Wallace Named U.S. Bank Region President

Scott Wallace has been named region president for U.S. Bank in Northwest Washington, responsible for day-to-day operations of 16 branches, including three in Skagit County.

Based in Bellingham, Wallace oversees branches in Anacortes, Bellingham, Blaine, Bremerton, Ferndale, Freeland, Langley, Lynden, Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor, Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Quilcene, Riverside, Sedro-Woolley and Sequim.

A banker since 1972, Wallace started with Old National Bank and has served in a variety of roles, most recently as business banking team leader. He is a Washington State University graduate, with an MBA from Western Washington University.

U.S. Bancorp is the eighth-largest financial services holding company in the United States with assets in excess of $160 billion.

 

Holubik Now Senior Veep at KeyBank

Fred Holubik has been named senior vice president in the Business Banking Division of KeyBank in Bellingham, responsible for expanding commercial banking in Skagit, Whatcom and Snohomish County markets.

He comes to KeyBank from Columbia Bank in Bellevue and has worked in the past for Key in Tacoma and Seattle. He is based in Bellingham.

A graduate of Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan, he is active in business and community organizations in Bellingham.

KeyBank is one of the nation’s largest multiline financial services companies with assets of $86 billion.

 

Ketcheside, Voth Among Horizon Promotions

Horizon Bank has announced the promotions of several employees from its corporate office in Bellingham, among them two people in the Mount Vernon branch.

Bill Ketcheside, mortgage loan officer, was promoted to assistant vice president. He has been in the industry for 15 years, including four years at Horizon.

John Voth was promoted to assistant vice president and commercial lending officer. He has 11 years in the banking industry, including three at Horizon.

Horizon Bank operates 15 full-service offices throughout Skagit, Whatcom and Snohomish counties.

 

Merrick Joins Custom Boat Builder in Burlington

Michael Merrick is the new general manager of Sound Craft Marine of Burlington, builder of custom aluminum boats.

The former production manager at Sea Sport, Inc. of Bellingham, Merrick has more than 10 years of experience managing marine businesses and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Washington and an MBA from Seattle University.

Sound Craft builds boats 28 to 58 feet in length and, last month, launched a 46-foot charter yacht and a 28-foot private fishing boat, both bound for Alaska. The company also is currently fulfilling orders for yachts of 30 and 55 feet.

Located at 856 N. Hill Blvd., Burlington, the company can be reached at 757-0999 or through e-mail at scmarine@nwlink.com.

 

Staff Changes Made at Chandler’s Square

Norma Gray, RN has been hired as director of residential services at Chandler’s Square Retirement Community in Anacortes.

Gray is a long-time resident of Anacortes with more than 25 years of experience in nursing. She is responsible for the management of the assisted-living department.

Meanwhile, Karen Tavalero, RN has been appointed as community relations director for Chandler’s Square, located at 13th Street and O Avenue.

Tavalero has more than 30 years of experience in the health-care field and was most recently director of residential services at Chandler’s. In her new role, she is responsible for new business development, existing resident satisfaction, trade shows, marketing materials and pubic relations.

For more information, call 293-1300 or e-mail tommy@chandlersquare.com. Web site is: www.chandlersquare.com.

 

Brown & Cole Stores Announce Group Leaders

Tim Robertson and Joe Eickstadt have been named group leaders for Brown and Cole Stores in the Skagit, Whatcom, Island and Snohomish County areas.

Robertson, who is store manager for Smokey Point Food Pavilion, was appointed group leader for his store and the Mount Vernon and Anacortes Food Pavilions, as well as Sedro-Woolley Thrifty Foods. He also will serve Everett’s Cost Cutter and Oak Harbor’s Ennen’s Food stores.

He has 29 years of experience in the grocery industry and joined Brown and Cole in 1997.

Eickstadt, manager of the Burlington Cost Cutter for the past year, is group manager for his store and Lynden’s Cost Cutter, the Stanwood and Burlington Thrifty stores, Sedro-Woolley Market Place and Everson Red Apple.

He has 20 years of experience in the grocery business.

Brown and Cole has 35 supermarkets in central and northwestern Washington, as well as Montana and Oregon. It’s one of the state’s fastest-growing businesses and the oldest retail food company in the state, founded in 1909.

 

Stewart, Booth Brought on Board at Bella Soul

Alyssa Stewart, a licensed massage therapist, and Judy Booth, esthetician, have joined the growing staff at Bella Soul Salon and Day Spa in Burlington.

Stewart received her training from Ashmead Massage School and joined Bella Soul March 30.

Booth comes with five years’ experience at a resort spa “that catered to the rich and famous,” among them Demi Moore, Danny DiVito, Roseanne Barr and Barbra Streisand, according to Bella Soul. She started last month.

Bella Soul is located at at 217 E. Victoria St. Call 755-9161.

 

Jim Jones Joins Team at Prudential Skagit Realtors

Jim Jones has joined the team at Prudential Skagit Realtors as a real estate agent.

According to owner Robin Ross, Jones brings with him a vast knowledge of the area, having lived here a long while, and has “a professional attitude with a desire to serve the community.”

