Jul 20, 2016

Garvey Schubert Barer

Duff

Garvey Schubert Barer said Greg Duff, who chairs the Hospitality, Travel & Tourism practice, is now firm-wide chair. Duff joined GSB in 2011 after working at Westin/Starwood, Homegrocer.com/Webvan Group and Columbia Hospitality. He represents owners and operators of restaurants, hotels and resorts, and advises trade associations. The firm has offices in Portland, Anchorage, Seattle, Washington, D.C., New York and Beijing.

Columbia Bank

Hester

Columbia Bank recently hired Jason Hester, senior vice president and business systems director, consulting and delivery services. He will lead an IT and operations team, and oversee software engineering. He worked on conversion services and security for AmericanWest Bank.

Jul 19, 2016

Stoel Rives

Briggs

Stoel Rives has hired Lindsey Briggs in the Private Client group as of counsel where she will concentrate on business succession planning, estate planning, asset protection and charitable giving. She practiced law in New York City.

Downtown Seattle Association

Downtown Seattle Association added nine new members to the board of directors for three-year terms. Richard Stevenson starts a two-year term as board chair and Zahoor Ahmed is vice chair. New board member are Pamela L. Banks of the Urban League, Ed Goines of Seattle Seahawks, Pamela Hinckley of Tom Douglas Restaurants, Taylor Hoang of Cyclo Corp., Mari Horita of ArtsFund, Mark Nagle of Expedia, Ryan Smith of Martin Smith Inc., Coleen Spratt of CommonWealth Partners, and David Watkins of Inn at the Market.

Jul 15, 2016

Bank of the Cascades

Bank of the Cascades is expanding its Small Business Administration lending into Seattle. The bank has “preferred lender” status and hired Gwen Schaeffer (formerly Lundgren) as vice president and government loan specialist to lead the program here. Schaeffer has nearly 25 years of experience at the SBA, Umpqua Bank, CIT Group and Merrill Lynch. Since 2013, the bank has provided more than $100 million in SBA financing to small businesses in Oregon and Idaho. The bank will acquire Prime Pacific Bank to help serve Snohomish and King counties.

Cairncross & Hempelmann

Cairncross & Hempelmann hired Christopher L. Young in the Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights practice group. He specializes in commercial bankruptcy and creditors' rights, and supports complex bankruptcy negotiations and settlements. Young held several judicial externship positions.

Jul 14, 2016

Seattle Art Museum

Domenic Morea joined Seattle Art Museum as director of communications, in charge of marketing, advertising, graphic design, public relations, media relations and editorial services. SAM's Cindy McKinley has been promoted to associate director of communications. Morea was with the Oprah Winfrey Network in Los Angeles as director of communications and publicity, and before that worked for Style Network and E! Entertainment Television. Morea has also worked with museums on communications and public affairs. McKinley has been with SAM for six years.

Friends of Youth

Friends of Youth added three new board members: Kristin Reed of Cornerstone Advisors, Dr. Ray Baker of EvergreenHealth Medical Group and Phil Crocker of The Crocker Group, who is rejoining the board after a two-year hiatus.