Joines Tabbed Horizon Bank President

Dennis Joines has been named president and chief operating officer of Bellingham-based Horizon Bank.

“Dennis brings strong commercial banking and lending expertise to Horizon, an area of increasing focus for our company,” says V. Lawrence Evans, president and chief executive officer of the bank’s holding company, Horizon Financial Corp.

Joines has worked at Pacific Northwest banks for more than 30 years. Most recently, he was a senior vice president and national small business manager for Washington Mutual Bank. Joines spent the early part of his career at Rainier Bank and remained there after its acquisition by Security Pacific Bank in 1989. He joined West One Bank in 1991 to lead all of its business banking locations in Western Washington. Joines moved in 1993 to KeyBank, where he progressed into a variety of key roles, including sales, corporate banking and mortgage, retail and small-business lending.

Horizon Financial is a $746 million bank holding company with 15 offices in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties.

Organization Honors Court Administrator

N.F. Jackson, court administrator for the Whatcom County Superior Court since 1986, was honored April 24 by the Bellingham chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

Jackson was named Best Administrative Professional of the Year during a banquet at Fox Hall in Bellingham. Jackson also serves as the Whatcom County clerk and a Superior Court commissioner. Whatcom County Superior Court conducts 18,200 hearings or trials and summons 24,000 jurors per year. It receives an average of 522 documents each day.

“The trait which is foremost in the quality of work he performs is a burning desire to constantly improve upon the functioning of the courts as it relates to the operation of the court,” says Superior Court Judge Steven Mura in his nominating letter. “Government service tends to become bureaucratic over time and N.F. from my observations constantly works to see that doesn’t happen. He is innovative and can organize and accomplish more work output than anyone I have had the pleasure of working with.”

Nominees for the award had to be currently employed as an office professional with at least five years of experience. Nominees didn’t have to be members of IAAP.

For more information about the organization, visit ww.bellingham-iaap.freeservers.com.

WWU Alumni Honor Brown & Cole President

Craig Cole, president of Bellingham-based Brown & Cole Stores, was honored at an April 19 banquet as the 2002 Distinguished Alumnus by the Western Washington University Alumni Association.

Cole, a 1977 Fairhaven College graduate, was involved in numerous Associated Students committees in the 1970s. He served on Western’s Board of Trustees from 1985 to 1995 and also has served on the Fairhaven College Advisory Board and the Western Washington University Foundation board. He was chosen for the Distinguished Alumnus award for his service to Western and the Whatcom County community.

Cole’s grocery company has 35 stores and 2,200 employees in Washington, Oregon and Montana.

Resort Names Waithe Managing Director

Resort Semiahmoo in Blaine has named Tom Waithe its managing director.

Waithe is responsible for the entire operation of Resort Semiahmoo, excluding real estate sales and development. He will continue its repositioning to meet the standards of Mobil Travel Guide Three Star and AAA Four Diamond ratings.

Waite most recently managed the Woodmark Hotel and Spa in Kirkland. He has 15 years of experience in the luxury lodging industry, including 10 years in management positions with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Waithe graduated from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, where he studied marketing management, business administration, hospitality and tourism.

Resort Semiahmoo is owned by Trillium Corp. and managed by MTM Management, a regional collection of independently owned luxury lodging establishments.

 

Trillium’s Legal Team Adds Terpstra

Trillium Corp. of Bellingham has named Nicole Terpstra its assistant general counsel.

Terpstra spent the last three years as an associate attorney in the real estate department at Leonard, Street & Deinard, P.A., a large law firm in Minneapolis, Minn. She graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota Law School after graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa in 1996.

Since its founding in 1974, Trillium Corp. has evolved from a Pacific Northwest real estate company into a global investment firm with a strategically diverse portfolio. The company has nearly $400 million in assets, primarily from its real estate and forestry interests, located in nine states and South America. Its local projects include Resort Semiahmoo in Blaine, the Cordata Mixed-Use Business Park in Bellingham and Northwest Forest Resource Management.

College of Trial Lawyers Inducts Brett

Dean Brett, a partner in the Bellingham law firm of Brett & Daugert, was inducted as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers at its annual meeting March 17.

