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Anderson named to lead Bellingham Festival of Music
Kristi Anderson was named the new executive director of the Bellingham Festival of Music, replacing President/Executive Director Andrew Moquin, who is retiring.
The festival’s board of directors appointed Anderson, who has 12 years of experience in arts administration and corporate communications. She most recently served four seasons as executive director of the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival
“My top priority is to work with Artistic Director Michael Palmer and the board to sustain our quality events, with an immediate look at how the festival can strategically expand partnerships with community arts organizations to present a truly collaborative musical celebration for Bellingham residents and visitors each August,” Anderson said.

Bergsma cards selected
Leanin’ Tree, a fine-art greeting-card company, has selected Bellingham artist Jody Bergsma as a designer for its cards.
Leanin’ Tree also added 47 of her designs to its Bergsma Gallery line.
“Her delicate balance of nature and fantasy sparks passion in a customer base that spreads from traditional wildlife fans to New-Age enthusiasts,” said Patrick Wallace, marketing director for Leanin’ Tree.

Architect earns environmental accreditation
Michael Smith, a principal at Zervas Group Architects of Bellingham, recently gained his Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation.
LEED’s Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Smith also is president of the American Institute of Architects Washington Council, which wants all state-funded buildings to meet a minimum standard of LEED certification.

Livera Named Consultant
Michelle Livera has become a real estate consultant at the Bellingham office of Keller Williams Realty. Livera has 15 years of experience as the controller/accountant for her family’s businesses, which include real-estate holdings, a chain of hair salons, an entertainment agency and a travel agency.

McGee attends conference
Chris McGee, a business counselor for Business Support Services Northwest in Bellingham, recently attended the 8th annual Construction Financial Management Conference. The two-day conference, presented by the Construction Financial Management Association, offered more than 20 sessions, including ones on how contractors can get the most from their bank and an update on the surety industry.
McGee specializes in helping contractors with job costing and maintaining financial records.

Business development specialists certified
Sherri Daymon and Rex Rhoades, business development specialists at Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center, achieved certification through the Association of Small Business Development Centers.
The certification process emphasizes marketing, human resources, financial analysis and business plan development.
Daymon counsels business owners at SBDC satellite offices in rural Whatcom County. She earned a master’s of business administration degree from WWU and previously worked as the manager of planning and budgeting for a grocery company.
Rhoades is a Native American business specialist, serving eight tribes in Whatcom, Skagit, and Snohomish counties. He has more than 16 years of experience with Native American entrepreneurs. Rhoades, a member of the Chinook tribe, received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from WWU.

Swanson joins accounting firm
Dany Swanson recently joined the team of Varner Sytsma & Herndon CPA’s as a client bookkeeper. She brings fourteen years of full-charge bookkeeping experience.
Varner Sytsma & Herndon is located in the Barkley District, serving clients in the United States and Canada.

La Tene Tile adds sales representative
La Tene Tile, a Bellingham company specializing in handcrafted tiles, has named Michael Weber its national sales representative.
Weber has 17 years of experience in the tile industry, including the last 10 years representing tile manufacturers and tile artists.

Frontier Bank adds and promotes
Longtime banker Dwight Jeppson has been hired as a commercial loan officer by Frontier Bank’s Bellingham office. Jeppson has 30 years of experience in real estate as a broker, appraiser and commercial loan officer. He previously worked for U.S. Bank and Banner Bank.
Frontier Bank also promoted Anne Nicasio to loan support officer. She has nine years of banking experience, including the past year at Frontier Bank.

Copiers Northwest hires Perry
Royale Perry has been named marketing assistant for the Bellingham office of Copiers Northwest.
Perry is responsible for presenting information about multifunctional printing devices/copiers and document storage/management solutions that are available at Copiers Northwest, the largest independently owned Canon dealer in the state. Perry, a communications major at Western Washington University, also coordinates appointments for the Bellingham office, which serves Whatcom, Skagit, and Island counties.

