Hansell Named State Builder of the Year

Jeff Hansell of Hansell Homes received the 2001 Builder of the Year Award during the fall meeting of the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) in Seattle.

Hansell, who recently joined Dan Mitzel to form Hansell Mitzel Homes in Burlington, was the top finalist among seven builders from around the state who were nominated for the annual honor.

The award was made in recognition of Hansell’s “outstanding service and professionalism to the home-building industry,” BIAW says.

“I was proud to be recognized by my peers in that way,” Hansell declares, “and it’s a very special award to me.”

Hansell was nominated for the award by the Skagit-Island Counties Builders Association (SICBA), which has its headquarters at the Port of Skagit County near Burlington.

The BIAW represents 9,000 members in 16 locals across the state. Members are involved mainly in the construction of single- and multifamily homes and condominiums, while a few are in the commercial-construction and real estate industries.

Other awards were made to Renton builder Shirley Blayden for Remodeler of the Year and to Rick Tremaine of Whidbey Island Bank, Bellingham, as Associate of the Year.

 

Harold Mathers Retires after 50 Years at the Helm

The co-founder of Mathers Controls of Burlington, Harold Mathers, recently retired.

Mathers signed papers a year ago transferring ownership of the company to ZF Marine, the world’s largest supplier of marine-propulsion systems. Russ Polansky was appointed to head up the ZF Mathers facility at 1415 Pacific Drive, off Pease Road.

Started in Ballard in 1951 by Mathers and his father, Cliffe, the company built controls for salmon gillnet boats in Bristol Bay for two years and then introduced a two-in-one system offering single-lever throttle and gear control, then considered a major advancement in marine-propulsion systems.

With the introduction of the MicroCommander in 1987, Mathers Controls moved aggressively into the pleasure-boat market and since has installed more than 40,000 such systems.

Harold Mathers, who moved the company to Burlington in November 1992, credits the company’s long history and sustained profitability to a team that includes a core group of loyal employees.

 

CAD Expert Schmidt Joins Design Consultants

Keith Schmidt has joined Design Consultants of Mount Vernon to assist in the company’s computer-aided design (CAD).

With four years’ experience working with CAD, Keith joins a staff with more than 35 years of combined building-design experience, home design and blueprinting.

Call 424-3334.

 

Stahlberg New Manager at NW Computer Supplies

Larry Stahlberg has joined the account management team of Northwest Computer Supplies, primarily serving customers in Skagit County.

A nationally recognized executive with Sodexho Marriot, Stahlberg has 25 years of experience in management services. He’s been a Bellingham resident since 1990, is a Boy Scout leader and served on the United Way Planning and Allocations Committee.

“Larry will be one of two account managers who’ll be serving Skagit County,” a spokesperson states.

Northwest Computer Supplies has about 5,000 customers in Whatcom and Skagit counties. Call (360) 734-3400.

 

Dr. Garde Joins Fidalgo Medical Associates

Kathleen Garde, M.D. has joined Fidalgo Medical Associates in Anacortes to provide obstetrical and gynecological care services. She’s the first woman specialist of this type to practice in Anacortes, according to Island Health Northwest.

Dr. Garde completed her ob/gyn residency at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1999 and her doctorate at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine five years earlier.

“Dr. Garde, a wife and mother herself, comes to Anacortes with an impressive list of achievements,” Fidalgo Medical Associates states. Among her honors and awards, she was a recipient, National Health Service Corp.; received honors in ob/gyn, pediatrics, primary care, psychiatry, surgery, internal medicine and dermatology from Case Western; and served as a Rawlings Memorial Student.

Fidalgo Medical Associates is located at 1213 - 24th St., Suite 100. Call 293-3101

 

AzurYoga Adds Two to Staff

AzurYoga of Mount Vernon has added more members to its growing staff.

Ranan Rauch is a licensed acupuncturist and tai-chi instructor. She has a master’s degree in exercise physiology from Western Washington University and a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine degree from a Canadian college. She also has an advanced medical qigong certification from grandmaster Peng Jui Leng of Canada.

