May 26, 2004

Project Management Institute

The Project Management Institute, a project management association, awarded Keith Mutch professional certification. The Newtown Square, Penn.-based institute has certified 60,000 project managers in 120 countries. Mutch is an independent consultant based in Renton and works on business analysis, coaching and strategic planning.

Columbia Bank

Columbia Bank promoted Kerry Keely to senior vice president. He will manage single-family construction and land development loans in the housing industry. Keely has 29 years of banking experience, including work at Puget Sound Bank as senior vice president and manager of the real estate group. Columbia Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Banking System and operates 34 branches in Pierce, King, Cowlitz, Kitsap and Thurston counties.

Northwest Business Bank

Michael J. Collum joined Seattle-based Northwest Business Bank as a senior vice president in Bellevue. Collum has 30 years' banking experience and worked with Washington Mutual.

University of Puget Sound

John Idstrom joined the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma as executive director of development. Idstrom was with the Jack Baskin School of Engineering at the University of California in Santa Cruz. He will oversee fundraising efforts, seek gifts for the university's planned $24 million science center building, and support financial aid for students. The science center is set to break ground in spring 2005.

Service System Associates

Denver-based Service System Associates signed a contract with Metro Parks Tacoma to manage food service and catering at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. SSA will operate cafes and satellite venues, and plans to recruit more local workers.

Bidadoo Auctions

A Bellevue-based consignment service, bidadoo auctions, is expanding its business services unit to help area businesses sell assets on eBay. The company appointed sales executive Gary Kapner and plans to add five Northwest eBay showroom and drop-off locations.

Washington State Bar Association

The Washington State Bar Association Indian Law Section recently gave $5,000 in scholarships to Northwest Native law students. In less than one year, the Indian Law Section and Northwest Indian Bar Association raised and donated more than $30,000 in scholarships to aspiring Native lawyers from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.

Washington Campus Compact

Seattle's Antioch University named Western Washington University's Washington Campus Compact Executive Director Jennifer Dorr one of its 150 Victories for Humanity. The award recognizes Pacific Northwest residents who've made differences in the lives of others. Washington Campus Compact is a coalition of college and university presidents, and encourages partnerships between campuses and communities.