People Watching

The Daily Herald Co. names new ad manager

EVERETT — Carrie Radcliff is the new retail sales manager of The Daily Herald and The Herald Business Journal.

Radcliff is a longtime Herald employee. For the past nine years, she has provided retail new-business development for The Daily Herald. In her new role, she will provide the dynamic, local leadership needed to lead The Herald retail ad sales team.

Radcliff graduated with a public relations degree from Central Washington University. Her newspaper career began back in college at The Observer Newspaper where she worked in news, advertising and composing.

A “paid” internship notice in the college career center caught Carrie’s eye and, within a week, she was working for The Herald as an intern, which quickly turned into an advertising assistant position. Over the years at The Herald, Radcliff has worked in classified private party and real estate ads.

In the community, Radcliff is an ambassador with Economic Alliance Snohomish County, a Relay for Life Team captain, and an avid supporter of Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County and Housing Hope.

She and her husband, Brent, have two teenagers, Kendall and Madison. They enjoy soccer, the Seahawks and traveling.

LYNNWOOD — Cheryl Sparks, owner of Sparks Financial Services in Lynnwood, joined other leading financial advisers in May at the Commonwealth Financial Network’s Business Experience conference. The event was held in collaboration with Disney Institute in Florida. Business Experience recognizes successful advisers based on an annual production ranking among Commonwealth’s nationwide network of advisors.

EVERETT — Keller Williams in Everett has added four agents since early April. Mack McKindley joined from Zip Realty, Jason Gustafson came from Edmonds Realty and Julie Adair came from ProRealty Options. Marie Toop is launching her real estate career with Keller Williams. John Wynstra, team leader believes the strong sellers’ market is causing changes in agent populations.

MONROE — Canyon Creek Cabinet Co. recently appointed Andrew Weaver to the newly created position of plant superintendent. Weaver has been with Canyon Creek for more than seven years, starting as a supervisor. During his tenure with the company — including a one-year deployment with the Army National Guard — he’s held various supervisory positions ranging from product development to production to quality control.

EVERETT — Bill Tsoukalas, executive director of the Boys &Girls Clubs of Snohomish County, has been awarded the 2013 John M. Fluke Sr. Community Service Award. This award is presented annually by Economic Alliance Snohomish County. Tsoukalas has been active in many service organizations and is the recipient of a number of awards for his continued service to the community.

SNOHOMISH — Arlington-born Jodey Ellis-Spansel, store director of the Snohomish Fred Meyer, was named Director of the Year for her district, which encompasses 19 stores in the north Puget Sound. This is the first year that Fred Meyer has awarded this designation in each of its seven districts, with plans to make it an annual honor.

MONROE — Monroe Public Schools’ director of communications Rosemary O’Neil was presented with the Learning and Liberty Award from the Washington School Public Relations Association at the group’s recent spring conference. The award is for school communications professionals who have contributed greatly to the profession. O’Neil was nominated by members of the Snohomish County Schools Public Information Cooperative.

SEATTLE — Snohomish resident Mike Potratz, a financial analyst for the Seattle Pacific Foundation at Seattle Pacific University, has been named SPU Staff Person of the Year. Potratz, who has worked for SPU for more than 28 years, was nominated by his peers and other SPU staff members, and the final selection was made by the SPU Staff Council.

LYNNWOOD — Vivian Blossom, Snohomish County Tourism Bureau’s Visitor Information specialist and receptionist, retired in May after 12 years of service. Stacey Pfeiffer has joined the staff as visitor services coordinator. She will be responsible for coordination of volunteer program duties and general office administration. Andrea Sherrodd Vanni has been named as the organization’s new marketing and communications coordinator.

EVERETT — Washington State Center for Aerospace and Advanced Materials Manufacturing director Mary Kaye Bredeson attended the Paris Air Show with the Washington state delegation, playing a key role in driving business to Washington’s aerospace and advanced materials manufacturing industries. She serves as a representative of Washington state’s community and technical colleges.

SEATTLE — HomeStreet Bank has hired Chris Sakas as senior vice president for private banking. He brings 16 years of experience in the banking and finance industry to his new position. He is also active with the Pacific Lutheran University School of Business. Previously, Sakas was vice president of private banking for Columbia Bank in Tacoma.

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — The American Heart Association has appointed H.R. Brereton “Gubby” Barlow, president and CEO of Premera Blue Cross in Mountlake Terrace, as chairman of the Puget Sound Heart and Stroke Walk. The event is scheduled for Oct. 26 at the Seattle Center. It draws more than 10,000 participants from the Puget Sound region. This will be the walk’s 20th anniversary.

EVERETT — Owen Carter has been named County Engineer of the Year by the Washington State Association of County Engineers. Carter, who also serves as deputy director of Snohomish County’s Public Works Department, oversees road maintenance, transportation and environmental services and engineering services. These divisions provide regional services to at least 15 other cities and agencies within Snohomish County.

MARYSVILLE — Scott E. Davis, a Marysville resident, has qualified as a Championship Agent by Farmers Insurance for his outstanding overall performance. As part of this special recognition, he will attend a championship conference in Chicago with other qualifying agents and district managers. The group will discuss new business strategies and key issues affecting customers and the insurance industry in their communities.

EVERETT — Origin East West Marketing, with offices in Everett and Vermont, announced that company president David Cook received an award from the Vermont Association of Broadcasters for the creative copywriting of a radio commercial titled “Significant Other” for Winooski Insurance. Origin East West is a division of Cook Creative Advertising, Inc.

SEATTLE — Regence BlueShield has named Mary Kay O’Neill, MD, as executive medical director for the state of Washington. Based in Seattle, O’Neill will work with key employers and network providers to enhance the quality and affordability of care for Regence members in Washington. She is well known in the Washington community and is active in professional and civic associations.