Jerry Chambers, 1948-2007
Bellingham auto dealer Jerry Chambers passed away Feb. 13 at his Ferndale home. Chambers, 58, began experiencing chest pains, and paramedics called to his Ferndale home could not revive him.
Chambers, owner of Jerry Chambers Chevrolet, was an active member of the community, participating in Rotary and United Way as well as starting the Jerry Chambers Scholarship Fund. As an alternative to flowers, donations may be made to the fund through Whidbey Island Bank on York Street.
Funeral services were held Feb. 19 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ferndale, with a burial at Greenacres Memorial Park in Ferndale.

Kjell Nygren completes training
Kjell Nygren, a new technician with Tech Help, completed his Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician certification. The multiple test certification evaluates one’s ability to manage the Windows XP desktop environment, including MS Office, networking and troubleshooting. Tech Help provides onsite computer/network support for Whatcom County businesses and home users. Tech Help is a division of Big Fresh Media.

Skagit Valley Medical Center welcomes new surgeon
Skagit Valley Medical Center recently welcomed its fourth surgeon, Dr. Tom Ochiai, to the Mount Vernon campus.
Dr. Ochiai grew up in Vancouver, B.C., and attended medical school at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Following his graduation in 1994, he completed two residency programs, one in family practice at Navidad Medical Center in California and the other in surgery at New York Methodist Hospital.
Dr. Ochiai specializes in general, laparoscopic, thoracic and vascular surgery and is fluent in Spanish.

Family practice physician joins Mount Vernon clinic
Skagit Valley Medical Center is pleased to welcome Dr. Sharon Osea as the newest member of the family practice team.
Dr. Osea comes to the Pacific Northwest after finishing her residency training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her goal with each of her patients is to build a strong doctor-patient relationship while providing a holistic approach to treatment.
Dr. Osea grew up in the Philippines and is fluent in Tagalog.

Van’s Equipment Company adds new manager
Van’s Equipment Company welcomes Chris Travers as the new general manager.
Travers came from a background in both rentals and equipment sales, and will be an asset to growing machinery sales, which is a core part of the business. “Chris’s first task since joining the team at Van’s Equipment was to get our Web site up and running, which he has successfully completed,” said owner Greg VanZandt.
Van’s Equipment began in 1989 as an opportunity to cater to the local dirt contractors. Then, in 2000, the business was purchased by a national rental chain. After a five-year hiatus, owner Greg VanZandt saw a need still for an independent rental company that could focus on dirt gear and provide unmatched customer service.

Police department promotes three
The Bellingham Police Department gathered in January to witness promotions for two sergeants and one training officer: Officers Robert VanderYacht and Les Gitts were promoted to the position of police sergeant. Officer B.J. Ortega was promoted to the position of police traffic officer.

Sound Recycling adds new sales lead
Sound Recycling Services Inc. employee Rich Boyer was promoted to the role of sales lead. Boyer has been with the company for a year and a half and brings five years of marketing and sales experience and expertise to the company.
“We’re very glad to have him on board,” said Peter Rasco, Sound Recycling general manager. “(Boyer) brings the sort of service-oriented mindset that we value most in our relationship with our clients.”

Greenhouse hires assistant and store managers
Denise Ritchey has been hired as store manager of Greenhouse. Ritchey has been an employee at the store for six years and comes from 17 years of retail experience at Nordstrom. Ritchey lives in Bellingham with her husband, John, and dogs Kit and Griff.
Also joining Greenhouse as assistant store manager is Lee Eberhart. Eberhart spent nine years as owner and operator of The Calumet Restaurant before joining Greenhouse. Eberhart and his wife, Mauri, have been residents of Bellingham for the past nine years.
Former manager RaeAnn Hall is staying with the store part-time. Hall has gone part-time at Greenhouse in order to spend more time with her family.

Burbank receives insurance accreditation
Jan Burbank, a licensed massage practitioner for 17 years, recently received credentials for accepting patients from the six major health insurers, including Aetna US, General American, CIGNA, Corvel, Premera Blue Cross and Uniform Medical.
“This is a huge benefit for my clients,” said Burbank. “There are many patients who could benefit from massage therapy and cannot afford to cover the costs on their own.”
She received a physical therapy assistant degree from Green River Community College and certification from Seattle Massage School.

3D Corporation expands administration team
3D Corporation is pleases to announce the addition of Kristin Crabtree to its administration team. Crabtree will be responsible for assisting the CFO, John Jaworski, as well as providing customer care for the current client base.
“With Kristin’s attention to detail and experience working with numerous software packages,” said Jaworski, “she will be a great asset in fully utilizing the professional services software package that we installed this year.”