Lisa Hall is a licensed massage practitioner. She is a graduate of Spectrum Massage School and specializes in a variety of techniques from Swedish massage, deep-tissue and sports massage to reflexology and polarity therapy.

In the meantime, Tim Post, AzurYoga’s co-owner, recently completed an ashtanga yoga workshop with master yogi and internationally recognized instructor, Tim Miller, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

For more information, call the studio, 315 Main St., at 336-5163.

 

Mulligan Promoted at AFLAC Office, Burlington

Alice Mulligan, an AFLAC veteran associate, has been promoted to district sales coordinator for the Burlington and Mount Vernon region.

A servicing specialist since 1996, Mulligan has specialized in working with businesses.

AFLAC insurance has grown significantly in recent months, in part because of the popular duck ads on television.

Call 404-2040 for more information.

 

Saldivar of NC Eye Receives Certification

Sheri Saldivar of North Cascade Eye Associates of Sedro-Woolley has earned the professional designation of certified medical-practice executive.

The designation of CMPE demonstrates that Saldivar, who serves the clinic as administrator, has achieved board certification in medical-practice management. To obtain it, she passed rigorous oral, essay and objective examinations that assess knowledge and understanding of the broad scope of medical-practice management.

Saldivar has been with North Cascade Eye Associates, 1916 Hospital Drive, since its inception in 1985. In 1989, she oversaw the opening of the optical department and, in 1995, the opening of the satellite clinic, Vision Concepts, in Mount Vernon. She is a board-certified optician and a licensed dispensing optician as well.

 

Vandersloot Certified as Credit Business Associate

Paulyn Vandersloot, office manager at Consolidated Cellular, Sedro-Woolley, was recently certified as a credit business associate (CBA) by the National Association of Credit Management.

To achieve this level of certification, Vandersloot was required to pass a comprehensive, three-hour examination covering a variety of credit, legal, accounting and business issues.

She is a board member and membership chair of the North Counties Credit and Financial Development Division.

Consolidated Cellular is the largest cellular-phone dealer in northwest Washington, with headquarters at 632 Sunset Park Drive.

 

Bannick Helps at Ground Zero

Christian M. Bannick, industrial hygienist from Mount Vernon, was one of seven state health and safety specialists to travel to New York City to assist at the World Trade Center disaster site.

For one week, the employees from the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) Service Division of the Department of Labor and Industries provided technical assistance specifically related to respiratory protection for workers at Ground Zero.

The other specialists were from Seattle, Everett, Vancouver, Yakima, Bellevue and Belfair.

 

Walker to Head Home Show Committee

Bill Walker of Blade Chevrolet has been selected to lead the 2002 Home Show committee.

Other members of the committee include Walt Johnson of Custom Builders, who will serve as vice chair; Sandy Barkley of Matt Barkley Cabinets, the past chair; Wayne Crider, executive director of Skagit-Island Counties Builders Association (SICBA), which puts on the Home Show; Dennis Cullen of Cullen Homes; Tracey Fosso of the Skagit Valley Herald; Dottie Piazza, Coldwell Banker/Piazza Realty; Scott Rainwater, Cloverdale Paints; and Rick Tremaine, Whidbey Island Bank.

The Home Show will be held March 15-17, 2002, at the Cascade Mall.

 

Jensen Ranks Second in Brotherhood Sales

Kent Jensen, district representative for Lutheran Brotherhood Financial Services of Burlington, ranked second among more than 1,500 persons recently for the amount of health-insurance products sold in September.

“Helping people link their faith, values and finances is the mission of Lutheran Brotherhood district representatives,” a press release states. “District representatives also attempt to understand clients’ priorities and goals and provide them with sound recommendations and innovative solutions to help them meet those goals.”

 

Nine HomePlace Workers Honored with Awards

The Alzheimer’s Society of Washington recently honored nine HomePlace Special Care employees with “Someone Who Cares” awards.