Linville chairs House committee
State Rep. Kelli Linville will chair the Economic Development, Agriculture and Trade Committee of the House of Representatives when the 2005 Legislature convenes Jan. 10.
Linville chaired the Agriculture and Ecology Committee for three years and the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee for the last two years. She has represented the 42nd District since 1993.

Wilson Engineering manager certified
Rodney Miller has earned the designation of Certified Floodplain Manager from the Association of State Floodplain Managers.
Miller, Survey Department manager at Wilson Engineering in Bellingham, is responsible for all of the firm’s land and hydrographic surveying in Washington. A certified commercial diver, he also is the only licensed surveyor with the CFM designation in the four-state region of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.

Literacy Council names Myers executive director
The Whatcom Literacy Council has named Rachel Myers its executive director.
Myers, most recently executive director for Allied Arts of Whatcom County, has a background in marketing and public relations. She has a degree in journalism and mass communications from Drake University.
The Whatcom Literacy Council is a nonprofit organization focused on teaching adults to read and write English.

3D Computer adds Sacco
Tony Sacco has joined the technical sales and client relations department of 3D Computer Corp. in Bellingham.
Sacco promotes 3D’s system builds, equipment and consulting services. His background includes a degree in industrial management and post-graduate studies in computer science. Sacco previously served as a network administrator for Moss Adams, technology administrator for Lynden School District, information technology director for Peoples Bank and systems administrator for ScenicSoft.

Archer earns master’s degree in taxation
Dennis Archer of Archer Group, P.S., in Bellingham has received a master’s of science degree in taxation from Golden State University.
Archer specializes in tax-related issues, valuations and business consultations.

GeoEngineers hires Zemva
Slobodan Zemva has joined the Bellingham office of GeoEngineers as a project geotechnical engineer.
Zemva is a licensed structural engineer and geotechnical engineer in Mexico. He specializes in geotechnical engineering for soft clays and a seismically active environment.
Zemva will serve as a project manager for the Bellingham office and provide tunneling consultation and expertise throughout GeoEngineers, a 250-person firm with 12 offices in five states.

Photographer places fifth
Bellingham nature and wildlife photographer Patrick Reeves recently placed fifth in a national portfolio contest conducted in Gig Harbor.
The entry consisted of “Fall Colors of Vermont” and “Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge.”

Massage practitioner adds treatment
Kelli Reilly, a licensed massage practitioner in Bellingham, has become certified to add Hellerwork Structural Integration Bodywork to her practice.
Hellerwork practitioners must be trained in anatomy, psychology and movement education. Certification requires 1,600 training and internship hours.
Reilly has been a massage practitioner in Bellingham since 1990.

Walstad managing sales for Northwest Computer
John Walstad has joined Northwest Computer of Bellingham as client services manager.
Walstad is leading the company’s networking and VIP telecom sales team. He has extensive experience in initiating and managing projects involving data and voice networking. He recently served as vice president of BrightArrow Technologies in Redmond and as national sales and marketing manager of Allsop in Bellingham.

Pace named administrator
Nancy Pace has been appointed administrator of Jumper Team Real Estate at Keller Williams Realty in Bellingham. Pace’s responsibilities will include the team’s marketing programs and business management. She has 20 years of experience in office management with small businesses.

Semiahmoo administrator earns certification
Lynn Greenleaf James, administrator for the Architectural Standards Committee of the Semiahmoo Resort Association in Blaine, has earned the Certified Administrative Professional designation.
James passed the two-day examination, which covered finance and business law, office systems and administration, management, and organizational planning. The exam is administered twice a year by the Institute for Certification, a department of the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

Dealership hires sales manager
Keith Cox Autobahn in Bellingham has named Jim Roy its sales manager.
Roy will lead the sales team and assist the dealership in general marketing and buying. He has expanded lot hours to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
The dealership, specializing in late-model, pre-owned Volkswagens and Audis, also hired Jim Koch as a sales representative and Seth Williams as a shop technician.

