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Western counselor wins award

Megan Watt of the Small Business Development Center of Western Washington University’s College of Business and Economics was this year’s recipient of the State Star Award for Counseling.
The award, presented by the Washington Small Business Development Center Network, recognizes the highest levels of accomplishment within the SBDC network.
With the assistance of Watt, a business development specialist, Whatcom County businesses last year accessed more than $4 million of capital and created or retained over 50 local jobs.

Bank NorthWest announces staff additions and promotions

Bank NorthWest employee Scott Reid has been promoted to the position of branch manager of the Birch Bay office. Formerly a commercial and residential real estate lender with the bank’s mortgage department, he is now responsible for growing the bank’s presence in the Birch Bay area.
The bank has also hired Lawrence (Jerry) Heller as the residential mortgage coordinator, and Jeanna Saulino as a customer service representative at the downtown Bellingham branch. Heller brings 16 years of experience as a banking and mortgage lender at Edward Jones Investments in Lynden, and Saulino is currently a student at Western Washington University.

Auditors Office appoints new chief deputy

Debbie Adelstein, formerly a recording and licensing supervisor in the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office, has been appointed as the new Chief Deputy Auditor for Whatcom County.
A graduate from Western Washington University with a BA in Political Science, Adelstein is a committed volunteer to community service, having served on the boards of the Western Foundation, Whatcom Human rights Task Force, Boys & Girls Club of Whatcom County and Western Alumni Association.

Stewart Title hires new employees

Western Washington University computer graphics and photography graduate Heather Cruise joins Stewart Title as an assistant, and accounting student Patricia Talbot joins as a receptionist. Cruise has experience in print production, photography and real estate appraisal, and Talbot previously worked as a receptionist for Alpha Technologies.

Peoples Bank hires new loan representatives

Scott Greene and Carmen Kelley have joined Peoples Bank’s Bellingham home loan center as real estate loan representatives.
Greene joins the bank with several years of professional experience, including a position as the sales manager and owner of his own software company. He graduated from Whatcom Community College with an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree.
Kelley joined Peoples Bank in 1999 as a customer service representative, and her promotion reflects her high level of customer service and professionalism.

Farmers Insurance agent earns ‘top’ honors again

Erik Dyrland, owner of the Erik Dyrland Farmers Insurance Agency in Bellingham, has qualified as a ‘Topper Club’ agent by the corporate office for the 16th time in his 17 years as an agent. The award is given to agents for consistently high sales volume of auto, home, life and business policies, plus high client retention, service and profitability.
Of the more than 13,000 Farmers agents and district managers nationwide, fewer than 900 qualified for the honors.

Cascade DAFO announces new CEO

Bill Weymer, former Senior Executive with Brown & Cole Stores, has been named the new CEO for Cascade DAFO, Inc. in Ferndale. Cascade DAFO, with over 120 employees, is a leading provider of pediatric foot orthoses in the United States.
After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in marketing, Weymer began his career as a wholesaler serving supermarkets in the Northwest. He also spent time as a co-owner of Town and Country Markets, a small grocery chain in the Seattle area.

Bellingham man designs materials for independent film

Bellingham graphic designer Rod Burton, of Roderick C. Burton Art & Design, recently helped create business identity props for “The Immortality Machine,” a feature-length, independently produced film expected to be released in spring of 2005.
His work included a logo, letterhead and office signs identifying a fictional investment company.

Keller Williams Realty hires new team members

Keller Williams Realty of Bellingham recently hired Tracie Benson and Erin Rene as agents.
Benson has extensive customer service background, including ten years as a corporate travel agent and eight years as an international flight attendant. She grew up in Whatcom County and has lived in Los Angeles, New York and Seattle prior to moving back to the area in 1998.
Rene successfully completed Xerox Sales School in 1999, carries a Bachelor of Arts in East Asia Studies from Western and holds a certificate of graduation with honor from Asia University’s intensive Japanese language program in Tokyo.

East Coast acupuncturist relocates to Fairhaven

With six years of experience in acupuncture and herbal medicine, and 14 years in therapeutic massage, owner Nancy Moore is relocating her Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine practice to Fairhaven from Portland, Maine. The move is an effort to be closer to her family in the area.
Moore holds a master's degree from the New England School of Acupuncture, a diplomate of the National Commission for Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and a certification in massage therapy.

