CVB’s Cooper Named Top Association Exec

John Cooper, executive director of the Bellingham/Whatcom County Convention & Visitors Bureau for more than eight years, was selected Associa-tion Executive of the Year by the Washing-ton Society of Asso-ciation Executives.

WASE recognizes a member each year who has made a significant contribution to WASE, the association community and in the field of association management. The recipient’s employment history in association management, achievements, honors and contributions also are considered.

The WASE consists of approximately 280 members representing executive directors and key staff of trade, professional and charitable organizations across the state.

The CVB is a professional trade organization representing 360 businesses and organizations in northwest Washington, Alaska and Canada.

 

IAAP Chapter Honors Jones

Kathleen Jones, operations office coordinator for the Whatcom Transportation Authority, was named the 2001 Best Administrative Profes-sional by the Belling-ham chapter of the In-ternational Association of Administrative Pro-fessionals.

The runner-up for this year’s award was Jenefer Creamer, secretary for the City of Mount Vernon’s Econ-omic Development office. Both Jones and Creamer were honored at the local IAAP chapter’s Administrative Professionals Day luncheon on April 25 in Bellingham.

IAAP defines an administrative professional as one who possesses a master of skills, demonstrates the ability to assume responsibility without direct supervision, exercises judgment and makes decisions within the scope of assigned authority. Factors in the judging of nominees include their leadership, community involvement, professionalism and work ethic.

 

Wallace Heads Region for U.S. Bank

Scott Wallace has been named region president for U.S. Bank in northwest Washington.

Wallace, headquartered in Bellingham, is responsible for day-to-day operations of 16 U.S. Bank branches, including those in Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale and Lynden.

He also oversees consumer and business lending and community outreach activities for the banking company. In addition, he will establish the bank’s newly created Northwest Washington bank board.

Wallace started his banking career in 1972 with Old National Bank, which merged with U.S. Bank in 1988. He has served in a variety of roles and most recently was business banking team leader in Bellingham. Wallace is a graduate of Washington State University and earned his master of business administration degree from Western Washington University. He also is a graduate of Agricultural Credit School in Pullman and the Washington Agriculture/Forestry Leadership Program.

U.S. Bancorp, based in Minneapolis, Minn., is the eighth-largest financial services holding company in the United States. It has 2,242 banking offices and assets of more than $160 billion.

 

Calabrese Named Hotel Bellwether GM

Carol Calabrese in April became manager of Hotel Bellwether, which features 67 luxury guest rooms along Bellingham’s Squalicum Harbor.

Calabrese started in the hospitality industry in 1979 while still in college. She has worked 20 years for hotels around the world, including 10 years as a general manager for Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. While with Wyndham, she was general manager from 1997 to 1999 at the Inn at Semi-ahmoo in Blaine. She and her husband then remodeled a historic building along Lake Whatcom in Bellingham and launched Agate Bay Gourmet, a small café and grocery store, in June 2000.

For more information about Hotel Bellwether, call 392-3100 or visit www.hotelbellwether.com.

 

Calenberg Receives Mayor’s Arts Award

Tom Calenberg, owner of Fairhaven Frames in downtown Bellingham, was presented a Mayor’s Arts Award on May 3.

Calenberg was cited for his “innovative efforts in raising funds for the arts, the environment and other causes.”

Last September, he created an exhibit at The Calumet restaurant in downtown Bellingham that featured paintings and 100 life-size sockeye salmon cut from recycled printing plates of The Bellingham Herald. The salmon were sold to raise money for The Salmon Campaign of The Northwest Eco-System Alliance. The exhibit continues at The Calumet, where some of the original sculptures remain until sold.

 

Jones Named Manager of Everson Branch

Stephen Jones has been named vice president and manager of Bank NorthWest’s Everson branch, scheduled to open this month.

Jones, a resident of Nooksack, has lived in Whatcom County most of his life. He has more than 25 years of banking years and was with Peoples Bank for 23 years, including 20 years at its Everson branch. Jones is a graduate of Western Wash-ington University.

