First Heritage banker to advise committee
SNOHOMISH — First Heritage Bank vice president of special credits Bruce Farnham was recently selected to join the Western Independent Bankers (WIB) Troubled Asset Workshop Advisory Committee, which will develop the agenda for the 2011 WIB Trou
bled Asset Workshop.
The workshop will focus on early identification and resolution of problem loans.
First Heritage Bank CEO and President Cathy Reines will present at WIB’s annual conference, alongside a panel of bankers on the topic of Capitalizing on Your Position in the Market.
“I believe the WIB’s products and services are at the core of any successful institution and believe it is a privilege to present at this event,” Reines said.
WIB is an association established to inform, educate and connect community bankers and serves over 300 community banks in 12
Western states.
Cascade Bank notes promotions, hirings
EVERETT — Cascade Bank, the principal operating subsidiary of Cascade Financial Corp., announced the following recent personnel moves.
Commercial credit manager Jon Sand has been promoted to senior vice president. Sand joined Cascade Bank in 2002 and has more than 14 years of experience in the banking industry. He works out of the banks corporate office in Everett.
Special assets credit analyst Judy Austin has been promoted to assistant vice president. Austin, who has more than 30 years of experience in the banking industry, joined Cascade in 1991 as a mortgage loan processor. She works out of the banks corporate office in Everett.
Greg Leigh has been promoted to underwriting department manager. Leigh has been with Cascade Bank for three years and has eight years of experience in banking. He works out of the banks corporate office in Everett.
Loan operations manager Tami Hood has been promoted to assistant vice president. She joined Cascade Bank in 1998 as a loan servicing clerk. She works out of the banks corporate office in Everett.
Dennis King was vice president and credit administrator. He has worked in banking for the past 38 years, and has been a credit officer for more than 23 years. He is working out of the banks corporate office in Everett.
Christmas House elects officers for 2011
EVERETT — Christmas House announced its 2011 slate of officers following a recent board meeting.
Rick Kvangnes will serve as president; Mike Dunican, vice-president; Hope Ringstad, secretary; and Rosemary Randall, treasurer.
Christmas House, a nonprofit charity that was formed in 1981, provided Christmas presents to more than 10,000 children and 3,500 low-income families throughout Snohomish County last year. An army of 850 volunteers providing approximately 8,500 hours of donated time, helped Christmas House accomplish this large undertaking.
For those wishing to support Christmas House either with a monetary donation or by volunteering their time, contact www.christmas-house.org or call 425-338-2273. Donations may be mailed to Christmas House, P.O. Box 717, Everett, WA 98206.
PUD names new chief information officer
EVERETT — Snohomish County Public Utility District has named Benjamin Beberness as its new chief information officer.
In the position, Beberness will direct the PUDs information technology area. His appointment follows an extensive candidate search by the PUD.
Beberness has more than 20 years of information technology experience, most recently as director of delivery services for PacifiCorp in Portland, Ore.
D.A. Davidson & Co. honors two in Everett
EVERETT — D.A. Davidson & Co. has named two financial consultants from the company’s Everett office to the companys honors clubs.
Jeffrey Decker, vice president, financial consultant and assistant branch manager, was named to the D.A. Davidson & Co. Chairmans Council, which recognizes top financial consultants for their client-first focus and involves them in the direction and philosophy of the company.
Thomas Kelly, vice president, financial consultant and assistant branch manager, was named to the firms Presidents Club, which recognizes outstanding integrity and service to clients.
Liberty Northwests Berry gets designation
LAKE STEVENS — Jake Berry, a producer with Greiert Insurance in Lake Stevens, was recently recognized for completing the Liberty Northwest New Producer Program and receiving the professional designation of Accredited Advisor in Insurance from the Insurance Institute of America.
The 30-week development program provides studies in commercial lines coverages, insurance risk management techniques and insurance sales. Berry was required to pass a series of examinations to successfully complete the program and attain the AAI designation.
Berry has been an employee of Greiert Insurance since 2009. He is a 2000 graduate of Central Washington University with a bachelors in business administration.
