Feb 23, 2001

Westin Seattle

Nierling

Sylvia Nierling has been named director of group sales at The Westin Seattle. Nierling has 17 years of experience in the hotel industry, most recently as account director at The Westin Seattle. She also served as sales manager for the Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport.

Davis Wright Tremaine

Klobucher

Richard Klobucher has been appointed partner-in-charge of the Bellevue law office of Davis Wright Tremaine. Klobucher will provide leadership in strategic planning, client service and development, lawyer satisfaction and practice development. He will also be responsible for the day-to-day business activities of the office. After nearly 15 years, he will be stepping down as chair of the firm's trust and estate department.

Cruise West

Camandona

Maureen Camandona has joined Cruise West, a Seattle-based small-ship cruise line, as director of corporate communications. Camandona was most recently director of marketing communications at Alaska's Glacier Bay Tours. Beginning in April, the cruise line will expand into international waters when its new flagship, Spirit of Oceanus, introduces a new series of small-ship itineraries from Bangkok to Vietnam, Hong Kong, China, Korea and Japan.

Planet 7 Technologies

Planet 7 Technologies, a Bothell-based developer of XML infrastructure software for e-business strategies, announced that Kim Mackay has joined the company as president and CEO. She has also accepted a seat on the company's board of directors. She has 22 years of experience leading start-up and growth technology companies.

Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness

Julie VanDerZanden, George Renzoni and Philip Mann have become members of the Seattle law firm of Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness. VanDerZanden joined the firm in 1994 and focuses her practice on patent prosecution, patent licensing and opinion work. Renzoni joined the firm in 1995 and focuses on chemical patent prosecution. Mann joined the firm in 1998 and will continue to concentrate in the areas of patent, trademark, copyright and unfair competition litigation

Feb 22, 2001

Washington Water Service

Washington Water Service Co. received authorization from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to acquire the assets of Atlas Development Corp. Atlas owns the Lee, Rondelay and Sunshine Acres Water Systems, with 350 metered connections in and near Sequim. The purchase for $471,000 marks the company's first foray into Jefferson and Clallam counties. The company also announced that it has acquired the Ranch Acres water system with 23 connections near Olympia.

Graham & Dunn

Graham & Dunn, a Seattle law firm, has added Michael Atkins as a new associate, elected Maren Gaylor as a shareholder and appointed Arthur Lachman as director of professional development. Atkins joins the firm's commercial and financial litigation practice team. Previously, he worked at Badgley-Mullins Law Group where he practiced commercial litigation, antitrust and trade regulations litigation. Gaylor is a member of the firm's real estate practice team and banking and financial institutions industry team. Lachman will be responsible for attorney training and development.

Champion Massage

Champion Massage, owned and operated by John and Michaeline Champion, opened in the Northgate Mall on Feb. 5. The store is located in the north end of the mall near Gottschalks. The business features an aqua massage table and also sells massage products.

MarketFitz

MarketFitz, a Seattle-based marketing services company, and Virginia Mason Medical Center, announced that MarketFitz will assume responsibility for the health care organization's communications program. In addition to directly providing strategic counsel, program planning, public relations, public affairs, crisis communications and a variety of creative services, the marketing company will also help coordinate Virginia Mason's relationships with other communications-related vendors.

Ater Wynne

Ater Wynne has added David Peterson as an associate in its Seattle law office. Peterson previously worked for the firm as a law clerk while attending Seattle University School of Law. He will focus on start-up business, corporate, intellectual property and telecommunications related matters.

China Chamber of Commerce

The Washington State China Chamber of Commerce has elected officers for 2001. Benjamin Cui has been elected chamber president. Cui is with the corporate finance department of Microsoft and is chairman of the Microsoft Chinese Employees Association. Ming Zhang has been elected as vice president. Zhang is the vice president of Mulvanny Architects. Re-elected to secretary is Michael Messina. Messina is a consultant with the Seattle office of Duan & Duan. Mary Tan of Deloitte & Touche was re-elected treasurer. Robert Pong, with Windermere Real Estate, was re-elected vice president of membership. Seattle banking executive, Jesse Tan, was re-elected chairman of the board.