Locke’s counsel joins Lynden Inc.

Everett Billingslea, longtime general counsel for Gov. Gary Locke, is the new vice president for administration and legal affairs with Lynden Inc. He will join the transportation company’s Seattle office.

Billingslea had been Locke’s counsel since Jan. 1997. Before that, he was in-house counsel at Quality Food Centers, Inc. and at Oceantrawl, Inc.

As general counsel, Billingslea advised the governor on a variety of issues including business, technology, taxation, gambling, and North Pacific fishery issues.

“(Billingslea) quickly became our go-to guy on a variety of important issues,” Locke said.

Born and raised in Alaska, Billingslea moved to Seattle in 1992. He has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Bowdoin College and MBA and law degrees from Santa Clara University.

 

Big changes at Whatcom Title

Whatcom Land Title added five new employees.

Gail Neske returns to the office after a seven-year absence. She has 30 years experience in escrow closings and managed an escrow office in Sequim for the past seven years. Neske also has substantial experience in mobile, commercial and residential real estate.

Connie Dyer will divide time between technical support, personnel and marketing. She has 11 years experience teaching Microsoft products to adults in computer workshops. Dyer will offer computer training services to clients.

Paul O’Breen is a title examiner and backup recorder. Previously, he worked at First American Title and at Stewart Title. O’Breen will be involved in title examinations.

Jackie Bannerman is a customer service representative with over 13 years experience. Her background is in real estate and property management. Bannerman was looking for an opportunity to expand her skills into title and escrow.

Stephanie Maksin is a new escrow assistant. She has extensive experience in real estate as both assistant and agent. Maksin’s job is to ensure escrow transactions proceed smoothly.

 

Writer named tech of the year

The National Marine Electronics Association named Jerry Writer, owner of San Juan Electronics in Bellingham, technician of the year. Writer received the honor at the organization’s annual convention in Fort Myers, Fla.

Dealers and manufacturers nominate technicians and the winner is chosen by a board of directors meeting.

Writer grew up in Seattle and earned a ham radio license by age 12. He was educated at Everett Community College and at Western Washington University and served as an electronics technician during the Vietnam War. Writer has been in business in Whatcom County for over 30 years.

 

Boss connects for Copy Source

Judith Boss is the new community liaison for Copy Source. She will interview customers, manage the customer database, and help customers find print solutions.

“I’m excited about representing Copy Source to the community,” Boss said.

 

Applied Digital hires graphic assistant

Applied Digital Imaging hired Angie Ballard as graphics department administrative assistant.

“We’re excited to have Angie in this position,” said Kenna Canaan, graphics department manager, praising her technical insight.

Ballard graduated in 1998 from Western Washington University with a BA in studio art with an emphasis in graphic design.

 

Swanson realtor of the quarter

Kurt Swanson, principal in the Swanson Group, was named realtor of the third quarter by the Whatcom County Association of Realtors. The association votes each quarter to name a distinguished agent.

 

Utility commission reappoints chair

Marilyn Showalter was reappointed as chair of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. She was originally appointed in 1999 to finish the final three years of a six year term. Her current term was to end in December.

Showalter joined the governor’s policy team in 1997. Before that, she held a variety of legal and management roles with the Washington State House of Representatives. She has an undergraduate degree in history and science from Harvard and earned her law degree at Harvard as well.

WUTC regulates rates and services for telecommunications companies, investor-owned utilities, natural gas, water companies, garbage haulers, charter-bus companies, and petroleum pipelines.

 

Ferndale Boys and Girls Club names new board

Ferndale Boys and Girls Club appointed two local businesspeople to their board last month.

Sean Hackney is a financial advisor with Waddell and Reed, Inc. Before joining the company, he was an educator and coach in Whatcom County high school.

Sally Francis, proprietor of the new Ready to Eat café on Ferndale’s Main Street, also joined the board. Francis was development director for the Boys and Girls Club before opening her new restaurant.

