Biz Bits: People and businesses in the news

People

Guinn D. Rogers is the new executive director for Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County. Rogers brings 35 years of experience with non-profit and community-service agencies, including executive leadership, administration and direct services. Rogers was hired to replace Mary Fears, a longtime Snohomish County business woman and community leader who is retiring at the end of August.

Martin A. Steele is the new president and chief executive officer of the Bank of Washington, based in Lynnwood. Most recently he was president and CEO of Charter Bank, a subsidiary of Boston Private Bank &Trust, until its sale in May. Steele also has worked for The Commerce Bank of Washington, Windswept Capital and Bank of America. Bank of Washington has branches in Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mukilteo, Everett and Redmond.

Terracon Consultants recently hired Richard Luark as a senior geotechnical engineer in the Mountlake Terrace office. Luark’s diverse portfolio includes residential, office and municipal projects in the Western U.S.

Labels Plus, an Everett-based company owned by Phillips Industrial Supply, has added new employees and equipment to match recent growth. New hires include Chief Executive Officer Chic Hendricks, marketing and brand manager Lori Kovalick, sales manager John Parks, account executive Brenna O’Meagher and production assistant Kim Farmer.

Evergreen Health Sport and Spine Center is adding three providers and two part-time locations to meet increased demand. The new providers are Dr. Douglas Burns, Dr. Tanya Cabrita and Cory Burch. The Sport &Spine Center’s new part-time locations are at Evergreen Health’s Redmond and Monroe primary care centers.

The Mountlake Terrace City Council has appointed members to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee: Ayesha Sheikh, Laura Peckinpaugh, Carol Brickel and Carol McMahan. The committee is responsible for reviewing requests and making recommendations for allocating Lodging Tax Funds.

Association of Washington Cities President Craig George has appointed Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling to the AWC Legislative Committee and the Infrastructure and Economic Development Subcommittee. Earling’s appointment will begin immediately.

AAA Washington recently hired Mike Mulligan as an insurance manager at the corporate headquarters in Bellevue. Mulligan will primarily focus in the Puget Sound region. He has been in the industry for nearly 25 years.

Bothell-based HUB Northwest has acquired the assets of The Unity Group, a full-service insurance brokerage firm based in Bellingham. Barry Hanson, currently president of The Unity Group, will join HUB Northwest as an executive vice president. He will lead Bellingham operation and becoming a member of the HUB Northwest executive team.

Kudos

Western Washington Medical Group physician Matthew Ashbach has been named to Seattle Met’s Top Doctor list for 2013. He is the only surgeon in the Everett area nominated. Physicians for the award are nominated by peers based on who they would choose to treat their own family.

Snohomish County has been recognized by the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties as one of the top 10 in the nation for its use of technology to improve services and efficiency.

Representatives from American Honda Motor Co. stopped by Klein Honda in Everett recently to present the dealership with the Honda Environmental Leadership Award. The award recognizes Klein Honda for doing its part in helping the company’s effort to reduce the environmental impact of Honda dealerships. Klein Honda was among the first to receive the award. The dealership earned the award for achieving environmental targets, including reducing energy use at the dealership by at least 10 percent, developing a water conservation plan and implementing Honda’s recycling program.

Good deeds

Monroe’s Canyon Creek Cabinet Co. has donated cabinets for the park ranger house remodel at the Fire Mountain Scout Camp in Mount Vernon. The facility provides resident camping during the summer months for Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts.

Healing the Children Oregon and Western Washington has received $15,000 from the Seattle International Foundation. This grant will support Healing the Children’s work to construct a two story medical clinic and to provide medical care to patients in Merger, Haiti. Everett Rotary Clubs and other donors have supported this project.

Cabela’s in Tulalip has teamed with Safari Club International, Cabela’s pro staffer Mike Jenkins, Eden Ridge Outfitters and a local taxidermist to send 15-year-old Christopher Butler and his family on an elk hunt. They also have arranged for other surprises for the family. Butler has Huntington’s disease.

