Business FYI

People

Debe Franz has been named executive director for the Lake Stevens Education Foundation. Franz, who assumed her new duties on Nov. 3, has more than 20 years experience in for-profit and nonprofit businesses. She was finance director with Health Improvement Partnership in Spokane prior to moving to Lake Stevens. For the past 15 years, Franz owned and operated a bookkeeping consulting firm that served businesses in Snohomish and Spokane counties. Currently, she is nearing completion of her bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Western Washington University and anticipates graduating in June.

Special events

Richard Toyer, CPA/PFS, president of Toyer and Associates CPA’s Inc., will share recent tax updates at the Lake Stevens Chamber of Commerce luncheon at 11:30 a.m. today at the Lake Stevens School District Educational Service Center, Room A, 12309 22nd St. NE in downtown Lake Stevens. Cost is $10 for members or $15. For more information, call Donna Foster at 425-334-0433 or e-mail info@lschamber.org.

Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson’s State of the City address is scheduled for the Everett Chamber’s January breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m. Thursday, at the Everett Golf and Country Club, 1500 52nd St. SE. Stephanson will preview the important issues expected to shape the city in 2009. Registration begins at 7 a.m. The program costs $35 for Chamber members; $50 for nonmembers. Register at www.everettchamber.com or call 425-257-3222, ext. 0.

WineStyles, a national wine boutique simplifying the wine shopping experience, celebrates the one-year anniversary of its Marysville WineStyles, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 24. Open to the public, the celebration will feature wine tastings with several local wine makers. John Bell of Willis Hall Winery (Marysville), Micole Miller of Furion Cellars (Everett), Jeff Hammer of Carpenter Creek Vineyards and Winery (Mount Vernon) are scheduled to attend. Normal tasting rates of 10 for wine club members and 15 for nonmembers apply and a portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to Share Our Strength. WineStyles Marysville store is at 6608 64th St. NE. Call 360-658-4850 for more information.

The 2009 Tacoma Home and Garden Show is scheduled for Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 at the Tacoma Dome. Show hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (62 and older) weekdays only, free (with ID) for American Horticulture Society members and free to children 12 and under. Discount coupons valid for $2 off adult and senior weekday admission are available at www.otshows.com.

Artists and craftspeople can learn how to market their goods at a weekend workshop taught by Pam Corwin, artist and owner of Paper Scissors Rock, and Manya Vee, jewelry designer and owner of Manya Vee Selects. The pair will share their experiences March 14-15 at Artworks in Edmonds. To register and to take advantage of an early-bird price break that ends Feb. 1, go to www.businessofcrafts.com, call Corwin at 360-357-3480 or e-mail Vee at Manya@ManyaVeeSelects.com.

The University of Washington’s Bothell campus will host its sixth annual Nursing Career Advancement Day Fair, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 20 at the campus in the North Creek Events Center, 18115 Campus Way NE, Bothell. Representatives of over 20 Washington State health care employers and educational institutions will be available at the fair to discuss nursing career and educational opportunities. For more information, call Mary Anne Ogle at 425-352-5320 or e-mail UWBNursing@uwb.edu.

New business

Body + Brain Center has opened at the Alderwood Plaza, 18700 Third Ave. W., #H2, Lynn­wood. Call 425-776-9642 for more information, or go to www.bodynbrain.com for a list of programs offered.

Instant Office holds its grand opening from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today at 2939 Broadway in Everett. Instant Office, which is open the same hours on weekdays, provides space for anyone needing a place to work for a few hours, a day, a week or monthly without the overhead of maintaining an office. Bring your laptop and cell phone, sit down and get to work. Included is Internet access, printing and fax machines, kitchen facilities and a conference room. For more information, call Lois Hofmann or Janene Deane at 425-512-9458 or 425-239-8788.

Business news

After a lengthy trial period and judging process, Celebrations Catering Services has been selected as a preferred caterer for the Future of Flight Museum. On the heels of this announcement, Celebrations also was chosen for Paul Allen’s Flying Heritage Collection’s preferred vendor list.

The Providence General Foundation has collected $2.75 million in donations for the new medical tower under construction at the medical center’s Colby Campus. The Everett Clinic has pledged $1.75 million and North Sound Emergency Medicine contributed $1 million. The tower is scheduled to open in 2011.

Classes, workshops

Workforce Development Council Snohomish County will host two additional workshops, including one focused on youth financial literacy issues, as part of an ongoing series of financial literacy training sessions for those working in human and social services. The youth workshop will be 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 27, and the adult workshop is 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 11. The youth workshop will focus on assisting youth clients to set and meet financial goals as they enter the world of work and post-secondary education and training opportunities. Human and social service workers with basic tips and tools to connect their clients with resources to help meet financial goals, including how to turn clients’ financial issues into personal and financial goals; how to identify when and how to use spending plans with customers; understanding the basics of credit reports and scores; how to create action plans to meet clients’ goals; information on debt, money management, credit/loans, savings; and other topics. Workshops take place at Workforce Development Council Snohomish County’s office, 728 134th St. SW, Everett. Workshops are free to human and social service professionals, but space is limited and advance registration is strongly encouraged. To register and for more information, go to www.wdcsc.org.

Good deeds

MountainCrest Credit Union in Arlington has donated $5,000 to support a North Pole Party for children at the Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett and to pay for kids’ visits to the museum. The money was collected through MountainCrest’s holiday raffle for kids.

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.