Berentson Tabbed New County Liaison Director

Dan Berentson, former Skagit Argus publisher, has been named Skagit County communications director and community liaison, a newly created position to provide the county with better public relations.

Berentson, of Burlington, will serve as media and public contact for the county, coordinate communications efforts for major projects, implement plans for departments and act as go-between for commissioners and other government entities, organizations and elected officials. His salary will be $54,000 a year.

A former six-year Burlington city councilman, Berentson was publisher of the weekly newspapers Skagit and Burlington Argus from 1982 to 2000, most of that time as owner as well.

His hiring comes amid budget concerns, which included raises the first of the year of 12 to 24 percent for elected officials.

 

County Risk Manager Named after Long Vacancy

Billie Kadrmas has joined Skagit County as its new risk manager, replacing Vince Clay who resigned last May.

Kadrmas, who will manage the county’s insurance policies, was risk manager for the Snohomish County Public Utility District. She started her new job Dec. 10 at $58,130 a year.

 

New Planning Director for Town of La Conner

John Doyle, 52, is the latest in a series of planning directors hired by the Town of La Conner, the last of whom, Richard Mattrass, quit in November after 16 months on the job.

Doyle, a former candidate for county commissioner and elected official for Skagit Sewer District 1, owned an energy-and-resource-management consulting firm and has experience working with builders and engineers. He started Dec. 17 and makes about $42,000 a year.

La Conner, where growth issues have sparked controversy for the past decade, has had five planners in five years.

 

Mark Anderson Hired as Burlington Fire Chief

Mark Anderson, 49, a long-time resident of Burlington and graduate of Burlington-Edison High School, has been tabbed the new fire chief for the city by Mayor Gus Tjeerdsma.

Anderson replaces John Pauls, who was fired last June for undisclosed reasons. Glen Staheli acted as interim fire chief through last month.

Anderson, selected after interviews with 23 candidates by a selection committee, was fire chief at Pacific County Fire District 1 in Ocean Park. He has 20 years of experience in fire fighting. He also worked 14 years for the Federal Way Fire Department.

 

Molesworth Joins North Cascades Institute

Kris Molesworth, a long-time resident of Skagit Valley, has joined North Cascades Institute (NCI) as director of development.

Molesworth will lead all fundraising efforts for the nonprofit educational organization, including the Reach for the Peaks Campaign to support the future Environmental Learning Center being constructed at the town of Diablo.

Her last position was executive director of Northwest Bookfest in Seattle. She also served as public-information director at Skagit Valley College for eight years and has been active in a wide range of community activities. She once ran unsuccessfully for the state Legislature as well.

Founded in 1986, NCI is the Northwest’s premier natural history education organization whose mission is to conserve and restore Northwest environments by building an ecologically literate and engaged public, according to the institute. In 2003, it plans to open the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center in partnership with Seattle City Light, which operates Diablo Dam from Diablo, and the National Park Service.

For more information, call 856-5700, ext. 209; e-mail nci@ncascades.org; or visit ncascades.org.

 

Youngquist on Team at Mobile Merchandiser

James Youngquist has joined the team at Mobile Merchandisers as a sales and marketing associate, bringing 12 1/2 years of sales experience to the company.

Most of Youngquist’s experience comes from the wholesale beverage business, Mount Vernon-based Mobile Merchandisers plans to focus on in 2002.

The 20-year-old company specializes in the design and manufacturing of mobile displays, custom fixtures and point of purchase displays. It has recently relocated to a new facility at 2611 Henson Road in south Mount Vernon and is inviting the community to stop by and see the new showroom that highlights some of its unique designs.

“We are hosting a week-long open house Feb. 4-8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and would welcome the opportunity to show the community what we do,” says Steve Wells, president and chief exective officer.

 

Takehara Replaces Philbrick as SVC Trustee

Gov. Gary Locke’s office has informed Skagit Valley College that Mel Takehara has been appointed as a trustee, replacing Katie Philbrick who recently completed her five years on the board.

Takehara, a resident of Mount Vernon, is vice president/business banking officer for Washington Mutual Bank of Everett. He has served on the SVC Foundation Board and is currently a member of the Snohomish County Economic Development Council.

Philbrick was given the option of seeking reappointment but chose not to, the college says.

 

A.G. Edwards’ LaMonte Completes Accreditation

Rick LaMonte, a financial consultant with A.G. Edwards and Sons of Mount Vernon, recently completed training for an Accredited Asset Management Specialist designation.

To obtain the accreditation, LaMonte completed 120 hours of training through the College for Financial Planning.

You can reach him at 424-0302.

