Business Journal gets new ad sales manager
EVERETT — Jessica Slocum has joined the staff of the Snohomish County Business Journal as general sales manager.
Slocum, 31, moved to the Business Journal after five years in the classified ad division of The Herald, the Business
Journal’s parent publication, where she focused on real estate listings.
Slocum said she joined the Business Journal because she wanted a challenge and was ready to try something new. She said she plans to ad more special sections throughout the year that will attract younger readers while re
maining a vital resource for local businesses.
Slocum and her husband, Dean, live in south Everett’s Silver Lake area and recently adopted a 3-year-old son, Milano.
Before working at The Herald, Slocum spent 18 months at the Seattle Times selling real estate classified ads and three ye
ars at the Klamath Falls, Ore., Herald and News selling retail advertising.
Shawn Gay elected to state chiropractic board
ARLINGTON — Dr. Shawn Gay, a Stanwood resident and Arlington doctor of chiropractic, was recently elected to serve on the Washington State Chiropractic
Association board of directors. He was elected to this position at the WSCA spring conference on April 30 at the Marriott Seattle Airport Hotel.
In the past, Gay served on the WSCA Board for seven years, including as president of the board in 2008. Last year, he was the recipient of the WSCA’s volunteer award and its distinguished service award. In 2009, he was honored with the WSCA’s Outstanding Service Award and President’s Gavel Award.
Gay is a graduate of Life Chiropractic College West and has been in practice for 13 years. He provides chiropractic care at Arlington Family Chiropractic, 20218 77th Ave. NE.
Providence anesthesia nurse is recognized
Somnia Anesthesia named Raymond O’Keefe, a chief certified registered nurse anesthetist who practices at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, as a recipient of the company’s fourth-quarter 2010 Clinical Performance Award.
Launched last year, the quarterly awards honor one anesthesiologist and one certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) practicing within the Somnia network for distinguishing themselves in providing and inspiring the delivery of high-quality, safe anesthesia care. Nominees are recommended by their colleagues. Winners are selected by members of Somnia’s senior management team.
EdCC honors students, community partners
LYNNWOOD — Edmonds Community College’s Center for Service-Learning recognized outstanding community partners, faculty and students at a recent celebration. Last year, 525 service-learning students provided nearly 30,000 hours of service to 57 campus and community partners.
The college has a nationally recognized service-learning program, which combines meaningful community service with instruction to enrich the learning experience and strengthen communities.
At the celebration, student Janet Pananganan, 40, of Lynnwood was honored as the outstanding service-learning student for her work raising funds and awareness for orphanages in Vietnam. Working with her Business Management 100, Human Relations class, she helped raise funds to provide food, education and medical care for the Vinh Son Orphanage in the central highland of Vietnam, where there are six orphanages serving more than 700 orphans without government aid.
Accounting instructor Amy Shigley was honored as the outstanding service-learning faculty member. She coordinates the college’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in which accounting students prepare federal tax returns for community members.
Caffe Ladro was named outstanding business partner for providing donations at numerous events focused on sustainability at the college and at the LEAF School’s Gold Park work parties.
Washington Trails Association, which led a two-day work party at Deception Pass State Park, was named outstanding nonprofit organization.
The Snohomish Tribe of Indians has partnered with EdCC for two years at various service-learning events on and off campus and was named outstanding government partner. The tribe helped the LEAF School create the Ethnobotanical Garden, called “Stloja Ali,” or “Place of Medicine,” at Gold Park.
Terwedo can advise domestic partners
EDMONDS — Dale Terwedo, founder and principal of Terwedo Financial Services LLC, has earned Accredited Domestic Partnership Advisor certification. Only two financial advisers in Washington and 120 nationwide hold the ADPA designation.
ADPA certification lets financial planners address areas in which financial planning for domestic partners can differ from financial planning for traditionally married spouses, including wealth transfer, taxation, retirement planning and estate planning issues, as well as alternative planning solutions.