Brett joins Paul Luvera Jr. and David Welts of Mount Vernon as the organization’s only members in state who practice north of Seattle.

The American College of Trial Lawyers was created in 1950 to recognize excellence in trial lawyers and improve the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the profession. Invitation to membership is based on the nominee’s experience, skill, ability and ethical standards.

Brett graduated from Stanford Law School and has practiced in Bellingham since 1972 with Brett & Daugert. He has served on the board of governors of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, as special district counsel to the disciplinary committee of the Washington State Bar Association and as president of the Whatcom County Bar Association.

Dain Rauscher’s Alvord Honored

Steve Alvord, an associate vice president and financial consultant in RBC Dain Rauscher’s Bellingham office, was named 2001 volunteer of the year by the Boys and Girls Club of Whatcom County.

Alvord was selected for his involvement in the organization’s Alumni Association, youth sports and various fundraisers. He also helped motivate RBC Dain Rauscher’s Bellingham office to donate more than $4,000 last year to the Boys and Girls Club.

Alvord participated in Boys and Girls Club activities as a youth before starring in football at Bellingham High School and the University of Washington. He also played as a defensive lineman in the NFL before joining RBC Dain Rauscher nine years ago.

KeyBank Presents Award to Benner

Susie Benner, a relationship manager at the downtown Bellingham branch of KeyBank, recently received the Key Leadership Award for her outstanding achievements as a member of the Bellingham retail team.

Benner was recognized at an awards banquet in Bellingham for her relationship management skills, professionalism and ability to work well with Key’s numerous lines of business. She has worked in the financial services industry since 1965 and held numerous positions in management and business development.

Hook Grabs Position in Haggen Management

Bob Hook has been appointed retail systems manager for Bellingham-based Haggen, Inc.

Hook has more than 20 years of experience in technology with a strong emphasis on telecommunications and personal computer hardware and software. He was global information technology manager for 10 years at Topline Corp., a worldwide manufacturer and importer of shoes.

Haggen, Inc. operates 28 supermarkets in Washington and Oregon under the Haggen Food & Pharmacy and TOP Food & Drug names.

Rice Insurance Makes
Dahlberg Partner

Dan Dahlberg has became a partner at Rice Insurance in Bellingham.

Dahlberg completed a three-year employment contract containing specific, high-level sales goals and personal work standards. Dahlberg sells personal and commercial insurance products for Rice Insurance, located at 1400 Broadway St.

Barkley Golf Center Adds LeDuc to Staff

Kevin LeDuc recently became the head PGA golf professional at Barkley Golf Center in Bellingham.

LeDuc most recently was head golf professional at Echo Falls Golf Course in Snohomish County. He also has worked at Sudden Valley Golf and Country Club in Bellingham and Avalon Golf Club in Burlington. LeDuc has been a member of the Professional Golfers Association for eight years.

Also, co-owner Noreen Chrysler has become director of golf at Barkley Golf Center, located at 2421 Rimland Drive. The business offers a driving range, pro shop and lessons. For more information, call 527-8707.

Cross Attends Seminars at Trade Show

Kathy Cross, co-owner of Laserpoint Awards & Promotionals in Bellingham, recently attended the Ad Specialty Institute International Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nev.

The show included vendors and suppliers of the latest promotional products and continuing-education classes and seminars on creative marketing solutions, as well as developing effective artwork and e-mail campaigns.

“Merely plopping your names or logo on a product is not really effective marketing anymore,” Cross remarks. “The new trend is to focus more the customer’s objectives, creating direct results.”

Laserpoint Awards & Promotionals offers creative recogntion awards and promotional products. Its showroom is located at 205 E. Kelly Road. For more information, call 398-8714 or visit www.laserpointawards.com.

Morehouse Receives Cleaning Certification

Dan Morehouse, co-owner of Bellingham Home & Office Cleaning, has become a certified carpet-cleaning technician.

Morehouse earned a score of 97 percent on his examination from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) after completing an education program.

The IICRC is a nonprofit certifying organization in Vancouver, Wash. It is dedicated to raising industry standards through technical proficiency.

