People Watching – November 2007

AUTOMOTIVE

Debbie Christensen has joined Roy Robinson Chevrolet Subaru as its new office manager. She has more than 14 years of office management and controller experience. In addition, she has an extensive background in ADP, Microsoft Office products, GM training, and human resource training, policies and procedures.

BIOTECH

Jack Clifford has joined the board of directors for Helix BioMedix Inc., a Bothell biotechnology company. Company officials said Clifford offers extensive experience in the field, including in negotiating licensing agreements.

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Jim Morino of Acura of Lynnwood received the South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce’s John Fluke Community Service Award during the chamber’s annual dinner in October. The award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the community. Morino has been involved with the Boys &Girls Clubs of Snohomish County since 1995.

The Everett Area Chamber of Commerce has named Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson as its 2007 Henry M. Jackson Citizen of the Year. Others recognized by the chamber with its annual Awards of Excellence include those whose efforts, leadership and contributions have made a positive impact on the Everett business environment, the Everett community and the chamber. Other award winners include: Gail Larson, chief executive of the Northwest Washington service area of Providence Health &Services, Corporate Executive of the Year; Dick Schlosser, president of Electronic Business Machines Inc., Small Business Executive of the Year; Washington state Department of Transportation, Service to Business Award; and Steadfast Cos., Business Innovation Award. Also recognized by the chamber are Kirtley-Cole Associates LLC, Employer of the Year; the employees at the Snohomish County PUD, Employee of the Year; Peter Harvey of Edward Jones Investments and Dave Wheeler, owner of Northwest Aviation Center, Dick Stephens Community Caring Award; Perteet Inc., Friend of the Chamber; Todd Morrow, director of public affairs for Community Transit, President’s Award; Cathy Reines, chief executive of First Heritage Bank, Chairman’s Award; and Milt Heger of Apollo Neon, Ambassador of the Year.

CONSTRUCTION

Joan Kartak Adams has been named public relations coordinator for AAA Kartak Glass and Closet, where she worked years ago with her father and company founder Jerry Kartak.

EDUCATION

Washington state Rep. John McCoy, D-Tulalip, recently received the Elder of the Year Award from the National Indian Education Association, which cited in its award-announcement letter the Snohomish County legislator’s “lifelong service to promoting quality education through active community service.” McCoy is active with the United Way, the Native American advisory boards for the National and Snohomish County Boys &Girls Clubs, and the advisory board for the Cascade Land Conservancy. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2002, and he is the manager of Quil Ceda Village, which oversees management of the infrastructure at the Tulalip Business Park.

ENGINEERING &ENVIRONMENTAL

Jill Connell and Klaus Tilla have been named associates of CDi Engineers. Connell joined CDi Engineers in 2005 as a mechanical engineer. She has provided project management and sustainable mechanical design for a wide range of projects. She also is a LEED Accredited Professional. Since joining the firm in 2001, Tilla has provided project management and mechanical design for a variety of projects. Tilla is currently project manager for a new bed tower and central utility plant at Legacy Emanuel Children’s Hospital in Portland, Ore. He is an active member of the Washington State Society for Healthcare Engineering. Also, CDi Engineers recently hired Daniella Moreano as a mechanical designer and Lexa Henske as administrative/accounting assistant at its Lynnwood office. Moreano, a 2007 mechanical engineering graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, recently passed the Engineer-in-Training exam. Henske is studying accounting through Central Washington University’s Lynnwood campus.

Bill Goodwin and Allison Raduziner have joined Harmsen &Associates Inc. Based in Monroe, the firm specializes in civil engineering, landscape architecture, surveying and land-use planning. Goodwin, a professional engineer with 32 years of civil and transportation project experience, is a senior engineer. Raduziner is the company’s new business development director. She has 20 years of experience in business development, primarily in the construction industry.

Brad Collins has joined the environmental and community planning team of Everett-based Perteet. Formerly development director for the city of Arlington, Collins is a fellow with the American Institute of Certified Planners. Also, Perteet has hired Matt Rilling as a senior project manager for its transportation design department. He will be based out of Perteet’s Everett office. Rilling previously spent 24 years at the Washington state Department of Transportation.

Jerry Ninteman has been named director of environmental services at Landau Associates, an Edmonds-based consulting firm. Ninteman is a principal engineer with more than 20 years of experience in the field and holds a master’s degree in environmental engineering.

