Feb 06, 2001

Optimedia

Callahan

Polit

Optimedia, the Seattle-based media planning and buying division of Paris-based Publicis Group S.A., announced that both Kari Callahan and Johanna Polit have been promoted to associate media directors. Callahan was formerly a media supervisor and works on several accounts, including Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Times, Washington State Lottery and Emerald Downs. Polit was formerly a media supervisor and works on accounts such as VoiceStream Wireless, Eagle Hardware & Garden and Washington State Tourism.

Wells Fargo

Abtahi

Wells Fargo's business banking group has hired Massoud Abtahi as a business banking manager to serve businesses in the south Seattle area. Abtahi is responsible for serving the financial needs of businesses that have annual sales of up to $20 million. He began his career with Wells Fargon in 1995 where he worked as a market development officer and a commercial loan officer before assuming his new position.

Boullioun Aviation Services

Boullioun Aviation Services announced that its purchase by Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (WestLB) of Dusseldorf/Munster, Germany, was finalized after gaining regulatory approval. Boullioun, which has offices in Bellevue, Singapore and London, leases aircraft to airlines for itself and in collaboration with its affiliate, Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise. The two companies' combined portfolios contain 71 aircraft with a total market value of $2.6 billion. Together, the two companies have 99 aircraft on firm order valued at more than $5 billion, plus options. The acquisition by WestLB will secure Boullioun's growth plans as it takes delivery of 61 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft over the next eight years.

Acadio

Acadio Corp., a Seattle-based e-learning solution provider for small to mid-size organizations, announced the promotion of Narendra Pathipati to president and chief operating officer, from executive vice president, CFO and COO. Pathipati will assume the lead role in the day-to-day management and growth of the company. Pathipati was senior vice president of corporate development and strategy for Weirton Steel Corp., where he created the company’s first four start-ups, including co-founding the e-commerce venture MetalSite.net, a pioneer in business-to-business commerce over the Internet.

Wovie/Sierra Systems

Wovie, a media entertainment studio in Olympia, and the Seattle office of Sierra Systems are working on their first joint project, a contract with King County. The project entails designing, building and implementing new Internet/Intranet sites for King County’s Procurement Division and Contract Services Division, as well as helping the division identify strategies for e-procurement and e-commerce. Sierra Systems’ Seattle office will coordinate the project and build the sites. Wovie will design the user interfaces and information architectures

Feb 05, 2001

VoteHere

VoteHere, a Bellevue-based provider of secure electronic and online voting systems, announced that Ralph Munro, former secretary of state for Washington, has joined its board of directors. Munro, who served as secretary of state from 1980 to 2000, has a background in legislative, elections and government policy. He was instrumental in developing and implementing progressive plans making voting more convenient for citizens and improving the administrative process for elections officials.

Milestone Technology

Effective immediately, Olympia’s locally owned and operated information technology firm, formerly known as Cotey Computer Services, is now Milestone Technology. This change was made both in response to a new marketplace and to expand lines of service in information technology consulting. While ownership and management of the business have not changed, Milestone Technology’s corporate identity, operating procedures, and service offerings have. Over the past five years, Milestone Technology has provided primary service offerings in management consulting and system delivery and integration.

McCann-Erickson Seattle

Advertising agency McCann-Erickson Seattle has hired several new members to its staff and promoted several others. New hires are: Anna Goheen as the human resources director; Stacy Truax as an account supervisor; Ryan Peterson as an account coordinator; and Kathy Bailor as a media buyer. Promoted were: Steve Johnston, senior vice president/creative director; Stacie McRae, junior media planner; Jenn Pennington, broadcast traffic coordinator; Chris Ophoven, assistant editor; and Sarah VanDevanter, media buyer.

Rainier Petroleum

Rainier Petroleum announced the hiring of Guy Butler as general manager of commercial marketing. Butler will be responsible for all marketing and operations in commercial and industrial fuels and lubricants, including Rainier Petroleum’s cardlock fuels operation. Rainier is a marketer in the Pacific Northwest for marine and commercial fuel and lubricants with operations in Seattle and Sedro-Woolley.

Creative Assets

Creative Assets, a creative placement agency with offices in Seattle and Portland, announced the appointment of Catherine King to president and Robin Reiners as marketing director. King comes to Creative Assets with almost 20 years of staffing experience. Reiners comes to the company with 15 years of credentials in marketing and design management in both traditional and e-commerce environments.