Bellingham Home & Office Cleaning provides carpet cleaning and maid and janitorial services to residences and businesses in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties. For more information, call 647-2895.

Psychologist Offers Coaching Services

Gloria Harrison, a clinical psychologist in Fairhaven, now offers individual coaching and career counseling from a spiritual perspective.

In addition to traditional psychotherapy, Harrison’s focus is on helping entrepreneurs and employees enhance their leadership reach and move forward, as well as finding greater fulfillment in their careers. Harrison works with clients in discovering and optimizing their strengths, as well as assisting them in understanding their “soul” purpose. She also develops seminars for businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Following more than two decades working in finance and accounting at the corporate level in the United States and Canada, Harrison founded an accounting and tax business in Texas. She then sold her business, completed her doctorate degree and opened her private practice in Fairhaven in 2001.

Her office is located at 1201 11th St., Suite 204B. For more information, call 734-8989 or send e-mail to gharrison@biztran.com.

Kowalski Buys Insurance Agency

Lynda C. Kowalski has purchased a Lynden insurance agency and renamed it Beacon Insurance Group, Inc.

Effective May 1, Kowalski bought Martha S. Stewart Insurance from Sharon Stewart, who retired after owning and operating the agency the last eight years. The agency, located at 208 Third St., Suite 2A, has existed in Whatcom County for 50 years.

Beacon Insurance Group offers auto insurance for individuals and businesses; insurance for homes, farms and businesses; liability insurance for contractors; and bonds. Kowalski says she will be adding life and disability insurance and will include Bellingham in the agency’s target market.

Kowalski has been working for Martha S. Stewart Insurance, starting in customer service and moving up to account and office management. Prior to that, she worked for a major appliance parts distributor in Portland, Ore., as an account manager and in its research department. She led a new division of the company that marketed directly to property management companies throughout the West Coast, giving her knowledge of the insurance needs and risks unique to that sector.

For more information, call Beacon Insurance Group, 354-3006.

Botanical Laboratories Hires MacDonald

Botanical Laboratories, Inc., of Ferndale has appointed Bruce MacDonald its business development manager.

MacDonald provides support for new consumer products and the company’s growth initiatives. He previously worked as a senior director of marketing for West Farm Foods in Seattle and as director of sales for Shuster Laboratories in Boston.

Botaanical Laboratories manufactures oral and topical herbs and homeopathy and nutritional supplements. It is licensed by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

Merrick Certified as Coding Specialist

Susan Merrick, has become a certified coding specialist through the American Health Information Management Association.

Merrick also has become a certified professional coder through the American Association of Professional Coders. Both credentials strengthen her background in coding and billing for hospitals and physician offices.

Merrick has been a coding specialist for ComPASS the last two years. She previously obtained a medical billing certificate and a medical coding certificate from Bellingham Technical College.

Gross Named Manager
at Pacific Trim

Mary Ann Gross has been appointed office manager at Pacific Trim & Floor Supplies in Bellingham.

Gross previously worked for three years at Ralph’s Floors in Lynden.

Pacific Trim, located at 2208 Queen St., carries major brands of floorcovering supplies. For more information, call 671-0880.

Weitzel Ranks High among RE/MAX Agents

Chris Weitzel, an agent for RE/MAX Whatcom County, was placed second in the category of most transactions in 2001 for RE/MAX’s Pacific Northwest Region.

Weitzel, a Bellingham real-estate agent for more than 25 years, was involved in 95 property transactions last year. He was honored by RE/MAX International at a regional banquet in Portland, Ore.

Weitzel, who joined RE/MAX in January 2000, also was named Realtor of the Year 2001 for the local agency’s Sudden Valley office.

Barkley Becomes Moss Adams Consultant

Paul Barkley joined the Bellingham office of Moss Adams LLP as a consultant in March.

Barkley works in the Business Owner Succession Service Department of the company. He previously was a business consultant with the Peace Corps in Uganda and owned a local custom bike-frame business. Barkley received his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Washington and is pursuing an accounting certificate from City University.

Moss Adams is a regional accounting and management consulting firm and the anchor firm for Moores Rowland International, an association of leading independent accounting firms. The Bellingham office provides accounting, tax, financial and business advisory services to clients internationally and in Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties.

