RE/MAX agents gain certifications
Five RE/MAX Whatcom County real estate agents recently earned certifications after completing continuing-education programs.
Nina Denson completed requirements for the accredited buyer representative and seniors real estate specialist designations.
Julie Carpenter achieved the certified residential specialist designation, attained by only 4 percent of real estate agents nationwide.
Renay Daniels and Susan Stecher have met performance and education criteria for qualifying as certified luxury home marketing specialists, awarded by the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing.
Ryan Bergsma earned the graduate Realtor Institute designation after completing at least 90 hours of courses related to real estate, including contract law, sales and marketing, risk reduction and professional standards.
Denson is based at RE/MAX’s Ferndale office, while Bergsma, Carpenter, Daniels and Stecher work in the Lakeway (Bellingham) office.

Childcare Worldwide appoints two new vice presidents
G.M. Lange, president of Childcare Worldwide recently announced that Susan Middleton has been appointed vice president of administration and Joanne Zylstra vice president of international ministries. Middleton oversees the operation of the head office of Childcare Worldwide in Bellingham. Zylstra directs the overseas ministries of Childcare Worldwide.
On April 7, Childcare Worldwide celebrated its 25th anniversary in Bellingham.

Three from Whidbey Island Bank honored by SBA
Peggy Zorro, Tami Madsen and Maria Hansen of Whidbey Island Bank were awarded the Small Business Administration’s Award for Minority Small Business Champions of the Year for both Washington State and Region X, which is comprised of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
The SBA recognized the three for providing the tools, information and support that minority small business owners need; and for helping to create an environment in which the spirit of entrepreneurship can flourish.
Whidbey Island Bank’s Latino Program was introduced in 2001 in response to the growing number of Latino business owners in Whatcom County.
Peggy Zoro is senior vice president and retail regional manager for Whatcom County. She has 34 years of banking experience and is known for her knowledge in resource development and overall financial acumen.
Tami Madsen is assistant vice president and branch manager of Whidbey Island Bank’s Bakerview branch. She has 25 years of banking experience and has completed numerous lending management courses through the Washington Banker’s Association.
Maria Hansen is a financial services representative and coordinates Whidbey Island Bank’s Latino Program in Whatcom County. She is fluent in Spanish and is a member of the Washington Latino Business Association and the Whatcom Hispanic Organization.

Daffron joins Northwest Dispute Resolution
Hon. John Daffron, Ret., has joined Northwest Dispute Resolution Group as a mediator and arbitrator in all areas of law. Since retiring as chief judge of the circuit court for Chesterfield County, Va., in 2000, he has served as a judicial settlement judge and private mediator and arbitrator. Daffron, who relocated to Bellingham in 2003, has 30 years of state and federal judicial experience. He has been active nationwide in judicial training and improvement activities. He has won awards from the Virginia Legislature and the U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Justice. In 2000-01 he served as senior adviser for a judicial reform project for the West Bank and Gaza.

Christensen participates in green conference
David Christensen, AIA, LEED AP, of Christensen Design Management (CDM), attended a recent conference on “Developing Green” Sustainability Entering the Mainstream, sponsored by the Urban Land Institute. Christensen is working on several residential and commercial architectural designs and master plans throughout Whatcom County utilizing the latest low impact development and sustainable design strategies. CDM has been providing architectural and masterplan services in the northwest for more than 18 years and has received 41 regional and national design awards.

Haugeness rejoins Peoples Bank
Judy Haugness has returned to Peoples Bank as real estate loan representative at the bank’s Bellingham Home Loan Center.
Haugness is returning to Peoples Bank after a one-year absence. Prior to her departure in late 2004, after 10 years with the bank, she was one of the bank’s top lenders. She is a past winner of the Washington Association of Realtors Affiliate of the Year award, the highest honor awarded by that organization. In addition, she has received both the Affiliate of the Year and Affiliate of the Quarter awards from the Whatcom County Association of Realtors, and is a lifetime resident of Whatcom County.

Information bureau hires interns
Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism has hired two interns to assist with marketing and public relations for the region.
Mandy Cruz, who previously volunteered at the bureau, is a senior at Western Washington University working toward a degree in communications with a minor in political science. Cruz, a Silverdale, Wash. native, currently works two part-time jobs in addition to working for the tourism bureau and attending Western full time.
Michaela Allen, from Auburn, Wash., is a junior and communications major at Western. She is working toward a minor in anthropology and has dedicated hours to numerous volunteer projects.
Cruz and Allen’s responsibilities at the bureau include working with local and national media to promote the region as a desirable travel destination, tracking media publicity and assisting with key marketing projects.

