Brenthaven Names MacPhee CEO

Dan MacPhee, a Bellingham native, has returned to the city to become the first chief executive officer of Brenthaven.

MacPhee joined the manufacturer of notebook computer cases and backpacks on Feb. 1. He oversees all functions within the company, including strategic planning, sales, marketing and operations.

“He brings a wealth of business knowledge to us, most recently from the frozen-food industry,” says Rich Pelo, chairman and chief financial officer.

MacPhee also joined Pelo, Harvey Stone (now director of business development), Armand Vezina and Dave May as primary owners of The Fairhaven Group, which does business as Brenthaven. Pelo and Stone purchased the company in 1994. Founded as a make of backpacks, Brenthaven now focuses on computer cases, which comprised more than 80 percent of nearly $5 million in sales last year. Brenthaven moved its storage, distribution and light-manufacturing operations in April 1999 to a 16,000-square-foot Port of Bellingham building at 300 Harris Ave., then moved its retail store to 200 W. Holly in August 1999.

Before joining Brenthaven, MacPhee was one of the key managers involved in the growth of the Seattle-based Chef’s Choice brand of frozen prepared meals.

MacPhee graduated from Sehome High School and the University of Washington.

 

Sportsman Chalet Owner Honored

Steve Brewster, owner and operator of the Sportsman Chalet in Bellingham, was honored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Brewster was recognized May 5 at The MS Walk in Bellingham. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis three years ago and last year became an active member of the committee organizing the Bellingham event.

“The MS Walk brings awareness to the community of people who have MS,” Brew-ster says. “The MS Walk is an extremely good avenue to become more acquainted with the disease and realize there’s something out there that’s trying to be done about it.”

In 2000, The MS Walk in Washington broke records with 6,000 participants and raised more than $1.1 million. The National MS Society serves nearly 6,500 people with multiple sclerosis in Western and Central Washington.

 

Jorgensen Joins Shuksan Golf Staff

Golf professional Chris Jorgensen has been named director of instruction at Shuksan Golf Club.

Jorgensen, a graduate of Blaine High School and Washing-ton State University, has competed professionally for the past six years, including tournaments on the Nike and Canadian tours. His accomplishments include titles in state high school, state amateur, Pacific Northwest Men’s Amateur and Pacific Northwest Public Links Amateur tournaments.

As an instructor, Jorgensen plans to emphasize aspects of golf overlooked by conventional teaching. For golfers interested in developing their mental game, his background in applied sports psychology will be integrated into a lesson program.

Shuksan Golf Club, located several miles northeast of Bellingham at 1500 E. Axton Road, plans to enhance and expand its practice areas in order to accommodate complete instructional programs with an emphasis on the short game. For more information, call 398-8888.

 

MacDonald Heading Foothills Chamber

Carole MacDonald, a co-owner and operator of The Inn at Mt. Baker, has been elected president of the Mt. Baker Foothills Chamber of Com-merce.

Marisa Ceranova of The Frosty Inn is secretary/treasurer. Other board members are Phil Cloward, Shar Enterprises and Black Mountain Ranch; Joe Shearer, Roma’s Room Ceramics; Shorty Bjornstad, Kendall Valley Construction; and Jeff Margolis, Everybody’s Store.

Chamber meetings generally are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at The Frosty Inn in Maple Falls. The Mt. Baker Foothills Chamber of Commerce covers the State Route 542 (Mount Baker Highway) corridor from East Smith Road to the Mt. Baker Ski Area and the State Route 9 corridor from Acme north to South Pass Road. For more information, call MacDonald, 599-1776.

 

Active Wireless Gains Co-owner

Sean DeBruler has become a co-owner of Active Wireless in Bellingham.

DeBruler has four years of experience in cellular-phone businesses.

Active Wireless, located at 1326 King St., is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. It offers VoiceStream, Verizon and AT&T Wireless cellular phones and air packages, as well as accessories.

For more information, call DeBruler, 73-3363.

 

Whatcom Occupational Health Adds Doctor

Dr. Eric Smith has joined the staff of Whatcom Occupational Health in Bellingham.

Smith has been licensed in the state for 19 years since gaining his medical degree from the Oregon Health Sciences Center in 1981. He is certified by the American Board of Preventative Health in occupational medicine. Smith has served many years as a consultant in occupational medicine to transportation, manufacturing and service industries.

Whatcom Occupational Health offers comprehensive services to employers, including injury treatment, drug screening, pre-placement physicals, annual executive physicals, workplace consulting, ergonomic evaluations, immunizations and asbestos/lead screening. For more information, call 676-1693.

 

Million Dollar Round Table Welcomes Kagan

Robin Kagan of Bellingham, who specializes in long-term care insurance for Bankers Life and Casualty Co., has earned membership in the Million Dollar Round Table.