The Everson branch of Bank North-West is located at 106 E. Main St., a building previously occupied by a Bank of America branch. It will offer agricultural, commercial, business and real-estate loans and provide a night drop, a 24-hour ATM and a drive-up window.

 

Den Hartog Promoted by NV Disposal

Calvin Den Hartog has been named general manager of Nooksack Valley Disposal Inc. in Lynden, as well as general manager of its sister company, San Juan Sanitation in Eastsound.

Den Hartog has worked at Nooksack Valley Disposal since 1992, serving as accountant/controller and manager. He graduated from Western Washington University in 1992 with a degree in accounting. Den Hartog now oversees all facets of the company, including financial, human-resource and customer-relations issues.

Nooksack Valley Disposal, founded in 1971, serves north Whatcom County, including the cities of Lynden, Everson, Nooksack and Sumas and their surrounding rural areas. It provides garbage and recycling collection services, as well as a transfer station on Birch Bay-Lynden Road in Lynden.

 

Hilgert Supervising Brown & Cole Stores

Mike Hilgert has been named store group leader for Brown & Cole’s Cost Cutter stores in Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale and Lynden, plus the Lynden Fair Market.

Hilgert also is assuming responsibility as store manager for Bellingham Cost Cutter.

He joined Brown & Cole in 1988 and has held several positions, including transition manager, store manager and division director. Hilgert has more than 26 years of experience in the grocery industry and has taken continuing education courses from the Northwest Management Institute and Portland State University.

As store group leader, Hilgert is responsible for supervising the operations of all six stores in Whatcom County, emphasizing local customer preference and greater flexibility in regional marketing.

Brown & Cole has 35 supermarkets in central and northwestern Washington, as well as Montana and Oregon. It has headquarters in Bellingham and operates stores under the names of Cost Cutter, Food Pavilion and Food Depot.

 

KeyBank Tabs Holubik for Senior VP Position

Fred Holubik has been named senior vice president in the Business Banking Division of KeyBank in Bellingham.

Holubik is responsible for expanding Key’s commercial banking market share and identifying cross-selling opportunities for Key’s other lines of business throughout Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties.

Previously, he was a vice president at Columbia Bank in Bellevue and worked for KeyBank in Tacoma and Seattle. Holubik has a bachelor’s degree in management from Saginaw Valley State University in College Center, Mich.

 

Merrick Joins Sound Craft Marine

Michael Merrick, formerly production manager at Sea Sport, Inc. of Bellingham, has joined custom aluminum boat builder Sound Craft Marine of Burlington as general manager.

Merrick has more than 10 years of experience managing marine businesses. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics at the University of Washington and his master of business administration degree from Seattle University.

Sound Craft building custom aluminum boat that range in length from 28 feet to 58 feet.

 

Ledgerwood Moves Holistic Touch

Sally Ledgerwood in April moved Holistic Touch from Bellingham Towers to the Discovery Park Health Center, 1400 King St., Suite F.

Ledgerwood, a licensed massage practitioner, offers Swedish massage, accupressure, reflexology and Reiki to help clients reduce stress and relax. She graduated from the East-West College of the Healing Arts in Portland, Ore., in 1999 and has been serving clients in Bellingham for 16 months. Besides offering appointments at her office, she also provides chair massages at workplaces.

Ledgerwood is a Reiki master and teaches Reiki classes each month. She says Reiki means “universal life force energy” and describes it as a “simple, yet very profound system of natural healing for the body and mind.”

For more information, call her at 224-3335.

 

Peoples Bank Hires Dostal for Ag Loans

Douglas Dostal recently joined Peoples Bank in Lynden as vice president and agricultural/commercial loan officer.

Dostal has more than 15 years of experience in agricultural lending. Most recently, he worked as a loan manager for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Yakima. He also has been a general manager for an agri-business in the Midwest. Dostal attended Purdue University and Washington State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics.

