Jun 22, 2012

Columbia Bank

Tacoma-based Columbia Bank hired John Nickens as senior vice president of information technology to manage Columbia Bank's security program. Nickens has 10 years' experience in banking and worked as global strategic sourcing manager at Russell Investments.

NanoString Technologies

Seattle-based NanoString Technologies hired Bruce Seeley as senior vice president and general manager of diagnostics. Seeley has 20 years of oncology experience, and was executive vice president at Seattle Genetics and senior director at Genentech where he launched Herceptin, a drug used to help combat certain types of breast cancer. NanoString provides life science tools for research and molecular diagnostics.

Cairncross & Hempelmann

Seattle law firm Cairncross & Hempelmann hired attorneys Robert Kaye and Kirsten Daniels, and added Bernice Johnson Blessing as summer associate. Kaye was corporate counsel at The Regence Group; Daniels joins the Employment Law Team and Blessing is a 2012 J.D. candidate from Seattle University School of Law and worked as area director of human resources for RC Hedreen Corp.

Jun 21, 2012

WSU Tri-Cities

Washington State University Tri-Cities chancellor Vicky Carwein will be chancellor at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne effective Sept. 1. WSU President Elson Floyd named James “Dick” Pratt, currently vice chancellor for academic affairs, as interim chancellor. WSU Tri-Cities was established in 1989 and is in Richland.

PlayNetwork

Redmond-based PlayNetwork hired Peter Lee as chief technology officer. Lee was senior vice president of innovation at Technicolor and served as vice president for business development of new technology at the Walt Disney Co. PlayNetwork provides in-store entertainment for retail, restaurant, and hospitality environments.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound will make a national search to replace departing president and CEO Patrick D'Amelio. D'Amelio will resign July 20 to become CEO of Washington STEM. Chief operating officer Jerry Hynes will serve as interim president and CEO. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity with supported one-to-one relationships.

Jun 20, 2012

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Christen

Morgan B. Christen, the first woman from Alaska to sit as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, was formally invested into her office in Anchorage. Christen served on Alaska Superior Court from 2009 until her federal appointment. The Ninth Circuit hears appeals of cases decided by executive branch agencies and federal trial courts in nine states and two Pacific Islands.

Seattle Women's Commission

Seattle Women's Commission is seeking nominations for the Jeannette Williams Award, which honors an individual or organization for advancing the cause of women in Seattle. Williams served on the Seattle City Council for 20 years and established the first shelter for battered and abused women. Nominations are due July 2.

Affiliated Associations of America

Kirkland-based Affiliated Associations of America hired Anthony Matlock as marketing coordinator. Matlock has worked in communications for six years. The group provides a cooperative platform without competition for membership between associations, chambers of commerce and professional organizations.