 

Son Joins Father at Hawthorne Memorial

Kirk Duffy has joined Hawthorne Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Mount Vernon to be part of the family-owned business, following five years of working for and managing Seattle-based funeral homes.

Hawthorne, at 1825 E. College Way, is owned by Dick Duffy, Kirk’s father.

“I really wanted to gain a lot of knowledge through the corporate setting,” Kirk Duffy explains. “I bring a lot of service-oriented value to the family business here.”

Duffy graduated from Central Washington University with a bachelor of science in human-resource management and went on to obtain his degree in mortuary science in Oregon. He worked from 1996 to 1998 for Bonney Watson in Seattle and from 1998 to the end of last year with a corporation servicing other funeral homes in Seattle, which provided him with management experience.

Kirk takes the positions of vice president and funeral director. His father is president. Others on staff are director of family services Tim Donovan and office manager Bev Waltenbaugh. Call 424-1154.

 

Office, Sales Managers Hired at RiverCity

RiverCity Screenprinting of south Mount Vernon has hired two new managers for its staff.

Donna Backman joins the company as office manager, while Brian Backman is the new sales manager.

RiverCity, at 222-D Anderson Road, offers full-service custom and contract screen printing. Call 428-8985 between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

 

NW Computer Supplies Expands Tech Staff

Wyatt Sloan has been hired as a technician at Northwest Computer Supplies, serving Skagit and nearby counties from its Bellingham store.

Sloan comes to the business from now-closed Alpha Tech Computers and will service, repair and upgrade Apple Macintosh computers as part of Northwest’s new Mac service department.

Northwest Computer Supplies is located at 1419 Cornwall Ave. Call 1-800-735-3410

 

Dri-Eaz Products Promotes Two in Management

Dri-Eaz Products has promoted county residents Darlene Mindrum and Denise Childs to new management positions.

Mindrum will fill the new position of organizational-development manager. She has been marketing associate, training manager and human-resource manager over her 11 years with the Burlington-based manufacturer. She will lead strategic planning and development programs as well as efforts toward organizational improvement.

Childs, formerly of TTM Technologies, is the new human-resources manager. She’s been involved in that field for 12 years. She also has worked for Alaska Ocean Seafood and Skagit Gardens Wholesale and served as a consultant.

Dri-Eaz, located on Josh Wilson Road near the Port of Skagit County, manufactures systems for drying and restoring water-damaged buildings. Call 757-7776.

 

Boys, Girls Clubs Elects Board Officers

Boys and Girls Clubs of Skagit County has a new slate of board officers for 2002. They are:

Bud Fish of Big Lake, a retired state trooper, president; Tom Verge, the county’s prosecuting attorney, vice president; Susan Ragan of Skagit State Bank, secretary; Maggie Potter, relations consultant, treasurer; and Jerry Chastain, former Mount Vernon postmaster, past president.

Blase Dillman is executive director, responsible for managing the organization and working in close collaboration with the board.

“With the kind of growth our clubs demonstrate, it would be wise for businesses and individuals in Skagit County to take advantage of our ‘Invest in Youth’ campaign,” says Chastain. “If you’re not happy with how some of your other investments have done this past year, why not invest in our local young people?”

For more information, call Dillman or Sally Luxon at 419-7205.

 

Skagit Women in Business Presents Slate of Officers

Skagit Women in Business (SWIB) has announced its slate of officers for 2002. They are:

Teresa Knight, Synergy Salon, president; Tammy Cannon, Innovative Marketing Concepts, vice president; Christi DelNagro, DelNagro Masonry Inc., secretary; and Bridget Heffele, Allstate Insurance, treasurer.

Others included: Sherri Stites, BDO Seldman Accountants and Consultants, membership chair; Lori Ledbetter, Human Touch Massage, second-year membership representative; Ryki Carlson, Wells Fargo Mortgage, first-year membership representative; Georgiann Dustin, Encore Events, publicity; and Heidi Thomas, SunCatcher Publications, past president.

For more information on SWIB, its program, meeting times and location, etc., call Dustin at (360) 595-0123.

 

Steele Joins Elite Group of State Geologists

Brian Steele of Materials Testing and Consulting, Inc. (MTC) of Burlington, has been licensed by the state as a professional engineering geologist, one of only about 200 in Washington.

Steele, who has worked on a wide range of projects in Western Washington, qualified for the state position by demonstrating high standards, capability and professional ethics in the practice of engineering geology. He has a bachelor’s and master’s in geology and has worked for MTC for five years.

The practice of engineering geology involves characterization of rock and soil properties to aid in the design of foundations, roadways and other structures. State licenses have been issued since July 2001 to about 200 qualifiers.