“His experiences of lending in rural communities and strong support of agriculture are consistent with Peoples Bank’s commitment to our farmers and agri-business customers throughout the state,” says George Bowen, senior vice president and chief lending officer.

 

Goertz Assisting Investment Reps

Terry Goertz, an Edward Jones investment representative in Bellingham, recently was named a support specialist for new investment representatives.

Goertz is responsible for mentoring and training 12 new investment representatives in Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties. He has earned the designations of chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and chartered life underwriter (CLU) from American College.

“Terrell has the experience and knowledge of the financial-service industry, as well as a great enthusiasm for helping others to be successful,” says Loren Van Loo, regional leader for Edward Jones.

For more information, call Goertz at 738-3454 or visit his office in Suite 140 of Bellingham Towers, 119 N. Commercial St.

 

Bauleke Moves to Metcalf Hodges

Ron Bauleke, a certified public accountant, has joined the Bellingham accounting and consulting firm of Metcalf, Hodges & Co. as a client executive.

Bauleke formerly was managing partner of Bauleke, Sytsma and Varner, which he founded in Bellingham in 1983. He has been working in public accounting in Belling-ham since 1977.

“I’m at a place in my life where I prefer to focus on working with my well-established clients and not carry the added burdens of business ownership,” Bauleke says.

“The experience I’ve gained through managing my own firm went beyond traditional accounting services,” he adds. “Building a successful has given me the ability to guide clients in management and strategy in addition to standard financial and tax consulting.”

Metcalf Hodges, founded in 1964 by Dick Metcalf and Harvey Tebrich, now is owned and directed by Harte Bressler, Julie Johansen and David Burt.

 

Whidbey Island Bank Tabs Talbot for Loans

Pennie Talbot has been named a real estate loan officer for Whidbey Island Bank in Bellingham.

A 20-year financing veteran, she is responsible for the origination of residential, commercial, construction and land-development loans in Whatcom County.

Prior to joining Whidbey Island Bank, she was a home mortgage consultant for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Bellingham. Talbot graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Whidbey Island Bank, established in 1961 and headquartered in Oak Harbor, has 14 branches in Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties.

 

Jeweler Joins G.B. Heron

Gary Bower has joined the staff of G.B. Heron Fine Jewelry at 1301 Cornwall Ave. in downtown Bellingham.

Bower is one of only three jewelers in the state to have been awarded the designation of Jewelers of America Certified Ma-ster Bench Jeweler, the highest level of JA Bench Jeweler Certifi-cation. The program tests a broad range of professional knowledge and technical bench skills.

Bower has more than 20 years of experience as a bench jeweler. “Fabrication and modification in all metals are two of my strong points due to the amount of custom work I have done over the years,” he says.

Before joining G.B. Heron, he worked 14 years for Jewelry Cache in Anchorage, Alaska. For more information, call him at 671-4706.

 

Archer Group Pair Pass CPA Exam

Two members of Archer Group in Bellingham recently passed the certified public accountant exam.

Ichi Pencil joined Archer Group as a team accountant after graduating from Western Washington University in the top 10 of her class. She was promoted after passing the CPA exam.

Carlye Gillespie also attended WWU and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She was hired by Archer Group more than two years ago as a staff accountant and promoted after passing the CPA exam.

Archer Group, located at 1621 Corn-wall Ave. in downtown Bellingham, is a local accounting firm. It specializes in estate planning, taxes, valuations, pensions, business consultation and QuickBooks training. For more information, call 756-1010.

 

Bellair Charters Hires Maintenance Manager

Bellair Charters/Airporter Shuttle of Ferndale has hired Tom Stewart as maintenance manager.

Stewart recently retired from the Navy after 30 years of service. With the rank of master crew petty officer, he managed the maintenance of four EA-6B airplanes with a crew of 140 people while based at Naval Air Station Whidbey in Oak Harbor since 1984.

Bellair Charters/Airporter Shuttle, owned by Larry Wickkiser of Wickkiser International Companies, Inc., has been providing airport shuttle and charter services in northwest Washington since 1985. Its fleet consists of more than 30 buses in various sizes. For more information, call (866) 235-5247 or visit www.enjoytheride.com.