FINANCIAL

Jack Myles, president and chief executive officer of North County Bank, was named chairman of the Community Bankers of Washington at the association’s convention in September. Formerly known as the Washington Independent Community Bankers Association, the organization represents more than 50 community banks with headquarters in the state.

May-Ling Sowell has joined 1st Security Bank of Washington as compliance officer and is based at the bank’s headquarters in Mountlake Terrace. Sowell has more than 25 years of compliance and audit experience.

Jeff Rasmussen has joined Horizon Bank as assistant vice president and retail office manager of the bank’s Murphy’s Corner office in Everett. Rasmussen has more than six years of experience in retail banking, insurance sales and consumer lending. Also, Krista Geiger has joined as a mortgage loan officer for Horizon Bank’s Edmonds and Lynnwood offices. Geiger has worked in the banking industry for more than 13 years, allowing for both bank and credit union experience. Geiger was a branch manager before shifting her focus to mortgage lending.

Noni LaLone and Mark Reis have been admitted as firm partners at Moss Adams LLP. LaLone has more than 17 years of experience in valuations, tax and advisory in the wealth services industry. Reis has more than 20 years of experience in tax and advisory in the manufacturing and financial institutions industries.

David Adamson has joined Puget Sound Financial as a senior associate. Adamson has 22 years of experience in the health industry as a key employee, director of customer relations, director of operations and as president and chief executive of his own company.

Carol Nelson, president and chief executive officer of Cascade Financial Corp., recently was named to the No. 15 position in U.S. Banker magazine’s annual ranking of “The 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking,” now in its fifth year.

Kevin Lane has been named president of Network Mortgage Services Inc. Current President James Blodgett will retain the roles of chairman and chief executive officer of the company. Lane joined Network Mortgage in October 1996 as a retail loan officer and was named vice president and branch manager in November 2000. His responsibilities later expanded to include all retail lending as well as the company’s wholesale and correspondent lending channels. He was named executive vice president of the company in November 2004. Also, Paul Johnson has joined the staff of Network Mortgage Services as a senior loan consultant. Johnson is a 21-year mortgage industry veteran and has worked for Washington Mutual for the past 14 years. He is a University of Washington graduate and is an affordable-lending specialist.

GOVERNMENT

Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon recently appointed Paul Roberts to serve on the Sound Transit board of directors. Roberts is a city councilman from the city of Everett and works as the Public Works Director for the city of Marysville. Roberts will replace Everett City Councilman Mark Olson as one of Snohomish County’s three representatives on the board. Olson earlier informed Reardon of his decision to resign from the Sound Transit board.

Melissa Brown has joined the staff of the Port of Everett marina office. She previously worked as lead service representative at the SnoCope Federal Credit Union. Eric Russell, former Port of Everett properties and development director, is now the finance manager in the real estate division at Vulcan Inc. During his tenure at the port, Russell marketed and managed the Riverside Business Park and the North Redevelopment projects. An accountant and Everett native, he was hired at the port in 1996 and earned the State Finance Officer’s Award for 10 consecutive years. Also, Lisa Mandt, John Klekotka and Graham Anderson recently were recognized by the Port of Everett for their roles in the port winning several awards from the American Association of Port Authorities, an international trade group. Everett won the top award for environmental mitigation for the artificial beach it created near its new barge pier near Mukilteo, the top award for communication through its Web site and an award of merit for its magazine. Mandt helped design the Web site and write its content and also writes and edits the magazine. Klekotka and Anderson played strong roles in the beach project.

HEALTH CARE

D. Michael Strong, Puget Sound Blood Center executive vice president of operations and chief operating officer, has retired after nearly two decades with the center. His last day was expected to be Oct. 31, coinciding with the end of his term as AABB president.

Mark Judy, chief executive of Valley General Hospital is the new chair of the Washington State Hospital Association. As chair, Judy will preside over the board of trustees and chair the executive committee for the organization, which is the trade association of the 97 hospitals in Washington state. He has been involved with the WSHA for more than 20 years.

Sherry Spurling has opened a counseling practice at the Sky River Natural Health Center on U.S. 2 in Sultan. Spurling also offers hypnotherapy and Reiki therapy. For appointments or information about the health center, call 360-793-0206.