The Unity Group promotes from within

The Unity Group, a Northwest Washington insurance agency, recently promoted sales associates Russ Wildenberg and Christopher White to sales executive positions.
Wildenberg joined the agency in 2002 after graduating from Western Washington University with a degree in psychology. Also joining the agency in 2002 after graduating from Western, White holds a degree in business management.

Fairhaven Realty announces new employee

Bellingham real estate company Fairhaven Realty recently hired Chuck Levy as an agent. Levy has 20 years of experience as a property manager, both in California and Washington.

Western industrial design student wins regional award

Western senior Julia Carlson won first place at the 2004 Northwest Industrial Designers Society of America invitational in the student division for her airplane skylight design. She collaborated with Boeing to complete the skylight.
Carlson, who has previously garnered recognition for designs presented at competitions in Japan and elsewhere, is the author of “Snowboarding: A Woman’s Guide,” has helped modify designs for Burton Snowboards, and has been a top-ranked contender in the sport of women’s snowboarding.

Wells Fargo welcomes new store manager

Melanie Berghof has been named the new manager of Wells Fargo’s Bellingham branch. Berghof, who will lead a seven-member team, began her financial services career as a teller in 1995 and has most recently served as the store manager of the Wells Fargo Richmond Beach location.
She holds a finance and management degree from Eastern Washington University.

United Way names new president/ CPO

The United Way of Whatcom County has announced the selection of Pete Atha as president and chief professional officer. Atha’s appointment is the result of a nation-wide search conducted by a search committee comprised of board members and community volunteers.
Atha brings a strong background in fundraising, board development and strategic planning to his position. He previously spent eight years as a secondary and post-secondary classroom teacher, 17 years as a chief staff officer with Junior Achievement Inc., and holds a Masters of Science and Bachelors of Science from Old Dominion University.

Law firm adds attorney

Bellingham law firm Adelstein, Sharpe & Serka has announced the addition of attorney Mark T. Heine to its staff.
Heine holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western, a Juris Doctor degree from Willamette College of Law in Salem, Ore. and is currently studying for his Master of Laws degree in Taxation at the University of Washington School of Law.
His previous experience includes nearly four years with Preston, Gates & Ellis in Seattle where he drafted and negotiated investment limited partnership agreements, advised clients in areas of taxation and performed investment and acquisition due diligence.

Group Health names four new positions

Lisa Garrison and Cathie Murphree have been named to newly created positions as health plan operations consultants in the Group Health Northwest District office, while Mary-Ellen Hodges and Sharon McCormick have been named to new positions as community network service coordinators. Garrison’s and Murphree’s new roles will include several functions aimed at improving health plan services to community physicians and other providers. Hodges and McCormick will act as training resources to the call center and work on service improvement initiatives.
Garrison has been with Group Health 16 years, serving in a variety of lead and supervisory roles, Murphree has worked at Group Health for five years, with an additional 20 years in the industry, Hodges has 13 years of customer services experience at the company, and McCormick has been at Group Health three years.

Western hires new fine & performing arts dean

Carol Edwards, Assistant Dean of the College of the Arts at Kennesaw State University, has been named the new dean of the College of Fine & Performing Arts at Western.
Selected after a nationwide search, Edwards will begin her new duties in September.
At Kennesaw State University in Georgia, Edwards, a professor of art and art education, has been chair of the department of visual arts from 1999 to 2002. She holds a Doctorate in Art Education from Florida State University and has received multiple awards in the art field, including the 1997 Georgia Art Educator of the Year for Higher Education award.

New attorneys welcomed at law firm

Bellingham law firm Brett & Daugert has announced that attorneys Amy Robinson and Bill Coats have recently accepted positions as associates.
Coats will work in the firm’s personal injury department where he will represent individuals seriously injured by the negligence of others. A graduate with honors from Tulane Law School, Coats is a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, and currently serves as chair of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association’s Whatcom County Roundtable.
Robinson will work both in the firm’s business department and personal injury department. She is a graduate of Lewis and Clark law school, currently serves on the Board of Law Advocates and is the chapter representative for Whatcom Women Lawyers.

Haggen CEO named to position

Haggen supermarkets recently announced that Dale Henley, president and CEO, has been named an officer of the Western Association of Food Chains. In 2004 he will serve as secretary-treasurer, and in two years he will serve as president.
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) is a nonprofit organization that represents retailer food sales of approximately $110 billion per year in the western United States. The WAFC’s main purpose is the education of food industry professionals.