Red Robin employees receive WRA awards
Heidi Hull and Dale Whipple, employees at the Red Robin restaurant in Bellingham, were named by the Washington Restaurant Association among 11 members of its 2004 Restaurant All-star Team.
The employees were honored for their excellence in providing service and hospitality.
Hull has worked for the last five years at the Bellingham Red Robin as a mixologist. She also has raised $3,500 for the Leukemia Society of America.
Whipple has been the restaurant’s top dishwasher for 13 years despite suffering from leukemia in 1995 and recovering from brain surgery in 2002 to eliminate seizures.

Dr. John’s Auto Clinic gains service manager
Kevin Alcombrack has been appointed service manager of Dr. John’s Auto Clinic in Bellingham. Alcombrack will handle the majority of the company’s scheduling and service consulting. Under his leadership, a Wenatchee business earned the 2003 AAA Top Independent Shop Award for excellence in customer service. Alcombrack has three years of experience as an automotive service manager and 10 years of customer service experience.

Allsop hires pair
Allsop, Inc., has made two additions to its sales department.
Katie Brennan was appointed direct marketing sales associate. Brennan has experience with successful direct response advertising. She previously worked for Clear Channel Radio as an account executive and with a media advertising firm in Pennsylvania.
Rachel Webley will focus on processing orders from Allsop’s online store, the company store and telephone calls. She has 10 years of customer-service experience.

Center for Early Learning names executive director
The Whatcom Center for Early Learning has named Sandra Berner as its executive director. Berner previously was business manager for an opera in Grand Rapids, Mich. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and extensive experience in nonprofit business and financial management.
The center also hired Kelsey Shannon as a speech therapist on its program services team.
Whatcom Center for Early Learning is a nonprofit agency helping Whatcom County infants and toddlers with developmental risks and delays to reach their highest potential.

Club’s fitness coach achieves certification
Ginny Spooner, fitness coach at Bellingham Tennis Club, has obtained her certification in senior fitness from the American Institute of Fitness Education.
Spooner teaches fitness classes at the club. She also offers coaching and training on exercise equipment and is a certified personal trainer. Spooner has been teaching all levels of fitness classes since 1992.

Lydiard joins Wells Fargo office
Jean Lydiard has been named a business banking associate for the Bellingham office of Wells Fargo & Co. Lydiard, a 30-year financial services veteran, will serve business banking clients in Whatcom County. A 26-year Bellingham resident, she most recently worked as a client support associate for Bank of America in Bellingham.

Bellingham Travel adds Barker
Bruce Barker, a certified cruise counselor and an Australian travel specialist, has joined the staff of Bellingham Travel & Cruise.
Barker has 11 years of experience in the travel industry. He has traveled extensively in Europe, the Caribbean and Australia and has taken more than 25 cruises.

Prince opens Allstate Insurance agency
Bruce Prince has opened an Allstate Insurance agency at 505 32nd St., Suite 103, Bellingham. The agency will sell auto, property, commercial and life insurance. He previously worked for more than 20 years as a chemist in the petroleum industry.

Airporter Shuttle hires sales, marketing directors
Airporter Shuttle-Bellair Charters of Ferndale has named Laura Martin its marketing director and Sarah Brooks sales director.
“Their combined experience in travel, marketing and group tours will serve the company well,” said Richard Johnson, general manager of the company.
Airporter Shuttle-Bellair Charters provides schedule service 10 times daily from Whatcom, Skagit and north Snohomish counties to SeaTac International Airport.

Herndon earns Masters degree
Kathy Herndon, a partner with the CPA firm Varner Sytsma & Herndon located in the Barkley District in Bellingham, recently graduated with her Masters degree in taxation from Golden Gate University. Herndon, a CPA and MST, focuses her practice on tax planning and cross border transactions. She received her B.S. from Central Washington University and has been a practicing CPA since 1989. Varner Sytsma & Herndon is a Registered Investment Advisor and Herndon is certified as a registered representative with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions Security Division.

WorkSource Whatcom expands staff
Employment Security Department, a partner at WorkSource Whatcom welcomes Judy Mallory to their Business Services team. Judy comes to Employment Security with 4 years experience working with business customers through one of the major staffing and personnel agencies in the area.
She is currently on the SHRM Board, and is a Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce Ambassador. She will be working with WorkSource Business Services staff in Skagit, Island, and Whatcom Counties to inform business about WorkSource services.

