Mar 16, 2005

Retirement Systems

John F. Charles is stepping down as director of the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems. Charles was appointed to direct the pension system in 1996, but earlier this year moved to Seattle. The daily commute to Olympia became too much, which is why he is leaving the post.

RAF Technology

Redmond's RAF Technology appointed Bryan Turner as chief technical officer. Turner has more than 20 years of experience in software and engineering. RAF offers identity authentication solutions for government and commercial clients.

Weyerhaeuser

Federal Way-based Weyerhaeuser Co. named Tom Holmes vice president of the company's Canadian Timberlands. He is also vice president of its Timberlands BC Coastal Group. Kurt Liebich will lead the Trus Joist business. He succeeds Tom Denig, who is retiring.

Mar 15, 2005

Washington State University Foundation

Len Jessup, dean of the college of business and economics at Washington State University, was named acting president of the WSU Foundation and acting vice president for university development. Jessup replaces Richard Frisch, who will be a vice president at Boise State University. A committee will search for a permanent successor.

WK&G

Christopher Dahl, an associate in the Seattle office of Williams, Kastner & Gibbs, was named to the board of directors of the nonprofit British American Business Council of the Pacific Northwest. The council has 60 company members involved in transatlantic trade. Dahl's practice focuses on business transactions and commercial litigation on behalf of domestic and international clients.

Mayor's Office

Mayor Greg Nickels appointed James Keblas director of the film and music office. Keblas was executive director of the Vera Project, a nonprofit music arts center for youth. The film and music office oversees permitting for filming in the city and works to maintain Seattle's reputation as a place to film and to create music.

Rainier Investment Management

Seattle-based Rainier Investment Management named new internal shareholders: Daniel Brewer, Andrea Durbin and Kurt Polk. John O'Halloran and James Ridgeway were named principals. Rainier manages $5.6 billion in equity and fixed income assets for institutional clients and mutual funds.

Mar 14, 2005

Saltmine

Jim Frazier joined Saltmine as a senior account executive of Saltmine On Site, a technical staffing division of the company. Saltmine provides Web design, application development, systems integration and technical staffing services.

Columbia Bank

Columbia Bank added Arlene Riedinger as a vice president and manager of the community reinvestment department. The bank promoted Pat Stetz to a vice president and Colleen Montana to merchant vault officer. Columbia is a Washington state-chartered, wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Banking System and has 34 branches in Pierce, King, Cowlitz, Kitsap and Thurston counties.

IronStone Bank

IronStone Bank opens its first Seattle office today in Fisher Plaza. Barrie Macdonald was named area executive for the Seattle market. Roxanne Bilski will manage the new office. Other associates are Kenneth Keach, Lori Beltran, Charlie Martinez and Lisa Trask. IronStone is a subsidiary of First Citizens BancShares, a financial holding company based in Raleigh, N.C.

Key Technology

Key Technology appointed Ronald W. Burgess senior vice president and chief financial officer. Burgess replaces Phyllis Best, who is leaving to pursue other career opportunities. Craig T. J. Miller was appointed general manager of the worldwide aftermarket. Gordon Wicher was named general manager of the company's work in the Americas and Asia. Key Technology is headquartered in Walla Walla, and designs and manufactures process automation systems for the food processing and industrial markets.