Skagit Soroptomists honor leading women in business

Women in business in Skagit County earned the spotlight when the Soroptomist International Clubs of Burlington, LaConner, Mount Vernon and Sedro-Wooley presented awards for volunteer work in the communities they serve.

Winners were chosen from the 50 members in Sedro-Woolley, 40 in Burlington, 25 in Mount Vernon and 45 in LaConner.

The award categories and winners include:

• Women of Distinction, honored for achievement in their profession as well as community service: Debra Lisser, Burlington; Kay Hall, Mount Vernon; Dee Denton, Sedro-Woolley.

• Women Helping Women, for their work to eliminate economic, legal, social and political discrimination against women: Teresa Reynoza and Elizabeth Ibanez, Burlington; Jill Row, Mount Vernon; Nancy Williams and Julie Stewart, Sedro-Woolley.

• Women’s Opportunity Award for work in assisting women who must return to the workforce: LaCee Rodriguez, Burlington; Adirene Egbers, LaConner; Jammie Jenkins, Mount Vernon; Janet Cote, Sedro-Woolley.

• Fellowship Award was presented, together with a cash fellowship, to Allison George of Bellingham. The award recognizes a women holding a college or university degree considering a job change or wanting to do post graduate study to advance her profession.

The awards program is new and is intended by the Soroptomist Clubs in Skagit county to an annual program.

Soroptomist International is the world’s largest classified service organization for women. Its 100,000 members are members of chapters are 115 countries. The club’s mission is to make a difference for women through volunteer service to the community. Local membership and other information is available on-line at: www.nwrsoropt.com

 

Knight named Leads Club Leader of the Year

Teresa Knight, owner of Synergy Salon & Day Spa in Mount Vernon, was chosen Leads Club Leader of the Year by a local chapter of Leads Club, the world’s largest and oldest networking organization. Founded in 1978, current Leads Club membership is 55,000.

More than three million business leads have been shared, each with an average value of $300.

Mount Vernon chapter members exchange leads and improve their networking skills by giving business presentations every Wednesday at 7:15 a.m. at The Chapel of the Bells.

Interested visitors can call Marilyn Houser, chapter director (360) 755-9754, or the Leads Club home office at (800) 783-3761.

 

Thomas elected to Cascade Gas Board; Clapp retires

Douglas G. Thomas has been elected to the Cascade Natural Gas board of directors. Raised in Burlington and now a resident of Bellingham, he is president and chief executive officer of Bellingham Cold Storage Company, a public refrigerated warehouse that provides freezing, storage and handling for seafood, fruit and other perishables. He replaces retiring board member Mel Clapp, who started as a laborer at Cascade 45 years ago, was elected to the Cascade Board of Directors in 1981, and retired in 1995 as the company’s chairman and chief executive officer.

 

Optometrist to participate in Ciba VIP program

Sarah Marossy, O.D., of Sedro-Woolley’s North Cascade Eye Associates has been invited by Ciba Vision, a contact lens manufacturer, to participate in their VIP program. Program participants meet at the company’s corporate headquarters in Duluth, Ga. for three days to share practice management ideas in a non-competitive environment and learn more about Ciba Vision products.

 

Atlas Chiropractic Center adds Johnson as manager

To manage patient flow and increase the Center’s capacity, Dr. James P. Von Hipple has added Brooke Johnson of Sedro-Woolley to his office staff. She formerly worked at Bellingham Asthma, Allergy and Immunology Clinic.

Atlas Chiropractic Center is located at 2228 James Street, Bellingham, (360) 527-1030.

 

Dentist completes cosmetic restorations program

LaConner dentist Larry Quesnell has completed the Master Aesthetic Dentist program at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies in Nevada. He studied under the world-renowned Dr. William Dickerson, a fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and his dental clinic now offers cosmetic metal-free porcelain laminates, which provide natural-looking restoration. For information, call the doctor’s office at (360) 466-3188.

 

Local developer attends eco-products conference

Brian Gentry, vice president of Landed Gentry Development, Burlington, recently attended the National Green Building Conference in Seattle. The conference focused on innovative building technologies, energy efficiency, smart growth, indoor air quality and sustainable site design. Gentry attended the conference to incorporate additional environmentally friendly techniques in his building projects. The company’s projects include active adult communities in Mount Vernon and Oak Harbor. Information: (360) 755-9021 or visit www.landedgentry.com.