Kaiman joins Lustick firm
Attorney Mark A. Kaiman has joined the Lustick Law Firm in Bellingham as a litigation associate.
Kaiman is a 1997 graduate of Washington State University in Pullman, and in 2000, graduated with honors from the Syracuse University College of Law in New York State.
Kaiman served as a Deputy County Prosecuting Attorney in San Juan County and was a municipal court prosecutor for the City of Bellingham. Kaiman also sits as judge pro tempore in San Juan County District Court.
In addition to his judicial service and extensive criminal law experience, Kaiman has broad experience in areas of civil law. He has extensive trial experience as both plaintiff’s and defendant’s counsel.
For the past several years, Kaiman has participated in the annual Law Week programs in which high school students are coached by local attorneys and participate in a mock trial. Kaiman is also an avid pilot and aviation enthusiast. He is a member of the Whatcom County Bar Association and the National College for DUI Defense.

Sherrill oversees FiberCloud’s technical operations
Gerald Sherrill will oversee all data center operations at FiberCloud’s technical facilities located in Bellingham, Everett and Seattle. Sherrill brings four years experience managing FiberCloud’s Class A Data Center operations to his role as lead network engineer.
In this role, Sherrill is responsible for all technical operations within FiberCloud’s three data center locations. Sherrill will apply his expertise in network system integrity utilizing a wide range of technologies including Windows NT, UNIX Linux, Cisco and IEEE 802.11. He will also manage FiberCloud’s HVAC, power, data center security and monitoring systems.

Two professionals join Studio 910 salon
Two stylist/cosmetologists have joined the newly opened Studio 910 Salon at Harris Square Courtyard in Bellingham’s Fairhaven district.
Melissa Martin is a graduate of Gene Juarez Academy and is a stylist in advanced training at the salon. She specializes in men’s and women’s texture and precision cuts, and several coloring techniques.
Janice Johnson has been a stylist and make up artist for more than 10 years, graduating from Bellingham Beauty School. She also welcomes both men and women, and specializes in foil highlights, texturing thick hair, hair cutting and make-up application using a line of mineral make up offered at the salon.

All American Deli & Ice Cream appoints managers
All American Deli & Ice Cream, located in Fairhaven’s 12th Street Village, recently promoted Carolyn Niederhauser to store manager and Elizabeth Barker to assistant store manager
Niederhauser, a Western Washington University graduate, had restaurant experience prior to joining the All American Deli staff. She now oversees store operations, inventory, catering orders and product quality.
Barker, who attends Whatcom Community College, earned her promotion by providing excellent customer service and demonstrating a mastery of All American Deli’s diverse menu.

Locals appointed to group for Blanchard Forest
Eight members of the community and a representative of the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will come together as the Blanchard Forest Strategies Group to find ways to optimize diverse benefits from Blanchard Forest trust lands.
DNR has secured the services of John Howell from the Cedar River Group out of Seattle to be the facilitator for Blanchard Strategies Group series of meetings. The Blanchard Forest Strategies Group participants include: Eron Berg, from Friends of Blanchard; Mike Crawford, former member of Skagit Economic Development Council and recent owner of Concrete Nor’West; Molly Doran, from the Skagit Land Trust; Mitch Freidman from Conservation Northwest; Will Hamilton, a consulting forester, and with the San Juan Preservation Trust; Ken Osborn, on the Skagit County Forest Advisory Board; Bob Rose, of Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland; Kendra Smith, from Skagit County administration, the predominant beneficiary of trust revenue from Blanchard Forest; and Clay Sprague, from DNR’s Olympia policy office

WWU professor publishes airplane de-icer research
Western Washington University’s Associate Professor Devon Cancilla, an environmental chemist, was part of a research team that recently published its findings about the toxic compounds in airplane de-icing additives.
The study is an extension of Cancilla’s earlier research into the chemicals found in ground water and streams near airports. Cancilla, along with researchers including Steven Corsi of the U.S. Geological Survey, studied snowbanks near a Milwaukee airport, and discovered that toxic compounds remained in the samples after the main ingredient, glycol, was lost in runoff.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 35 million gallons of anti-icing compounds are discharged into the nation’s receiving waters every year.

Peoples promotes Daughters
Terry Daughters has been promoted to senior vice president and business market manager of Peoples Bank Bellingham Business Banking team. In his new position, Daughters will supervise the business banking team at Cornwall Avenue and will be responsible for commercial lending at all four of the Bank’s Bellingham branch locations.
Daughters joined Peoples Bank in 1989 and has 30 years of banking experience. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School. In addition, he is past president of Bellingham Central Lions Club, is a member of the Whatcom County Realtors Association Banking Committee, and is a member of the City of Bellingham Budget Advisory Committee.
Daughters grew up in Bellingham and has spent much of his 30-year banking career in this market.

