call 733-2721 or see www.keithcoxautobahn.com.
Cutbill promoted at WIB Banking veteran Peter Cutbill has been promoted to vice president and commercial lending team leader at Whidbey Island Bank in Bellingham. He will be responsible for coordinating and supervising the activities of a team of commercial lending officers as well as overseeing commercial loan portfolio development. Cutbill is a member of the Bellingham/Whatcom Economic Development Council, the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce, and the Bellingham Central Lion’s Club. Whisbey Island bank was founded in 1961 and operates 14 branches in Whatcom , Skagit, and Island Counties. Call 800-290-6508 for further details or see the website at www.wibank.com.
Bertschi bakes at Colophon One of Bellingham’s legendary bakery departments will now be in the hands of Amanda Bertschi. The graduate of the New England Culinary Institute is the new bakery manager at Fairhaven’s Colophon Café. Bertschi has worked in a variety of positions in the food industry spanning family and fine dining restaurants in Oregon, Massachusetts, and Germany. She has experience as line cook, pastry and pantry chef, and bartending and serving. Her eventual goal is to acquire the experience necessary to become chef and owner of her own restaurant. Call the Colophon Café at 647-0092 or see www.colophoncafe.com.
WCHC names new coordinator Susan Gribbin is the new coordinator of the Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities (WCHC). She brings 15 years of experience in non-profit management and a MBA degree from Western Washington University to the job. Formerly the Community Health Partnership, WCHC consists of a 24-member leadership council. These citizens engage in broad community initiatives designed to improve the health and well being of everyone in the county. The Coalition has co-sponsored two community wide summits addressing domestic violence and transportation and is currently involved with early breast cancer detection and Learning about Children Together. Community Counts, a study of 50 local health indicators, will be released in the fall of this year. Contact WCHC at 715-1061 or www.whatcomcoalition.org.
Linville heads legislative task force State representative Kelli Linville of Bellingham has been names to the Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force. The regional organization examines fisheries, marine, aquaculture, and seafood issues. The task force was established in 1985 and includes the states of Washington, Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon, Idaho, and the province of British Columbia. A recent victory for the task force was the ban on tributylin for bottom painting of vessels. High-seas drift nets and ballast water discharges are also on the task force’s agenda. Linville points out that “…fish don’t stop swimming when they come to a state or international border. We’ve got to work together to find solutions that work for all of our citizens.” Call Linville at 738-6177.
DeMeyer assumes Key position Amy DeMeyer has been named Relationship Associate for Key Private Banking and Investing in Bellingham. The division of KeyBank is devoted to assisting high net worth clients with financial, planning, deposits, loans, investments, and estate planning. DeMeyer is a graduate of Western Washington University and comes to Key from Horizon Bank where she was marketing and investor relations coordinator. Cleveland based KeyCorp is one of the nation’s largets bank-based financial services companies. For more information, call 425-709-4408 or see www.key.com.
Edward Jones names new chief Tim Villhauer will be taking the reins as investment representative at the Fairhaven office of Edward Jones. Villhauer replaces Denise Bibb who is pursuing opportunities outside the securities industry. Edward Jones traces its roots to 1871 and is the only major investment firm advising individual investors exclusively. Call Edward Jones at 714-8661 or see the website at www.edwardjones.com.
Local attorney speaks out Internationally recognized immigration lawyer Greg Boos of Bellingham is back home after a series of speaking engagements around the nation. He spoke on border issues at the American Immigration Lawyers Association in San Francisco and the Expediting Cross-Border Commerce Conference in Toronto. Boos also presented a paper at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, DC. He is a partner in the firm of Chang & Boos, with offices in Toronto and Ottawa in addition to Bellingham. Contact Greg Boos at 671-5945 or access the Chang & Boos website: www.americanlaw.com.
MacDonald heads Cordata branch Peoples Bank has announced the hiring of Darlene MacDonald as branch manger of its Cordata office. MacDonald brings over 18 years of banking experience in a variety of positions ranging from financial services representative to manager of retail operations. In her new position at Peoples, she will be responsible for office operations, business development, and sales goals. Peoples is an independent community bank founded in 1921 with 16 full-service offices in Whatcom, Skagit, and King Counties. Call Peoples at 354-7240 or access www.peoplesbank-wa.com.
Fairhaven fixture retires Ray Dunn, founder and co-owner of the Colophon Café, has sold his interest in the 17- year-old institution to younger partners David Killian and Chris Brainard. Killian and Brainard have been managing the restaurant for the past 12 years. Dunn plans to do more sailing, write another book, and work part-time as a volunteer forest ranger. He is perhaps best known for his book 20,000 Gallons of Chowder and his soup creations at the Colophon. The Colophon can be reached at 647-0092 or see the website at www.colophoncafe.com.
CVB chief advises Vietnam John Cooper, executive director of the Bellingham/Whatcom County Convention and Visitors Bureau, has been assisting the city of Haiphong, Vietnam, with its business and tourism development. Cooper was appointed by the World Bank and the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle. After a tour of the city, Cooper provided feedback regarding Haiphong’s tourism facilities and infrastructure, assited community leaders with the content of their website, and conducted hospitality training workshops. Haiphong is a major port city in northern Vietnam just 60 miles from the Chinese border with a regional population of about 1.6 million. For more information, call the CVB at 671-3990 or access www.bellingham.org.
Rotary honors WWU president Western Washington University president Karen Morse is the latest Paul Harris Fellow as honored by the Rotary Club of Bellingham. Club president Peggy Zoro cited Morse’s dedication to the students, faculty, and staff of the institution she has led since 1993. Morse was also lauded for enhancing the excellence of academic programs and creating a climate that supports diversity and encourages community service. The WWU president is a longtime Rotarian as well as being very active in a number of community organizations. Further details are available at 650-3350 or www.wwu.edu.
