Business FYI

People

Martin Cross has been named executive director of the Mukilteo Family YMCA. Cross oversees the branch operations, which includes staff supervision, fiscal management, financial development and board development. Cross most recently served as associate executive of the Downtown Seattle YMCA branch with responsibility for the family services and mental health programs. He has nearly 20 years of YMCA professional experience and was responsible for building one of the premier family and youth programs in the state.

Housing Hope has added Andrew Ballard to its board of directors. Ballard is the president of Marketing Solutions, an Everett area agency that develops research-based growth strategies for small and mid-sized businesses. He has more than 30 years experience in marketing, communications and management.

Special events

The Everett Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to connect with potential customers after work during Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Stadium Flowers, 37th Street and Broadway in Everett. Complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Bring plenty of business cards for networking and door prize drawings. For more information, call 425-357-3222, ext. 0, or go to www. everettchamber.com.

The Workforce Development Council Snohomish County will host two 90-minute input sessions to provide suggestions, comments and feedback on creating Snohomish County’s work force of the future. Each session will provide background on the charter developed by the board of directors as well as an open session for you. The sessions, which are open to the public, are scheduled for 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at the Everett Holiday Inn, 3105 Pine St., Everett. For more information, call Samantha Spitzer at 415-921-3402 or e-mail sam.spitzer@wdcsc.org.

Career Discovery Week 2009, the University of Washington’s 10th annual career education and exploration extravaganza will be Jan. 26 to 30, with additional sessions starting Tuesday. Whether you are a student wanting to know what you can do now to prepare for the future, considering a career transition or anywhere in between, Career Discovery Week has something just for you. Sessions, which are free and open to the public, include panel discussions featuring working professionals and alumni, a nursing career advancement fair and more. For more information and the schedule of events, go to depts.washington.edu/careerwk/2009/events.php.

Business news

H&R Block has opened a new office at 19191 U.S. 2 in Monroe. The office held its grand opening on Jan. 15, and will continue its food drive to benefit Sky Valley Food Bank through Friday. For more information, call Marcee Kerns at 360-794-4402 or e-mail Marcee.kerns@hrblock.com.

Classes, workshops

The Construction Industry Training Council’s continuing education classes in Everett include: electrical-industrial first aid-AHA CPR, Feb. 7, $65 and $85; NEC update, Feb. 21 and March 7, $125: grounding and bonding, Feb. 22, $135; 135; RCW-WAC and low voltage, Feb. 28 and March 21, $135; residential wiring, March 14, $135; electrical trainee — motors, basic controls and hazardous locations, Feb. 7 and March 21, $125; introduction to electrical theory, Feb. 28, $125; introduction to the NEC and RCW-WAC rules, March 7, $130; plumbing — plumbing code update, Feb. 7 and March 14, $135; basic hydronics and controls, Feb. 21, $135; electrical basics and boilers, March 7, $135. For more information about location and classes in other cities, call Sarah Lutterloh at 425-285-2332 or e-mail sarahl@citcwa.com.

Internship

Paid internships are now available at Mutual of Omaha for students interested in learning more about a career in financial services and insurance. Students must be a sophomore or higher. For more information, go to www.mutualintern.com.

Meetings

Lee Rhoades, owner of glassybaby and winner of the 2008 Nellie Cashman woman business owner of the year award, will address the Women Business Owners Power Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle. Cost is $38 for members and first-time guests, $50 for nonmembers if registered by Tuesday, or $65. For more information, call 206-575-3232 or go to www.­womenbusinessowners.org.

Good deeds

The Marysville Cooperative Education Program has received a community grant of $7,000 from the Fred Meyer Fund to help purchase new playground equipment for Quil Ceda Elementary School. The Marysville Cooperative Education Program is a kindergarten through fifth-grade choice program in the Marysville School District housed at Quil Ceda Elementary. The grant will help fund the purchase of additional playground equipment for Quil Ceda, a project the PTSA has been working on for the past two years.

Send news and photos to Mike Benbow, Business editor, The Herald, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206, fax to 425-339-3435 or e-mail to economy@heraldnet.com.