Oct 10, 2003

Washington State University

Washington State University hired scientists John Nilson and George Lake to fill leadership positions in the College of Sciences. Nilson, former chair of Case Western Reserve University's Department of Pharmacology, has been named director of the WSU School of Molecular Biology. Lake, formerly at the University of Washington, has joined the WSU Department of Physics as the Claire May and William Band Endowed Chair of Theoretical Physics.

Clark Nuber

Clark Nuber, a CPA and consulting firm in Bellevue, promoted Jane Searing to principal in their tax practice, specializing in tax laws affecting exempt organizations through the firm's not-for-profit niche. Searing is a CPA and a member of both the Washington and American Societies of Certified Public Accountants. She is currently vice-chair of the Washington Women's Foundation Education Committee.

Trendwest Resorts

Trendwest Resorts appointed Barry Robinson to chief executive officer of the company's Australian subsidiary, Trendwest South Pacific, for which he will oversee all business operations. Robinson spent the past five years with Choice Hotels International where he served as vice president of operations and managing director of the Asia Pacific region. Trendwest South Pacific also recently named Leigh Milne, who has over 20 years of experience in the leisure industry, corporate director of marketing. Trendwest is a subsidiary of Cendant Corp. and is based in Redmond.

Association of Washington Business

The Association of Washington Business named Debra Brown senior vice president of member services. She will continue her present duties with AWB's major events, member services and marketing programs. Brown has been with AWB for almost 15 years and has been vice president of member services since 1998.

American Society for Public Administration

The Evergreen chapter of the American Society for Public Administration has appointed eight new members to the organization's executive council. The new members are J. Paul Blake, communications director for Seattle Public Utilities; Aaron Bert, strategic advisor to the City of Seattle Department of Finance; Charles Bush, an intergovernmental management analyst in the Bellevue city manager's office; Janice Gruber, manager of referral services administration for Group Health Cooperative; Ann Hardjosoesilo, a recent MPA graduate of Seattle University; Toby Quinn, an MPA student at Evergreen State College in Olympia; Gary Walker, former lieutenant colonel at the Defense Language Institute in California; and Martha Wine, a senior associate with Berk and Associates. ASPA was established in 1939 to professionalize public service.

University of Washington

The University of Washington Business School appointed Jean Choy to the newly created position of executive director of new ventures. Through communication with the business community, Choy will assist the school in becoming more innovative and entrepreneurial in its approach to executive education and lifelong learning.

Oct 09, 2003

Microsoft

Microsoft appointed Maria Martinez to corporate vice president of the communications and mobile solutions units of the communications sector at Microsoft. Martinez will lead the organization responsible for the Microsoft MapPoint business unit and the development of location-based services. Martinez has over 20 years of experience in telecommunications and software, including CEO of Embrace Networks, where she launched the company's first software platform.

Clark Nuber

Clark Nuber, a CPA and consulting firm in Bellevue, announced several promotions and new hires. Mitch Hansen, Joyce Lee, Brian Neville, Diane Shey and Linda Winslow were promoted to senior manager positions; Dora Leung, Kristine Nelson, Lesley Rogers and Jack Schmoll were promoted to manager positions; John Steinhoff and Alla Zbirun were promoted to senior positions; and Jeni Tracy was promoted to accounting services specialist. New hires include Jennifer Becker, Jeff Bowie, Marina Kifa, Megan Ryan and Monica Thurgood.

Moss Adams

Moss Adams, a Seattle-based accounting and consulting firm, named Carolyn Hojaboom partner. Hojaboom is one of 11 new partners admitted to the firm this year, bringing the Moss Adams partnership to 19 in Seattle and 188 firmwide. Hojaboom, who has been with the firm since 1989, provides professional services to the not-for-profit community and holds a master's degree in not-for-profit leadership from Seattle University.

WSI Internet Consulting

WSI, an internet consulting and education company based in Toronto, Canada, opened a new office in Redmond. The new office will be run by Internet consultant Derek Haynes and will provide local companies with internet business strategies. Haynes has 12 years of experience in the high tech industry.

Association of Washington Business

The Association of Washington Business presented Cliff Finch with the Ron Gjerge award, which honors the year's top business lobbyist. Finch, who was AWB's director of human resources policy and chief legislative council for 18 years, retired last July. While at AWB, Finch advocated for employers before the legislature and state agencies, primarily in human resources, labor relations and liability reform.

Nastech Pharmaceutical

Nastech Pharmaceutical, a Bothell-based company specializing in drug delivery, hired Dr. Paul H. Johnson as senior vice president of research and development and chief scientific officer. Johnson was vice president of research and development and chief scientific officer at EpiGenX Pharmaceuticals.

CB Richard Ellis

Tillman

Jeff Tillman became a downtown Seattle office broker for CB Richard Ellis. Tillman previously worked in sales and marketing for a technology firm.

Trendwest Resorts

Ted Curtis joined Trendwest Resorts of Redmond as senior vice president of sales and marketing. Curtis replaced Ron Buzard, who retired from the time-share company. Curtis is a 28-year veteran of the resort business who was eastern division vice president for Hilton Grand Vacations Co. He was instrumental in developing the Hilton Club, which provides urban timeshares in several major metropolitan areas. Curtis also worked at Marriott Ownership Resorts. At Trendwest, Curtis will review business plans and work on strategic planning and direct sales.

Norris Beggs & Simpson

Finch

Deborah Finch was hired as a property manager in Bellevue for Norris Beggs & Simpson. Finch will manage Norris Beggs' Puget Sound portfolio, totaling 676,000 square feet. Finch was a property manager in Seattle for Bedford Property Investors.

BRE Properties

Rick Kerr was promoted to divisional vice president at BRE Properties, in charge of management of 30 apartment complexes totaling 8,725 units in Seattle, Denver, Phoenix and Salt Lake City. Kerr was one of six people promoted to leadership roles in asset management for San Francisco-based BRE around the country. Kerr joined BRE in October 2002, coming from Archon Residential, where he was a regional vice president responsible for 6,000 units. BRE is a REIT that owns and operates 78 apartment complexes in six Western states.

Apartment symposium Oct. 15

Marcus & Millichap and the LandAmerica Transnation title companies will hold their yearly apartment investors symposium on Wednesday, Oct. 15, in downtown Seattle. The 2004 Apartment Overview speaker will be consultant Mike Scott of Dupre + Scott Apartment Advisors. The event will be at the Washington Athletic Club. The reception begins at 9 a.m., with Scott talking at 9:30, followed by a presentation on properties for sale. For information, call (425) 453-8330.

Breakfast with Transnation Nov. 20

Transnation Title's next Breakfast with Transnation will focus on Universal Commercial Code insurance policies. It's titled "Protection from revised Article 9" and will be presented by David Watnich, a lawyer with LandAmerica NCS in New York. The event will run from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Nov. 20 at the Washington Athletic Club. For information, call (206) 628-4650.

Northwest Commercial Mortgage

Northwest Commercial Mortgage, Prudential Mortgage Capital Co. and Prudential Real Estate Investors will hold their third annual "Luncheon Session" on Monday, Oct. 13, at the Columbia Tower Club in downtown Seattle. The speaker will be Seahawks General Manager Bob Ferguson. For information, call Casey Bradley at (206) 622-5933.