Apr 13, 2018

City of Redmond

Vandenbrande

Erika Vandenbrande was appointed interim planning director for the city of Redmond following Karen Anderson's resignation last month. Vandenbrande has worked at the city since 2001 and is deputy city administrator. She will hold both positions until a new planning director is hired.

UW Bothell

Anderson

University of Washington Bothell named Maria Lamarca Anderson director of communications. Lamarca Anderson has more than 25 years of experience in communications and public engagement in higher education, corporations, public agencies and nonprofits. She spent the past five years in the communications office at Seattle Colleges, and has worked at KING and KIRO television stations.

Visualant

Bosua

Phil Bosua was appointed CEO and board member at Visualant, a Seattle company specializing in technologies for identification, authentication and diagnosis, based on the science of light. Bosua was chief product officer and a member of Visualant's scientific advisory board. He founded LIFX, where he created the world's first commercial smart light bulb. Visualant also is buying RAAI Inc., another company founded by Bosua. Visualant founder Ron Erickson remains board chair.

PNNL

Cowen

Tracie Cowen on April 23 will become CFO and associate laboratory director for Business Services at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland. Cowen is division director for business development and analysis at PNNL, and has been with PNNL and Battelle for 25 years. Battelle operates PNNL.

Apr 12, 2018

Symetra Life Insurance

In Bellevue, Symetra Life Insurance Co. promoted Jeremy Freestone to senior vice president of its medical stop-loss insurance business. Freestone was vice president and senior actuary in the Benefits Division. He joined Symetra in 2005 as an actuarial assistant. Medical stop-loss insurance protects companies that self-fund their health insurance plans against catastrophic claims.

FirstThursday Seattle

Bridgette Washington was named president of FirstThursday Seattle, an association representing black and minority businesses. Washington owns With Style Catering. She replaces Patricia Smith, who will remain as an adviser. FirstThursday also announced that Leonard Simpson, owner of Len Can Builders, is the new executive vice president, and Anthony Hopkins of AWH Productions continues as board vice president.

WSU

Dean Luethi, associate professor and coordinator of music education at Washington State University, was named director of the School of Music. Luethi teaches choral music and conducting, and directs WSU's tenor/bass and treble choirs. He replaces professor Greg Yasinitsky, who teaches jazz.

REI

Outdoor co-op REI this fall will open a store in Kalispell, Montana. The 20,000-square-foot store at Old Reserve Drive and U.S. Highway 93 will be REI's third store in Montana. Julie Lochner is REI's retail director for the mountain district.