People Watching

Moss Adams promotes Mary Wright to partner, Thompson to senior manager

EVERETT — Mary Wright has been promoted to partner at Moss Adams. She has been with Moss Adams since 2001 and has more than 15 years experience providing integrated services to health-care and not-for-profit organizations.

Wright is an active member of the firm’s health care and not-for-profit industry groups and is a member of the firm’s Health Care Business Assurance Committee. She is active within the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), and is a frequent speaker on health-care assurance topics.

Also promoted was Jason Thompson to senior manager. He joined Moss Adams in 2005 and provides business tax consulting services such as cost segregation and research tax credit.

Moss Adams’ Everett office has about 90 employees, including 16 partners.

Gary Weikel to lead Everett Public Facilities District board

EVERETT — The Everett Public Facilities District has elected Gary Weikel, former vice president, as board president. Also appointed were Mark Olson as vice president and Gigi Burke as secretary. Lanie McMullen joins the board as its newest member.

“It is an honor to continue to work with long-standing members of the Everett Public Facilities District and we congratulate them on their new roles,” said John Page, CEO of Comcast Arena operator Global Spectrum. “We are also happy to have Lanie McMullin join the board as she played an integral role in having the facility built.”

McMullen is executive director of economic development for the city of Everett.

Comcast Arena at Everett was developed and is owned by the Everett Public Facilities District whose members are appointed by the Everett City Council and serve four-year terms.

Strand gets Zonta Club Founder’s Day award

EVERETT — Judith Strand of Everett recently received the Zonta Club’s 2011 Founder’s Day award in recognition of her service to the club and the community.

Strand has provided years of volunteer service to many community organizations including Christmas House, Baker Guild-Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Women’s National Book Association. She is the community relations director for Harbour Pointe Retirement and Assisted Living Center in Mukilteo.

Zonta International is a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy.

Public health nurse gets March of Dimes award

EVERETT — March of Dimes gave its Leadership Award to Gayle Lanier, public health nurse with the Snohomish Health District, at its recent eighth annual Western Washington Nurse of the Year awards.

In awarding Lanier, the chapter cited her significant initiative in developing and hosting an annual regional public health immunization summit to share best practices in the immunization field, including collaborating with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to bring a two-day CDC course to the Pacific Northwest for the first time.

“Gayle is a tireless advocate for the public’s health,” said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, Snohomish Health District director. “She is passionate about improving the public health system so we can be prepared for the many immunization challenges we face every day, and have a solid foundation in place to keep people in our state safe and healthy in the years ahead.”

Providence’s chief nurse executive elected

EVERETT — Kim Williams, RN, and chief nurse executive for Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, was recently elected as the new board president of the Washington Center for Nursing, a nonprofit organization based in Seattle. She succeeds Barbara Trehearne, RN.

“The nursing shortage puts Washington’s healthcare at a critical stage,” said Linda Tieman, executive director of WCN. “Kim’s understanding of the big picture in health care will be crucial as we tackle more issues related to education.”

WCN serves as the go-to organization for nursing workforce information. It conducts research, promotes the image of nursing, delivers leadership education and collaborates with stakeholders across the state and nation to address nursing workforce issues.

Leach now a chartered financial analyst

EVERETT — Daniel Leach, financial consultant in the Everett office of D.A. Davidson &Co., has earned the chartered financial analyst designation from the CFA Institute.

The CFA designation is a widely recognized standard of the competence and integrity of financial professionals. Earning the designation represents the mastery of skills needed for investment analysis, portfolio management and decision making. The program requires years of study to pass three examinations and includes work experience requirements and a demonstrated commitment to high standards of excellence, ethics and professional conduct.

Leach joined D.A. Davidson &Co. in May 2006, with previous experience as a financial consultant and business banker at Wells Fargo. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from the University of Washington.

Credit union pair raise cash in muscular dystrophy jail

EVERETT — Two Northwest Plus Credit Union employees went to jail in an effort to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Together, Kristin “Money Bags” Schmidt and Sarah “Money Bags Wannabe” Anderson raised $393 for their “bail.”

NW Plus Credit Union is a full service, not-for-profit financial institution. It has seven branch locations.

Express Employment names office manager

EVERETT — Irene Rodriguez has been named the new office manager at Express Employment in Everett.

In this position, Rodriguez will supervise staffing coordinators Melissa Wilson and Molly Smith, manage in-house payroll and handle outside calls.

Express Employment provides service to Snohomish County with temporary help, contract help and direct-hire employees in a variety of fields, including clerical, light industrial, data processing-office administration, technical, sales, engineering, medical and others.

Clinic patients honor Dr. Harold McCutchan

EVERETT — Dr. Harold McCutchan of Western Washington Medical Group has been honored with a Patients’ Choice Award for 2011. Only 5 percent of the 720,000 active physicians in the U.S. receive this award.

“We are extremely proud that Dr. McCutchan is being recognized with a Patients’ Choice award this year but we are not surprised,” said Scott Baker, the medical group’s director of operations. “The dedication Dr. McCutchan exhibits to ensure every patient receives the best care possible is one of the many reasons he is routinely recognized by his patients and his peers.”

Patients across the country rate their doctors in several areas, including various aspects of the kind of care they receive and their overall opinion of the physician. The award is given to physicians who receive nearly perfect scores.

Dr. McCutchan has practiced for more than 20 years, with hand and upper extremity procedures as his focus. He is board certified in orthopedic surgery and surgery of the hand by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.

Stinson named Wells Fargo sales officer

EVERETT — Ed Stinson has been named business sales officer for Wells Fargo in northern Washington.

A 20-year financial services veteran, Stinson will serve business customers throughout Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties.

Nick Harper chosen as Senate majority whip

OLYMPIA — Sen. Nick Harper, D-Everett, has been selected as the new state Senate Majority Whip. He replaces Sen. Scott White, who died in October.

“This is a great honor for me, but it’s also bittersweet because of the circumstances,” Harper said. “Scott did a great job in this post and was an inspiration to so many people here. I will do my best to carry on his legacy.”

Harper was elected to represent the 38th Legislative District in 2010. In addition to his new appointment, Harper serves as vice chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Gurney completes Edward Jones training

SNOHOMISH — Sterling Gurney of financial service firm Edward Jones has achieved the professional designation of Accredited Asset Management Specialist.

This advanced training offers investment professionals the hands-on information needed to provide comprehensive financial services. Study topics include understanding the asset management process to understanding asset allocation and strategies. In order to receive the designation, professionals must complete the program, pass a final exam and sign a code of code of ethics and disclosure form.

Gurney’s office is in Snohomish.