Sep 20, 2000

Regence BlueShield

Regence BlueShield, a Seattle-based health coverage provider, has appointed Mary McWilliams the company's new president and CEO. McWilliams has been serving as interim president since July. She came to Regence BlueShield in September 1997 as senior vice president of health care services and the division that serves Boeing.

KPLU

Eric Thom has joined KPLU, a Seattle-based radio station, as director of communications. Thom brings 15 years of marketing, promotions and communications experience to KPLU. He began his broadcasting career in college at the State University College at Fredonia, N.Y. He has worked for radio stations and agencies in New York City, southern Connecticut, Long Island and Syracuse, N.Y. In 1990 he came to Seattle after being recruited to join King Broadcasting.

ArtsPatron.com

ArtsPatron.com, a Seattle-based start-up, is unveiling its online arts portal and print lifestyle magazine, Arts Patron on Sept. 27. The magazine will circulate free to partnering arts organizations' core supporters, donors and subscribers, creating an instant base of 40,000 readers. By providing its database and Web site functionality free to performing groups, museums, galleries and other venues, Arts Patron intends to aggregate local arts-attending households into an online community. Arts Patron was created by CEO and founder Jonathan Nicholas, a nine-year veteran of magazine publishing.

Everett Community College

Everett Community College President Charlie Earl has appointed Francis Hagen as interim vice president for information technology. Hagen comes to the college with an extensive background in information technology management. He has been consulting in information technology applications, networks and development projects for the past six years, after having served as chief information officer for the Snohomish County Public Utilities Department.

Alliance for Education

Gayle Johnson Blake has been named community relations director for the Alliance for Education, a community organization working with Seattle Public Schools to support initiatives that target increased academic achievement by all students. Blake will work with the organization's partners and the public to raise awareness of issues related to education reform.

Sep 19, 2000

Publicis Dialog

Publicis Dialog, the integrated communications division of Publicis that unites advertising with public relations, direct marketing, sales promotion, design and Internet marketing, has hired account coordinator Jennifer Romano in its public relations division in its Seattle office.

Everett Community College

Gov. Gary Locke appointed Sanford Kinzer, a civil litigation and trial attorney in Everett, to the Board of Trustees of Everett Community College. Kinzer's private law practice has emphasized civil litigation and trials involving personal injury and commercial disputes, and representation of companies and individuals before government agencies.

Nettel Global Communication

Nettel Global Communication Corp., a Portland-based provider of telephony related products and services to enterprise, residential and wholesale communities, has opened a Ho Chi Minh City office in Vietnam. The Vietnam office will provide sales and marketing support for the company's products and services to the people and government of Vietnam. The Vietnam office will be managed by Hung Pham, vice president of operations in Vietnam.

Metropolitan Improvement District

Kyle Vixie has been named neighborhood marketing coordinator for the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID), an initiative enacted by Mayor Paul Schell to improve the Seattle metropolitan environment. Vixie's responsibilities include working with businesses and property owners to implement the MID's five-year strategic neighborhood marketing plans.

The Executive Conversation

The Executive Conversation, an Issaquah-based professional services firm, has named Jill Qualteri chief operating officer. Qualteri will manage the company's operational issues, including organizational and personnel development.

ServiceStop

ServiceStop, a Seattle-based provider of Web-based employee incentive programs, has launched its services in New York City, offering services to high-tech employers throughout lower Manhattan. The New York office is the company's third office, including the Seattle office and an office in San Francisco.