Biz Bits: Business news from Snohomish County

People

Peoples Bank has named Jim Erlewine senior vice president and commercial banking team leader. Erlewine joined Peoples Bank in Kirkland in 2010. He recently relocated his office to the Everett Financial Center at 2733 Colby Ave. in Everett. His background includes more than 20 years of commercial credit experience as well as involvement with many non-profits and contractors.

Windermere Real Estate/CIR has welcomed Brandy Timmer to its Terry’s Corner/Camano Island office. Timmer grew up in Lynden and moved to Camano Island seven years ago. She is involved in the Utsalady Elementary booster club and her daughter’s sports activities. She is also passionate about raising awareness for Autism Speaks, Relay for Life and other community organizations.

The Everett Clinic in Stanwood has welcomed two new primary care providers: Dr. Sara Rahman and physician assistant Robert Hezlep. Rahman is board certified in internal medicine, geriatrics and palliative care and hospice. Hezlep earned his master’s of physician assistant studies at Chatham University in Pittsburgh.

The Everett AquaSox announced two promotions within its front office. Katie Crawford Woods has been named assistant general manager of the AquaSox while Erica Fensterbush has been promoted to group sales and merchandise manager. Crawford Woods joined the AquaSox in 2009. Fensterbush joined the AquaSox front office staff in 2011.

Ray Conner, vice chairman of The Boeing Co. and president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, was one of 10 new members appointed to the Federal Aviation Administration Management Advisory Council. The council advises the FAA on management, policy, spending and regulatory matters. Conner is also a member of Boeing’s Executive Council.

Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Carl Zapora to serve a term on the Edmonds Community College’s Board of Trustees. The term will run through September 2016. He replaces board member Wayne Brown, who left the position in December 2012 to move out of state. Zapora, who lives in Edmonds, is the superintendent of Public Hospital District No. 2 Snohomish County.

Good deeds

Milltown Credit Union sent a check for $1,200 to the Credit Unions for Kids — Children’s Miracle Network program. The donation resulted from the Sees candy bar fundraiser sales that have been going on at the teller windows.

The Boys &Girls Club has received a grant from the Everett Clinic Foundation for $20,000 for the Kids Cafe program. Last year, the organization provided 313,306 hot snacks and meals to youth in Snohomish County. Initially, some kids come into the clubs for food then choose to stay for homework help, athletic and recreational programming, or a variety of enriching programs.

PCC Natural Markets has launched a community grant program. Four times a year, PCC will award a $1,000 grant to a school or nonprofit that truly exemplifies the spirit of the local community. All of the information can be found online at pccnaturalmarkets.com/community/grants/. Applications will take time to process and review, but will remain active for 12 months.

Snohomish County Public Utility District has awarded 10 mini-grants for science-related educational projects in several local school districts. The grants help schools incorporate energy and water education into their curriculum. Winning schools included five local elementary schools, four middle schools and one high school. Details are at www.snopud.com/?p=1444.

Events

On Tuesday, the Snohomish Chamber of Commerce Member to Member luncheon meeting will feature Snohomish County Executive John Lovick as guest speaker. Cost is $15 for Snohomish Chamber members, $18 for non-members. RSVP by today to manager@cityofsnohomish.com or call 360-568-2526. Meeting information is available at www.cityofsnohomish.com.

Work Opportunities of Lynnwood is the beneficiary of a fundraiser scheduled at McMenamins Mill Creek. The event runs between 5:30 p.m. and closing on Tuesday. McMenamins will donate 50 percent of all proceeds that evening to Work Opportunities’ mission of “Inclusion through Jobs” for persons with disabilities. Last year, the event raised $1,700.

Washington state chief economist Steven Lerch will provide a Washington state housing market update to a gathering of Washington real estate agents Thursday at the Red Lion Inn in Olympia. The real estate agents annual two-day event in Olympia begins Wednesday with workshops and educational opportunities.

Non-profit GROW Washington is partnering with Pine Creek Nursery in Monroe for a meal and shopping opportunity event. The event is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the nursery. Admission is free but prepaid tickets must be bought for the meal. Purchase tickets at the GROW Washington stores in Snohomish, Everett and Sultan.

Business and other key leaders in Snohomish County will gather to hear Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson present his annual “2014 State of Everett” address from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. Jan 30. The event is at the Everett Golf &Country Club located at 1500 52nd St. SE in Everett. Economic Alliance Snohomish County Investor price for the event is $30. Non-Investor price is $40.