Terwedo also holds designations as a certified financial planner, chartered financial consultant and chartered life underwriter. He is also a managing field associate, investment advisory representative and registered principal for FSC Securities Corp., a national independent broker/dealer.
Terwedo Financial Services LLC is located at 100 Second Ave. S., Suite 300, Edmonds. Call 425-776-0446.
Kevin Johnson attends workshop on stuttering
Kevin Johnson of Everett was one of only 20 speech-language pathologists chosen to attend an intensive workshop on stuttering therapy.
Johnson, a speech therapist in private practice, participated in the workshop, Using Cognitive Approaches to Working with People Who Stutter, in Boston from June 13-24.
The Stuttering Foundation estimates that more than 3 million Americans stutter. While there are no miracle cures, a qualified speech clinician can help children and adults make significant progress toward speaking fluently.
The Stuttering Foundation is a nonprofit organization that has been helping those who stutter since 1947. For more information, call 800-992-9392 or go to www.StutteringHelp.org.
Oster notes 25 years at Pacific Earth Works
MONROE — Pacific Earth Works Inc. recently recognized EllRoy Oster for his 25 years of service to the company and its clients.
Oster has been involved in many large-scale projects, including the Gates Foundation green roof, Brightwater treatment plant wetland, Auburn Supermall landscaping, Celebration Park field development and numerous University of Washington projects.
The company also recognized foreman Juan Cruz with 20 years, project manager Mike Brandvold with 17 years and foreman Rick DeFrancesco with 13 years.
Snohomish school superintendent joins Mountain Pacific Bank board
EVERETT — Mountain Pacific Bank announces the addition of William Mester to its board of directors. Mester has been the superintendent of the Snohomish School District for nine years and has 31 years’ experience as a superintendent in Michigan and Washington.
Before to becoming a superintendent, Mester was a psychologist, teacher and principal. He earned his bachelor and master’s degrees in clinical psychology and his Ph.D. in curriculum and administration. Mark Duffy, president and CEO of the bank, is pleased to the welcome Mester to the Board.
“He brings invaluable and unique experience to our board, which will help us further grow our assets and strengthen our presence in the community,” Duffy said.
Comcast Arena’s Kim Bedier gets top venue management award
EVERETT — Kim Bedier, general manager of Comcast Arena at Everett, was chosen by the International Association of Venue Managers, the leading organization in public assembly facilities, to receive the Ray W. Ward Award.
The award recognizes an individual associated with the public assembly facility management school whose dedicated service and extraordinary contributions over a period of at least six years have resulted in significant and long-lasting improvements to the overall success and quality of the school. The award was created and initially presented to Ward in August 1996.
“Kim is a welcome addition to the group of leaders previously selected for this award,” Ward said.
“I hold Ray Ward and all the other recipients of this award in such high regard,” Bedier said. “I continue to learn so much from them and all the students I have had the privilege to meet… To be recognized for it in this way is a peak experience that may be unrivaled in my venue management career.”
Bedier has previously been recognized with a Women of Influence award by Venues Today. She is a member of the IAVM board of directors and its executive committee. The Everett Area Chamber of Commerce awarded her its Economic Sparkplug Award.
Bedier is a member of the Everett Rotary Club, Snohomish County Domestic Violence Services board of directors and Snohomish County YMCA board of directors.
AAA Lynnwood office hires insurance agent
LYNNWOOD — AAA Washington has hired Jennifer Delgado as an insurance agent at its Lynnwood Service Center at 4100 Alderwood Mall Blvd., Suite 8. She can be reached at 425-744-7306.
Delgado will specialize in personal-lines insurance including auto, home and life, customizing programs for customers’ needs.
Lake Stevens insurance agent gets promotion
POULSBO — EHL Insurance announces the promotion of Todd Allison of Lake Stevens to senior employee benefits advisor.
