Mountain Pacific Bank adds three new staff
EVERETT — Mountain Pacific Bank has hired three new staff members as it enters a new growth stage of its business plan.
Cynthia Weaver joins the bank as vice president and commercial lending officer. She has 10 years in the financial services industry with prior experience at CitiFinancial, Frontier Financial and Union Bank. She serves as vice president of Zonta Club of Everett and lives with her husband and two children in Stanwood.
Bob Yost also joins the bank as a vice president and commercial lending officer. He has more than 17 years of community banking experience, which includes expertise in lending to small businesses in the Puget Sound area by finding creative solutions for commercial loan borrowers. He has been an active member of the Bellingham Bay Rotary for 17 years and is currently the treasurer of Youthnet.
As business development and marketing officer, Sandy Bartel brings 12 years of experience in the financial industry, with the past nine in community banking at First Heritage Bank in Snohomish. She is the treasurer for the Snohomish Community Food Bank and is an active volunteer in the community.
EdCC anthropology teacher earns accolade
LYNNWOOD — Thomas Murphy, chair of the Anthropology Department at Edmonds Community College, was selected for the Washington Association of Conservation Districts’ Conservation Teacher of the Year Award.
The award recognizes a K-12, college, technical or trade school educator in Washington state. He will now be considered for the National Association of Conservation Districts award.
Murphy was honored Nov. 14 at the King Conservation District annual meeting as their Educator of the Year and Nov. 30 at the State Conservation Commission meeting in Cle Elum.
Murphy founded the Learn and Serve Environmental Anthropology Field (LEAF) School in 2006 and the Center for Service-Learning in 2007. The LEAF School partners with tribes, governments, nonprofits, businesses and schools to get students involved in service-learning projects that help to make communities sustainable. Since its founding, some 300 LEAF students have contributed more than 6,000 hours to partner organizations.
EdCC board of trustees gains two new members
LYNNWOOD — Wayne Brown of Mill Creek and Diana Clay of Edmonds have joined Edmonds Community College’s board of trustees.
In October, Gov. Chris Gregoire appointed Brown to serve a term through September 2016 and Clay through September 2013.
They replace board members Mauri Moore and former state Sen. Jeannette Wood.
Brown is operations leader for Boeing Commercial Airplane’s Manufacturing and Quality group. He has worked for Boeing since 1982. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from the University of Phoenix and a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is president of the International Aerospace Quality Group and board member for the Performance Review Institute.
Clay is co-owner of Clay Enterprises LLC, a family business involved in real estate development, investments, management and leasing in south Snohomish County. She has worked in the business since 1974. She has served on the EdCC Foundation Board since 1997.
Housing Hope recognizes volunteers
EVERETT — Housing Hope hosted its annual volunteer recognition event at the Everett Transit Center on Nov. 2 to honor individuals who volunteer their time at the agency and name Volunteers of the Year.
Housing Hope, founded in 1987, helps struggling families. The agency employs approximately 87 staff, but has almost 350 volunteers of all ages, many of whom have been volunteering for years.
Five individuals and one company were presented with the award for their outstanding service to the agency. Plaques were presented to Betty Nelson, T.K. Kapelak, Gael Reedy, Janice Tallman and Jo Levin for assistance in child care, reception, maintenance and gardening. Signature Landscape Services Inc. of Redmond was cited for their pivotal role in assisting HopeWorks, an affiliate of Housing Hope, with the launch of GroundWorks.
Housing Hope also presented their first Presidential Lifetime Service Award to individuals who have 4,000 or more hours of volunteer service. Carol Baker and Joy Cain, volunteers with 14 and 18 years respectively, received a personalized plaque, lapel pin and a congratulatory letter signed by President Barack Obama.
Schack instructor is double award winner
EVERETT — The Schack Art Center congratulates Henri Wilson, winner of the 2011 Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Award and 2011 City of Everett Mayor’s Art Award for arts educator.
Wilson is a teaching artist with more than 18 years as an activist in the prevention of youth violence and substance abuse. She is the co-creator and lead instructor for Art Alternatives, a Schack Art Center program that provides weekly art classes for incarcerated teens.
Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Award winners can direct $5,000 from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to an eligible nonprofit organization. Wilson gave her gift to the Schack Art Center.
Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson honored Wilson for her work as an arts educator at the 2011 Mayor’s Arts Awards and the Richard Wendt Award of Excellence celebration on Nov. 16 at the Schack Art Center.
United Way names new board chair, members
EVERETT — United Way of Snohomish County has named its new board chair for 2011-2012 and the election of seven new members to its board of directors. Each of the new board members will serve three-year terms.
Jim Litz of Agilent Technologies will serve as board chairman for 2011-2012. He is the site business manager for Agilent Technologies in Snohomish County. He has volunteered with the childhood literacy program Reading with Rover. He has been involved with United Way of Snohomish County for 20 years and has served several terms on the board. He has been a longtime member of the marketing committee and was chair of the Vision Council Coordinating Committee (2010-2011). He lives in Mill Creek.
New board members:
• Brian Baird of Snohomish works for Boeing and is currently leader of the BCA Seat Integration Team. He has participated in Earth Day, Relay for Life and Backpacks for Kids and is a longtime donor to the Boeing Employees Community Fund and United Way.
• Andrew Ballard of Mill Creek is the president of Marketing Solutions, a Snohomish County agency that develops research-based growth strategies for small to midsize businesses. He is a longtime Rotarian and has been involved with United Way for several years, conducting a marketing survey for the organization and serving on its Revenue Generating Committee.
• Josh Estes of Marysville is president of the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers Local No. 183, a union representing workers at Kimberly-Clark’s Everett mill. He has been involved with several nonprofit agencies and is a longtime volunteer with the National Teen Leadership Program. He is on United Way’s Revenue Generating Committee and is a member of the new Labor Advisory Committee.
• Frank Guglielmo of Seattle is a contract administrator with the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace. He has more than 15 years of experience with unions as a member, steward and organizer for the United Food and Commercial Workers.
• Ron Heller of Mill Creek is senior vice president and Pacific Northwest market president for Union Bank. He oversees the bank’s 51 branches in Oregon and Washington. He is treasurer of Secret Harbor Foster Care Resources and has served on the boards of Providence Seaside Hospital and the Economic Development Association of Skagit County.
• Grace Holland of Snohomish works for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 751, which serves more than 30,000 hourly members at the Boeing Co. She has volunteered with several nonprofit groups and has been involved with United Way of Snohomish County for eight years. She serves on the Community Matters Vision Council.
• Matt Reinhard of Snohomish is a leading professional in the local aerospace industry and was the CEO of Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies in Arlington. He now leads RhinoVentures, a commercial real estate company. He has been involved with United Way since the mid-1990s. He is the current chair of the United Way Tocqueville Society. He received the 2011 United Way of Snohomish County Reeves-Sievers Founders’ Award recognizing a lifetime of community service and the spirit of philanthropy.
Red Cross elects new board members
EVERETT — The Snohomish County Chapter of the American Red Cross has elected new members to the nonprofit’s board of directors.
• Spencer Vaden is the director of business and physician development with Swedish/Edmonds, where he is responsible for communication between the hospital and community health-care providers. He lives in Marysville.
• Stuart Barger, RN, has degrees in nursing and secondary education. He has worked for 28 years at Everett Community College. With a focus on education for careers in health care, he been a classroom instructor, faculty federation president and vice president of instruction at EvCC. He recently secured grants to help students who are non-native English speakers successfully complete health-care career education. He lives in Mukilteo.
• Shawn O’Donnell is a longtime Everett restaurateur, as owner-operator of Shawn O’Donnell’s American Grill and Irish Pub in south Everett. He is a board member of the Everett Port Gardner Rotary, referees high school wrestling and is a two-time Ironman triathlete. He lives in Mukilteo.
• Dan Templeman of Lake Stevens has been an Everett police officer since 1992. His career has included south sector administrative sergeant, patrol lieutenant, special investigations lieutenant and captain of the general investigations division and administrative services division. Now deputy chief, he was named the department’s Officer of the Year in 1996 and the Supervisor of the Year in 2002. He oversees the operations division, which includes all of the department’s uniformed personnel.