Gov. Jay Inslee will be the keynote dinner speaker at Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance’s 13th Annual Aerospace Conference on Feb. 5 in Lynnwood. This will be the governor’s second appearance at the conference. The three-day event is a gathering for the world’s leading aerospace companies. To register, go online at https://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1326173 or email contact@pnaa.net for more information.

Classes, workshops and webinars

Registration is required for two free workshops presented by the Washington Procurement Technical Assistance Center. Government Contracting 101 is from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and Marketing to the Government is from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Economic Alliance Snohomish County conference room, 808 134th St. SW, Suite 101, Everett. Register online at http://washingtonptac.org/events-workshops/.

The U.S. Small Business Administration will present an hour-long webinar “Top Reasons Why SBA Returns &Declines an 8(a) Application” at 11 a.m. Wednesday. It is the second of a free, two-part webinar series. Registration — which is free, but required — can be done at http://ems.intellor.com/index.cgi?p=204873&t=71&do=register&s=&rID=432&edID=293. The webinars will be archived on SBA’s YouTube page.

Learn about direct-to-consumer sales at the upcoming Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers Annual Convention. “Raising the Bar for Direct to Consumer Sales in the Tasting Room” is a three-part workshop held at 8 a.m. Feb. 5 in Kennewick. You do not need to be a WAWGG member to attend. The cost for this session is $55. Visit www.wawgg.org for information.

Winter Orcharding on Feb. 13 is the first of a three-part workshop series called “Cider &Perry Orcharding throughout the Year”. Participants can register for the series or individual classes. The workshop fee is $95 and includes all class materials, beverages and lunch. It will be held at Skagit Valley Gardens, 18923 Johnson Road, Mount Vernon. For more information please visit www.agbizcenter.org website for Transitioning to Value Added Classes and Workshops.

Announcements

Please take the time to nominate an executive and entrepreneur of the year. These people should be dedicated private- or public-sector individuals who excel in business, community involvement and support Snohomish County’s economic development. The winners will be honored during the Economic Alliance Snohomish annual recognition luncheon in May. Nominations entry forms can be found at www.theheraldbusinessjournal.com. Nominations can also be sent to HBJ editor Jim Davis at PO Box 930, Everett, WA 98177 or email to jdavis@heraldnet.com. Please include name, title, reason for nomination and the name of the person submitting the nomination. More info: 425-339-3097.

BECU has entered into an agreement with Payment Alliance International that will add cash-only ATMs in 138 Washington state Rite-Aid stores. In Snohomish County, that would add 17 new locations that would be surcharge-free to BECU customers. The total number of BECU ATMs in the county will go up to 66 while the number statewide will stand at over 350.

Waste Management mailed four 2014 clean-up coupons to all Mountlake Terrace residential customers on Jan. 16. Each coupon can be used for an additional garbage set-out or yard waste set-out. For more information, check Waste Management’s website at www.wmnorthwest.com/mountlaketerrace/index.html or call the Customer Service Center at 1-800-592-9995.

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has fined two companies, including Frontier Communications Northwest, for failing to locate and mark the presence of underground utilities before contractors began digging, resulting in damaged facilities. The financial penalties were the first under a law that requires companies to mark their underground utilities within two business days of receiving a request from the 811 Call Before You Dig program.

The Employment Security Department has released an 81-page annual report with economic information about the state of Washington’s agricultural industry. The complete report can be downloaded online at https://fortress.wa.gov/esd/employmentdata/docs/industry-reports/ag-annual-2012.pdf

According to the Internal Revenue Service, nearly 1,500 tax identity theft related criminal investigations were launched in 2013 — an increase of 66 percent from 2012. The IRS will never initiate contact by email, text or social media. For more information on identity theft and scams, visit bbb.org.

The Washington State Department of Revenue could receive as many as 490,000 returns this month. Every annual filer — even if they had no business activity in 2013 — must file a tax return with the department by Jan. 31. Business taxpayers are advised to call with questions as early in the month as possible to avoid crunch time.

Karl Newman, NW Insurance Council president, reminds everyone to talk with your insurance agent or company representative and make a complete review of your insurance coverage at least once a year. Needs change over time. For more information, contact NW Insurance Council at 800-664-4942 and ask for a free copy of “Your Guide to Insurance.”