Johnson Team names marketing assistant
Lanea Booher has been hired as a marketing assistant for The Johnson Team, operators of The Muljat Group South real estate office in Fairhaven. Booher is responsible for maintaining a supply of current fliers at each of The Johnson Team’s listed properties.
“We’re one of the few real estate teams that dedicates a person to ensuring prospective buyers always can pick up fliers about our properties,” said Lylene Johnson of the Johnson Team. “Booher makes certain our boxes are never empty.”
Booher also assists team members with marketing projects.

Champagne achieves certification
Business and executive coach Pam Champagne, owner of The Champagne Group, recently earned a designation of Certified Print Coach. This allows Champagne to utilize the Print personality survey with clients. Champagne added this certification to her master coach certification, awarded to her in 2000, by the International Coach Federation.
“Not only does the Print accurately describe personality traits, both strengths and weaknesses, but it also reveals the unconscious motivators that drive our thoughts and behaviors,” Champagne said.

Harborside Bistro promotes two employees
The Harborside Bistro located in the Hotel Bellwether has recently promoted Story Kempton-Fix to director of operations. Kempton-Fix has previously worked for Fahri Ugurlu at the Coppa Mediterranean Bistro in Fairhaven. She began working at the Harborside Bistro as a food and beverage manager in the spring of 2006.
Christine Roka has recently been promoted to food and beverage manager. Previously, Roka was a catering coordinator primarily focusing on wedding and special event planning.

Skagit Valley College names new soccer coach
Marios Zigomalas was named Skagit Valley College’s new men’s and women’s soccer coach. Originally from Greece, Zigomalas played soccer professionally in Europe for 10 years before becoming a coach. He has spent the last 25 years coaching soccer in the United States, mostly for private clubs, high school teams and individual lessons and clinics.
“I feel confident that Marios will bring Skagit Valley College soccer back to the high level of the past where Skagit soccer has won more NWAACC soccer championships than any other college,” said Gary Knutzen, SVC’s athletic director.

Doussard receives award
Cynthia Doussard of Doussard Financial has been awarded a professional degree in the field of long-term care, Certified in Long-term Care (CLTC). The program is independent of the insurance industry and focuses on providing insurance professionals the tools they need to meet their clients’ long-term care needs.
“One of my responsibilities as an insurance professional is to help solve my client’s long term care needs,” Doussard said. “That includes explaining that government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid will not pay for the care a person will need should a catastrophic illness occur.”

Re/Max real estate agents earn designations
David Ulrich, Carmen Andrew and Jordon Olson completed requirements for the Accredited Buyer Representative designation. Awarded by a division of the National Association of Realtors, the ABR recognizes agents who have completed studies in the field of buyer representation. Ulrich has more than 20 years of experience in real-estate and also spent time as a homebuilder. Andrew has been in the real estate industry five years and is in her second year as a licensed agent after graduating from Western Washington University with a degree in marketing. Olson, a licensed agent since 2003, specializes in Generation X clients and also has extensive experience in construction and investments.
Susan Stecher of the Lakeway office achieved the Certified Residential Specialist designation, attained by only 4 percent of Realtors nationwide. CRS agents must document a high volume of sales and transactions while completing coursework in real-estate investing, marketing and technology. Stecher previously earned the ABR and Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designations.

Residents tapped as global warming messengers
Whatcom County residents Ramona Abbott, Katie Fleming, Scott Slaba and Campbell Thibo recently completed a rigorous training program led by former Vice President Al Gore to spread the message about global warning – both its consequences and its possible solutions.
Abbott, Fleming, Slaba and Thibo were part of a select group of individuals chosen to receive training. Each trainee took part in an intensive tutorial about issues surrounding global warming, led by Gore and a team of scientists and environmental educators.
In addition, each received technical training to become experienced presenters of a version of Gore’s computer-based slideshow, which became the basis of his best-selling book and documentary film, “An Inconvenient Truth.”

Hygienist joins dental staff
Ali Herbrandson, a registered dental hygienist with 15 years of experience in dentistry, recently joined the Bellingham staff of Dr. Eric Yaremko.
Herbrandson graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene from the University of Colorado’s School of Dentistry. She is licensed to administer local anesthesia and nitrous oxide, two of the methods used at Dr. Yaremko’s office to help comfort patients who have dental fears. In addition to providing preventive dental care, Herbrandson conducts new patient appointments with Dr. Yaremko.

Ritz named production coordinator
Amy Ritz, who has more than three years of experience in the banking industry, has been named production coordinator for Josh Zandstra, branch manager at the Bellingham office of First Horizon Home Loans.
“She provides follow-up support on mortgage loans from beginning to end, ensuring that the applications of my clients are efficiently processed without any snags,” Zandstra said. Ritz also answers customer questions about the mortgage process.

Chamber of Commerce awards Beatty
Jodie Beatty, financial adviser with Waddell & Reed Inc., was honored with the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce’s Most Valuable Player award for January.
The award is given once a month and is sponsored by Laser Point Awards and A.G. Edwards. Individuals are selected based on their contributions and support to the chamber team. This is the first time that Beatty has earned the honor, and the second time an adviser from the Bellingham Waddell & Reed office has been given this award.
Beatty is the vice principal and co-founder of the Whatcom Young Professionals, a division of the Chamber of Commerce.