Call 428-4111 or stop by at 300 E. College Way, Mount Vernon.

Former Restaurateur Now with John L. Scott

Rick Berends, former owner of The Harbor Restaurant in Anacortes, has joined that city’s offices for John L. Scott as a sales associate.

Owner Martha Clure says Berends is a long-time resident of the county and received his education in Anacortes.

He can be reached at 293-2161 or through e-mail at rickb@johnlscott.com.

 

Cartwright Completes High-tech Training Course

Corinne Cartwright of Prudential Skagit Realtors of Mount Vernon has completed and passed her eCertified training course and is now “technologically fluent and capable of handling all of her consumers’ Internet needs,” according to the company.

Cartwright also completed her Real Estate Practice course. She’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To reach her, call 428-4111.

 

Morning Voice of KAPS Danny B Retires

Dan Bartolovic, known to thousands in the north Puget Sound as morning radio voice Danny B, has retired from radio, ending a 30-year career.

Bartolovic, 56 , who also participated in many (if not most) public events in Skagit County as an announcer, judge or remote broadcaster, says he plans to stay active in the community. His voice still could be heard booming over the Skagit Speedway public-address system in the past month.

Danny B started here at KAGT, now KLKI, in Anacortes before moving to KBRC in Mount Vernon. He eventually switched to KAPS before owner Jim Keane purchased KBRC.

Keane says Bartolovic will be missed by both the staff and community.

 

Whitener Competes for Mrs. Washington State

Kristen Whitener, new executive director of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, had her moment in the spotlight last month when she competed for Mrs. Washington State.

Whitener received the Founder’s Award at the pageant, held in Spokane May 5. Crowned was Leslie Stevenson of Spokane.

Although she didn’t win, “I want to do it again next year,” Whitener says. “The pageant promotes marriage, family and community involvement.”

She was among seven finalists, the closest to her being from Mukilteo.

The award she won is given by the woman who started the pageant, Connie Wagner, to a contestant who “reaches beyond her comfort zone and sincerely stretches herself to reach a star.” Wagner says.

 

Mahoney Honored by Seattle University

Pat Mahoney, chief executive officer of Affiliated Health Services of Mount Vernon, recently received the Professional Achievement Award from Seattle University.

Mahoney, a 1963 graduate of the university, received the award for his many roles in the professional arena, including president of Association of Washington Public Hospitals and Northwest Hospital Council, membership on the board of Washington State Hospital Association and Seattle University Board of Regents, and participation as a diplomat of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

“Pat is recognized in his industry as one of its most outstanding leaders serving in many leadership roles,” the university states.

 

Clark Earns Financial Consultant Designation

Larry Clark of Clark, Eliason and Associates in Mount Vernon has earned the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) professional designation from The American College of Bryn Mawr, Pa.

The nation’s oldest and largest accredited distant educational institution, the college offers professional designation and graduate degree programs for those seeking career growth in insurance and financial services. Candidates must complete an eight-course curriculum and 16 hours of supervised examinations and fulfill stringent experience and ethical requirements. More than 35,000 individuals have earned a ChFC since 1982.

Clark is a senior financial adviser and certified financial planner for American Express Financial Advisors Inc., with offices at 308 Gates St. Call 336-5060.

 

Ballandby Garners Employee of Quarter

Chandler’s Square Retirement Community recently awarded Debra Ballandby its first Employee of the Quarter Award.

Ballandby is a nurse assistant in the assisted-living department. She was chosen for her dedication to the well being of the residents, her team spirit and willingness to advance her knowledge.

Chandler’s is located at O Avenue and 13th Street in Anacortes. Call 293-1300.

 

Gordon Nissan Employee Earns Excellence Award

Suzuki Motor Corp. recently presented Chuck Burkhart of Gordon Nissan Suzuki of Burlington with a Sales Excellence Award.

Burkhart ended last year as a top Suzuki salesperson and led not only Gordon with the most sales but all of Western Washington.

Presenting the award were Gary Draught, regional sales manager for Suzuki, and Jay Breiting, district sales manager.

At the same time, Draught presented Gordon Nissan Suzuki with a $25,000 check to underwrite the 2001 Suzuki Tulip Transit, which operated last April during the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

 

Corrion Honored for Promoting Diversity

Sandy Corrion of Puget Sound Refining Co. in Anacortes was one of seven employees nationwide to be honored recently for supporting minority- and women-owned businesses. She was named Advocate of the Year by an alliance of Shell Oil Co., Texaco and Saudi Refining, through a consortium led by Equilon Enterprises of Houston, Texas, owner of PSRC.

Tom Smith, PSRC manager and a board member of the Northwest Minority Supplier Development Council, says Corrion was named for the award as services procurement coordinator and the minority and women business enterprise coordinator for the refinery.

The alliance companies spent $184 million in 2000 with minority- and women-owned firms on a First Tier basis, a 13-percent increase over the prior year.

 

Chamber Directors Attend Training Institute

Three local chamber directors joined community leaders from across the state in Walla Walla May 2-4 for the 15th-annual Downtown Revitalization Training Institute.

