People Watching – February 2008

BIOTECH

Dr. Gordon Brandt has been promoted to president of Nastech Pharmaceutical Co. of Bothell. Brandt previously served as executive vice president of clinical research and medical officers. Dr. Steven Quay will remain the company’s chairman and chief executive officer. Also, Bruce York has been named secretary and interim chief financial officer for Nastech. He replaces Philip Ranker, who resigned Jan. 4. The National Federation of Independent Business recently announced that Betty Neighbors, founder and president of TERRA Staffing Group of Everett, has been appointed to the association’s board of directors, becoming the first NFIB national board member from the Pacific Northwest region.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Debbie Emge, the economic development manager for the city of Snohomish, has agreed to serve on the advisory board for the Everett Community College School of Business Design. Emge will join 15 other advisory members giving support and guidance to the School of Business Design.

Emily Yim, director of neighborhoods and community affairs for the city of Lynnwood has joined Edmonds Community College’s board of trustees. Gov. Chris Gregoire appointed Yim, a former vice president and corporate grant maker for the community and external affairs division at Washington Mutual and a graduate of the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies, for a five-year term to the college board. Outgoing board member Kay Field, a family law attorney, was appointed in 2002.

ENGINEERING &ENVIRONMENTAL

Mick Monken has joined Everett-based Perteet as a senior project manager in the transportation design group. He has more than two decades of public engineering experience, most recently as the city of Woodinville’s public works director.

Victoria Yaros, director of business resources at CDi Engineers, recently passed the exam to receive her Professional in Human Resources certification from the Human Resource Certification Institute. She joined CDi in 1997 and was promoted to an associate of the firm in 2003. She is an active member of the Society of Human Resources Management.

Angelina Manning and Rob Miller have joined Sparling as acousticians in its acoustical design studio. Manning earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Portland in 2006. Prior to joining Sparling, she worked for the Department of Defense as a facilities manager/project engineer. Miller is enrolled in The Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University working on his master of arts in acoustical studies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from the Indiana University of Music and is a former music teacher.

FINANCIAL

Kurt Wanner, who owns Crosswind Advisors LLC in Everett, recently completed an executive education program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Warton School in Philadelphia. A Navy veteran and a certified financial planner since 1985, Wanner was one of just 150 financial professionals from across the country to attend the program, which examined financial risks in retirement.

Sean Straub has joined Bank of Everett as a business development officer. Straub has more than five years of experience in financial services. Most recently, he was a business developer in new construction and condominium conversion financing. Before that, he was active in retail mortgage lending and marketing.

Tracey Beal has joined the staff of Mortgage Broker Associates in Lynnwood as a mortgage broker.

Frontier Bank recently promoted a number of employees throughout the Snohomish County area. Sharleen Bonnville, the bank’s internal auditor, is now a senior vice president. She is a certified community bank auditor and has spent her entire 23-year banking career at Frontier. Lila Davenport is now senior vice president and manager of the bank’s loan processing center. She is a veteran banker with 29 years of banking experience, 28 of those with Frontier. Peter Sontra was promoted to senior vice president/commercial loan officer with the bank’s private banking department. He has 21 years of experience in the banking industry and has been with Frontier for 13 years. Shelley Paul was promoted to vice president and regional sales manager for the bank’s Investment Center. As its supervising principal, she holds multiple securities licenses as well as a Washington state Life and Disability License. Pauline Skudler is now a vice president and trust operations manager with the bank’s trust department. Her banking career spans 30 years, and she has been with Frontier Bank for eight of those. Karen Munger was promoted to assistant vice president for the bank’s electronic banking department. She has been with Frontier for six years, and was previously with First Interstate Bank of Arizona. Judi Edwards is now an administrative assistant in the executive offices. She joined the bank eight months ago and also works part time for the Rotary Club of Everett.

HEALTH CARE &WELLNESS

Jaclyn Cogdill of Everett, a nurse at Swedish Hospital Medical Center in Seattle, has received a Nurse of Experience and Excellence award, and also was recognized as an outstanding obstetric nurse for 2007. Cogdill, a graduate of Cascade High School and Shoreline Community College, has been a nurse at Swedish since 1981.

Belly-dancing instructor Maria Bighaus has joined the Women’s Wellness Center in Everett and will offer classes on Saturdays. Bighaus has studied belly dancing for the past 10 years, taking classes and workshops throughout the Pacific Northwest.