Illustrator Attends Book Conference

Ellen Clark of Bellingham recently attended the 11th-annual Society of Children’s Books Writers & Illustrators Conference at Mercer Island.

The conferenc covered current trends, submission specifications and other subjects. Clark is currently illustrating a children’s book and is the restoration artist at Spinnaker Photo Imaging Center in Bellingham.

Peoples Bank Names Executive VPs

Peoples Bank recently promoted George Bowen and Russ Lee to executive vice president.

Lee, the Lynden-based bank’s chief financial officer, joined the bank’s real estate loan center in 1995 and soon was promoted to real estate loan manager. He became senior vice president and chief financial officer in 1998. Lee has worked as a banker in Whatcom County for 23 years and earned a master of business administration degree from Western Washington University.

Bowen first joined Peoples Bank in 1971 and has held senior positions with major banks in Seattle and San Francisco. He earned bachelor’s and MBA degrees from the College of Business and Economics at Western Washington University and received a commercial degree from the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.

The bank also:

• Hired Roger Ford as an assistant vice president and commercial loan officer. Ford worked in the bank’s downtown Bellingham branch and focuses on income property and commercial real estate. Ford has more than eight years of commercial banking experience with previous responsibilities in commercial real estate, credit analysis and consumer lending.

• Named Pam Langstraat manager of its branch inside the new Safeway store in Lynden.

Langstraat has worked for the Lynden-based bank for more than 32 years. She was promoted to vice president in 1996 and promoted to branch manager IV in 2001. Langstraat also manages the bank’s Main and Fairway offices in Lynden.

The Safeway branch, which opened April 10, also includes assistant branch manager Lisa Stauffer. She has worked for Peoples Bank since 1998 and has been an assistant branch manager of its Ferndale and Blaine offices.

• Promoted Jena Sewell to consumer loan manager. Sewell joined the bank in 1995 as assistant branch manager at its Barkley Village office in Bellingham. She also has worked as an administrative assistant and a loan processor.

As a consumer loan manager, Sewell now is responsible for the operational management of the consumer loan department, in addition to underwriting consumer loans.

Stewart Title Promotes Gish, Grant

Stewart Title has named Michael Gish the district agency manager for 35 Stewart Title agents in Washington and Alaska. It also promoted Elizabeth Grant to president and manager of Stewart Title of Whatcom County.

Gish’s career began with Charter Title in Vancouver, Wash. in 1997. He became title department manager for the Vancouver office in 1985. In 1989, Gish was appointed manager of the company’s Pacific County office in South Bend. He was transferred to Bellingham in 1992, becoming manager of Charter Title of Whatcom County. When Stewart Title purchased Charter Title last year, Gish was named president of Stewart Title of Washington.

Gish now oversees agent operations in Washington and Alaska and carries out the underwriting duties for all 35 offices. He will continue to be based in Bellingham.

Grant began her career in title agencies in 1992 as a marketing representative. She was promoted in 1996 to manager of the Jefferson County operations, based in Port Townsend. Grant returned to Bellingham in 1999 and has been serving as assistant manager/escrow manager for Charter Title and then Stewart Title.

The Bellingham office is located in Barkley Building III.

Banner Bank Promotes Trio

Banner Bank has promoted three of its management personnel in Whatcom County.

Linda Hudson moved up from assistant vice president to vice president. Her primary focus as a commercial lender will be to continue the development and enhancement of commercial client relationships with an emphasis on small business and agricultural lending. She joined Banner Bank with its acquisition of Whatcom State Bank and has been an employee since 1987. Banner has more than 20 years of lending experience and previously was responsible for Whatcom State Bank’s consumer loan portfolio.

John Gischer, assistant vice president and Blaine branch manager, also has been appointed manager of the Ferndale branch. As branch manager, Gischer is responsible for increasing the bank’s assets, supervising customer service representatives and assisting customers with banking business. He joined Banner Bank in 2000 and has been in banking since 1996.