Massage Envy Spa and the Arthritis Foundation will host the third annual Healing Hands for Arthritis, a one-day national event to build awareness and raise funds to fight arthritis. On Sept. 18, Massage Envy’s 24 Washington clinics and spas will donate $10 from every one-hour massage session or facial to the Arthritis Foundation.

Events

Fresh Paint: Festival of Artists at Work is a free event presented by the Schack Art Center on Saturday and Sunday at the Port of Everett Marina. More than 80 artists will showcase their work at the festival. There will be glassblowing demonstrations at the Mobile Hot Shop and hands-on activities for children. More information is available at www.schack.org.

A morning mixer will be hosted by Kelly DuByne of Distinctive Interior Designs and Monika Kristofferson of Efficient Organization. The event is from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 20 at the Lake Stevens Chamber cffice, 10020 Lundeen Park Way in Lundeen Park. There will be a light breakfast, door prizes and a networking.

The Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce begins its 2013 televised candidate forum series from 7 to 9 a.m. on Aug. 23 at the Tulalip Resort Casino’s Canoes Cabaret Room. The forum offers an in-depth look at the race for Snohomish County Council District One. Sponsored by Walmart, the forum will feature Al Aldrich as moderator.

A women’s health forum, Thriving Through Menopause, will be presented from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 11 at the Women’s Wellness Center in downtown Everett. A portion of the $10 registration fee for the dinner and forum event will go to support local health services for women. More information and registration is at www.womenswellnesscenter.org.

Announcements

The Edmonds Mural Society has announced the completion of the first of three murals to be painted downtown this summer. The first was painted by Edmonds artist Mona Smiley-Fairbanks on the wall of Edmonds Frame Design &Atelier. It faces the parking lot where the IGA grocery store, La Galleria Restaurant and the Pancake Haus are located.

Marysville-based photovoltaic manufacturer Silicon Energy is the supplier of PV modules for a Seattle City Light Community Solar installation on the Seattle Aquarium. The 49-kilowatt array will be largest aquarium installation on the West Coast. The installation is to be completed this fall.

Mountlake Terrace awarded a contract at the City Council’s Aug. 5 meeting to build a decant facility to separate contaminated liquid and solid wastes generated by public works maintenance. The contract was awarded to McClure and Sons in the amount of $794,726.

The 2012 Economic Census, the U.S. Government’s five-year measure of American business and the economy, is underway. The government thanks businesses that have responded. Those businesses that were mailed a form but have not yet responded to this mandatory survey are urged to do so as soon as possible. More information is at econhelp.census.gov.

City University of Seattle is now accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities to offer doctoral degrees. This new classification elevates the school’s accreditation from the master’s degree level. The new Doctor of Education in Leadership program is designed for experienced leaders in education or business management. This program is entirely online.

Texas-based ABI Hotel has acquired the 80-room hospitality building at 2519 196th St. SW in Lynnwood from Hanra Investment for $9.4 million. The recently built five-story hotel is just off exit 181 on I-5.

Canyon Creek Cabinet Company recently introduced new products to its lines of framed and frameless cabinetry. They include new door styles and stains. There are three levels of sheen for topcoats.

The Washington State Fair is looking for amateur brewers and winemakers. Prizes will be awarded. Winning entries will be on display at the Fair Sept. 6-22. Complete the online entry form by 10 p.m. on Aug. 15 at www.thefair.com.

Washington employers are now eligible for an incentive to participate in a layoff-avoidance program run by the state Employment Security Department. The incentive allows them to participate in the program through June 2015 with virtually no effect on unemployment taxes. For more information, go to www.esd.wa.gov or call 800-752-2500.

The Obama Administration has launched Business.USA.gov/healthcare, a one-stop-shop website which will provide employers of all sizes educational materials on how the Affordable Care Act may affect businesses and help them compete. The site includes a wizard tool to help businesses learn how the law helps them provide affordable coverage options to their employees while still meeting their bottom line.

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