People on the Move

Brett and Daughert promote, hire

Brett and Daughert promoted one lawyer and hired a new associate. Kirsten Barron was named equity partner at the firm. She specializes in business and employment law and has practiced for the past 13 years. In business law she focuses on entity formation, contracts and transactions. As an employment lawyer she represents both unionized and non-unionized employers, advising on matters such as severance, as well as age and sex discrimination.

Sallye N. Quinn is new to the firm’s business department. She comes to Bellingham after working for four years with the largest firm in Boise, Idaho. Quinn will focus on business transactions and commercial litigation, with special interest in real estate transactions, finance, leasing and collections.

 

Perry now senior vice president

Mike Perry was named senior vice president for investments at the Bellingham office of Wachovia Securities. Perry joined the firm in 2000.

He has a degree from the College of Business and Economics at Western Washington University and remains active on the university’s alumni board.

“We are delighted that an individual of his caliber is affiliated with our firm,” said Vince Madden, manager of the Bellingham office.

In his new position Perry will continue to provide investment advice to clients of the firm.

Gafoor named deputy director

Rafeeka Gafoor was named deputy director of the Bellingham Whatcom Economic Develop-ment Council. She was promoted to recognize her special efforts as the EDC went through a recent reorganization.

She joined the council in 2001 and has a business degree from Western Washington University.

 

Scott now at Madrona

Dr. Marion Scott is a new allergist and immunologist at the Madrona Medical Group. She has practiced for more than 16 years and specializes in treating asthma, allergies and immunodeficiency disorders. She comes to the medical group from private practice.

Dr. Scott has an undergraduate degree in nursing from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and her medical degree from Hahnemann Medical College also in Philadelphia. She completed pediatric residencies in New Jersey and Colorado. Dr. Scott has also co-authored a book called “A Parent’s Guide to Food Allergies.

 

Two move to day spa

Jana Petree and Casey Farris moved to Reflections Salon and Day Spa after their former shop, Advanz Hair Studio, was forced to close.

The pair have over 12 years of experience specializing in hair design and corrective color.

 

Jeffrey named realtor of the year

Sean Jeffrey, sales associate at RE/MAX Whatcom County in Ferndale, won the 2003 realtor of the year award for his office. This is the second straight year he has won the realtor of the year award.

Jeffrey also earned entry into the company’s 100 Percent Club, a designation based on sales production and limited to fewer than 25 percent of the company’s sales force. He’s been a real estate professional for the past seven years, the past six with RE/MAX.

 

Patrick named foreman

Robert H. Patrick recently joined Arrow Electric NW as project foreman. He has more than 20 years experience as a journeyman electrician and will oversee both commercial and residential projects.

“He’s experienced with motor control systems and custom wiring applications as well as project management and estimating,” said Jeff Carr, president of Arrow Electric.

 

Insurance office announces promotion and hiring

Bob Wallin Insur-ance recently announ-ced three promotions and two new team members.

Von Smith was promoted to vice president and shareholder. He joined the agency in 1997 as a commercial lines producer. Smith started in the insurance business in 1985 with Mutual of Omaha where he held both sales and management positions.

Ann Leonard was named general manager at the agency. She joined Bob Wallin Insurance last year after receiving her property and casualty license. Leonard has 20 years of customer service experience with Puget Sound Energy and two years with Potelco Inc. In this position she will be responsible for commercial lines customer service and for overseeing human resources.

Sue DeLeon recently earned her property and casualty license. She is the agency’s bookkeeper and started working there in 1991.

Kim Owsley joined the company as a licensed agent and service representative. She has almost 10 years of experience in insurance, previously working for an agency in Walla Walla. Owsley has also attended personal lines and commercial lines training courses offered by Safeco.

Alger DeLeon joined the agency as a personal lines agent. He’s a fluent Spanish speaker and comes to the agency after seven years working for Les Schwab.

 

Beacon agents earn licenses

Greg Williams and Mary Kowalski both passed the state’s property and casualty insurance exam and became licensed agents at Beacon Insurance Group in Lynden.

Williams will focus on auto and home insurance policies while Kowalski will continue to serve as administrative assistant and customer service representative for the company.

 

Fraser promoted at People’s Bank

Robert Fraser was named vice president and commercial loan officer at People’s Bank. He joined the company in 2002 and brought with him over 19 years experience in banking including 10 years of branch management and commercial lending experience in Lynden.