Suzanne Vawter was appointed regional marketing representative. She is responsible for implementing marketing goals and objectives for all Banner Bank branches in Western Washington. Vawter joined Banner Bank with its acquisition of Whatcom State Bank and has been an employee since 1995.

Banner Bank operates 39 branch offices and six loan offices in the Pacific Northwest. For more information, visit www.banrbank.com.

Unicom Opens Office with Day, Goodwin

Unicom has made its telecommunications debut in northwest Washington with two faces familiar to Bellingham businesses, Deb Day and Red Goodwin.

Day has been named general manager of Western Washington and Goodwin was appointed senior business account manager for Unicom, the trade name for United Communications, Inc., based in Bend, Ore. The pair are opening an office in the Mount Vernon/Burlington area — Unicom’s first office outside Oregon — and will lead the company’s growth southward to Vancouver, Wash. Businesses in the Bellingham area will be offered the ability to bundle their services if they have locations in other markets.

Day began her telecommunications career in 1969 with the overseas operating center of AT&T; she retired in Washington state as a senior business manager. In 1998, she opened a branch office in Bellingham for Shared Communications.

Goodwin worked with Day in Bellinghm as a senior account executive. Before entering telecommunications, he was owner-operator of Keeneye Productions, a video production company. In his new position, he will assist Day in staffing, sales and marketing.

Unicom was established in 1985 as a long-distance carrier. It now offers local telephone lines, Internet services and e-commerce, frame-relay and private-line Internet connections, telephone systems, wiring and fiber optics, voice mail, teleconferencing and telecommunications consulting. For more information, visit www.unicom.net.

Realtors Honor Four from Whatcom County

Four residents of Whatcom County were received awards April 3 from the Washington Association of Realtors at its annual Spring Business Conference in Bellingham.

Judy Haugness, a real estate loan officer at the Cordata office of Peoples Bank, was named Affiliate of the Year by the state’s Realtors. The award is given to one who promotes professional practices in dealing with Realtors and co-affiliate members of the organization and committee work. Haugness has been chair of the annual awards banquet of the Whatcom County Association of Realtors, served on political action committee and raised funds for local food banks. She has 21 years of banking experience, including six years with Peoples Bank.

Michael Brennan and Pat Rowe of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce were named Partners of the Year by the state association. Brennan, president of the organization, and Rowe, its director of membership development, were cited for their efforts in launching the Business Service Center, which helps start-up and relocating businesses become established in the community.

Sue Stremler, executive officer of the Whatcom County Association of Realtors, received the state organization’s first Realtor Association Executives Award. Selected by executives throughout the state, Stremler was honored for her leadership and participation at local, state and national levels of the association. She also was cited for promoting and enforcing educational programs for agents, raising funds for their political action committee and promoting their professional image.

Stremler has been the local association’s executive officer for the past 10 years.

Whidbey Island Bank Hires Nelson, Ross

Whidbey Island Bank has named Mark Nelson as senior vice president and chief lending officer.

The bank also hired Meredith Ross as a financial consultant and compliance/operations manager for its investment subsidiary, WIB Financial Services, Inc.

Nelson has nearly 30 years of experience in the financial-services industry and most recently was executive vice president and chief credit officer of Evergreen Bank. His responsibilities included the management of a credit portfolio totaling $150 million, which included commercial, real estate and consumer loans. He is a graduate of Western Washington University and has a master of business administration degree. Nelson also attended the Pacific Coast Banking School.

Ross, with 20 years of experience in financial services, has served in management-level positions for several investment advisory, brokerage and trust companies. A graduate of the University of Utah, she also has a master of business administration degree.

A licensed stockbroker, Ross is responsible for providing financial investment and insurance services to Whidbey Island Bank customers in its Bellingham, Burlington, Mount Vernon and Camano Island market areas. She will be based at the bank’s Bakerview branch in Bellingham.

Roundtable Program Announces Managers

The Small Business Development Center of Western Washington University has launched roundtable programs led by two new staff members, Kate Clark and Rex Rhoades.

Clark manages the BusinessLINC program. Although its initial plans were conduct two roundtable meetings, Clark is in the process of organizing monthly meetings for eight groups from four major industries: retail, construction, manufacturing and service-based businesses. Each roundtable is professionally facilitated and offered at no cost to local business owners and manager.

