Jul 08, 2014

Columbia Bank

Weisel

Tacoma-based Columbia Bank hired Robert R. Weisel in the Commercial Banking Division as senior vice president and director of specialty lending. He was an executive vice president for Umpqua Bank in Western and Central Washington, and also worked for Sterling Bank, U.S. Bank, Security Pacific and Bank of America. Columbia Banking System has 139 branches in Washington and Oregon.

Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation

The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation in Seattle named Colleen Oliver executive director to lead grantmaking for K-12 public education, supportive care, theatre enrichment and career training. She is chief academic officer for Partnership for Los Angeles Schools and was a senior officer at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, working on school programs in Chicago and Memphis. Sarah Lyding was executive director and now will be director of K-12 education and theatre arts programs.

Jul 03, 2014

UW Office of News and Information

Victor Balta, a news planning editor at Aljazeera.com in New York, is the new director of the University of Washington Office of News and Information. Balta was a news reporter at The Herald in Everett, and worked at Comcast.net and Current TV. He will head an office with six public information officers and replaces Bob Roseth, who retired in December.

KCTS 9

KCTS 9 has added three people to the board of directors: John Schoettler, director global real estate and facilities at Amazon.com; Bonnie Towne, philanthropist and community activist; and Blair Westlake, principal at MediaSquareup.

Seattle Southside Visitor Services

Seattle Southside Visitor Services, the tourism organization for Tukwila, SeaTac and Des Moines, said Executive Director Katherine Kertzman has been recognized as a Certified Destination Management Executive by Destination Marketing Association International.

Jul 02, 2014

Premier Media Group

Forbush

Schloer

Coward

Bullinger

Premier Media Group hired four editorial staffers for its three publications: South Sound and 425 magazines, and a new magazine called 425 Business that launches in October. Writer Jake Bullinger worked with The News Tribune in Tacoma. Photographer Rachel Coward attended University of Missouri School of Journalism and graduated in 2012. Graphic designer Alex Schloer was a graphic designer for the University of Washington Tacoma. Graphic designer Mike Forbush has worked in advertising.

REI

REI will open stores in Princeton, New Jersey, and near Atlanta in Alpharetta, Georgia. The 23,500-square-foot Princeton store will be in Mercer Mall. The Alpharetta store will be more than 24,000 square feet.

Sun Life Financial

The U.S. business group of Sun Life Financial named Mark Ruybal group market manager and assistant vice president for the Pacific Northwest territory: Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho and Montana. He joined Sun Life in 2006. Sun Life Financial is based in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and provides financial services to individuals and corporate customers.