Anderson named to lead Bellingham Festival of Music Kristi Anderson was named the new executive director of the Bellingham Festival of Music, replacing President/Executive Director Andrew Moquin, who is retiring. The festival’s board of directors appointed Anderson, who has 12 years of experience in arts administration and corporate communications. She most recently served four seasons as executive director of the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival “My top priority is to work with Artistic Director Michael Palmer and the board to sustain our quality events, with an immediate look at how the festival can strategically expand partnerships with community arts organizations to present a truly collaborative musical celebration for Bellingham residents and visitors each August,” Anderson said. Bergsma cards selected Leanin’ Tree, a fine-art greeting-card company, has selected Bellingham artist Jody Bergsma as a designer for its cards. Leanin’ Tree also added 47 of her designs to its Bergsma Gallery line. “Her delicate balance of nature and fantasy sparks passion in a customer base that spreads from traditional wildlife fans to New-Age enthusiasts,” said Patrick Wallace, marketing director for Leanin’ Tree. Architect earns environmental accreditation Michael Smith, a principal at Zervas Group Architects of Bellingham, recently gained his Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation. LEED’s Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Smith also is president of the American Institute of Architects Washington Council, which wants all state-funded buildings to meet a minimum standard of LEED certification. Livera Named Consultant Michelle Livera has become a real estate consultant at the Bellingham office of Keller Williams Realty. Livera has 15 years of experience as the controller/accountant for her family’s businesses, which include real-estate holdings, a chain of hair salons, an entertainment agency and a travel agency. McGee attends conference Chris McGee, a business counselor for Business Support Services Northwest in Bellingham, recently attended the 8th annual Construction Financial Management Conference. The two-day conference, presented by the Construction Financial Management Association, offered more than 20 sessions, including ones on how contractors can get the most from their bank and an update on the surety industry. McGee specializes in helping contractors with job costing and maintaining financial records. Business development specialists certified Sherri Daymon and Rex Rhoades, business development specialists at Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center, achieved certification through the Association of Small Business Development Centers. The certification process emphasizes marketing, human resources, financial analysis and business plan development. Daymon counsels business owners at SBDC satellite offices in rural Whatcom County. She earned a master’s of business administration degree from WWU and previously worked as the manager of planning and budgeting for a grocery company. Rhoades is a Native American business specialist, serving eight tribes in Whatcom, Skagit, and Snohomish counties. He has more than 16 years of experience with Native American entrepreneurs. Rhoades, a member of the Chinook tribe, received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from WWU. Swanson joins accounting firm Dany Swanson recently joined the team of Varner Sytsma & Herndon CPA’s as a client bookkeeper. She brings fourteen years of full-charge bookkeeping experience. Varner Sytsma & Herndon is located in the Barkley District, serving clients in the United States and Canada. La Tene Tile adds sales representative La Tene Tile, a Bellingham company specializing in handcrafted tiles, has named Michael Weber its national sales representative. Weber has 17 years of experience in the tile industry, including the last 10 years representing tile manufacturers and tile artists. Frontier Bank adds and promotes Longtime banker Dwight Jeppson has been hired as a commercial loan officer by Frontier Bank’s Bellingham office. Jeppson has 30 years of experience in real estate as a broker, appraiser and commercial loan officer. He previously worked for U.S. Bank and Banner Bank. Frontier Bank also promoted Anne Nicasio to loan support officer. She has nine years of banking experience, including the past year at Frontier Bank. Copiers Northwest hires Perry Royale Perry has been named marketing assistant for the Bellingham office of Copiers Northwest. Perry is responsible for presenting information about multifunctional printing devices/copiers and document storage/management solutions that are available at Copiers Northwest, the largest independently owned Canon dealer in the state. Perry, a communications major at Western Washington University, also coordinates appointments for the Bellingham office, which serves Whatcom, Skagit, and Island counties. Linville chairs House committee State Rep. Kelli Linville will chair the Economic