Haggen promotes two

Haggen promoted two to management positions recently.
Cheryl-Ann Jones is the new director of food service. She will oversee the Service Deli, Chef’s Counter and Orient Express. Jones joined Haggen in 1991 at the Meridian store deli. She has two undergraduate degrees, one from the University of Queensland in Australia and one from Western Washington University, and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Western Washington University. Jones also graduated from the USC Food Industry Management program.
Sarah Wills was made manager of payroll and human resources. She came to Haggen from VECO USA in 2003. Willis has an undergraduate degree in business administration from Western Washington University and a human resources certificate. She is president elect of the Mount Baker Chapter of the Society for Human Resources Management.

Brown and Cole appoints new employees

Brown and Cole recently announced that Lori Lennon and Tony Zamudio have joined the supermarket chain. Lennon joins as the Employment and Labor Relations Specialist, and Zamudio will take over as the new Bakery Director.
Lennon is a human resources professional with experience in employment and labor relations, most recently as the Human Resources Supervisor for UPS in its Northwest area.
Zamudio, previously a store bakery manager with Brown and Cole, has experience as a bakery sales and technical service rep with Associated Grocers.

New coordinator and Bellingham Health Care

Sharron Beam has been selected as the new admission coordinator at Bellingham Health Care and Rehabilitation Serves. She will be responsible for marketing and customer services.
Beam has experience managing programs serving both seniors and the disabled in Whatcom, Skagit and King counties. She recently returned to Bellingham after 10 years in Bellevue working as a management consultant.

Financial advisor recognized by national organization

Shawn Morton, a financial advisor for Waddell & Reed in Bellingham, has been recognized for membership in to the National Association of Christian Financial Consultants (NACFC). Morton received membership for his commitment to investment and financial planning disciplines centered on biblical principles.
Morton is in his fifth year as a financial advisor with Waddell & Reed. He joined the firm after many years in the private sector and six years as a public school teacher. He holds a Bachelors degree in Mathematics from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma.
Bungard to manage a Peoples
Jeri-Ann Bungard was named branch manager at Peoples Bank in the Barkley Village Haggen. She comes to the bank with 23 years experience in financial services in various management positions.

Sullivan adds plumber

Gary Galyean joined Sullivan Plumbing recently. He brings 25 years experience as a plumber and holds a certified journeyman plumbing license from the State of Oregon. For the past 10 years, Galyean has specialized in residential and commercial remodeling.