MDRT is an international, independent association of about 23,000 of the world’s best life-insurance and financial-services professionals. Members have demonstrated sales excellence and exceptional professional knowledge, expertise and client service.

Kagan can be contacted at 676-5205.

 

Ferndale Ready Mix Hires Korthuis

Ferndale Ready Mix and Gravel named Keith Korthuis the sales and quality-control manager of its concrete division.

Korthuis, previously general manager of Sumas-based Elenbaas Co., joined Ferndale Ready Mix on April 1 and works with contractors and homeowners.

Ferndale Ready Mix’s main office is at 144 River Road, just off Guide Meridian Road at the Nooksack River bridge, two miles south of Lynden. For more information, call 734-9109.

 

Brightwater Launches Mobile Massage Firm

Gillian Brightwater, a licensed massage practitioner, has launched Heaven and Earth Mobile Massage in Bellingham.

Brightwater, a graduate of Bellevue Massage School, offers chair massages at workplaces and events. She can be reached at 392-5092.

Brightwater’s specialty is aromatic heated stone therapy, which combines massage, heat penetration of smooth river stones and essential oils. She says it can provide the same results of deep massage without pain or tenderness afterward. General therapeutic treatments include relaxation and deep-tissue massage and light-injury, sports and trigger-point work. Appointments can be made at Eleanor Steele Skin Care Salon in Fairhaven, 671-3150.

 

Van Beek Honored by Elk Foundation

Artist Randy Van Beek of Bellingham recently named featured artist of the year and awarded $7,000 by the National Rocky Mountain Elk Found-ation.

Van Beek’s original, “Twin Sisters Royalty,” was auctioned at the foundation’s national convention in February at Albuquerque, N.M., with proceeds donated to the foundation.

Van Beek also created this year’s Skagit Valley Tulip Festival poster, titled “Spring Reflections.” The image also is seen on other products such as T-shirts, greeting cards and on the labels of local products such as whole-bean coffee, wine and ales. The original painting now is a part of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce’s collection.

 

Speedy Automated Mailers Hires Hanson

Brian Hanson, who has many years of sales experience, joined the staff of Speedy Automated Mailers Inc. in Bellingham as its account executive for Neopost postal meter leases and equipment.

Hanson has undergone extensive training on Neopost’s full line, which lead Europe in sales of metering machines. The company’s sales in the United States increased by 27 percent last year.

Speedy Automated Mailers recently became a dealer for Neopost meters and equipment.

For more information, call 676-4775 or send e-mail to brian@speedy-inc.com.

 

DeBruine Addresses Army Representatives

Kris DeBruine, owner of Dream Pix Design in Bellingham, addressed representatives from 12 major Army installations at the annual Professional Development Conference on May 2 in Olympia.

The installations are part of Forces Command (FORS-COM), the largest command in the Army. It provides leadership to all major installations, including Ft. Lewis in Tacoma.

DeBruine was chosen among other Web-design studios in the Northwest on the basis of portfolio examples, graphic design and Website functionality. She expects to begin contract negotiations with FORSCOM installations on redesigning existing Web sites. For more information, visit the Dream Pix Design site at www.dreampix.net or call 715-9878.

 

Dyrland Honored by Farmers Insurance

Erik Dyrland, owner of the Erik Dyrland Farmers Insurance Agency in Bellingham, has qualified as a Farmers Insurance Topper Club agent for the 13th time.

Fewer than six 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.

“It is truly amazing that Erik has earned this award for the 13th time, having only owned his Farmers agency for 14 years,” says Paul Hopkins, senior vice president of agencies at Farmers Insurance.

The Erik Dyrland Agency is located at 2105 Park St. For more information, call 734-5072.

 

Prager Marks 20 Years of Mercury-free Dentistry

Dr. Jeffrey Prager, owner of The Northwest Center for Esthetic Dentistry in Bellingham, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his decision to stop using mercury/silver amalgam for tooth fillings.

In 1981, Prager became one of the first dentists in the country to exclusively provide natural tooth-colored fillings for his patients.

“The great majority of dentists still fill teeth with mercury/silver amalgam, so most people are just not aware that alternatives are available using strong, non-metal materials,” Prager says. “Many people don’t like the way these fillings look, either, as they tend to weaken the tooth and turn black after a period of time.”

The Northwest Center for Esthetic Dentistry, located at 1420 King St., Suite B, specializes in general, cosmetic and restorative dentistry. For more information, call 671-4552.

 

Haggen Announces Personnel Changes

Bellingham-based Haggen Inc., which operates 26 supermarkets in Washington and Oregon, has announced a series of personnel promotions and hirings.

Lee Reynolds was promoted to director of produce. He joined the company in 1972 as produce manager at the Bellingham Haggen on Meridian Street. He was promoted to produce merchandiser in 1988.