New Realtor joins Fairhaven Realty
Patty Gray has joined Fairhaven Realty with more than 15 years’ experience in real estate sales, investment properties and new construction, which is enhanced by being co-owner of R Gray Construction with her husband, Bob.
She has an extensive referral following, works full time as a real estate consultant and represents both buyers and sellers.

Skagit Island HR Management Association inducts new officers
The Skagit Island Human Resource Management Association has announced a new board of directors for 2007. Shirley Chapman, human resources and administrative coordinator for Alf Seed Company, was voted president of the chapter and Penny Roodzant, controller for Bates Abrasives, Inc., was voted president-elect.
Other board members are: Debbie Brooks, human resource and accounting manager at the Skagit Valley Herald, treasurer; Debbie Noboa, director of operations for CF Fresh, secretary; Kathryn Brown, human resources manager at Nordic Tugs, membership chair; Rebecca Ammeter, employee relations specialist at the Skagit Valley Hospital, programs chair; and Lisa Bliven, human resources manager for Hexcel, past president.
The Skagit-Island Human Resource Management Association is the local chapter of The Society for Human Resource Management, the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management.

Business Bank promotes Tremaine
Rick Tremaine was promoted to executive vice president of Business Bank of Skagit County & Whatcom County.
“Rick has been instrumental in establishing the real estate lending operations for the Business Bank of Skagit & Whatcom County. He is a proven leader,” stated President/CEO Don Zimmerman.
Tremaine is a past vice president of the Building Industry Association of Washington, has served as a director for the National Association of Home Builders and currently serves as chair of the Washington Builders Benefit Trust.

Madrona’s Laine to leave
Dr. Erick Laine, Chief Executive Officer of Madrona Medical Group in Bellingham, has announced he will leave his post May 15. He plans to pursue other executive positions in the healthcare industry.
Madrona Medical Group is Whatcom County’s largest multispecialty practice.

Suhr receives certification
Sharown Suhr, business manager for AccuWest Pacific LLC, home builder/remodeler, received her Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) certification after attending several educational seminars.
A CAPS professional has been taught the strategies and techniques for modifying and enriching barrier-free living environments for the elderly and handicapped. She has been with the company since 1999.

Natural nail care offered at Sandalwood Salon & Spa
Cynthia Wolf, licensed manicurist and licensed massage practitioner, is pleased to bring Aveda Natural Nail Care treatments to downtown Bellingham’s Sandalwood Salon & Spa. With more than a decade of experience as a massage therapist, Wolf incorporates the benefits of therapeutic touch into her nail care services.
“In addition to tailoring every treatment with Aveda essential oils, I also give fantastic foot and hand massages,” Wolf said.

Larson, Rogers win writing awards
Kirby Larson received the 2007 Newbery Honor Book Award for the young adult novel “Hattie Big Sky.” Bruce Holland Rogers was presented the 2006 World Fantasy Award in November for “Keyhole Opera,” a story collection.
Larson is the author of six books for children. The American Library Association awards the Newbery Medal and Honor awards annually for the most distinguished American children’s literature published the previous year.
In addition to the 2006 World Fantasy award, Rogers received the 2004 World Fantasy Award for Best Short Fiction for “Don Ysidro,” two Nebula Awards for science fiction, the Bram Stoker Award for horror and a Pushcart Prize for literary fiction.

New vision clinic co-owned by Best
Dr. Daniel Best will be the optometric physician, as well as co-owner, at the brand new Mount Vernon Vision Plus clinic located inside Haggen. In the past, Best has served Vision Plus patients at the Burlington and Bellingham clinics. He earned a doctorate in optometry from Ohio State University.

Bellingham doctor appointed to National Cancer Commission
For the past 10 years, Dr. Cary S. Kaufman has been the St. Joseph Hospital cancer liaison physician to the Commission on Cancer. Now, he will serve on the commission as the representative of the National Consortium of Breast Centers. The Commission on Cancer establishes current and future criteria hospitals must fulfill in order to have an approved cancer program.
Kaufman has served as the President of the National Consortium of Breast Centers and is a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology and the American Society of Breast Surgeons. He also presents a monthly breast health awareness radio show on KGMI in Bellingham.

Youthnet elects new board officers
The Board of Directors for Youthnet, a nonprofit organization that provides educational and social services to youth and families in Island, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties, has elected a new slate of officers to serve for the 2007 term. Officers are Jack McCallum, president; Bill Lupinacci, president-elect; Paul Chapman, treasurer; and Dr. John Holden, secretary.
“Our focus for 2007 will be on accomplishing key strategic goals to place the organization in a strong position for the future,” says McCallum.