Janice Schultz, dietary manager at Life Care Center of Bothell, recently was honored with the Life Care Centers of America Northwest Division President’s Award. Schultz received one of two President’s Awards for the Northwest Division, presented for distinguished service in long-term health-care management.

Charlene Shambach has been selected by the Snohomish Health District to direct the community health division of the local public health agency. Shambach served as the division’s assistant director since 1999 under the supervision of Donna J. Larsen, who recently retired after 38 years of service. Shambach will oversee the staff and administrative operations of the Women, Infant and Children nutrition program, two immunization clinics, Tobacco Prevention/Control, the Wellness/Healthy Communities projects, and other programs for parents and children.

INSURANCE

Erik Granroth, Larry Restalrig-Logan and Oksana Lawson, insurance agents in the Arlington and Marysville area, have been recognized for sales achievements in 2006 by Farmers Insurance.

Kim Bartos has been promoted to assistant field vice president for Allstate Insurance Co.’s Northwest Region, which is based in Bothell. Bartos began her Allstate career in the company’s Texas Region in 1986 as an underwriter and assumed a series of management-level positions both in the field and at Allstate’s headquarters in Northbrook, Ill. Most recently, Bartos served as director of strategy in Allstate’s protection finance group. Also, Allstate recognized agent Julie Dow of Marysville for her 10 years of service with the company. As a part of the Allstate Milestone Achievement program, Allstate agents receive a plaque of recognition honoring their contributions and service of five years or more.

Tom Pangborn and Linda Schneider have joined the staff of Bothell-based Lovsted-Worthington insurance company. Pangborn, director of construction operations, has developed a specialization in property and liability program development for complex residential construction projects. Schneider is operations manager in the company’s Seattle office. She began her insurance career in 1971.

NONPROFITS

Lark Kesterke has joined United Way of Snohomish County as the financial stability coordinator. Kesterke will coordinate the individual development account and free tax preparation programs for United Way. Kesterke joins United Way from the Northwest Educational Service District 189, where she worked on statewide projects and the Born Learning campaign. Also, the 2007 United Way campaign now under way includes these loaned executives: Brenda Werner, Jim Trimble, Jennifer Botts and Russ Wise from the Boeing Co.; Don Bongmba from Frontier Bank; and Bruce Salerno from Goodrich. Sponsored executives include Danielle Priore, Emily Harrington and Karen Schaeffer by Boeing; Diane Allvin Beach by The Everett Clinic; Jerry Johnson by JAMCO America and Premera; Shannon Abitbol by Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies Inc.; and Karen Kephart by Stevens Hospital. Federal campaign participants include Andy Johnson, loaned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; David Simms, loaned by Everett Postal Carrier Annex; Colleen Duenas from Ferndale Post Office; Gina Collins and Heather Frank from U.S. Customs and Border Protection; David Charlesworth and Jeffrey Nichols from U.S. Navy Afloat Training Group; and Sean Boyle and Joel Huval, loaned by USS Abraham Lincoln.

John Haskell, senior vice president, ABD Insurance and Financial Services, has been re-elected chairperson of the board of trustees for the YMCA of Snohomish County for 2007-08. Serving with him as vice-chairs are Allen Funk, president and publisher, The Herald, and Dr. Carol Whitehead, superintendent, Everett Public Schools. Other officers are Jim Sporrong, director, operations support, Verizon Communications, treasurer, and Janice Ellis, Snohomish County prosecuting attorney, secretary. Immediate past chair is Mike Zubovic, vice president, Finance and Computer Information Systems, Goodrich Corp., Aviation Technical Services. Newly elected to the board is Leslie Lauer, the Boeing Co. Re-elected to the board of trustees are Brenda Baltrusch, Wells Fargo; Tom Braaten, Bank of America; G. Paul Carpenter (Jeep), Anderson Hunter Law Firm; Dave Chan, Profit Improvement Consulting Inc.; Doug Ferguson, Anderson Hunter Law Firm; Joyce Eleanor, Community Transit; and Roy Yates, Frontier Bank. Leaving the board is Tom Maxwell from Boeing.

SPORTS

The Northwest League named Everett AquaSox director of administration and concessions, Cathy Bierman, as the Woman Executive of the Year for 2007. Bierman heads the AquaSox food and beverage operation and oversees all day-of-game employees, hiring, concession operations, payroll and employee benefits. She also manages all food-related sponsorships as well as the highly successful Hit a Homerun in Reading Program.