The awards are handed out annually by the Alzheimer’s Society Conference to those who give special care to a person or persons with dementia or use innovative techniques in dementia care.

The honors went to Judy Connor, Terrie Foster, Heather M. House, Judy Kemmer, Ignacia Lopez, Stephanie Metcalf, Jean Parsons, Freida Pressler and Luann Vaughn.

HomePlace is located at 210 N. Skagit St., Burlington, with another location in Oak Harbor.

 

Rice Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Company

Dick Rice of Anacortes recently celebrated his 10th anniversary selling promotional products in the Skagit County area.

“I’ve enjoyed working with each customer, developing individual promotional programs to meet their specific target market,” Rice says. “Every customer has a unique need for promotional advertising.”

Rice is one of a team of sales people representing Bankers Advertising Co. Call him at 293-3252

 

Business Community Loses Three Leaders

The Skagit community saw the passing last October of three persons who were long contributors to business and business development here.

• Stephen Smith of Concrete, who served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle and later worked for the State Bank of Concrete, passed away Oct. 10. He was 53.

Smith got his MBA at the University of Washington in 1973 and went to work for FHLB. He held the executive post for four years before he moved to Concrete. Later, he owned and operated a restaurant catering business at the CottonTree Inn and Convention Center until it was taken over by the current owners. He then set his career toward Web design, which he did up until recently.

• Bert Langenhorst, who helped find and create employment for people with mental and physical challenges, died Oct. 22. He was 73.

Langenhorst, a native of The Netherlands, worked 28 years with the state Employment Security Department but found his calling in helping the disabled find jobs. He founded two organizations to help the disabled in Wenatchee and Oak Harbor and, upon retirement, went to work for Chinook Enterprises of Mount Vernon, a nonprofit business that finds and places people with mental and physical challenges in the workplace. He later served on the Chinook Board of Directors.

• Tore Dybfest, founder of the Farmhouse Inn on Highway 22 and, with his wife Diana, the Lighthouse Restaurant in La Conner, passed away Oct. 25. He was 61.

Dybfest, a native of Norway, found the kitchen his favorite venue and worked as a cook from an early age, including a stint on a private yacht that cruised the San Juan Islands, entertaining dignitaries including former President Richard Nixon. He managed a tourist hotel in Lillehammer, Norway, and a golf club in Portland before opening and managing the Everett Yacht Club.

He owned the Lighthouse from 1971 to 1999 and the Farmhouse from 1980 to 1999. He also was a partner in the Big Lake Bar and Grill. He served as the youngest president of the Washington State Restaurant Association from 1983 to 1984 and was named Host of the Year in 1987.

 

Three Come on Board at Sound Craft Marine

Sound Craft Marine, LLC, a Burlington-based builder of custom aluminum sport boats, has added three new members to its team.

Craig Rice was named director of sales and marketing. He has 18 years of sales and marketing experience, including the past five years with Islands Marine Center on Lopez Island.

Wes Fridel is the new purchasing manager. He has 22 years of marine-parts experience and served also with Islands Marine Center for nine years.

Clay Hubbell (unavailable for photograph) has become production manager. He has 22 years of project and construction management experience, including six years with GC Construction in Seattle.

Sound Craft Marine, in the Burlington Hill Business Park, at 856 N. Hill Blvd., also makes cruising yachts ranging from 25 to 55 feet. Call 757-0999.

 

Riverside-East Hires Operations Manager

Riverside Health Club has hired Aubrey Russel as its operations manager for the Eastside branch, 632 Sunset Park Drive, Ste. 500, Sedro-Woolley.

Russel started with Riverside Health Club in Mount Vernon in March 1999. She recently was transferred to the new facility, which was opened last May.

Meanwhile, Kevin Lewellen, a personal trainer at the Eastside branch, received his certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

“He completed his certification with the philosophy that if you are in the fitness industry, credibility and resources ensure success when training and passing on techniques to the Skagit Valley community,” says owner and general manager Denise Houtsma.