 

Schuyler Heads Lynden Branch

Linda Schuyler recently became an assistant vice president for Banner Bank and manager of its Lynden office, located inside the Fair Market at Lynden Towne Plaza.

Schuyler has more than 18 years of banking, management and customer-service experience and most recently was branch manager of the Sunset Square office of Bank of America.

“Her extensive management background in grocery-store branch operations and consumer relations will serve our customers extremely well in our Lynden office,” remarks Cliff Frydenberg, senior vice president and division manager of Banner Bank.

Banner Bank operates 32 bank branches and four loan offices in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

 

Cascade Ambulance Pair Gain Certification

President Rick Kowsky and dispatcher Kayla Hamilton of Ferndale-based Cascade Ambulance Service recently graduated from the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch.

To receive certification, emergency medical dispatchers must demonstrate their competence by using the medical priority dispatch system, a triage system developed by Dr. Jeff Clawson, a respected emergency physician and author in the field of emergency medical dispatch. The dual goal of the academy’s certification program is to improve patient care and maximize the efficiency of the emergency medical services system.

Dispatchers also receive training in the use of pre-arrival instructions to assist the public while awaiting emergency responders. The training includes how to perform CPR, assist a victim of choking and assist with electronic heart defibrillators.

Cascade Ambulance Service provides emergency and non-emergency ambulance service throughout northwest Washington. It specializes in emergency care for such special populations as geriatric and Alzheimer’s patients, hospice transportation, interfacility critical-care transports and special-event standby services. For more information, call 380-3144.

 

Angell Receives WWU Award

Carl Angell, an Allstate insurance agent in Bellingham, was among the recipients of the 17th annual Professional Excel-lence Awards presented May 12 by Western Washington Univer-sity’s Woodring Col-lege of Education.

The awards, established in 1985, recognized outstanding educators, human-service professionals and citizens in the state and raise awareness of the positive contributions made in the fields of education and human services.

As a volunteer for the Bellingham School District, Angell has contributed countless hours helping high school students gain knowledge and skills they will use throughout their lives. He serves as a member of the district’s Family and Consumer Science Program Advisory Committee and has talked to more than 700 classes in his 28-year career. The committee, comprised of members of the business community, parents and teachers, is a resource that advises and advocates for relevant instructional programs to support the learning needs of students.

 

Moss Adams Hires Staff Accountant

The Bellingham office of Moss Adams, a regional accounting and management consulting firm, has hired Shu-Ling Sun as a staff accountant in its enterprise group.

Sun, previously a general accountant for Georgia-Pacific, received her bachelor’s degree and master of business administration degree from Western Washington University. She is fluent in Mandarin and Taiwanese.

The Bellingham office of Moss Adams provides accounting, tax, financial and business advisory services to clients internationally and in Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties.

 

Haggen Promotes, Hires Personnel

Haggen, Inc., a Bellingham-based company which operates 26 supermarkets in Washington and Oregon, recently announced several promotions and hirings.

Dave Norton was promoted to senior vice president of sales and merchandising. He now supervises all merchandising departments, including center store, perishables and fresh foods. Norton has more than 35 years of experience in the grocery industry.

Debbie Tuttle was promoted to bakery merchandiser. She joined the company in 1991 as a service deli clerk in Olympia and was promoted to service deli manager in Federal Way in 1992. She recently graduated from the University of Southern California’s Food Industry Management Program.

Tom Sargent is the new director of the meat and seafood in the perishables department. He began his career with Von’s Grocery in California. Sargent moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1979 and most recently worked for Fred Meyer as director of meat and seafood.

Laura Sweeney was hired as an advertising production artist. She most recently worked at the Skagit Valley Herald in Mount Vernon and prior to that had worked for 10 years at the Bakersfield Californian.