Fraser has an undergraduate degree from Chapman College and is a graduate of both the Western Agricultural Commercial Lending School and the Northwest Intermediate Commercial Lending School. He’s also past president of the Lynden Chamber of Commerce.

 

Realtors earn national recognition

Shirley Bennett and Kim Filippini both earned Accredited Buyer Representation designations from the National Association of Realtors recently. The agents work at Keller Williams Realty. The ABR designation indicates an agent has taken coursework designed to make them more effective as a buyer’s agent.

 

Hagedorn joins insurance agency

Bob Hagedorn joined Snapper Shuler Kenner Insurance in Lynden as an agent. He spent the last eight years as advertising sales representative at Pulse Publications, publisher of Whatcom County Business Pulse magazine.

 

Bensel now head pro at Shuksan

Chris Bensel was named head golf pro at Shuksan Golf Club recently. He comes to the club from Lake Padden Golf Club where he was PGA golf professional. He also served as director of instruction at the Pacific Coast School of Golf. As head professional, Bensel is responsible for player and membership development, tournaments, summer leagues, golf instruction and clinics, merchandising, and staff and management.

 

City Dogs adds more crew

Brenda Hazelwood joined City Dogs as a new groomer. She brings more than 10 years experience as a dog groomer and recently relocated to Bellingham from Yuma, Arizona.

The City Dogs staff attended a seminar in Seattle focusing on grooming Scottish Terriers.

 

Greer joins cleaning company

Kevin Greer was recently hired as general manager of Northwest Professional Services. He brings over 18 years experience in the cleaning and supply industry. As general manager he will oversee all aspects of the company’s operations and promotion efforts.

Northwest Professional Services is cleaning and supply company and has operated in Whatcom County since 1974.

 

McKendry joins marketing firm

Heather McKendry joined ioCreative as senior project manager. She has more than 10 years experience in graphic design and held management positions at MB Design and at Applied Digital Imaging. In her new position McKendry will manage projects and keep an eye on the company’s efficiency and profitability.

 

Coppa chef trained by superstar

Chef Mark Moehn joined the Coppa Mediterranean Bistro in Fairhaven as executive chef. He has extensive experience as a professional chef, most recently serving as head chef at Homestead Farms Golf Resort and as chef and restaurant manager at Bistecca Italian Steakhouse.

Moehn trained with Emeril Legasse in 1986 at the famous Commanders Palace in New Orleans. He left Louisiana to study at the Western Culinary Institute in Portland. Upon graduation he moved to Alaska and spent a number of years working in Anchorage. He has long sought to work with Mediterranean cuisine.

 

Frederick joins public defender Office

Deborah Ann Frederick recently joined the Whatcom County public defender’s office as a deputy defense attorney. She received her Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law last May and passed the bar exam last July. Frederick is a graduate of Sehome High School and has a degree from the University of Washington.

 

Blaine Marine adds a pair

Blaine Marine Services added two new employees.

Pat Scarborough is the new director of operations. He has extensive experience in many aspects of marine industries and has taught docking, navigation and proper boat handling for yachts and high-performance boats. Scarborough also has great experience in the Puget Sound boating environment.

Dawny Pack is the new marketing and brokerage specialist. Her ties to the boating industry stretch back to her childhood where she grew up in the commercial fishing community around Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea in Alaska, often joining the summer sockeye salmon season. Pack has a degree in fine arts from Washington State University and has worked in marketing for a variety of boat companies in San Diego.

 

Beebe joins design firm

Steve Beebe is a new designer at Private Garden Designs, a landscape design and build firm. He recently graduated from the landscape architecture school at the University of British Columbia and will be focused on residential design, working with homeowners to fashion unique gardens.

 

Shelton gets designation

Bruce Shelton received a financial planning specialist designation from Smith Barney. The firm awards the designation to consultants who complete a personal financial training program. The training covers planning for retirement education, investment and income and estate tax.

 

International Absorbents hires East Coast manager

John Swingle is the new general manager of International Absorbents East Coast manufacturing facility. He brings 24 years of experience in various positions with Rayonier, a company that manufactures specialty pulp products. Swingle served as a chief executive, responsible for both manufacturing and engineering as well as sales and research. He has an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from the University of Washington.

International Absorbents is building a new manufacturing facility in Georgia.