Mar 08, 2024

Planar

Klein

Planar, a digital display manufacturing company, promoted Tani Klein to senior vice president of North America sales. Transitioning from his recent role as vice president of sales, Northeast, Klein will now oversee all of the company's geographic territories and vertical market teams across the US and Canada. He joined Planar in 2014, first serving as a regional account manager before being promoted to director of sales, senior director of sales and vice president of sales for the Northeast territory. Previously, Klein spent nearly six years at Primeview, where his responsibilities ranged from technical to sales and operations. He also opened the company's first US office. Founded in 1983, Planar is headquartered in Oregon, with offices and manufacturing facilities in Oregon, Europe and Asia.

Vimly Benefit Solutions

Palmer

Vimly Benefit Solutions named Marc Palmer as its new chief commercial officer. Palmer will lead and support Vimly's client services, customer success, marketing, sales, revenue operations, and mergers and acquisitions. Before joining Vimly, Palmer spent 15 years at Express Scripts, leading sales and creating new departments. Palmer was also CEO of ConnectYourCare and inVentiv Health and COO at SS&C Health and Stonebrook Risk Solutions. Vimly recently secured a strategic majority investment from Rubicon Technology Partners, a private equity firm based in Boulder, Colo., that is focused exclusively on investing in and growing software companies. The investment will accelerate growth through go-to-market expansion, product innovation, and the pursuit of acquisition opportunities. Vimly is a benefits administration company that provides an HRIS SaaS platform that delivers a digital quote-to-card experience for carriers, third-party administrators, general agents, brokers, employers, and employees. Founded in 1993, Vimly is headquartered in Mukilteo.

Mar 07, 2024

Emerald Communities

Okezie

Emerald Communities, a not-for-profit senior housing organization serving Emerald Heights in Redmond and Heron's Key in Gig Harbor, appointed Uche Okezie as its newest board member. In her role on the board, Okezie will serve Emerald Communities, Emerald Heights and Heron's Key for a three-year term. She will also attend seven board of directors' meetings annually, serve on one or more board committees and task forces, and collaborate for the good of the three organizations. Okezie has nearly two decades of project and relationship management experience in multifamily housing, government and not-for-profit organizations. She has worked in the not-for-profit sector both as an employee and as a board member. Okezie earned a master's degree in urban planning from the University of Washington and a bachelor's degree in urban planning from the University of New Orleans. She also has earned certifications in life coaching, coach training alliance, and construction management.

Muckleshoot Casino Resort

Perkins

Muckleshoot Casino Resort, a casino, hotel, and resort destination in Auburn, appointed Tim Perkins as chief executive officer. Muckleshoot Casino Resort recently opened a hotel tower with over 400 guestrooms, an expanded casino floor, and rooftop steakhouse, Smoke & Cedar. The resort will soon open an indoor pool and spa. Prior to joining the Muckleshoot team, he served as vice president and chief operating officer at Laguna Development Corporation. Additionally, he was the general manager at Route 66 Casino Hotel and executive director of operations at Gila River Casino. Prior to his career in the private sector, Perkins served in the United States Air Force for over two decades. The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe is composed of descendants of the Native people who inhabited the Duwamish and Upper Puyallup watersheds of central Puget Sound.

Wellpoint Washington

Bogard

Wellpoint Washington, a coordinator of Medicaid managed healthcare benefits in Washington and wholly owned subsidiary of Elevance Health, named Lisa Bogard as the health plan's new president. In her new role, Bogard assumes responsibility for all aspects of Wellpoint's health plan operations in Washington. She will also lead efforts to strengthen relationships in the community with state leaders, providers, and other key stakeholders. Bogard has more than 25 years of healthcare experience and executive leadership, including 17 years with Elevance Health. Most recently, Bogard was Medicaid Plan president for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Southern New Hampshire University.

Totem Lake confidential!

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Perhaps because of its freeway-side location, The Village at Totem Lake doesn't quite get the same appreciation as Bellevue Square or University Village. But NAIOP Washington State wants you to celebrate the 26-acre mixed-use development via a tour scheduled for April 4. It's worth remembering that, when CenterCal Properties began planning a complete makeover of the old Totem Lake Mall (circa 2015), the notion of adding many apartments over new retail was entirely unproven on the car-centric Eastside. Today, it looks like a very smart and successful bet. Stops on the tour will include some of the retail (including Barnes & Noble, Serious Pie, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Nordstrom Rack, the Cinemark cinemas, etc.) and the three apartment buildings with their 852 units. Representatives from CenterCal, Pacific Coast Capital, Trinsic Residential Group and Fairfield Residential should be on hand. Details and registration: naiopwa.org.

Marcus & Millichap

Jackson

Marcus & Millichap recently announced the hiring of Tiana Jackson, who'll become a director of capital markets. She makes the move from Luther Burbank Savings, where she specialized in real estate lending. In her new post, she'll be working with Ray Allen and John Manning. The latter said in a statement, “She is widely recognized for her strong relationships with a variety of lenders and creative financing solutions, which will help ensure our clients are always getting the most competitive terms available in the market. She will be tremendous addition to the team.”

Yes, even more pickleball

Casey and John Hylton

The sport was invented locally, on Bainbridge Island in 1965, but it wasn't until the pandemic that pickleball really took off. There are currently about a half dozen pickleball plans and proposals in the greater Seattle-Bellevue area. Adding to the pickle pile-up is Pickleball Kingdom, founded in Arizona by Ace Rodrigues. The company has been adding locations on a franchise basis, and recently announced plans to expand in our state via a partnership with local entrepreneurs John Hylton and Casey Hylton. Two new clubs are planned, but locations aren't specified — meaning two possible lease deals are in the works, with new construction to follow. John Hylton said in a statement, “The dedicated indoor clubs we will build will be a true gathering space for our communities to play, to have fun and to compete! We want Washington to be on the forefront of pickleball! After all, the sport was born here.” Pickleball Kingdom now has about 13 locations ranging from Texas to Georgia to New Jersey.