Pickering joins Key Bank

Gary Pickering was named Key Bank’s vice president and relationship manager for business banking in Bellingham and Mount Vernon. In this new position, he will manage a portfolio amounting to as much as $25 million in annual revenue.

Pickering has a business administration and finance degree from Washington State University and has been market manager for US Bank in Bellingham.

 

McDowell adds to manager role

Monty McDowell is now area store manager of both the Sedro-Woolley Food Pavilion and the Market Place stores. He helped oversee the recent remodel of the Sedro-Woolley store.

Gary Gossett is the assistant manager of the Anacortes Cost Cutter foods. He brings strong leadership skills to the store.

 

Radel directs North Coast marketing

Jill Radel joined North Coast Credit Union as marketing director in Skagit, Island, San Juan, and Whatcom Counties. She will manage North Coast’s marketing department and oversee their strategic marketing and communications efforts, including advertising development, branding and member education.

Radel has served as marketing director at Industrial Credit Union in Bellingham and for a transport company.

 

Two win medical scholarships

North Cascade Eye Associates awarded two Excellence in Education Scholarships to local students pursuing medical careers.

Kimberly Ann Wolwod of Burlington/Edison High School received the inaugural scholarship. Francisco Javier Jaimes was awarded a special honorary scholarship.

 

Parkside adds two

Two new directors joined Parkside Special Care in Sedro-Woolley recently.

Randall Wilson is the new executive director. He has an extensive background in nursing facility administration, most recently directing a 50-bed home in Okanogan. Wilson has also owned and operated nursing facilities in Mississippi and Louisiana. He is a licensed nursing home administrator.

Kirk Blankenship was named Parkside’s marketing director. He has an undergraduate degree in human services from Woodring College at Western Washington University and has worked at several care facilities.

 

Atterberry earns designation

Solveig Atterberry of Northwest Properties, Aiken & Aiken in Mount Vernon received an accredited staging professional designation. Staging is a way to prepare houses for sale by ensuring they are clean and clutter-free. Atterberry completed coursework and an examination to earn her designation.

 

Tremaine takes helm at Washington Funding

Rick Tremaine is the new president and chief executive officer at Washington Funding Group. The real estate lending company is, along with Whidbey Island Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Washington Banking Company. Tremaine will keep his present position as senior vice president and real estate loan manager at Whidbey Island Bank.

He joined the bank in 1996 and has been in the real estate division ever since. Tremaine’s first job in banking was at Mt. Baker Mutual Savings Bank in 1975. He also worked at Bellingham National Bank and at Key Bank, after they took over Bellingham National. He serves on the board of the Building Industry Association of Washington and the National Association of Home Builders.

Tremaine’s promotion coincides with the funding group’s plan to expand wholesale real estate lending services. The company operates four offices, including one in Burlington.

 

Brummett is auditor of the year

Norma Brummett, Skagit County auditor, was named auditor of the year by Sam Reed, Washington State’s Secretary of State. She is the third recipient of the award.

Brummett won the award for her work as co-chair of the 2003 election administrators’ conference and her role representing the county auditors association on the Help America Vote Act steering committee.

 

Eye clinic hires doctor

North Cascade Eye Associates welcomed Dr. C. Dan Siapco to the practice. He specializes in surgical ophthalmology, with a particular focus on medical retinal and laser treatments for diabetes and other retinal problems. He is also an accomplished cataract surgeon.

Dr. Siapco has a medical degree and undergraduate degree from Loma Linda University. He spent one year at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane and did a three-year ophthalmology residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

The clinic is in Sedro Woolley.

 

Ratzlaff takes helm of accountant organization

Darice Ratzlaff is now president of the North Cascades Chapter of the American Society of Women Accountants. She is controller of Ershigs in Bellingham. Judi Van Beek of Smith Gardens is the president-elect. Other board members include Sheri Donahue, Paula Shoemaker, Andrea Neil, Jody Garday-Faix, Julie Parker, Nancy Garrett, Isabel Bradley, Pat Watkins, and Sandra Hull.

The ASWA supports women in accounting and related fields achieve personal, professional and economic potential and to contribute to the growth of accounting.

 

Riverside adds manager

Karen Westra is the new general manger of Riverside Health Club in Mount Vernon. She brings an extensive and varied background as well as 15 years experience in all aspects of management.

Westra has a master’s degree in administration and planning and a doctorate in program evaluation, both from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

 

Staff at Riverside attends training

Staff and managers at Riverside Health Club attended two training classes to keep both gym programs and behind the scenes operations running smoothly.

Betsey Thompson, Cari King, Erika Olson, Lydia Guel, Marci Garcia, Nicci Colombi and Robin Luif were guests at Body Training Systems’ BTS Super training session in Bellevue. During the full day seminar, participants learned about a variety of Body Training Systems’ fitness classes, including Body Pump, Body Step, Body Attack, and Body Flow. Course instructors were among BTS’ lead instructors nationwide.

Karen Westra, the new general manager, Lori Norris, eastside club manager, Aubrey Russel, and Lorna Krengel attended Sales Maker System training at the company headquarters in Fort Myers, Florida. Riverside Health Club uses Sales Maker to obtain and maintain their membership base. More than 800 clubs across North America and the world utilize the system, which emphasizes a commitment to the benefits of exercise, helping potential members overcome barriers to developing exercise habits, and follow up with new members to ensure they are on track for success.