Kimberly Holleman joined Haggen’s fresh foods department as research and development project manager. She is responsible for continuing the progress of the Chef’s Counter program at the Barkley Village store in Bellingham. Holleman comes from Houston, where she instructed undergraduate students in the culinary arts program at San Jacinto College. She has 10 years of experience in grocery store management, including eight years as a bakery/deli buyer-merchandiser.

Eddy Holleman was named store manager of the Sehome Village store in Bellingham. He joined the company in August and has served as center-store manager and perishable manager at the Ferndale store. Holleman has 20 years of experience in grocery-store operations.

Clyde Ellis, store manager of the Sehome Village store since January 2000, was selected to attend the Food Industry Management Program at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business in Los Angeles. The management development program is designed exclusively for high-potential individuals of proven ability with advanced business knowledge, practical management skills and senior leadership skills. Ellis started working for Haggen Inc. in 1984 and became store manager of the Wenatchee TOP Food & Drug in 1988.

 

NW Computer Supplies Promotes Niles

Ted Niles has been promoted to account manager by Northwest Computer Supplies of Bellingham.

Niles joined the company in 1999 after moving from Sitka, Alaska, where he worked for the University of Alaska. He now provides sales support and service to the company’s commercial, government and educational clients in northwest Washington and throughout the United States.

For more information about Northwest Computer Supplies, call 734-3400 or visit its store at 1419 Cornwall Ave.

 

Rowe Teaching WCC Classes

Alice Rowe is teaching classes on team building and motivation this month at Whatcom Community College in Belling-ham.

Rowe will present “Team Building for Top Performance” from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. May 16 and 23. She also will teach “Motivating Employees to Be Their Best” from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. May 17 and 24. For more information or to register for either class, call 647-3277.

Rowe has a doctorate in human and organizational development. She has more than 20 years of experience as a corporate trainer, educator and public speaker.

 

Knutson Accredited in Business Valuation

Alan Knutson, a partner and certified public accountant at Larson Gross, has gained accreditation in business valuation from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Knutson has more than 25 years of tax and consulting services in public accounting, including a wide variety of business valuations and litigation support for attorneys and other professionals.

Larson Gross, established in 1950, is a certified public accounting firm with headquarters in Bellingham and offices in Lynden and Blaine. For more information, call 734-4280 or visit www.larsongross.com.

 

Whidbey Island Bank Names Cutbill VP

Peter Cutbill has joined Whidbey Island Bank as a vice president and commercial loan officer in Bellingham.

Cutbill, with 20 years of banking experience, is responsible for commercial loan portfolio development. Before joining Whidbey Island Bank, he was a vice president and business banking manager for InterWest Bank’s Northern Region, comprised of Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties and the Olympic Peninsula. Cutbill has a master’s degree in finance and human resources management from State University of New York and a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Toronto.

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

 

Wallin Completes Risk Management Course

Bob Wallin, owner of Bob Wallin Insurance in Bellingham, has completed one of five parts of a program offered by Certified Risk Man-agers International.

Wallin completed the section on risk management essentials. The other courses are on risk analysis, risk control, risk financing and risk administration.

Bob Wallin Insurance offers personal, commercial, life and health insurance, as well as investments. For more information, call 734-5204 or visit www.bobwallin.com.

 

Van Slyke Licensed for Investment Products

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

Van Slyke 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.

Van Slyke, an insurance agent for 14 years, continues to provide home, auto, business and life insurance through Farmers Insurance Group.

For more information, call the Rollo Van Slyke Agency, 676-7418.

 

Stenvers Receives Buyer Accreditation

Darin Stenvers of RE/MAX Whatcom County Inc. has been awarded the Accredited Buyer Representation designation.

The designation demonstrated to clients that an agent has taken steps to continue education in the fields of buyer representation. It was awarded by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council of the National Association of Realtors.

Stenvers is the first RE/MAX agent in the county to receive a nationally recognized accreditation by using the RE/MAX satellite network.

 

Accurate Lock Sends Two to Conference

Two representatives of Accurate Lock & Security, Inc., in Bellingham recently attended the International Security Conference in Las Vegas, Nev.

Larry Nicholas, president and chief executive officer of Accurate Lock & Security, and assistant store manager Brian Green received certificates of training in subjects involving locks, electronic safes, alarms and automotive systems while at the conference, which was sponsored by the Associated Locksmiths of America Inc.

For more information, call Accurate Lock & Security, 733-2020.

 

McKeon Honored for Insurance Sales

John McKeon qualified in 2000 for the third consecutive year as one of the top agents with GE Long Term Care Insurance.

The Arlington agent serves Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan and north Snohomish counties and is recognized as the company’s top agent in the state. He helped 189 people last year obtain insurance against the high costs of long-term care.

GE Long Term Care Insurance is a division of GE Financial Assurance, which has $110 billion in assets under management.

