May 20, 2004

Port of Tacoma

Anthony "Tony" Taormina was named director of the Port of Tacoma's automobile line of business. He was executive director of both Port Hueneme, Calif., and the Port of Palm Beach, Fla. Taormina was also principal of a Florida maritime transportation consulting firm. Tacoma's $40 million auto facility handles import autos for Isuzu, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Suzuki, and processed nearly 160,000 automobiles last year.

Stimson Lane

Woodinville-based Stimson Lane Ltd. is changing its name to Michelle Wine Estates to better reflect its history and vision. Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest run seven of the Northwest wine company's Washington wineries. In the last two years, the company has added 20 people to its national sales staff and stepped up efforts to export to Great Britain, Japan and Canada.

Taco Del Mar

Seattle-based Taco Del Mar opened its first Boise store at 13613 W. McMillan Rd. Franchisees Steve and Leona Hicks will open a second Taco Del Mar there this summer. Todd Hicks, a past Subway franchise owner, is master developer for Taco Del Mar's Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Eastern Washington region.

Starbucks Coffee

Starbucks Coffee Co. announced Kenneth T. "Ken" Lombard will be president of Starbucks Entertainment. Lombard was president of Johnson Development Corp./Magic Johnson Theatres, where he brought entertainment complexes, coffee houses, restaurants and retail centers to underserved communities.

Romano's Macaroni Grill

Waterloo Restaurant Ventures will open the first Romano's Macaroni Grill in Washington. A $3 million capital investment was made to buy property and will be used to hire 150 people when the Lynnwood restaurant opens in October. Romano's Macaroni Grill operates more than 200 restaurants and is part of Dallas-based Brinker International. Other Brinker brands are Chili's Grill & Bar, Big Bowl Asian Kitchen and Rockfish Seafood Grill.

May 19, 2004

The Roosevelt Hotel

The Roosevelt Hotel installed Wireless Fidelity Internet access in its 151 guest rooms and meeting facilities. Coast Hotels & Resorts operates the hotel and is headquartered in both Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.

Pierce County Superior Court

Gov. Gary Locke appointed Tacoma lawyer Linda Lee to Pierce County Superior Court. Lee has represented policyholders seeking insurance coverage for liabilities and losses, and has also worked on commercial, environmental, personal injury, property and employment litigation. Lee will replace Judge Marywave Van Deren, whom Locke recently appointed to the Court of Appeals, Division II.

Olympic Venture Partners

Olympic Venture Partners announced general partner Chad Waite was unanimously elected to a four-year term as a director of the National Venture Capital Association. Waite worked in the management and investment sides of emerging growth companies, and has invested in software, communications and life sciences businesses. Waite started in Hambrecht & Quist's Venture Group in San Francisco. He joined Olympic Venture Partners, now called OVP, in Seattle in 1987.

Washington State University

Washington State University Dean of Liberal Arts Barbara Couture was named University of Nebraska-Lincoln's senior vice chancellor for academic affairs. Couture managed 18 academic departments and programs at WSU. The university will name an interim dean while searching nationally for a replacement.

Columbia Bank

Columbia Bank promoted Elizabeth Anderson to senior vice president. Anderson will work on minimizing risk and exposure to commercial loan loss. Heidi DeFord is a loan support specialist. Karl Probst is vice president and equipment finance officer and will work on equipment loans to businesses. Probst was the credit administrator for Pinnacle Capital. Columbia Bank is a subsidiary of Columbia Banking System, with 34 branches in Pierce, King, Cowlitz, Kitsap and Thurston counties.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Thomas E. Shea was named director for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Programs at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Shea's experience includes 24 years at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, where he worked on safeguards for plutonium reprocessing plants and uranium enrichment facilities in Japan, India and Indonesia. Shea served on a United Nations Security Council panel on disarmament in Iraq.