 

Lee new agent at John L. Scott

Lillian Lee, a newly licensed real estate agent, recently joined john L. Scott in Bellingham. She brings an extensive background in marketing and international business to the company and has lived in both South Africa and Austria.

 

Western names new advising director

Russ Tiberii will join Western Washington University as academic advising director. He comes to Western with over 25 years experience in advising and instructional development. Most recently, he worked at the University of Central Florida, a position he held since 1989.

“He is nationally recognized as a leader in academic advising and will help strengthen Western’s programs in this vitally important area,” said Susanna Yunker, vice president for student support services.

Tiberii has been active in the National Academic Advising Association, twice serving on the board of directors and chairing a commission on advising as a career. In 1999, he took a one-year leave of absence to direct the university seminar program at Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates.

He has worked at Clark University in Worcester, Mass, the university system in New Hampshire, and the University of Massachusetts. He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts.

 

Telstad admitted to California bar

Katti Telstad, a Bellingham-based wealth retention attorney, was admitted to the California bar last month. She designs estate plans, creates and administers trusts, handles probate, and assists clients with business formation and continuation planning.

Telstad sought admission to the California bar because of an increasing number of clients relocating from California to Whatcom County and increased interest in her services from California-based clients.

She has a master of law in taxation from the University of Florida, where she edited the Florida Tax Review. Telstad also has a law degree from the Gonzaga University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University. She is on the board of the Whatcom County chapter of the American Red Cross.

 

Windermere adds new associates

Michelle Harrington joined Windermere Bellingham as a sales associate. She previously worked as a licensed assistant and has professional experiences in system integration sales, retail and construction. Harrington also has a degree in international business.

Lisa Schenk brings six years of real estate experience to Windermere Bellingham. She also has an investment background.

 

Smith elected to state architect board

Zervas Group’s Michael Smith was voted president-elect of the American Institute of Architects Washington Council. He is the first person to serve in that role twice. Smith was president-elect in 1995.

The AIA Washington Council represents architects in the state and attempts to lobby state government on issues of interest to architects.

 

Local firm adds attorney

Dana C. Quam joined Adelstein, Sharpe & Serka as an attorney last month. She will focus on employment and construction litigation.

Quam has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and earned her law degree from Georgetown University in 2001.

She worked on various committees for Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, including appropriations committees and governmental affairs, and volunteered for the Northwest Women’s Law Center.

 

Life coach presents at national conference

Elizabeth Fletcher Brown, Bellingham-based business and personal success coach with Life Mastery International, presented at a national conference. The Success Unlimited annual coaching conference in Glen Ivy, Calif. featured Brown. Success Unlimited “…supports individuals and organizations in consistently producing the results they desire, while maintaining and enhancing their well-being.”

 

Johnson honored by Overhead Door

Jack Johnson, president and owner of Overhead Door of Bellingham, won a lifetime achievement award from the Overhead Door Company Corporation. Johnson’s office, which opened in 1956, was one of two locations honored at a distributor’s meeting in Florida.

“Without…Larry Erickson and my father-in-law Del Gilliam, we would not have received this prestigious award,” Johnson said.

Overhead Door’s lifetime achievement award goes to distributors that have demonstrated high market share over two generations. There are more than 420 distributors across the country.

 

Local artist opens portrait studio

Rochelle Brown, a local oil painter, has opened Exclusive Art Portraiture. Brown offers clients a variety of poses, backgrounds and settings for original oil portraits. She has over five years of private training in portrait art.

 

Canon joins local CPA

Deb Canon, CPA, recently joined Varner, Sytsma & Herndon. She has over 20 years experience and specializes in financial statement preparation.

 

Gustafson now at Samuels Furniture

Elle Gustafson joined the staff of Samuel’s Furniture in Ferndale. She as more than 20 years experience in sales and customer service and has specialized in space planning and design.