Darlene Moore was named manager of the payroll department. She has an extensive background in accounting and office management and most recently worked for Olympic Health Management System, Inc. as an accounting manager. She also has managed the human-resources department of the former St. Luke’s General Hospital.

 

DeVinny Adds Music Workshops for Adults

Margaret DeVinny, owner of Musical Magic in Bellingham, has added two workshops for adults in addition to her regular schedule of weekly lessons for students ages 7 and older.

Her lessons and workshops offer an enjoyable new way of learning how to read and understand the language of music and play the piano.

For a complimentary consultation and demonstration at her South Hill studio of either a workshop or a standard lesson, call 671-2969.

 

Dyrland Licensed for Investment Products

Erik Dyrland, who owns a Farmers Insurance Group agency in Bellingham, now is licensed to offer investment products as well as traditional insurance products.

Dyrland passed securities license exams and completed a specialized training program sponsored by Farmers Financial Solutions, the broker-dealer affiliate of the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies. He now offers a variety of investment products, including several mutual funds, variable annuities and variable universal life insurance.

Dyrland, an insurance agent for nearly 15 years, continues to provide home, auto, business and life insurance through Farmers Insurance Group.

For more information, call the Erik Dyrland Agency, 734-5072.

 

Rowe Speaking at Conferences

Alice Rowe, a Bellingham management consultant and public speaker, is the keynote speaker at two conferences this month.

Rowe was scheduled to speak at the State-employed Women’s Conference from June 4-5 and the national meeting of Credit Professionals International on June 15. Her speech is entitled, “How to Become the Hero of Your Own Life: Lessons from the Wizard of Oz.”

 

Peoples Bank Promotes Compton, Adds Johnson

Peoples Bank has promoted Mary Compton and appointed William Johnson to its board of directors.

Compton became manager of the bank’s Everson branch in 1997 after working 10 years with Peoples Bank in a variety of positions. Under her leadership, the Ever-son office’s deposits have grown 43 percent to more than $31 million.

“Mary’s promotion is in recognition of the excellent job she is doing,” says Charles LeCocq, president of Lynden-based Peoples Bank.

Johnson is an attorney with the law firm of Betts Austin Johnson in Bellingham. He has significant experience in representing closely held business owners and individuals in regard to structuring buy/sell agreements, acquisition and merger agreements, as well as the formation of all types of corporate and business entities. His practice also focuses on wealth transfer and business succession strategies.

Johnson has served as president of the Northwest Washington Estate Planning Council and he is a council member of The Firs Bible and Missionary Conference.

“He is an individual of high quality and integrity,” says Irwin LeCocq, chairman of the board of Peoples Bank. “The bank will benefit from his knowledge and extensive contacts within the local business community.”

 

Horizon Bank Announces Promotions

Horizon Bank, with headquarters in Bellingham, announced the recent promotions of several employees in Whatcom County.

Carol Dean, customer service manager for the Blaine office, is now an assistant vice president and office manager. She has been in the banking industry for more than 20 years, including nine years with Horizon Bank.

Nancy Graham, an administrative analyst at the Cornwall office in downtown Bellingham, was promoted to vice president. She has been in banking 14 years, including four with Horizon Bank.

Renee Nichols, loan-servicing manager at the Cornwall office, was named an assistant vice president. She has been in loan servicing for nine years and with Horizon Bank for 11 years.

Ellen Huffman and Joyce Lemperes of the Barkley branch in Bellingham were promoted to assistant vice president. Huffman, a senior internal auditor, has worked for Horizon Bank three years. Lemperes has been manager of the Barkley office and a lending officer for real-estate and consumer loans. She has more than 25 years of banking experience, including three years with Horizon Bank.

Shane Thelen, who has more than 25 years in the banking industry, recently started as a commercial loan officer and business development manager at the Holly office in downtown Bellingham. She was promoted to vice president.

Dale Holt, also of the Holly office, was promoted to vice president, commercial loan officers. He has more than 15 years of banking experience, including five years at Horizon Bank.

Horizon Bank operates 15 full-service offices throughout Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties.