Clark graduated from WWU in 1990 with an art degree and became involved in several small businesses, including her own graphic-design firm. She returned to WWU and graduated with a master of business administration degree in December 2000. She then worked for a local software company before accepting the roundtable position.

Rhoades manages the Tribal BusinessLINC program, which coordinates roundtable discussions and mentorship development for Native Americans.

Rhoades graduated from WWU in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He has owned several Bellingham businesses, including Neptune Boats, Wireless Solutions and OceanAire Yachts. Rhoades is a member of the Chinook Indian Tribe, located near the mouth of the Columbia River, where he lived throughout his childhood and early adult years.

For more information about either program, call the SBDC, 733-4014.

Bank NorthWest Announces Changes

Bank NorthWest has announced various staff promotions, additions and changes at its four offices in Whatcom County.

John Cruikshank has been promoted to senior vice president. He has been with the bank since 2000 and has more than 13 years of banking experience, all in the county. As chief credit officer for Bank NorthWest, he oversees all commercial and consumer lending.

Sue Holland was promoted to vice president. She has been with the bank since 1995, when she assisted in the planning for the opening of its first office in 1997. As operations manager, Holland is responsible for the bank’s compliance with federal banking regulations, security and overall operations. She has more than 20 years of banking experience.

Susan Radonski-Anglada also was promoted to vice president. She is manager of Bank NorthWest’s Barkley office in Bellingham.

Brad Colglazier, a vice president and commercial loan officer, has added the duties of downtown Bellingham branch manager. Colglazier has been with the bank since 1998 and has more than 32 years of banking experience.

Tina LaBree was promoted to operations supervisor of the bank’s Everson branch. She oversees daily customer transactions, supervises customer service representatives and assists customers with banking business and opening new accounts. Suzy Funk transferred from the Everson branch to become operations supervisor of the bank’s main branch in downtown Bellingham.

Mary Jo Peterson was promoted to customer service supervisor at the Barkley branch. She also assists customers with consumer loans and opening new accounts. Her predecessor, Scott Segel transferred to the downtown Bellingham branch, where he will continue to be a customer service supervisor.

Moody, Campion Rank High among Agents

David Moody and Michael Campion of ERA Fairhaven Realty in Bellingham were ranked among ERA’s top 25 agents in Puget Sound in 2001.

Based on sales, Moody placed seventh among the region’s 192 ERA agents and Campion placed 18th.

The agency also announced that Bill Roberts has joined its sales staff, specializing in residential and land transactions. Roberts has been in real estate and auto sales in Whatcom County the last 20 years.

ERA Fairhaven Realty is located at 1100 11th St. For more information, call 676-8990.

Keller Williams Gains Koons, Rice

Karin Koons and Pamela Rice recently joined Keller Williams Realty in Bellingham as real-estate consultants.

Koons has three years of experience as a real-estate agent and also has been buying, repairing and renting investment houses in Bellingham with her husband John Koons since the 1970s. She also has worked as a baker in Whatcom County and Alaska. For more information, call Koons at 220-7249.

Rice’s 30 years of business experience includes 10 years as an office administrator for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. She later spent two years marketing leasehold condominiums in White Rock, B.C. In 1992, Rice developed a practice, assisting Canadians who want to expand their businesses into the United States. She now is a registered immigration assistant and guides clients in building and incorporating their businesses, dealing with taxation, importing their products, understanding U.S. and Canadian law and buying property in the United States. For more information, call her at 756-8700.

Ticen Joins Staff of John L. Scott

Kathy Birdsell, Mick Hannigan and Lark Ticen have joined the sales staff of John L. Scott Real Estate in Bellingham.

Birdsell and Hannigan are returning to John L. Scott. Birdsell has been a real-estate professional for more than 15 years. She also has owned a dancewear business for more than 11 years. Hannigan has more than six year of experience in real-estate sales and also was a real-estate appraiser for four years.

Ticen is new to real-estate sales but has a background in retail sales, neuro-linguistics and business development.

The John L. Scott office is located in Barkley Village at 2930 Newmarket St., Suite 111.