Western counselor wins award Megan Watt of the Small Business Development Center of Western Washington University’s College of Business and Economics was this year’s recipient of the State Star Award for Counseling. The award, presented by the Washington Small Business Development Center Network, recognizes the highest levels of accomplishment within the SBDC network. With the assistance of Watt, a business development specialist, Whatcom County businesses last year accessed more than $4 million of capital and created or retained over 50 local jobs. Bank NorthWest announces staff additions and promotions Bank NorthWest employee Scott Reid has been promoted to the position of branch manager of the Birch Bay office. Formerly a commercial and residential real estate lender with the bank’s mortgage department, he is now responsible for growing the bank’s presence in the Birch Bay area. The bank has also hired Lawrence (Jerry) Heller as the residential mortgage coordinator, and Jeanna Saulino as a customer service representative at the downtown Bellingham branch. Heller brings 16 years of experience as a banking and mortgage lender at Edward Jones Investments in Lynden, and Saulino is currently a student at Western Washington University. Auditors Office appoints new chief deputy Debbie Adelstein, formerly a recording and licensing supervisor in the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office, has been appointed as the new Chief Deputy Auditor for Whatcom County. A graduate from Western Washington University with a BA in Political Science, Adelstein is a committed volunteer to community service, having served on the boards of the Western Foundation, Whatcom Human rights Task Force, Boys & Girls Club of Whatcom County and Western Alumni Association. Stewart Title hires new employees Western Washington University computer graphics and photography graduate Heather Cruise joins Stewart Title as an assistant, and accounting student Patricia Talbot joins as a receptionist. Cruise has experience in print production, photography and real estate appraisal, and Talbot previously worked as a receptionist for Alpha Technologies. Peoples Bank hires new loan representatives Scott Greene and Carmen Kelley have joined Peoples Bank’s Bellingham home loan center as real estate loan representatives. Greene joins the bank with several years of professional experience, including a position as the sales manager and owner of his own software company. He graduated from Whatcom Community College with an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree. Kelley joined Peoples Bank in 1999 as a customer service representative, and her promotion reflects her high level of customer service and professionalism. Farmers Insurance agent earns ‘top’ honors again Erik Dyrland, owner of the Erik Dyrland Farmers Insurance Agency in Bellingham, has qualified as a ‘Topper Club’ agent by the corporate office for the 16th time in his 17 years as an agent. The award is given to agents for consistently high sales volume of auto, home, life and business policies, plus high client retention, service and profitability. Of the more than 13,000 Farmers agents and district managers nationwide, fewer than 900 qualified for the honors. Cascade DAFO announces new CEO Bill Weymer, former Senior Executive with Brown & Cole Stores, has been named the new CEO for Cascade DAFO, Inc. in Ferndale. Cascade DAFO, with over 120 employees, is a leading provider of pediatric foot orthoses in the United States. After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in marketing, Weymer began his career as a wholesaler serving supermarkets in the Northwest. He also spent time as a co-owner of Town and Country Markets, a small grocery chain in the Seattle area. Bellingham man designs materials for independent film Bellingham graphic designer Rod Burton, of Roderick C. Burton Art & Design, recently helped create business identity props for “The Immortality Machine,” a feature-length, independently produced film expected to be released in spring of 2005. His work included a logo, letterhead and office signs identifying a fictional investment company. Keller Williams Realty hires new team members Keller Williams Realty of Bellingham recently hired Tracie Benson and Erin Rene as agents. Benson has extensive customer service background, including ten years as a corporate travel agent and eight years as an international flight attendant. She grew up in Whatcom County and has lived in Los Angeles, New York and Seattle prior to moving back to the area in 1998. Rene successfully completed Xerox Sales School in 1999, carries a Bachelor of Arts in East Asia Studies from Western and holds a certificate of graduation with honor from Asia University’s intensive Japanese language program in Tokyo. East Coast acupuncturist relocates to Fairhaven With six years of experience in acupuncture and herbal medicine, and 14 years in therapeutic massage, owner Nancy Moore is relocating her Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine practice to Fairhaven from Portland, Maine. The move is an effort to be closer to her family in the area. Moore holds a master's degree from the New England School of Acupuncture, a diplomate of the National Commission for Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and a certification in massage therapy. The Unity Group promotes from within The Unity Group, a Northwest Washington insurance agency, recently promoted sales associates Russ Wildenberg and Christopher White to sales executive positions. Wildenberg joined the agency in 2002 after graduating from Western Washington University with a degree in psychology. Also joining the agency in 2002 after graduating from Western, White holds a degree in business management. Fairhaven Realty announces new employee Bellingham real estate company Fairhaven Realty recently hired Chuck Levy as an agent. Levy has 20 years of experience as a property manager, both in California and Washington. Western industrial design student wins regional award Western senior Julia Carlson won first place at the 2004 Northwest Industrial Designers Society of America invitational in the student division for her airplane skylight design. She collaborated with Boeing to complete the skylight. Carlson, who has previously garnered recognition for designs presented at competitions in Japan and elsewhere, is the author of “Snowboarding: A Woman’s Guide,” has helped modify designs for Burton Snowboards, and has been a top-ranked contender in the sport of women’s snowboarding. Wells Fargo welcomes new store manager Melanie Berghof has been named the new manager of Wells Fargo’s Bellingham branch. Berghof, who will lead a seven-member team, began her financial services career as a teller in 1995 and has most recently served as the store manager of the Wells Fargo Richmond Beach location. She holds a finance and management degree from Eastern Washington University. United Way names new president/ CPO The United Way of Whatcom County has announced the selection of Pete Atha as president and