Downey joins the Neighborhood Mortgage team
Tara Downey, a life long resident of Whatcom County, has joined the team at Neighborhood Mortgage. She recently graduated from the School of Mortgage Lending where she excelled in their extensive program of higher education.
Downey has been an active member in the community through many volunteer organizations. She recently has volunteered her time in helping raise funds for the Habitat for Humanitys auction and has just become a member in the Chamber of Commerce group for young professionals.

Donahue becomes elite IRA adviser
Dick Donahue of Asset Advisors LLC has completed an intensive training seminar on IRA rollover and distribution planning, including the latest IRA distribution rules, court cases, IRS rulings, planning strategies, retirement account rollovers, inherited IRAs, estate planning for retirement accounts and related tax provisions.
Donahue attends three one-day sessions a year in order to stay current on IRA distribution regulations.

Hampton Inn recognizes employees
The Hampton Inn Bellingham Airport recently hosted their annual employee appreciation luncheon. Mark Simpson, general manager, provided all employees with a catered luncheon and presented special awards.
Martan Wilson, a 12-year employee, received the Carlton ‘Bud’ Wentz Spirit of Service Award. This award recognizes the individual who demonstrates character, dedication and superior contributions to outstanding customer service.
Sharon Kelp, breakfast attendant, received the employee of the year award. Sharon is recognized by her peers as always going the extra mile to satisfy the guests’ needs. Sharon receives a trip for two to Las Vegas.

Van Slyke ‘tops’ for 17 years
Rollo Van Slyke, owner of the Rollo Van Slyke Farmers Insurance Agency, Inc., located in Bellingham, has qualified as a ‘Topper Club’ Agent by Farmers Insurance for the 17th consecutive year. The ‘Topper Club’ award is given to agents for consistently high sales volume of auto, home, life and business policies, plus high client retention, service and profitability.
Van Slyke, among the top 6 percent of agents and district managers nationwide, is recognized for running one of the most profitable Farmers agencies.

Brigid Collins adds Growing Together staff, promotes Hillaire
Brigid Collins recently hired two new case managers. Maggie Kavanagh will serve as a case manager for the Growing Together program, which provides intensive services to pregnant and parenting women with addictions. She received her bacherlor’s degree from Fairhaven College with a concentration in women’s health and wellness, and is working toward her chemical dependency professional certificate.
Roxanne Chinook also joins Brigid Collins’ staff as a part-time case manager for the Growing Together program. Chinook received her bachelor’s degree from Boise State and her master’s degree in education from Western Washington University in 2000. She previously worked as a grant coordinator developing trainings, director of a marketing program, and a case manager for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
In addition, Bobbie Hillaire was promoted to manager of the Growing Together program. Hillaire joined Brigid Collins in 2002, and served as a case manager and program lead prior to her promotion. She is also a member of the Whatcom County Child Protection Team, and provides individual parenting instruction in Brigid Collins’ Parent Child Interaction Therapy program.

Two promoted at Halibut Henry’s
Jennifer Edenfield, a former Spokane barista, nursing student and 2- year employee of Halibut Henry’s, has been promoted to manager. Joining her, former travel office manager Diann Thaens has been promoted to assistant manager.
The promotions have come in response to expanded airport traffic due to the extra Allegiant Air flights, upcoming Delta service, and numerous charter jets dropping in to the Bellingham International Airport for fuel and catering.
Halibut Henry’s is owned by Vicki Rogers, owner of The Inside Passage Gifts at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, and co-owner of Pacific Chef in Fairhaven.

Huffer joins Moss Adams
Moss Adams LLP welcomed Kirk Huffer to the firm’s Bellingham branch in April as a member of the audit department. Huffer received his degree in accounting in 2004 from Western Washington University.

Irwin, Steele head new Chicago Title department
Chicago Title Insurance Company has opened its Land Development & Builders Services department.
The team of Jay Irwin and Joe Steele will be the lead in this department. Jay Irwin comes from Whatcom County Planning and Development Services where he had seven years of planning experience. Joe Steele will be moving from a Realtor/lender sales representative position to the lead sales representative. Steele has several years experience in title, customer service and inspections.
The department was formed to assist, consult and inform developers and builders on land acquisition, land use, subdivisions, permitting, and any other aspect of the land development process.