Cole honored as distinguished alumnus Western Washington University has named Craig Cole, CEO of Brown & Cole Stores as its 18th Distinguished Alumnus. Cole graduated from Fairhaven College in 1977 and served on the WWU board of trustees from 1985-1995. In granting the award, the university cited Cole’s service to both WWU and the community. Call WWU at 650-3350 or see the website at www.wwu.edu for further details.
Scholarships awarded to ICU members Four members of the Industrial Credit Union received scholarships recently: Melissa Stoebe, Garret Hodge, Arielle Reimers, and Darrell Rosen. Stoebe and Hodge are graduating seniors at Ferndale High while Reimers and Rosen are adults continuing their education. Sixteen ICU members have been awarded scholarships since the inception of the program in 1996. This is the first year scholarships have been awarded to adults. For more information, call the ICU at 734-2043 or visit the website at www.industrialcu.org.
Greiser takes over at Sudden Valley Sudden Valley Community Association interim manager Steve Grieser has signed a contract with the association’s board of directors to serve as the new general manager. Grieser was formerly manager of the architectural control committee. SVCA president Jon Wolf said the board was unanimous in its decision. “Steve has been with Sudden Valley for a number of years and is intimately familiar with operations and issues which face our growing community,” Wolf said. The new GM is a native of New York state and attended college there before tranaferring to the University of Idaho. He holds a degree in wildlife and fisheries resource management. Call the SVCA at 734-6430 or access the website at www.suddenvalley.com.
Boyington tees off at Semiahmoo Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club has named Bob Boyington to the new position of sales manager. He will oversee the sales and marketing of golf memberships and the availability of overnight accommodations at Loomis Trail for corporate and social events. “We are focusing on elevating our level of customer service, increasing our existing membership’s participation in events, and driving new membership sales,” said Resort Semiahmoo director of finance and golf Rob Fix. Further details are available at 318-2041 or www.semiahmoo.com.
Search and rescue veteran honored by IFA International Footprint Association (IFA) has honored Harry Patz, a 30-year veteran of the Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council, with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Patz has extensive experience in alpine and sub-alpine search and rescue and has exceptional rescue skills in ice, rock, swift water, and search management. He has participated in more than 2,500 voluntary emergency incidents. The IFA is a non-profit organization that encourages fellowship, respect, and cooperation among all branches of law enforcement. IFA boasts about 3,300 members in 39 chapters nationwide. Patz was honored at the IFA annual convention at Resort Semiahmoo last month. For more information, call 319-4637.
New officers at Zonta Zonta International Club of Bellingham has inducted its new officers for the 2002-2003 term. They are: President – Annette DeSalvo, Opportunity Council; Vice-president – Cheryl Ferrier, John L. Scott Real Estate; Vice president – Amy Brock, American Express Financial Services; Secretary – Alexandra Wiley, North Coast Credit Union; Treasurer – Debbie Paton, Opportunity Council. Zonta is a worldwide service organization of executives in business and professions working to advance the status of women. Locally, the club supports the Opportunity Council’s Dorothy Place and the YWCA of Bellingham. Call 734-5121 x 319 for more information or log onto the organization’s website, www.zonta.org.
Emerald Bay Events adds three new sales reps Nanette Paxton, formerly of Events with Class, joined the team in January as a wedding specialist. She has over 5 years experience as a wedding coordinator. Mark Crosby joined Emerald Bay’s kitchen staff in April. He was previously head chef at the Bay Side. Beau McCallum was hired in June as a Skagit-based sales representative. McCallum began as a chef at Emerald Bay Events in 1996. He has been associated with the company for parts of the past five years. Emerald Bay has also launched Unique Event Design, offering party themes and décor for rent.
Hoekstra at Horizon Steve Hoekstra joined Horizon Financial, the holding company for Horizon Bank, as executive vice president and commercial loan manager. “Steve is a seasoned banker who knows the Pacific Northwest,” said V. Lawrence Evans, chairman and CEO of Horizon Bank. “(His) expertise in commercial lending in our home market will help us strengthen that increasingly important part of our operation.” Hoekstra was most recently with Frontier Bank, leading their commercial and retail team. He also spent 22 years at SeaFirst/Bank of America. Karen Thomas RBC Dain Rauscher Karen Thomas of RBC Dain Rauscher in Bellingham earned her Certified Investment Management Consultant designation from the Investment Management Consultants Association. Thomas’ designation means she is trained in modern portfolio theory, developing investment policies, asset allocation, due diligence and performance monitoring. She was also tested on ethical and legal issues faced by investment advisors. RBC Dain Rauscher is a full service securities firm, serving individual investors and small business owners throughout the United States. In Bellingham, their office is at 515 Lakeway Drive.
Kreider and Baron at Windermere Windermere Real Estate announced two additions to their residential and commercial real estate sales force. Michelle Kreider joined Windermere after building custom cabinets for more than 10 years. Her family has been associated with real estate in Whatcom County for many years. “This is a great opportunity for me to work with a highly respected company while using the knowledge gained in the construction industry,” said Kreider. Jim Baron, another new Windermere associate, spent the past 23 years in the telecommunications industry. Baron is a past president of the Lynden Chamber of Commerce and a member of the board of directors of the Northwest Washington Fair.
New financial advice in Ferndale Leanne Kramer is providing investment and insurance service through Beamish Financial. Kramer currently offers similar services through Sunset Financial and Sunset Life Insurance. Her affiliation with Beamish represents an expansion in the number and type of services available to her clients. Contact Kramer at (360) 312-9655.
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