Jun 13, 2001

Edmonds Community College

The Edmonds Community College Small Business Development Center has received the Million-Dollar Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration for assisting business owners with financing. This year, the center helped clients obtain $2.2 million in business financing for loans and lines of credit to expand their businesses.

NW Food Processors

The board of directors of Northwest Food Processors Association has selected David Zepponi as the association's president. Zepponi spent four years as environmental affairs director for the association. The association identifies, analyzes and solves issues effecting its members, which consist of 80 Northwest food companies processing fruits, vegetables, dairy products, baked goods and specialty items.

Providence Health System

Greg Van Pelt has been named vice president and chief executive of the Washington region of Providence Health System. He will oversee the region's three service areas along with Providence's King County operations that include the Providence Washington Service Center and the Long Term Care Division. He has been with the health care organization for 25 years.

Manatee Design

Manatee Design, a Mount Vernon-based industrial design firm, took the Gold Award for consumer products design at the 22nd annual International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA). The firm's entry for IDEA 2001 consumer products category was a steering system for sea kayaks. The goal of the product design was to innovate a modular system that enhances the safety, control and efficiency of sea kayaking while preserving the purist's attachment to the boat.

Seattle Hilton

Seattle Hilton Hotel announced that A. Blake Caldwell has taken over as chef at the Top of the Hilton Restaurant on the 29th floor of the hotel. Prior to coming to the Hilton, Caldwell was executive sous chef at Andaluca and Victoria's Fine Dining and Catering on Hood Canal

Jun 12, 2001

Williams, Kastner & Gibbs

Maduell

Pentimonti

The law firm of Williams, Kastner & Gibbs announced the addition of Charles Maduell as of counsel in its Seattle office and Robert Pentimonti as an associate in its Tacoma office. Maduell focuses his practice on land use and environmental law and litigation. Pentimonti focuses his practice on business law, taxation and estate planning.

Western Washington University

Kelly

Gov. Gary Locke appointed Jeffrey Kelly, a junior majoring in computer science, as the student member of the Western Washington University board of trustees. Kelly will serve a one-year term expiring on May 31, 2002. Kelly runs his own small Internet services, training and personal computer repair business, Bordering On Reality. He has been actively involved on campus as a student senator as well as in the community as an Eagle Scout and volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Whatcom County.

Pacific Crest

Pacific Crest Securities, a Portland-based investment bank with offices in Seattle, has hired Roger Levine to oversee all positions trading for the company. Levine is responsible for the supervision of trading capital/risk management, trader training and regulatory compliance on the trading desk.

Seattle Public Schools

Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools Joseph Olchefske has created a new position on his senior management team designed to forge stronger ties with a broad range of community organizations in hopes of further boosting student achievement. Olchefske appointed Mak Mitchell, a veteran educator and former Shoreline superintendent, to be the district's director of community learning. In addition to her new duties, Mitchell will oversee Headstart and Volunteer services for the school district.

Laird Norton Financial Group

Laird Norton Financial Group has signed an agreement to acquire equity ownership in Tyee Asset Strategies, an independent financial advisor based in Seattle. Tyee works primarily with entrepreneurs from the high-technology industry and traditional family-owned businesses. The combined companies will become the largest independent provider of wealth management services in the Pacific Northwest. Tyee will retain its name and continue to operate independently within Laird Norton Financial Group. The office is located at 520 Pike St. in Seattle

Lease Crutcher Lewis

Lease Crutcher Lewis has added four members to its ranks. Included are: Jim Foster as a project manager in the Special Projects Division, Andy Tougas as a project engineer, Joe Paar as a project engineer and assistant superintendent in the Special Projects Division, and Catherine Blake in administration. Foster has been in construction for 15 years and holds a bachelor's degree in construction management from Central Washington University. He will focus on company projects in Tacoma and south of Seattle. Tougas has 12 years of industry experience and attended the University of British Columbia. He is finishing up a major tenant improvement for Onyx Software. Paar previously worked for the company as an intern. He holds a bachelor's degree in construction management from the University of Washington. Blake holds a bachelor's degree in art history and minored in architecture. She also is a skilled archivist.