 

Cox Heading Sales for Bellingham Bells

Ken Cox has been named sales director for Grand Slam Management Group, which is operating the semi-pro Bellingham Bells baseball team this summer.

Cox is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with sponsors of the Bells, who play at Joe Martin Stadium. The first of at least 20 home games is scheduled June 15. Cox notes that sponsors of the Bells will receive year-round exposure of their billboard advertising at the ballpark.

Cox has 16 years of sales experience.

For more information about the Bells, call Cox at 527-1035.

 

Moss Adams Hires Six Accountants

The Bellingham office of Moss Adams LLP recently hired six accountants.

Todd Kooiman, a certified public accountant, was named a senior accountant in the Emerging Business Group. Previously, he was a senior accountant with a private firm in Mount Vernon. Kooiman graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in accountant and business administration from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa.

Jeanie Johnson, Andrea Paciotti and Kelli Visser were named staff accountants in the firm’s Emerging Business Group. Johnson and Paciotti received their bachelor of arts degrees in accounting in March from Western Washington University and Visser will gain her degree from WWU in June.

Dale Merideth, also a staff accountant in the Emerging Business Group, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an accounting concentration from Washington State University.

Corinne Thorsen, a staff accountant in the Enterprise Group, graduated in March with a degree in accounting from WWU.

Moss Adams is a regional accounting and management consulting firm and the anchor firm for Moores Rowland International, an association of leading independent accounting firms. The Bellingham office provides accounting, tax, financial and business advisory services to clients internationally and in Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties.

 

McLeodUSA Moves into Bellingham

McLeodUSA, a facilities-based telecommunications provider, has hired three account executives to start its Bellingham office.

Rod Taylor, formerly an account executive with FairPoint Communications, has experience with local phone service, data communications and long-distance service. Lisa Garcia has five years of experience in telecommunications. Jason Stiles is a graduate of Western Washington University.

McLeod USA provides integrated communications services, including local services, to businesses in 26 Northwest, Southwest, Rocky Mountain and Midwest states. Its long-distance, advanced-data and Internet services are available in all 50 states. The company, founded in 1991, has 10,700 employees, 21,622 route miles of fiber-optic network and 1.1 million local lines.

 

Bank NorthWest Hires Jerns, Slosson

Nicholas K. Jerns Jr. has been named manager of Bank NorthWest’s Birch Bay branch, which moved into its permanent facility May 1.

Jerns is a resident of Birch Bay and was raised in the community. He is a graduate of Gonzaga University in Spokane with a degree in marketing. Jerns handles commercial and consumer loans at the branch, which includes two full-time tellers, an operations supervisor and a residential loan officer.

The Bank NorthWest branch, the only bank facility in Birch Bay, is located on the north side of the Trendwest building at 4855 Gold Star Drive. The branch, open since March 15, includes a 24-hour ATM, a night drop and a drive-up window. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Bank NorthWest also hired Lodi Slosson as a real-estate loan officer at its Bellingham office.

Slosson has 25 years of banking experience, including 17 years with Peoples Bank and two years with PNC Mortgage. She also speaks Spanish fluently and will assist Bank NorthWest in working with Whatcom County’s Hispanic community.

 

Boondocks Boats Names Managers

Boondocks Boats and Motors at Bellingham’s Squalicum Harbor has hired Doug Wilson as its store manager and promoted Jon Rick to sales manager.

Wilson previously was a store manager for Boaters World the last four years.

Located at 2551 Roeder Ave., BoonDocks is a locally owned and operated boat dealership offering sales, service and custom fabrication. For more information, call 671-3820.

 

Multop & Associates Marks Achievements

Multop & Associates of Bellingham recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of the tax practice of owner Phil Multop as well as tax consultant Richard Willand passing the enrolled agent exam.

Multop, the senior accountant and financial planner of his firm, started as a college student with 25 tax clients in 1976. “I had a tiny office in my house and everything was done in triplicate with carbon paper,” he recalls.

Since then, Multop passed the certified public accountant exam in 1980 (he now practices as a non-public accountant), received a master’s degree in taxation in 1988, earned the enrolled agent designation in 1989 and became a certified financial planner in 1998 and a registered investment adviser in 1999.

Multop describes his business “as a one-stop financial shop, with emphasis on minimizing taxes.” Multop & Associates has a staff of six and serves more than 800 income-tax and retirement-planning clients annually.

Willand, employed by the firm the last nine years as a tax preparer and consultant, passed the two-day enrolled agent exam. Administered by the Internal Revenue Service, it covers taxation of individuals, corporations, partnerships, estates and trusts, procedures and ethics. Willand now can represent clients before all administrative levels of the IRS.

Multop & Associates is located at 333 Calluna Court, Suite 205. For more information, call 671-7891 or visit www.multop.com.