Nov 17, 2006

Allstate Insurance

Allstate Insurance Co. has promoted Tony Smith to regional financial services leader of the Northwest region. Smith joined Allstate five years ago as a field sales manager. Allstate's Northwest region is headquartered in Bothell.

AAA Washington

Bellevue-based AAA Washington has hired Nicole Meoli as editor of Journey, its regional member magazine. Meoli has 10 years' experience writing and editing newspapers and magazines.

Seattle Opera

Seattle Opera has hired Hilda Cullen as director of public relations. She replaces Tina Ryker, who retired after 25 years with the opera.

Washington Beer Commission

Six industry representatives have been appointed to the newly formed Washington Beer Commission. The members include: Bob Maphet, Diamond Knot Brewing, Mukilteo; Mark Irwin, Northern Lights Brewing, Spokane; Doug Hindeman, Elliott Bay Brewing, Seattle; George Hancock, Pyramid Breweries, Seattle; Jeff Smiley, Baron Brewing, Seattle; and Allen Rhoades, Anacortes Brewing, Anacortes. Earlier this year, the state legislature authorized the creation of the commission to promote the state's microbreweries.

Nov 16, 2006

Western Washington University

The Small Business Development Center at Western Washington University's College of Business and Economics has promoted Sherri Daymon to manage its Research Center and hired three new business research analysts: Amber Porter, Amelia Cook and Traci Harstad. Daymon was SBDC's certified business advisor; the analysts are MBA students at Western. The SBDC provides free, confidential counseling to business owners and managers.

KeyBank

KeyBank has hired affordable housing specialist Torris McCall as vice president and western regional mortgage sales manager in the community development mortgage office in Seattle. He was with Bank of America in Seattle.

Cleveland-based KeyCorp has $96 billion in assets.

Bianco Properties

Robin Kuykendall has joined Bianco Properties as general manager of the Puget Sound multi-family portfolio. The portfolio consists of 1,000 apartments in Federal Way, Tacoma and Olympia. She is responsible for management and day-to-day operations. Bianco has retail, industrial, residential and land holdings in Seattle, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Tulsa, Okla.

Old Republic Title Insurance

Peter Ostrander has accepted a regional position with Old Republic Title Insurance as vice president and national accounts manager. He will have offices in San Francisco and Seattle. He was Seattle vice president of the National Title Services division of Fidelity National Title before it closed its office here last spring.

Pacific Property

Palo Alto, Calif.-based multifamily investor Pacific Property Co. said Anna Cheng Kramer has joined the firm as director of portfolio operations. Kramer will work with the asset management and construction team to make operations more efficient. She has 25 years of apartment expertise. The firm has an office in Seattle as well as Palo Alto, Los Angeles and Irvine, Calif., with more than 8,000 units.

REAPS meets tonight

The monthly program of REAPS (Real Estate Association of Puget Sound) is tonight from 7 to 10 p.m. at Kane Hall on the University of Washington campus. The topic is “Deals of the Year,” with REAPS members and local investors presenting case studies including the good, the bad, the funny and the embarrassing. Cost is $15 for non-members and it's free for members. For information see http://www.reapsweb.com

Two-day conference on leases

A conference on real estate leases will take place Dec. 14 and 15 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. It will cover negotiating strategies for landlords and tenants, new issues in environmental law, special leases, financing and insurance. It costs $895, with discounts for groups, students and government employees. For more information or to register, call Law Seminars International at (800) 854-8009 or visit http://www.lawseminars.com/seminars/06ACLWA.php.