Friant provides permanent makeup at Escape Day Spa
During her 12-year career as a dentist in Mexico, July Friant became fascinated with the application of permanent makeup as her clients often visited her for anesthetic before the procedure. Moving to the states, she graduated from The American Institute of Intradermal Cosmetics, in Dallas, Tex., training under world-renowned permanent makeup artist Sandi Hammons. Friant has just been hired as a permanent makeup artist at the Escape Day Spa in Bellingham.
Friant’s career in dentistry has given her an attentiveness to sterilization and cleanliness in cosmetic procedures, as well as an eye for detail and artistry.

Brown affiliates with House Hunt
Mark Brown of Windermere Real Estate/Whatcom, Inc, is now the exclusive Bellingham real estate agent affiliated with House Hunt, Inc, an Internet firm providing access to thousands of real estate markets across the country. Buyers can shop from anywhere in the world, then contact Brown for personalized help.
Brown is one of the top real estate agents in Whatcom County.

Curtis hired as ReUse Works manager
To accommodate rapid growth in its new appliance reuse program, ReUse Works recently hired Jason Curtis as shop manager and job coach. Curtis has more than 10 years experience as a supervisor, inventory manager and safety coordinator in a light-industrial work environment. He also has a certificate of training in accident prevention from the Washington Department of Labor and Industries.
Curtis holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and social studies from Western Washington University after earning an associate degree at Skagit Valley College.

New therapists join Green Touch staff
Two new therapists have joined the staff at Green Touch. Tracy Ling brings 12 years of massage experience with her. Her specialties are Manual Lymphatic Drainage, treatment and injury massage and Cranio-sacral work. Her techniques are particularly effective with chronic injuries. Kim Pace comes from South Africa originally where she worked with adidas and their professional athletes. She has been a therapist for more than 10 years and does trigger point and deep tissue treatments, plus hot stone, Reiki and cranio-sacral work.

National Geographic photographer offers services at home
Phil Schofield, a photographer for National Geographic and other editorial and corporate clients, is now actively marketing his services to Puget Sound commercial, industrial and institutional organizations in the interest of working closer to home.
Phil Schofield Photography has been based in Bellingham since 1987.

Sibley joins Baron & Co.
Baron & Company, a Bellingham-based marketing communications firm, has hired Brian Sibley as public relations account manager. Sibley will be responsible for handling and developing a significant portion of the company’s public relations accounts.
Sibley brings substantial pubic relations experience to Baron & Co., most recently from Text 100 Public Relations in Seattle, where he represented a number of privately held and publicly traded technology companies including Morpheus, Aventail, Captura Software, eCharge Corporation and Internap. In 2003, while representing Morpheus, the peer-to-peer file sharing software company engaged in a battle with the recording industry, Sibley and his team received an Honorable Mention from PRWeek Magazine for “Crisis/Issues Management Campaign of the Year.”
Prior to Text 100, Sibley worked in the New York City office of Edelman Public Relations Worldwide, where his clients included telecommunications giant AT&T, semiconductor manufacturer Analog Devices, and the Swedish phone maker Ericsson.
Sibley resides in Bellingham with his family.

Three pros promoted at Bellingham Tennis Club
Tennis coach and player Matthew Iwersen has been promoted to assistant manager and tennis director of the Bellingham Tennis Club. He was previously programs director. He was the #2 ranked college player in the North California collegiate circuit and was ranked in the top 10 Men’s Open Division in Northern California.
Tennis pro and 30-year instructor Debbie Brown has been named head pro for the club. She has been at the Club since 1999 and holds the highest USPTA certification rating for an instructor.
Aaron Cohen has been promoted to assistant tennis pro. He plays on the Skagit Valley College Tennis Team and is a certified USTPA Pro.

VanderHoef promoted by Peoples
Ladd VandeHoef has been promoted to business lender at the Peoples Bank’s Lynden Financial Center.
VandeHoef joined Peoples Bank in 2002 and has six years of banking experience. In his new position, Ladd will be responsible for business development and will manage a portfolio of small business and agricultural credits. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington and is a lifetime resident of Whatcom County.

Fletch Brown presents to local wedding vendors
Elizabeth Fletcher Brown, a local business success coach and owner of Life Mastery International, was the keynote speaker for the third annual Wedding Vendor Showcase & Networking Event recently held in Bellingham.
Fletcher Brown shared with the participants tips and techniques to help them more effectively stand out from “the crowd” and be recognized as masterful in their field.
With more than 20 years as an entrepreneur in various fields, Fletcher Brown draws on her roles as coach, mentor and facilitator for independent professionals. She is especially skilled at helping self-employed professionals who love what they do but are uncomfortable promoting themselves.