INSURANCE

Marysville Allstate Insurance agent Kristine Carter recently was awarded an Agency Hands in the Community Award for her commitment to volunteering in the local community. With this award comes a $500 grant from The Allstate Foundation to the nonprofit organization at which she volunteers. Carter volunteers regularly with Small Paws Rescue Inc., an organization that helps rehabilitate and re-house unwanted dogs from puppy mills, shelters or personal surrender. Carter has fostered more than 30 dogs in the past two years. Also, Everett Allstate agent Melody Grondahl recently was awarded an Allstate Agency Hands in the Community Award for her commitment to volunteering in the local community. With this award comes a $500 grant from the Allstate Foundation to the nonprofit organization at which she volunteers. Grondahl volunteers regularly with Junior Achievement of Washington in which she teaches economics for success curriculum to local students.

MANUFACTURING

Scott deMers has been promoted to president of Systems Interface Inc. of Bothell. Formerly the vice president of engineering, deMers joined Systems Interface in 1990. He is a graduate of Seattle University and holds a degree in electrical engineering. His promotion follows Thoresen Bussinger, owner of Systems Interface, stepping down from the president’s position to focus on engineering and customer relations. Robert Schommer also has been promoted from vice president of sales to vice president of Systems Interface. Schommer has been with Systems Interface for 14 years. His successes are widespread throughout the industry, with particular focus on addressing clients in the municipal segment. Curt Plett has been promoted to engineering manager. He has been with Systems Interface for 16 years, seven of those years as a project manager.

NONPROFITS

Ken Beecher is the new director of finance and administration for Bridgeways, an Everett-based mental-health agency. Beecher previously was a staff accountant for Northshore Christian Academy and worked for Toyer and Associates. Also, Patti McKinnell-Davis has been named a member of Bridgeways’ board of directors and chair of the clinical services committee. McKinnell-Davis has been director of public affairs at the Washington Biotechnology &Biomedical Association since late 2003. Prior to joining WBBA, she worked in various capacities in external and internal communications, public relations, community relations and advocacy at Providence Everett Medical Center, The Casey Family Program, United Way of King County and Children’s Home Society of Washington.

Karen Shaw, director of economic development and human needs for the city of Everett, and Ed Carolan, vice president and general manager of StockPot, have been elected to United Way of Snohomish County’s board of directors. Shaw assumed the role as director of economic development for Everett in 2003. In this position, she is responsible for recruiting, retaining and revitalizing business in Everett as well as being the liaison to all of the nonprofit organizations that provide services for Everett residents. Shaw will serve as a United Way board member through June 2010. Carolan is vice president and general manager of Everett-based StockPot, a subsidiary of The Campbell Soup Co. He joined the Campbell company in 2001 after time spent as a business director and senior brand manager for companies along the East Coast, including Proctor &Gamble and Andersen Consulting. Carolan will serve as a United Way board member through June 2010.

Stacy Vance has joined United Way of Snohomish County as the communications and events manager. Vance previously worked for the South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce and has experience in publication design, communications strategy, broadcast production and special event planning. A native of Lynnwood, Vance has a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Mark Brinkman and Dennis “Doug” Douglas have been chosen as the recipients of the Washington State Veterans of Foreign Wars Gold Medal award winners for their consistent, outstanding work in public safety. Douglas has been a member of the Lynnwood Fire Department since 1979. His colleagues call him one of the hardest working and best respected firefighters in southwest Snohomish County. Brinkman, who has been with the Lynnwood Police Department since 1996, is known statewide for his ability to detect impaired drivers.

REAL ESTATE

Mandy Cordova and Lori Radcliffe have joined Windermere Real Estate’s Edmonds office as sales associates. Cordova has been living and working in Edmonds for 20 years. She owns her own personal training business and formerly was a group exercise instructor and personal trainer with the Seattle Athletic Club and Harbor Square Athletic Club. Radcliffe formerly was a fitness instructor and juice bar manager with Harbor Square Athletic Club in Edmonds for 18 years.

Katrina Williams has joined the Keller Williams Realty team in the Bothell Market Center. In her nine years of working in the real estate industry, including time spent with John L. Scott, Williams has been recognized for her leadership, receiving the Presidential Elite award from her previous brokerage, where she also received the designation of Quality Street Agent. Williams also has continued her education and received her broker’s license.

TECHNOLOGY

David Yung has been appointed vice president and general manager of Intermec Technologies’ Asia Pacific region. Yung is a technology veteran with more than 20 years of management experience in the region. Intermec is based in Everett.

Sparling audio/visual consultants Brian O’Bannon, Shannon Jelenek, Mark July and Peter Babler have earned their credentials as Certified Technology Specialists by InfoComm International. The InfoComm International Certified Technology Specialist credential is for audio/visual professionals who have demonstrated knowledge and comprehension of the science and technology used in audio, video and display systems.

UTILITIES

Mike Gianunzio, general counsel for the Snohomish County PUD for the past 12 years, will become manager of regulatory compliance for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District on Feb. 4.