• Sam Askew is the new executive vice president at Tulalip Resort Casino and Spa. Previously he served as hotel director for Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort. Known for his work to promote Northwest tribal tourism, in 2010, the Washington Lodging Association named him as the state’s outstanding general manager. He lives in Marysville.
• Brenda White is the state and local government relations director for Snohomish County PUD, where she focuses on renewable energy and energy conservation. She was deputy director for Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., and was his legislative aide when he served on the Snohomish County Council. White serves on the board of the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce and lives in Everett.
• James Shipman is a family law attorney and managing partner of Shipman Uberti, PS. A Snohomish resdent, he serves as a mediator-arbitrator and a Snohomish County Superior Court commissioner, pro tem. He is a member of the board of trustees of Everett Community College and the chair of the Snohomish County Ethics Commission. He served on the American Red Cross Board for the Snohomish County Chapter from 1999-2006, and as chair from 2003-2005. He was on the National Committee on Resolutions for Red Cross from 2003-2006 and served as chair in 2006. He also served on the Service Area Board for the western portion of the U.S. for Red Cross, from 2005-2007. He graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1998.
Schack Art Center names board members
EVERETT — Schack Art Center announced four newly appointed board members to serve a three-year volunteer term with the nonprofit.
Joining the 16-member board are:
• Elizabeth Geiger Lund, Mukilteo, artist;
• Lloyd Weller, Everett, faculty photographic arts and department head — arts, media, journalism, Everett Community College;
• Rachel Woods, Everett, associate director for special events, UW Medicine Advancement, University of Washington;
• Marita Zyskowski, Mill Creek, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, supplier management, Boeing Co.
Snohomish pharmacist called distinguished
SNOHOMISH — Dawn Ipsen has been named the 2011 Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year in Washington. The award was conferred on the Snohomish pharmacist at the recent meeting of the Washington State Pharmacy Association.
Ipsen has been employed at Kusler’s Pharmacy in Snohomish for eight years. She graduated from the University of Washington in 2001 with a doctorate of pharmacy.
The Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year award is presented annually to a pharmacist in each state for individual excellence and outstanding contributions in state pharmacy association activities, community affairs and in professional practice. It is sponsored by Pharmacists Mutual Companies.
NorthSound Physical Therapy hires therapist
LAKE STEVENS — Leah Vakhnenko has joined NorthSound Physical Therapy at its Lake Stevens clinic as clinical manager and physical therapist.
Vakhnenko graduated with a masters of science degree in physical therapy from Thomas Jefferson University in 2005 and received her doctor of science degree in physical therapy from Temple University in 2011. She has been working in the field since 1997, assisting individuals in orthopedic and chronic pain rehabilitation in multiple settings.
She specializes in treatments for patients with trauma, osteoporosis and orthopedic issues and vestibular, balance, posture and hand dysfunctions.
Stanwood Camano Physical Therapy hires
STANWOOD — Two new physical therapists have joined the staff of Stanwood Camano Physical Therapy.
Rafael Lara graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in physical therapy. He enjoys working with patients from all walks of life and helps with orthotics casting in the clinic.
For Lara, the true reward of his job is to help people regain their independence and sense of self and to help them get better and get on with their lives. His personal philosophy goes along with a famous quote by Lucille Ball: “Humor is the one thing that makes the human condition tolerable.” Lara tries to develop a humorous rapport with the patient as a human being to help their rehabilitation go smoother.
Greg Spooner graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a doctorate of physical therapy. He enjoys helping patients achieve pain-free return to activity. He treats all orthopedic or neurologic dysfunctions with emphasis on individuals suffering from shoulder issues, vestibular disorders and balance deficits.
Spooner is a rowing enthusiast. In 2006, he was part of a four-man team that set a record rowing across the North Atlantic Ocean. In 2008, he and another rower became the first to row around the Olympic Peninsula. He will participate in the 2012-2013 Africa to the Americas row across the Atlantic Ocean with three other crew members on a row boat.
To schedule an appointment with Lara or Spooner, call 360-629-8043.
Kusler named to EvCC board of trustees
EVERETT — Gov. Chris Gregoire has appointed Snohomish pharmacy owner Janet Kusler to Everett Community College’s board of trustees.