 

Architectural Firm Makes Announcements

Pete Sutherland of Ross McClure Cornwell Architects in Bellingham has received a state architectural license.

Sutherland began working for RMC in 1989 and completed his architectural studies at Phoenix Institute of Technology in 1986. The new staff architect previously has worked as job captain on various projects and as CAD specialist for three-dimensional modeling and renderings. He has worked on a variety of complex projects for RMC, including Barkley Building III, Northwest Washington Medical Bureau and Church of the Assumption.

RMC also announced that partner Brad Cornwell attended an American Institute of Architects conference—entitled “What Makes It Green?”—in Seattle. Cornwell participated in seminars on achieving energy-efficient building design, incorporating sustainability in public and private projects and incentives for using eco-roofs.

“The seminars showed us how public agencies and commercial developers can use energy efficiency and green materials cost effectively,” Cornwell says.

 

Calderhead, Haugness Honored by Realtors

Gloria Calderhead and Judy Haugness recently received awards from the Whatcom County Association of Realtors.

Calderhead, broker of ERA Fairhaven Realty in Bellingham, was named Realtor of the First Quarter for her outstanding participation in all aspects of the association. She is a director on the association’s board, chair of the Realtor Education Committee and a member of the Code of Ethics Professional Standards Grievance Committee.

Haugness, a real-estate loan officer for Peoples Bank at its Cordata office in Bellingham, was named Affiliate of the First Quarter for her contributions to the community, the banking profession and the WCAR. She was the general chairperson for the association’s annual awards banquet earlier this year, has served on its political action committee and is the current liaison between Alcoa Intalco in Ferndale and the WCAR. Haugness, who has 21 years of banking experience, also is a youth soccer coach and treasurer for the Custer Parent Teacher Organization.

 

Kozer, Baum Move to Crown Plaza

Attorneys Stephen Kozer and Richard Baum have opened separate law offices in Crown Plaza Executive Office Suites, located on the fourth floor of the Crown Plaza Building at 114 W. Magnolia St., Bellingham.

Kozer, an attorney with 16 years of trial experience, recently opened his own practice. It will emphasize employment and labor issues, government applications, permits and licenses, defending businesses, professionals and individuals from government regulation and restoring civil and constitutional rights. He is a former felony deputy with the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office. For more information, call 392-3930.

Baum, a partner in the Bellingham law firm of Summer and Baum, moved his office in December. Baum represents people with claims for disability benefits with the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, as well as those with claims on private disability insurance policies. His practice also includes personal injury claims. For more information, call 671-2296.

 

North Counties CFDD Honors Sizemore

The North Counties chapter of the Credit and Financial Development Division has honored a Bellingham member and elected another to a board position.

Past president Kim Sizemore, who works at DeWaard & Bode, was presented the Distinguished Member of the Year Award on April 24.

Leslie Henley of Morse Steel Services was named education and scholarship chair on the chapter’s board.

CFDD is the educational branch of the National Association of Credit Management, which provides credit professionals services related to the credit field. North Counties CFDD conducts monthly educational meetings, usually on the fourth Tuesday of each month. For more information, call Terri Downing, chapter president, at Food Services, Inc. in Mount Vernon, (360) 416-5115.

 

James, Van Slyke Honored by Farmers

Richard James and Rollo Van Slyke, owner of the Farmers Insurance agencies in Bellingham, have qualified as Farmers Insurance Topper Club agents, both for the 12th time.

Fewer than 6 percent of more than 15,000 Farmers Insurance agents and district managers nationwide qualified for the honor. It is based on consistently high sales volume for auto, home, life and business policies, plus high client retention, service and profitability.

The Richard James Farmers Insurance Agency is located at 1252 Ellis St. For more information, call 676-0224.

The Rollo Van Slyke Farmers Insurance Agency is located at 518 E. Magnolia St. For more information, call 676-7418.

Founded in 1928 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Farmers Insurance is the nation’s third-largest auto and home insurer, a leading commercial insurer and a major life insurer.