chief professional officer. Atha’s appointment is the result of a nation-wide search conducted by a search committee comprised of board members and community volunteers. Atha brings a strong background in fundraising, board development and strategic planning to his position. He previously spent eight years as a secondary and post-secondary classroom teacher, 17 years as a chief staff officer with Junior Achievement Inc., and holds a Masters of Science and Bachelors of Science from Old Dominion University. Law firm adds attorney Bellingham law firm Adelstein, Sharpe & Serka has announced the addition of attorney Mark T. Heine to its staff. Heine holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western, a Juris Doctor degree from Willamette College of Law in Salem, Ore. and is currently studying for his Master of Laws degree in Taxation at the University of Washington School of Law. His previous experience includes nearly four years with Preston, Gates & Ellis in Seattle where he drafted and negotiated investment limited partnership agreements, advised clients in areas of taxation and performed investment and acquisition due diligence. Group Health names four new positions Lisa Garrison and Cathie Murphree have been named to newly created positions as health plan operations consultants in the Group Health Northwest District office, while Mary-Ellen Hodges and Sharon McCormick have been named to new positions as community network service coordinators. Garrison’s and Murphree’s new roles will include several functions aimed at improving health plan services to community physicians and other providers. Hodges and McCormick will act as training resources to the call center and work on service improvement initiatives. Garrison has been with Group Health 16 years, serving in a variety of lead and supervisory roles, Murphree has worked at Group Health for five years, with an additional 20 years in the industry, Hodges has 13 years of customer services experience at the company, and McCormick has been at Group Health three years. Western hires new fine & performing arts dean Carol Edwards, Assistant Dean of the College of the Arts at Kennesaw State University, has been named the new dean of the College of Fine & Performing Arts at Western. Selected after a nationwide search, Edwards will begin her new duties in September. At Kennesaw State University in Georgia, Edwards, a professor of art and art education, has been chair of the department of visual arts from 1999 to 2002. She holds a Doctorate in Art Education from Florida State University and has received multiple awards in the art field, including the 1997 Georgia Art Educator of the Year for Higher Education award. New attorneys welcomed at law firm Bellingham law firm Brett & Daugert has announced that attorneys Amy Robinson and Bill Coats have recently accepted positions as associates. Coats will work in the firm’s personal injury department where he will represent individuals seriously injured by the negligence of others. A graduate with honors from Tulane Law School, Coats is a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, and currently serves as chair of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association’s Whatcom County Roundtable. Robinson will work both in the firm’s business department and personal injury department. She is a graduate of Lewis and Clark law school, currently serves on the Board of Law Advocates and is the chapter representative for Whatcom Women Lawyers. Haggen CEO named to position Haggen supermarkets recently announced that Dale Henley, president and CEO, has been named an officer of the Western Association of Food Chains. In 2004 he will serve as secretary-treasurer, and in two years he will serve as president. The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) is a nonprofit organization that represents retailer food sales of approximately $110 billion per year in the western United States. The WAFC’s main purpose is the education of food industry professionals. Haggen promotes two Haggen promoted two to management positions recently. Cheryl-Ann Jones is the new director of food service. She will oversee the Service Deli, Chef’s Counter and Orient Express. Jones joined Haggen in 1991 at the Meridian store deli. She has two undergraduate degrees, one from the University of Queensland in Australia and one from Western Washington University, and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Western Washington University. Jones also graduated from the USC Food Industry Management program. Sarah Wills was made manager of payroll and human resources. She came to Haggen from VECO USA in 2003. Willis has an undergraduate degree in business administration from Western Washington University and a human resources certificate. She is president elect of the Mount Baker Chapter of the Society for Human Resources Management. Brown and Cole appoints new employees Brown and Cole recently announced that Lori Lennon and Tony Zamudio have joined the supermarket chain. Lennon joins as the Employment and Labor Relations Specialist, and Zamudio will take over as the new Bakery Director. Lennon is a human resources professional with experience in employment and labor relations, most recently as the Human Resources Supervisor for UPS in its Northwest area. Zamudio, previously a store bakery manager with Brown and Cole, has experience as a bakery sales and technical service rep with Associated Grocers. New coordinator and Bellingham Health Care Sharron Beam has been selected as the new admission coordinator at Bellingham Health Care and Rehabilitation Serves. She will be responsible for marketing and customer services. Beam has experience managing programs serving both seniors and the disabled in Whatcom, Skagit and King counties. She recently returned to Bellingham after 10 years in Bellevue working as a management consultant. Financial advisor recognized by national organization Shawn Morton, a financial advisor for Waddell & Reed in Bellingham, has been recognized for membership in to the National Association of Christian Financial Consultants (NACFC). Morton received membership for his commitment to investment and financial planning disciplines centered on biblical principles. Morton is in his fifth year as a financial advisor with Waddell & Reed. He joined the firm after many years in the private sector and six years as a public school teacher. He holds a Bachelors degree in Mathematics from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. Bungard to manage a Peoples Jeri-Ann Bungard was named branch manager at Peoples Bank in the Barkley Village Haggen. She comes to the bank with 23 years experience in financial services in various management positions. Sullivan adds plumber Gary Galyean joined Sullivan Plumbing recently. He brings 25 years experience as a plumber and holds a certified journeyman plumbing license from the State of Oregon. For the past 10 years, Galyean has specialized in residential and commercial remodeling.
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