The directors were: Andy Mayer of Anacortes, Dick Irwin of Burlington and Ken Cornet of Sedro-Woolley.

Mayer, who was accompanied by Curt Oppel representing the Anacortes chamber’s Downtown Promotion Committee, says the three-day institute discussed challenges and opportunities facing the state’s downtown commercial districts.

Specialists in the field of downtown revitalization led walking tours, workshops, lectures and discussion groups focusing on the comprehensive “Main Street” approach, he says. Main Street focuses on organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring.

“It was very encouraging to learn about a program that has worked very well in Washington and across the country at helping downtowns bring out their unique character and to prosper economically,” Mayer says.

All three of the Skagit cities represented are well into downtown revitalization efforts.

 

Fedor to Demonstrate Nail Design Products

Sandra Fedor, owner of Mystic Wind Nail and Body Impressions of Sedro-Woolley, has been certified to demonstrate EZ Flow nail design products, following a three-day seminar she attended.

The seminar, in Salt Lake City, provided her with the knowledge and background to teach about EZ Flow products. She’s the only such company educator in this state.

For more information, call 855-1191.

 

E. Stendal Represented in Television Special

Eloise Stendal, a cancer survivor and long-time member of the Hospital District 304 board, was featured recently in a television special on oncology, shown on KOMO Channel 4, April 23 and May 5.

A film crew spent the day with Stendal and followed her through a radiation treatment at United General Hospital’s North Puget Oncology Cancer Care Center.

They also interviewed members of her family, including husband Bill, former mayor of Sedro-Woolley.

Stendal was diagnosed earlier this year with a recurrence of breast cancer

 

Meyer Treasurer of State Judges’ Association

Skagit County Superior Court Judge John Meyer has been named treasurer of the State Superior Court Judges’ Association.

In an announcement last month, Meyer was listed among other judges who have assumed duties as officers and members of the board.

He was the only judge from Skagit County named. Clark County Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert L. Harris was appointed as president.

 

Local Students Honored by Workforce Training

Three students were recently honored from Legislative District 40 with 2001 Washington Awards for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) by the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board.

The students were David Kane, Anacortes, a nursing student at Skagit Valley College; Nicole Paulk, Sedro-Woolley, a business-law student at Mount Vernon High School; and Brett Peterson, Bow, a business/marketing student at Burlington-Edison High School.

They were among 143 high school, skills center and community- and technical-college students who received WAVEs, which provide recipients a tuition grant for six quarters or four semesters of undergraduate study at universities.

Two or three students from each legislative district were so honored. From the 10th district, two persons from Camano Island and one from Marysville received WAVEs.

 

McIntyre College Scholarships Announced

Six Skagit Valley College students graduating with two-year degrees were announced as recipients of the Sidney S. McIntyre, Jr. SVC Memorial Scholarships for 2001.

They were: Forouzandeh Alavi and Sharon A. Davis, both Mount Vernon; Ethel Evans and Kevin J. Larson, both Coupeville; Nicholas E. Yakubchak, Oak Harbor; and Peter A. Hedman, Burlington.

“These are very significant scholarships,” says Patrick Kennicott, director of the SVC Foundation. “Each student will receive a ‘full ride’ for pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering and the sciences.”

The McIntyre bequest, estimated at $2.9 million, is the largest endowed scholarship designated for the exclusive benefit of SVC students. He was co-owner with two brothers and his father of Skagit Steel and Iron Works in Sedro-Woolley.

 

Jack McIntyre of Skagit Steel Fame Dies

M.J. “Jack” McIntyre, who helped lead Skagit Steel and Iron Works during its heyday in Sedro-Woolley, died April 22. He was 70.

McIntyre, a native of Sedro-Woolley, was the son of Sydney S. and Hazel Splane McIntyre Sr. After college at Washington State in 1954, he went to work with his father and two brothers at Skagit Steel and Iron Works, at the time the biggest employer in the city.

Later, Jack served as chief executive officer of Skagit of Canada and Canadian Mobile Company and Concrete Nor’West, then of Mount Vernon.

Although he and his surviving wife, Shirley, left the area after retirement, McIntyre continued to serve Sedro-Woolley and Skagit County. He and his wife created the Sydney S. McIntyre Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund in memory of his father. The program provides four-year scholarships to state colleges for Sedro-Woolley High School seniors and so far 68 have benefited.

 

Morris Graves the Artist Passes

Internationally renowned painter Morris Graves, who had established roots in Skagit County during the golden years of the “Mystic Painters of the Northwest” in the middle of the last century, passed away in California last month. He was 90.

He was the only survivor of a foursome of painters who established the Northwest School, which survives today among area artists and in the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner. The others were Mark Tobey, Guy Anderson and Kenneth Callahan.

Graves arrived in La Conner in the 1930s and later built a cabin on “The Rock” high above Lake Campbell south of Anacortes. Many of the artists of that era who came through the valley, some of whom settled here, knew “The Rock” and Graves, even though he remained reclusive. He found inspiration in nature, Eastern religions and Asian art.