 

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Walk participant honored

Burlington resident Sally Freeman, a lifelong native of Skagit Valley, was honored for her participation in the annual Bellingham MS Walk presented by Immunex. Freeman and her family are actively involved with the National MS Society and each year form a team of volunteers and walkers for the Bellingham MS Walk.

Diagnosed with MS in 1997, Freeman continues to stay active by working as much as possible and staying involved in her community. She is a Sunday school teacher at her church, a substitute instructional assistant and cook in the local school district, and a parent to three children.

The MS Walk is the largest fundraising event held by the Greater Washington Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and last year raised more than $820,000.

Money raised at the MS Walk funds national research efforts and provides local programs and services for those with MS in local communities.

For more information or to donate time or money, call (800) 800-7047 or visit www.nationalmssociety.org.

 

Fischer recognized for National Guard support

Shell Puget Sound Refinery employee Bill Fischer has been honored by the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Fischer, who is an operations leader in the refinery boilerhouse unit, was nominated for the certificate of appreciation by co-worker Carlos Alonso.

Alonso, a boilerhouse operator, is a member of the Army National Guard, working as a medic often called on to report to duty on weekends and for two weeks of annual training. His nomination thanked Fischer for shuffling work schedules to accommodate the necessary military calls and assignments.

 

DeTray joins Salon on the Boardwalk

Claire DeTray moved in May to Salon on the Boardwalk in Mount Vernon. With 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, she specializes in highlighting techniques and precision haircuts.

Salon on the Boardwalk is located at 315B Main Street, Mount Vernon. Telephone: (360) 336-2985.

 

Santolla achieves assisted living certification

Alice Santolla, RNC, executive director of the LaConner Retirement Inn, has completed an intensive course and test for national accreditation through the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA). The National Administrator Certification is offered exclusively by ALFA, and is the highest recognition in the professional field.

LaConner Retirement Inn is located at 204 North First Street in La Conner. Telephone: (360) 466-5700.

 

Hunter, Pearson qualify for Diamond Society

Membership in the International Diamond Society is one of the highest recognitions available for sales associates in the Coldwell Banker real estate brokerage firm. Only 19 percent of the 80,000 representatives qualify.

Newly installed as members are John Hunter and Glenn Pearson of Mount Vernon at the firm’s Eaglemont office.

Hunter and Pearson can be contacted by calling (360) 424-3737.

 

Hawaka moves to new assignment

Michael Hawaka, P.T., has joined Northwest Physical Therapy Sports Rehabilitation Center at its Mount Vernon LaVenture Road facility.

Hawaka is a graduate in physical therapy from Ithaca College in New York.

Northwest Physical Therapy operates three clinics in Mount Vernon and Burlington. Information telephone number is (360) 428-2700.

 

Promotion, new appointment at Skagit Business Monthly

Two professional positions at Pulse Publications, Inc. are announced by the publisher of the Skagit County Business Monthly and Whatcom County Business Pulse.

Maggie Horn has joined the company as advertising account manager for Business Monthly magazine. A veteran sales person and manager in the retail, wholesale beverage, fashion and consumer products fields, Horn attended the British Columbia Institute of Technology, with her study emphasis in sales and marketing.

A resident of LaConner, Horn is based full-time in Skagit County, working with businesses for the development of their advertising to business owners, managers and professionals.

Allan Waller joined Pulse Publications as a production staff member seven months ago from a position as digital graphics administrator at Color One in Seattle. He is a graduate in graphic design from Western Washington University. In his promotion to the design and production managership he has been key to the new style and expansion of content in both magazines.

“With Allan’s promotion to design and production manager we have fulfilled both a goal and a commitment to be the leader in business-to-business publishing. His design concepts are clean and effective, allowing us a better presentation of increased editorial content for our readers,” said Tony Larson, publisher of Business Monthly.

Waller is based in the company’s Bellingham office.

Contact telephone number for both Horn and Waller is (360) 671-3933.