Kusler, who owns Kusler’s Pharmacy in Snohomish, has more than 15 years of business leadership experience. She has also served as board member for the Snohomish Education Foundation and the group’s current vice president of fund development.
Kusler replaces trustee Thomas Gaffney, who completed his term in October 2011. Kusler’s term runs through September 2016.
Western Washington Medical Group adds two internists
EVERETT — Western Washington Medical Group has hired Diane Doerner and John Okemah for its internal medicine practice. Both doctors will see patients at the Silver Lake Medical Center and the Woodlands Specialty Center in Bothell.
Dr. Doerner joined the group on Nov. 1. She is board certified in internal medicine and was listed in “Best Doctors in Western Washington” in 2002, Washington Magazine’s “Washington’s Best Doctors” in 2010 and Best Doctors in America in 2011-2012. She worked at Valley General Hospital in Monroe and at the University of Washington Medicine Clinic. Her focus of practice is adult patients with comprehensive medical care needs and treatment of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart failure.
Dr. Okemah will join the group on Dec. 15. He is a member of the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, the Association of American Indian Physicians and the American Medical Association. He worked at Valley General Hospital in Monroe. He focuses his practice educating patients for effective treatment. He’s the team physician for Washington Stealth NLL Lacrosse.
PUD worker receives power group’s award
The Northwest Public Power Association’s 2011 Northwest Communications and Energy Innovations Planning Committee has selected Snohomish County PUD’s Julee Cunningham as this year’s winner of the Lacy Peoples Award.
The award was presented to Cunningham at the Northwest Communications &Energy Innovations Conference awards reception on Sept. 20 in Portland, Ore. The committee selects the Lacy Peoples Award recipient based on his or her lifetime commitment to the public power industry and remarkable work in the areas of marketing and communication.
Cunningham has been with Snohomish County PUD for 23 years, serving as the PUD’s corporate communications officer for the past 14 years.
New consultant at HomeStreet Services
Jae Koh has joined HomeStreet Investment Services as an investment services financial consultant.
Jae will work in the Mountlake Terrace office at 22001 66th Ave. W. and will serve Snohomish County.
He has been in the investment services industry for about nine years and has been a financial adviser in the Marysville area since 2010. He specializes in retirement income planning.
Jae was born in South Korea and came to the U.S. at the age of 11, growing up in Philadelphia. He and his wife moved to Bothell four years ago. He volunteers with the senior high youth group at Community Church of Seattle in Bothell.
United Way hires new manager for investment
EVERETT — United Way of Snohomish County has hired Bridget Healy as a senior manager of impact and investment with a focus on children.
Healy is from Florida and worked at the Heart of Florida United Way, the Orange County Health Department and the University of Central Florida’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Management. She has a master of public administration, master of nonprofit management and a graduate certificate in emergency management and homeland security from the University of Central Florida.
Healy has served on the board of directors for Family Services of Metro Orlando and the United Nations Association of Greater Orlando.
Association cites EvCC educator Stettler
EVERETT — Everett Community College medical transcription program administrator Patricia Stettler is the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity’s 2011 Educator of the Year.
The award, from the world’s largest clinical documentation professional organization, honors Stettler’s excellence in medical transcription education. Stettler, who has taught medical transcription at EvCC for 11 years and coordinates the program, has nearly three decades of medical transcription experience including working in a medical office and managing a medical transcription service.
Stettler, of Kirkland, said she loves teaching and sharing her passion for medical transcription.
“Medical transcription is either a field you hate or love and when a student tells me she or he loves doing transcription, my teacher’s heart is fulfilled,” she said.
Lynnwood Convention Center’s new manager
LYNNWOOD — The Lynnwood Convention Center has hired Greg Lowry as general manager.
Lowry has more than 20 years experience in the events industry. He was employed by Lynnwood Convention Center operator SMG in Memphis, Tenn., at the Pyramid Arena, where he was responsible for all areas of marketing, advertising and public relations for the 20,000-seat arena.
In May 2004, SMG transferred Lowry to Denver to participate in the grand opening of the $340 million expansion of the Colorado Convention Center. Working with Visit Denver, he oversaw sales and booking of all events at the Colorado Convention Center.
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