Development, Agriculture and Trade Committee of the House of Representatives when the 2005 Legislature convenes Jan. 10. Linville chaired the Agriculture and Ecology Committee for three years and the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee for the last two years. She has represented the 42nd District since 1993. Wilson Engineering manager certified Rodney Miller has earned the designation of Certified Floodplain Manager from the Association of State Floodplain Managers. Miller, Survey Department manager at Wilson Engineering in Bellingham, is responsible for all of the firm’s land and hydrographic surveying in Washington. A certified commercial diver, he also is the only licensed surveyor with the CFM designation in the four-state region of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. Literacy Council names Myers executive director The Whatcom Literacy Council has named Rachel Myers its executive director. Myers, most recently executive director for Allied Arts of Whatcom County, has a background in marketing and public relations. She has a degree in journalism and mass communications from Drake University. The Whatcom Literacy Council is a nonprofit organization focused on teaching adults to read and write English. 3D Computer adds Sacco Tony Sacco has joined the technical sales and client relations department of 3D Computer Corp. in Bellingham. Sacco promotes 3D’s system builds, equipment and consulting services. His background includes a degree in industrial management and post-graduate studies in computer science. Sacco previously served as a network administrator for Moss Adams, technology administrator for Lynden School District, information technology director for Peoples Bank and systems administrator for ScenicSoft. Archer earns master’s degree in taxation Dennis Archer of Archer Group, P.S., in Bellingham has received a master’s of science degree in taxation from Golden State University. Archer specializes in tax-related issues, valuations and business consultations. GeoEngineers hires Zemva Slobodan Zemva has joined the Bellingham office of GeoEngineers as a project geotechnical engineer. Zemva is a licensed structural engineer and geotechnical engineer in Mexico. He specializes in geotechnical engineering for soft clays and a seismically active environment. Zemva will serve as a project manager for the Bellingham office and provide tunneling consultation and expertise throughout GeoEngineers, a 250-person firm with 12 offices in five states. Photographer places fifth Bellingham nature and wildlife photographer Patrick Reeves recently placed fifth in a national portfolio contest conducted in Gig Harbor. The entry consisted of “Fall Colors of Vermont” and “Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge.” Massage practitioner adds treatment Kelli Reilly, a licensed massage practitioner in Bellingham, has become certified to add Hellerwork Structural Integration Bodywork to her practice. Hellerwork practitioners must be trained in anatomy, psychology and movement education. Certification requires 1,600 training and internship hours. Reilly has been a massage practitioner in Bellingham since 1990. Walstad managing sales for Northwest Computer John Walstad has joined Northwest Computer of Bellingham as client services manager. Walstad is leading the company’s networking and VIP telecom sales team. He has extensive experience in initiating and managing projects involving data and voice networking. He recently served as vice president of BrightArrow Technologies in Redmond and as national sales and marketing manager of Allsop in Bellingham. Pace named administrator Nancy Pace has been appointed administrator of Jumper Team Real Estate at Keller Williams Realty in Bellingham. Pace’s responsibilities will include the team’s marketing programs and business management. She has 20 years of experience in office management with small businesses. Semiahmoo administrator earns certification Lynn Greenleaf James, administrator for the Architectural Standards Committee of the Semiahmoo Resort Association in Blaine, has earned the Certified Administrative Professional designation. James passed the two-day examination, which covered finance and business law, office systems and administration, management, and organizational planning. The exam is administered twice a year by the Institute for Certification, a department of the International Association of Administrative Professionals. Dealership hires sales manager Keith Cox Autobahn in Bellingham has named Jim Roy its sales manager. Roy will lead the sales team and assist the dealership in general marketing and buying. He has expanded lot hours to 7 p.m. on weekdays. The dealership, specializing in late-model, pre-owned Volkswagens and Audis, also hired Jim Koch as a sales representative and Seth Williams as a shop technician. Red Robin employees receive WRA awards Heidi Hull and Dale Whipple, employees at the Red Robin restaurant in Bellingham, were named by the Washington Restaurant Association among 11 members of its 2004 