 

Western names new VP and alumni director

Stephanie Bowers is Western’s new vice president for university advancement and alumni affairs. Currently, she is executive director of the Western Washington University Foundation, the school’s private fund raising arm. Before coming to Western, she was executive director of development for the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. From 1991 to 1998, she was vice president for alumni at University of Maryland’s University College and before that served in alumni relations at the University of Baltimore.

Ted Pratt is interim director of alumni affairs. Currently, he is dean of students. Pratt joined the student affairs division in 1986 and steadily moved up through the ranks. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Western in 1981 and a master’s in student personnel, also from Western, in 1993. He was this year’s winner of the diversity achievement award for successful efforts to increase multicultural enrollment.

 

Vennos opens dermatology practice

Dr. Elizabeth Vennos opened a dermatology practice at the Barkley Medical Center in Bellingham. She relocated her practice after six years in Spokane. Dr. Vennos treats skin diseases, skin cancer, growths and cosmetic concerns.

She has a medical degree from Georgetown University. Dr. Vennos completed internships at the Washington Hospital Center and at Johns Hopkins University and spent three years as an active duty general practitioner in the US Army.

 

Thomas featured at financial conference

Karen Thomas, financial consultant with RBC Dain Rauscher in Bellingham, was a featured presenter at the company’s 10th annual women’s association of financial consultants conference. She spoke on adding insurance and estate planning concepts to financial consulting businesses.

 

Keller Williams adds consultants

Ron Parker joined Keller Williams Realty as a consultant last month. Parker is an Alger native with more than 15 years experience in real estate.

Dale Kreiser is also a new real estate consultant with Keller Williams. He’s originally from Sparks, Nev. and held a variety of management positions with Harrah’s in both Reno and in Skagit County. Kreiser also has experience in investor relations, running a firm designed to help public ally traded, small cap companies grow their shareholder base. He has also run a small zoo and is interested in organic gardening and woodworking.

 

Dr. Bult adds staff

Dr, Faith Bult added two employees to her dental practice recently.

Courtney Smith is the front desk manager. Originally from Nashville, she relocated to Bellingham after her husband joined the Coast Guard. In her spare time, she enjoys Frisbee golf.

Gretchen Smith is a new dental assistant. She has extensive experience as a dental assistant in Bellingham. She relocated to the area from the east coast ten years ago.

 

Nissen one of Banner’s Best

Debbie Nissen, manager of Banner Bank’s Point Roberts’ branch, was named as one of Banner’s best managers for 2002. Six Banner managers were honored in 2002. Awards are based on branch performance, audit results, and employee attitude measured through customer response.

Nissen is a graduate of Blaine High School. She has been with Banner Bank since 1996 and has managed the Point Roberts branch for three years.

 

Peoples adds VP at Cordata

Peoples Bank announced that Janele Likkel is the new vice president and senior residential loan officer at the Cordata Home Loan Center. Likkel joined Peoples Bank in 1995 and was named vice president in 1999. She has over 16 years experience in financial services.

Likkel attended Calvin College and supports Crisis Hotlines and Compassion International.

 

Geiger makes Haynes principal

William Haynes is now a Principal in Geiger Engineering. He has a degree in ocean engineering from Texas A&M and has extensive experience in designing marinas, piers and waterfront structures. Haynes joined Geiger’s Bellingham office in 1990.

Currently, he is working on a marina replacement and public access dock project in San Diego and Marina Del Rey, access docs and breakwaters along the Columbia River, and a floating wave attenuator at Semiahmoo Marina.

 

Kremen named to national agricultural steering committee

Pete Kremen is a member of the National Association of Counties’ agricultural and rural affairs steering committee. Steering committees are the policy arm of the organization, examining issues and setting policy for the county organization.

Agricultural and rural affairs focuses on issues related to farm legislation, trade rules affecting agriculture, rural development, soil conservation and agricultural land preservation.