May 12, 1998

Central Washington University

Dr. Norman J. Gierlasinski, accounting professor and director of Central Washington University's SeaTac Center accounting program, has been named Central's 1998 Distinguished Professor for Public Service. This is Gierlasinski's fourth major award in four years.

Safeco Corp.

Scott W. Owen, assistant vice president for Safeco Property and Casualty Insurance Companies, has been appointed vice president for Safeco Corp.

World Vision

Richard E. Stearns, president and CEO of Lenox, Inc., will become the new head for the U.S. operations of World Vision at its offices near Seattle. Stearns will be responsible for overseeing fund raising domestically, as well as the development of public policy and advocacy on behalf of the poor and oppressed for the Christian world organization. World Vision is a privately-funded Christian relief and development organization.

Bellevue Community College

The Bellevue Community College Foundation announced the recipients of its annual Margin of Excellence awards. The recipients include Joan Kotker and Diane Mauldin, for full-time faculty; Tina Paul, for part-time faculty; and Sherri O'Connor and Maura Borselli, for classified staff members.

University of Washington Business School

The University of Washington Business School Program in Entrepreneurship and Innovation will be awarding $10,000 on May 19th to the winner of its first annual Business Plan Competition. Degree-seeking students from the University of Washington, Pacific Lutheran University, Seattle Pacific University and Seattle University are all invited to enter the competition for student entrepreneurs.

Bumbershoot

David Lemley Design, a Seattle-based design studio, has joined the promotional campaign of Bumbershoot, The Seattle Arts Festival. Lemley has created the logo and overall design for marketing materials, including several informational, advertising and publicity pieces.

May 11, 1998

Reed McClure

Ross Jacobson, Greg Montgomery, and Gail Stargardter have become shareholders in Reed McClure, a Seattle-based law firm. Jacobson will continue his practice in business and transactional law, and health care matters. Montgomery will continue his practice in commercial litigation with an emphasis on real estate, trust and estate, and contract litigation. Stargardter will continue her practice in all areas of insurance coverage and litigation.

Trade Interface Corp.

Trade Interface Corp., project developers, has relocated its offices to the IBM Building, 1200 Fifth Ave., Suite 412, Seattle.

Kitchen at the Nitelite

Kitchen at the Nitelite, a new restaurant serving breakfast all day, has recently opened in Belltown. Kitchen is located next door to the Nitelite Lounge, and will share an entrance with the bar.

King County Bar Association

The King County Bar Association has elected new officers and members of the board of trustees. Linda Strout was elected president; Lucy Isaki, first vice president; Frederick Noland, second vice president; and Catherine Shaffer, secretary. Kenneth Hart will continue as treasurer. New trustees include Jeffrey Beaver, Ronald Bemis, Raymond McFarland and Allen Sakai.

Genesee Group

Genesee Group Companies, a private investment firm based in Golden, Colo., has purchased wholesale distributor Rich and Rhine from United Grocers. The price was not disclosed. Rich and Rhine distributes consumer products and merchandise to convenience stores in Washington and Oregon. The company has annual sales of over $50 million.

Business Interiors NW

Business Interiors Northwest, a prominent Northwest dealer in office furniture, has opened a new division called Atria. The unit aims to improve the sales process by using on-site computer analyses of office spaces and furnishing needs. The Atria representative can then order furniture for the client over the Internet, using the same computer. Atria is located in Redmond at 15359 N.E. 90th St. The company will have an open house May 14 from 2 to 8 p.m. For further information, call (425) 497-0110.

Booth Creek

Booth Creek Ski Holdings, one of the largest U.S. operators of ski and summer mountain resorts, named Chris Ryman president and Betsy Cole executive vice president and chief financial officer. Ryman and Cole will completed the firm's senior management team. Ryman, formerly of Vail Associates, will be in charge of long term strategic business planning and will oversee winter and summer operations at the companies eight resorts, including the four Summit at Snoqualmie areas in Washington. Cole, formerly with Vail Resorts Management Co., will be in charge of overall financial operations.