Dec 16, 2004

Russell

Greg Stark was named managing director for Russell Investment Group's U.S. individual investor services. Stark has 10 years of experience at Russell and will succeed Len Brennan. Brennan leaves Russell after 20 years of service to pursue new career opportunities.

Stark will join Russell's executive committee. He spent two years in Japan where he helped form Russell's investment management services group there. Russell provides investment products and services in 35 countries. It is a subsidiary of Northwestern Mutual and is headquartered in Tacoma. Other offices are in New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Auckland and Tokyo.

Heart Health Center of Bellevue

The new Heart Health Center of Bellevue was set to open this week in Bellevue Heart and Vascular Center, just north of Overlake Hospital Medical Center.

The center will have imaging technology to detect heart disease. Electron Beam Tomography is used to measure the amount of calcified plaque inside coronary arteries. A free informational brochure about EBT screening is available by calling (425) 455-1788. According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States by far, accounting for about 930,000 deaths in 2001.

Kibble & Prentice

Celeste DaVault and Ryan Gowin were named account executives in the employee benefits division of Kibble & Prentice. They will assist Northwest businesses to design and manage employee benefit programs. Seattle's Kibble & Prentice is a financial services firm that provides property casualty insurance, retirement planning, and trust and estate planning services.

Dec 15, 2004

Univera

Lacey-based Univera hired Thomas J. Hoolihan as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Hoolihan will lead the legal efforts of Univera, Unigen Pharmaceuticals, Aloecorp and Oasis LifeSciences. He will advise senior management on regulatory matters and transactions and also oversee the intellectual property portfolio. Hoolihan has been in corporate law for 20 years. Unigen Pharmaceuticals is a natural products research and development company.

American Seafoods Group

American Seafood Group, a Seattle-based seafood processor, announced chief operating officer Jeffrey Davis has resigned to pursue other interests. He will join the company's board of directors and provide consulting services.

His duties will be absorbed by the current management team. American Seafoods Group has facilities in New Bedford, Mass., and Greensboro and Demopolis, Ala.

Betts, Patterson & Mines

Seattle-based Betts, Patterson & Mines hired Elizabeth R. Catterall as an associate in its complex litigation group. Catterall focuses on litigation of commercial and construction disputes, including construction defect matters.

AAA

Bellevue's AAA Washington/Inland recently promoted Dan Beach to director of insurance operations. Beach will develop customer support strategy and technology, sales support, and information management. Beach has more than 20 years of experience and managed western U.S. call centers for Safeco Corp. AAA Washington/Inland has 850,000 members.

Dec 14, 2004

Atriat Design

Morgan

Clark

Recent Washington State University graduates Josh Morgan and Zack Clark have set up Atriat Design, a Web and print design business. The company is based in Pullman and Colville. See www.atriat.com or call (509) 675-0024.

Drugstore.com

Bellevue-based drugstore.com, a provider of health and beauty products, appointed Kathy Gersch as vice president and general manager. Gersch will lead brand development, marketing and merchandising. She was executive vice president of marketing and merchandising at GiftCertificates.com, where she oversaw the re-design of its online store and launch of a new brand identity.

Alaska Airlines

Caroline Boren joined Alaska Airlines as managing director of corporate and strategic communications. Boren will work on corporate and internal communications as well as media relations. She has 15 years of experience, including work with Western Wireless and public relations consultant Waggener Edstrom.

Ford Foundation

Ron Chew, executive director of the Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle, recently received a leadership award from the Ford Foundation. Chew and 17 others will each get $100,000 for their work and $15,000 to support activities in the next two years. Nominations are being accepted for the next round of awards. For more information, visit http://www.leadershipforchange.org or call (202) 777-7560. Or see http://www.fordfound.org.