MTC is located at 777-A Chrysler Drive, Burlington. Call 755-1990.

 

Springer Earns Court Award for Management

Pam Springer, Skagit County District Court administrator, recently was named the 2001 Court Manger of the Year by the state’s Court Management Council (CMC).

Springer started with the court in 1985 and currently is an active member in the District and Municipal Court Managers’ Association. She has been instrumental in establishing a relicensing program to help local drivers regain their licenses.

She has also taken a leadership role in coordinating outreach efforts for the county’s district and municipal courts, including mock trials, judges-in-the-classroom visits, school visitations to the courts, mitigation reduction programs, cross-court payment systems and arrant amnesty programs.

“I’m very honored to be recognized by the council,” Springer states. “Our local courts have taken great strides to improve public access over the past few years and I look forward to expanding these efforts in the years ahead.”

In nominating her for the award, Skagit County District Court Judge David Svaren noted Springer’s commitment to improving services for the public. “I would be hard-pressed to find another person as devoted to the welfare of the court, who knows more of how to operate a court efficiently, and who puts in as many hours to ensure that the public receives the service they deserve.”

 

Berentson Awarded Fitness Certification

Kirsten Berentson of Water’s Edge Fitness Center in Anacortes recently received certification in the Apex Fitness Professional program.

The program includes five components to fitness, which if followed properly will help adherents achieve desired results. They are: proper food intake, cardiovascular exercise, supplementation, resistance training and professional assistance.

Berentson, a certified aerobics instructor with the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, attended the regional Apex school in Portland for her award.

“. . . everyone is different, and what may work for one individual may not work for another,” Berentson avers. “Apex is a lifestyle change specifically designed for each person — a realistic, safe and effective way to see the results you want.”

Call her at 299-2180 or visit Water’s Edge off R Avenue near the SHS.com building.

 

Newton Achieves Kiwanis’ Legion of Honor Award

The Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon recently honored Phil Newton with the Legion of Honor Award.

Newton, a former club president in Illinois, has been a member of the Mount Vernon organization for 20 years and has served as lieutenant governor for Division 20.

The award is given to members who have achieved 25 or more years of membership and service.

 

Saldivar Recognized by Medical Organization

Sheri Saldivar, clinic administrator for North Cascade Eye Associates of Sedro-Woolley, has been recognized by the American College of Medical Practice Executives (ACMPE) as earning that organization’s professional designation.

The Certified Medical Practice Executive designation is for management personnel in the field. Reaching it demonstrates Saldivar’s individual professional competence and advancement, having passed rigorous oral, essay and objective exams that assess knowledge and understanding of medical-practice management. She also earned a minimum of 50 continuing- education credit hours to qualify.

Saldivar, a certified optician, joined North Cascade at its inception in 1985. In 1989, she oversaw the opening of the optical department and, six years later, the opening of a satellite clinic, Vision Concepts.

For more information, call 856-1202.

 

Anderson Becomes Certified Playground Safety Inspector

Eric Anderson, manager of Rainbow Play Systems Pacific Northwest of Burlington, recently attended the National Playground Safety Institute inspector-certification course and passed its rigorous exam.

The course is designed to give participants an understanding of the application of the laws, standards and guidelines that affect the public playground industry. Anderson will use this knowledge in working with public playground and residential customers.

Rainbow sells, installs and services a variety of commercial and residential play equipment and is located at 489 Andis Road, Burlington. Call 707-2804.

 

Architect Hall Receives Glen Hunt, Citation Awards

Local architect David Hall recently received two honors — the Glen Hunt and Citation awards — for a project in Edison.

Hall, of Henry Klein Partnership of Mount Vernon, received the honors for the Edison House and Gardens project from the Northwest Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, which annually presents its design awards at the end of the year.

“This project is a labor of love,” the three jurors state. “For 25 years, this architect and his family struggled to preserve the existing character of the house and the necessary accretions of a modern lifestyle. Its exquisite and delicate gardens arranged in a series of outdoor rooms extend the architecture out into the landscape in a tradition worthy of the landscape architect, Glen Hunt.”

The Citation Award is presented for elements of the project, while the Hunt award is proffered for “outstanding integration of site, landscaping and architecture.”

Another Citation Award was presented to Ross McClure Cornwell Architects of Bellingham, which also won a Merit Award. Another Merit Award, for un-built homes, went to Northwest Heritage Master Plan Charette owned by the City of Blaine, Port of Bellingham and Trillium Corp. and designed by Christensen Design Management. An Honor Award was presented to Zervas Group Architects of Bellingham for Tool House Tenant Improvements.

Hall can be reached at 336-2155.