Allison will have the primary responsibility of customizing employee benefits plans for businesses looking to attract and retain their most important asset, their employees.
Allison is an active member of the Benefits Growth Network, an organization that focuses on innovative employee benefits solutions for its members and their clients. He is a graduate of Bothell High School and is licensed in life and disability insurance in the state of Washington. He lives in Lake Stevens, is a soccer coach and board member for the Lake Stevens Soccer Club.
EHL Insurance, with offices in Poulsbo, Sequim and Port Angeles, focuses on risk management, human resources, claims management, labor and industries and insurance.
Monroe resident wins 2011 Small Business of the Year honors from Bellevue Chamber
BELLEVUE — Chuck Oxford, a Monroe resident and owner of Lakeside Collision Center of Bellevue (www.lakeside-collision-center.com), received the 2011 Small Business of the Year at the Eastside Business Awards ceremony hosted by the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce.
The Eastside Business Awards recognize local companies for their superior performance, history of revenue growth, a growing staffing plan and ability to seize new market opportunities, new approaches and new technologies.
Frustrated after working for three decades with a corporate management team that seemed biased toward making decisions to influence the bottom line at the expense of customer care, Oxford quit to search for a small business he could own. He wanted to make an impact, bring his skills to the table and apply his talent as a business turn-around artist to the test.
In 2004, Oxford put his retirement savings at risk, put all the cash he had into the business, put equity of his home into the company and secured an SBA loan. His wife and family didn’t share his enthusiasm for the venture at the start, which made Oxford work all the harder and smarter to make things work.
Since buying this business, Oxford has grown it from a struggling $350,000 a year shop to a $1.6 millon enterprise with eight employees who are happy to come to work every day. Oxford says that customers are more likely to repair their vehicles, as opposed to buying new during tough times. The company also is a trusted resource for car enthusiasts who want to accessorize their vehicles.
Even during the recession, when many competitors in the collision business suffered significant drops in revenues, Oxford reports that Lakeside Collision Center of Bellevue had 40 percent increases.
While other collision repair shops rely upon insurance referrals for their customers, Lakeside Collision enjoys referrals fueled by word of mouth. In fact, between Google, Yelp and City Search, Lakeside Collision of Bellevue has 90 five-star reviews posted online. Oxford is proud to have built a good company culture in which team members are happy to do their best work.
Oxford emphasizes extraordinary customer service at every turn. His team works hard to create a welcoming environment for customers. Care is taken to explain the treatment plan for each collision repair so each customer can be part of the process.
Oxford’s environmental commitment is also woven in the fabric of his business. He strives to use water-based coatings. In addition, the company has worked with Puget Sound Energy on new lighting systems that reduce electrical usage by 35 percent.
The company introduced a pilot program that provides real-time estimates and automatic parts ordering, leading to even greater time savings on total time to make repairs. This improves the process compared to industry standards.
Consulting firm offers senior-level financial talent on a part-time basis
BELLEVUE — In order to meet increased demand for its interim financial executive services in Snohomish County, CFO Selections of Bellevue has added Dan Mattson, CPA, as an associate in its professional services practice.
“We are finding that our model of offering companies ‘just enough’ senior financial talent is increasingly attractive in the current economy when so many are struggling. The need for detailed strategic advice from a very experienced person is more crucial than ever, yet it’s difficult to find without investing in full-time CFO, which many companies cannot afford,” said Tom Varga, managing partner of CFO Selections.
Mattson has more than 30 years of experience in the contracting, construction, financial management and IT industries. He has worked in both public and private accounting and has started and managed his own businesses, giving him a solid understanding of the challenges facing small business owners.
Before joining CFO Selections, Mattson operated a consulting CFO business, where he managed all aspects of accounting for various clients. He also has experience with the accounting requirements pertaining to union and government contracts, including experience with DCAA audits.
For information, call CFO Selections at 206-686-4480, ext. 123, or email tom@cfoselections.com.
From SCBJ staff reports
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
