Jan 16, 1996

Convention Services Management

Sally Williams, convention services manager for the Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers, has been awarded the Diamond Award for Convention Services Management, presented by the American Society of Association Executives. The award recognizes outstanding service to the national association community. Williams has been an employee of the Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers for more than 12 years, and has worked in convention services since 1986.

Northwest Cable Advertising

Seattle-based Northwest Cable Advertising has promoted Catherine McConnell to the position of general manager. Previously, McConnell was director of sales and retail. She joined the company in 1987. McConnell replaces Penny Taylor, who was promoted to regional vice president of TCI Advertising Sales.

Cascade Clear

Burlington-based bottled water manufacturer Cascade Clear has named shareholder and controller James J. Duffy as general manager and has hired Dan Russell to replace Duffy as controller. One of Cascade Clear's original shareholders, Duffy, a Certified Public Accountant, started working for Cascade Clear Water Company in the late 1980s, assuming part-time accounting responsibilities. In 1993, he joined the enterprise full time after turning over management of a fishing company he partly owned to his business partner. As controller, Duffy played a key role in directing financial affairs that allowed construction of Cascade's new state-of-the-art Burlington bottling facility.

Snohomish County PUD

The Snohomish County Public Utility District has named Commissioner Kathy Vaughn president of the board for 1996, making her the first woman to hold that post in the utility's 60-year history. Commissioner Charles Moon will serve as vice president and Peter Newland is the board's new secretary.

Public Relations Society of America

The Puget Sound Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America invites all marketing communications professionals to enter the annual Totem Awards competition that recognizes outstanding public relations work. The entry deadline is Jan. 29. Public relations programs can be submitted into one of 15 categories. A change in the rules for this year allows professionals to enter programs that span over two years, from 1994-95. For public relations components, the work must still have been crafted during 1995. The program features special awards for the two top campaigns this year -- the Maestro Award for best of show and the Prodigy Award for the best entry from a young professional with three or fewer years of professional experience. Awards will be presented at a banquet on Feb. 22 at the Westin Hotel. For more information about the awards programs, call Alice Collingwood at (206) 689-4043 or Erik Elvejord at (206) 289-3057.

Jan 12, 1996

Financial Security Group

Randall Becker has joined Financial Security Group, a Bellevue-based financial advisory firm. Prior to joining Financial Security Group, Becker was a financial and estate planner for eight years, focusing on families with estate preservation needs. In addition to working with family financial planning issues, Becker will develop the firm's expanding usage of technological innovations in financial planning, including Internet communications.

imagio

The Seattle-based advertising, design and marketing firm imagio has hired Sarah Makar as director of client services and Nellie Sanger as production manager. Makar comes to imagio from Wunderman Cato Johnson in Newport Beach, Calif., where she managed the on-site marketing programs for Taco Bell including strategic planning, budget forecasting and creative development. Prior to that, she was with Janzen & Associates in Seattle. Sanger has spent time studying abroad, fine-tuning both her language skills and fine-arts technique.

Citizens Lobby Day

Citizens from around the Puget Sound region will celebrate Citizens Lobby Day on Jan. 25 in Olympia. The event features messages from legislators, an update on current legislation, a lobbying skills workshop and visits with individual legislators. The goal of the 5th Annual Lobby Day is to deliver a strong, clear message to elected officials that it is their job to protect the health of our environment, economy and communities. Citizens interested in participating should meet at 9 a.m. at the Women's Club of Olympia, 1002 Washington St. E. For more information, call Pam Johnson, People for Puget Sound, at (206) 382-7007 or 1-800-PEOPLE-2.

Clothier & Head

Seattle public accounting firm Clothier & Head has added four people and promoted one member of its staff. Recently hired were: William F. Super as senior manager; Kathleen T. Aken, supervisory senior; Patty G. Smith, senior accountant; and Cherry C. Yueh, staff accountant. Jeff Wiley has been promoted to manager of the firm's management information systems department.

Pierce Transit

Mary Ann Jackson, director of operations for Pierce Transit, has been named chairperson of the American Public Transit Association's Women in Transit Committee for 1995-97. The group works to foster diversity and leadership opportunities for women in the public transportation industry. Jackson has nearly 18 years of experience in public transit. She joined Pierce Transit in 1978 as a temporary project supervisor and became its first woman director of operations in 1989. In this position, she oversees the agency's 450-square-mile fixed route bus service and supervises more than 350 transit operators. Under Jackson's leadership, the agency has increased the diversity of its workforce. Today, nearly 40 percent of Pierce Transit's operators are women, compared to the industry norm of 10 to 20 percent.

Bruegger's Bagel Bakeries

Bruegger's Bagel Bakeries, which now has 10 locations throughout the Puget Sound and plans to expand by five more stores by April 1996 and an additional 50 stores in the next three to five years, has added one person and promoted two members of its staff to prepare for growth. Susan Scotti has joined the company as director of operations. Scotti's background includes 13 years at Capital Pizza Huts Inc., where she earned several awards including Manager of the Year in 1987 and District Manager of the Year in 1994. April Whitney has been promoted to marketing director. Previously, Whitney managed four Bruegger's Bagels locations in the Minneapolis area. Andy Chaplin has been promoted to district manager. Chaplin came from Godfathers Pizza, where she spent four years as general manager, in addition to serving on the company's Management Advisory Council.