Restaurant All-star Team. The employees were honored for their excellence in providing service and hospitality. Hull has worked for the last five years at the Bellingham Red Robin as a mixologist. She also has raised $3,500 for the Leukemia Society of America. Whipple has been the restaurant’s top dishwasher for 13 years despite suffering from leukemia in 1995 and recovering from brain surgery in 2002 to eliminate seizures. Dr. John’s Auto Clinic gains service manager Kevin Alcombrack has been appointed service manager of Dr. John’s Auto Clinic in Bellingham. Alcombrack will handle the majority of the company’s scheduling and service consulting. Under his leadership, a Wenatchee business earned the 2003 AAA Top Independent Shop Award for excellence in customer service. Alcombrack has three years of experience as an automotive service manager and 10 years of customer service experience. Allsop hires pair Allsop, Inc., has made two additions to its sales department. Katie Brennan was appointed direct marketing sales associate. Brennan has experience with successful direct response advertising. She previously worked for Clear Channel Radio as an account executive and with a media advertising firm in Pennsylvania. Rachel Webley will focus on processing orders from Allsop’s online store, the company store and telephone calls. She has 10 years of customer-service experience. Center for Early Learning names executive director The Whatcom Center for Early Learning has named Sandra Berner as its executive director. Berner previously was business manager for an opera in Grand Rapids, Mich. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and extensive experience in nonprofit business and financial management. The center also hired Kelsey Shannon as a speech therapist on its program services team. Whatcom Center for Early Learning is a nonprofit agency helping Whatcom County infants and toddlers with developmental risks and delays to reach their highest potential. Club’s fitness coach achieves certification Ginny Spooner, fitness coach at Bellingham Tennis Club, has obtained her certification in senior fitness from the American Institute of Fitness Education. Spooner teaches fitness classes at the club. She also offers coaching and training on exercise equipment and is a certified personal trainer. Spooner has been teaching all levels of fitness classes since 1992. Lydiard joins Wells Fargo office Jean Lydiard has been named a business banking associate for the Bellingham office of Wells Fargo & Co. Lydiard, a 30-year financial services veteran, will serve business banking clients in Whatcom County. A 26-year Bellingham resident, she most recently worked as a client support associate for Bank of America in Bellingham. Bellingham Travel adds Barker Bruce Barker, a certified cruise counselor and an Australian travel specialist, has joined the staff of Bellingham Travel & Cruise. Barker has 11 years of experience in the travel industry. He has traveled extensively in Europe, the Caribbean and Australia and has taken more than 25 cruises. Prince opens Allstate Insurance agency Bruce Prince has opened an Allstate Insurance agency at 505 32nd St., Suite 103, Bellingham. The agency will sell auto, property, commercial and life insurance. He previously worked for more than 20 years as a chemist in the petroleum industry. Airporter Shuttle hires sales, marketing directors Airporter Shuttle-Bellair Charters of Ferndale has named Laura Martin its marketing director and Sarah Brooks sales director. “Their combined experience in travel, marketing and group tours will serve the company well,” said Richard Johnson, general manager of the company. Airporter Shuttle-Bellair Charters provides schedule service 10 times daily from Whatcom, Skagit and north Snohomish counties to SeaTac International Airport. Herndon earns Masters degree Kathy Herndon, a partner with the CPA firm Varner Sytsma & Herndon located in the Barkley District in Bellingham, recently graduated with her Masters degree in taxation from Golden Gate University. Herndon, a CPA and MST, focuses her practice on tax planning and cross border transactions. She received her B.S. from Central Washington University and has been a practicing CPA since 1989. Varner Sytsma & Herndon is a Registered Investment Advisor and Herndon is certified as a registered representative with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions Security Division. WorkSource Whatcom expands staff Employment Security Department, a partner at WorkSource Whatcom welcomes Judy Mallory to their Business Services team. Judy comes to Employment Security with 4 years experience working with business customers through one of the major staffing and personnel agencies in the area. She is currently on the SHRM Board, and is a Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce Ambassador. She will be working with WorkSource Business Services staff in Skagit, Island, and Whatcom Counties to inform business about WorkSource services.
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