New sales manager for Conference Center
EVERETT — Global Spectrum, the management company for the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center, has hired Linda Beecher as the new conference center sales manager.
Beecher will be responsible for sales including managing client relations and optimizing use of the facilitys space.
Beecher, who was born and raised in Marysville, was most recently employed with the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau as group sales and media relations manager, representing all Snohomish County facilities.
Beechers primary focus will be on promoting and booking events in the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center through sales and marketing of the facility.
New staff members join United Way
EVERETT — United Way of Snohomish County is proud to welcome two new staff members to its team.
Maya Hemachandra recently returned to United Way of Snohomish County as the senior manager of investor relations after a year with Women’s Funding Alliance as the associate director of development. At United Way, Hemachandra most recently served as the manager of individual giving. A life-long resident of the Puget Sound area, she holds a master in public administration from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs and a certificate in nonprofit management from University of Washington.
Svea Stromme joins United Way of Snohomish County as an impact and investment manager. Prior to United Way, Stromme worked at the Center for Survey Research at the University of Massachusetts Boston, which included survey development, project management, data collection and data analysis. Stromme has a bachelors degree in sociology from the University of Virginia and a masters of social work from Washington University in St. Louis. She grew up mostly in southeast Asia and Africa.
New leader joins Commission for Health
EDMONDS — Former United Way of Snohomish County director Carl Zapora joined the Commission for Health on Feb. 7 and will become the superintendent of the South Snohomish County Commission for Health and its community health services governed by the Board of Commissioners for Public Hospital District No. 2 of Snohomish County. The board was previously responsible for overseeing Stevens Hospital, now operated by Swedish Health Services as Swedish/Edmonds.
We are very fortunate to have him on board, said Fred Langer, chairman of the Commission for Health. He is very familiar with the health needs of south county communities.
“I’m especially excited about the innovative prospects of improving the health of local communities,” said Zapora. “With input from the public, I’m eager to create a plan based on the most pressing health-care needs in our area. At a time when many public health programs have cut back, the Commission for Health will reach out to people most in need.”
Projects under consideration include health education; joint ventures with other health-care institutions; senior services; parenting classes; free bicycle helmets, dental supplies and flu shots; and a mental health provider network.
Program funding will come from the $7.2 million in annual hospital lease payments from Swedish and other income bringing annual revenue this year to about $9 million. Initially, only a portion of the money will be spent for projects that can result in successes.
New president for Bank of Washington
LYNNWOOD — The Bank of Washington has announced the appointment of Bruce Clawson as president and chief operating officer. He will succeed Gary Schmitt who continues as chief executive officer and chairman of the board for the bank and its parent company, Washington BanCorp Inc.
Clawson most recently spent eight years as a senior vice president and manager of Banner Banks branches in Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties.
Schmitt noted that Clawson’s division grew from five to nine branches. Deposits grew to $325 million and commercial loan balances exceeded $150 million.
“He brings a proven record of achievement running a division similar in size and community focus to The Bank of Washington,” Schmitt said. “Through prior financial management experience outside banking, he is in the unique position to lead our bank as we open a new chapter of recovery and growth.”
Clawson described his new bank as at a key point in our 15-year history. During the past 18 months, the bank has made tremendous progress in strengthening the balance sheet and capital levels, while returning to profitability.
Prior to joining Banner Bank in 2002, Clawson served as chief financial officer for two well-known firms in Whatcom County. He started his business career as a certified public accountant, holds a degree in economics from University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School. In the area of volunteer community service, he is treasurer of Western Washington University Foundation and a member of its board.
The Bank of Washington is headquartered in Lynnwood and has branches in Edmonds, Mukilteo, Everett, Redmond and Issaquah.
Cancer partnership elects new leader
SEATTLE — Dan Labriola, director of Northwest Natural Health Specialty Care Clinic in Seattle, has been elected chairman of the steering committee for the Washington Cares About Cancer Partnership.
Under a grant from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the partnership develops and implements the 2009-2013 Washington Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan, which addresses a broad spectrum of cancer issues.
From SCBJ news services
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