TODD ZALK
Wells Fargo names Battle Ground resident a business development officer
Wells Fargo has appointed Battle Ground resident Todd Zalk to business development officer in the Business Banking Group. He previously served as the company's membership banking/Wells Fargo at Work regional program manager for Oregon and Southwest Washington.
In his new position, the bank said Zalk will be responsible for identifying businesses in the Portland and Vancouver metro area that would benefit from Wells Fargo's financial services and products, including treasury management solutions, equipment and commercial real estate loans and lines of credit.
Zalk started his financial services career at Bank of Clark County where he served as a business relationship officer from 2007 to 2009. His career also includes working for nine years in business development for two national contractors in Vancouver.
Outside of the banking industry, Zalk has co-chaired Evergreen School District's general advisory committee and served on its business committee since 2007. He has also served on the Battle Ground School District's business and general advisory committees since 2008, and is currently a counselor for the SBA's SCORE program.
MARK RAY
Mark Ray, teacher librarian at Skyview High School and instructional technology facilitator for Vancouver Public Schools, was recently named Washington's 2012 Teacher of the Year.
“We're very proud of Mark's accomplishments and want to congratulate him publicly on receiving this high honor,” said Tom Hagley, executive director for Vancouver Public Schools community & government relations.
Ray told The Seattle Times that he plans to use the Teacher of the Year award to advocate for the importance of school libraries.
“Many people look at school libraries and teacher librarians as something that can be cut,” he said. “I firmly believe that they are essential to the 21st century.”
Ray is now entered into a competition for the national Teacher of the Year award, which will be awarded this spring.
RON WYSASKE
Ron Wysaske, president and chief operating officer of Riverview Community Bank was recently elected as a director of the Community Bankers of Washington (CBW) Board of Directors during the group's annual meeting held last month.
Wysaske joined Riverview in 1976 and has served as president and COO since 2004.
Known as the family of independent community banks, the Community Bankers of Washington was founded in 1989 to serve as a distinct and authoritative voice for community banks throughout the Evergreen State.
LORRE JAFFE
Prudential Northwest Properties President Jason Waugh recently announce that Lorre Jaffe from the firm’s Longview branch has been elected to fill one of the two state director positions on the 2012-2013 Board of the Cowlitz County Association of REALTORS®.
The Cowlitz County Association of REALTORS® is a professional association of more than 300 members. The REALTOR® and affiliate members offer business services and legislative representation to real estate practitioners and affiliated service providers in Cowlitz County and surrounding areas.
WILLIAM STEVENS
Pinnacle Mortgage Planning (PMP) recently announced the hiring of William Stevens as a mortgage advisor. The company said Stevens will work out of PMP’s East Vancouver branch.
Stevens previously worked for Pacific Equity Services as a mortgage advisor and sales manager. He has 13 years of experience in the field.
KIERSTEN WARE
Westby Associates Inc., a regional fundraising consulting firm based in Vancouver, has hired Kiersten Ware as an associate.
The firm said Ware’s primary focus will be on foundations and grant resources.
“Every one of our clients has a need for foundation resources,” said Westby President and CEO Mike Westby. “Our bench strength as a firm is fully leveraging strategic support, which means individual donors only do a portion of the lifting with funding. Public support and foundation support are important to deliver a strong stewardship report to the community.”
Ware has been involved with nonprofit organizations for the last 19 years as both a lead administrator and program director. Among her past accomplishments, she developed and founded ElderFriends, a nonprofit, volunteer-based community program serving isolated elders in Seattle and Richmond, Virginia. A third local ElderFriends program in Vancouver is scheduled to launch through CDM Services in January 2012.
AMIT GOSALIA
Audiology Clinic Inc.’s Amit Gosalia has been named to the list of the Best Hearing Care Professionals in 2011 by The Hearing Review. In addition, Gosalia won the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) Scholar Award, which recognizes Audiologists who have gone above and beyond the minimum requirements in continuing education.
The Hearing Review is the leading, monthly trade magazine for the hearing healthcare industry, providing concise, timely, and accurate information to 21,000 audiologists, hearing instrument specialists, medical professionals and others allied to the field.
Gosalia graduated with his Doctorate in Audiology in 2006 from A.T. Still University, and has been Board Certified by the American Board of Audiology for 7 years.
Audiology Clinic team members Alamander Hicks and Nancy Bowen also received the AAA Scholar Award this year.
MELISSA RALSTON
Melissa Ralston, personal service lines manager with Davidson Insurance, has received the Personal Lines Achievement Award from Safeco Insurance. The award is given in recognition of dedication, diligence, integrity, commitment to excellence and exemplary representation of Safeco Insurance.
Ralston has worked for Davidson Insurance for eight years and in the insurance industry for 32 years. She is a Certified Insurance Counselor and a Certified Insurance Service Representative.
RENIE DUVALL
Renie Duvall, owner of Kalama-based Ecotech Recycling, was recently honored with the Washington State OMWBE (Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises) Supplier Diversity Champion award for Emerging Business.
According to OMWBE, Supplier Diversity Champions are selected for their outstanding service and commitment to inclusion of certified minority, women and disadvantaged business enterprises in the state’s procurement and contracting.
Winners were recognized at TABOR 100’s 12th Annual Captains of Industry Gala last month at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in Seattle.
SUSAN CHAMBERS
The Society of Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) recently honored Susan Chambers of Vancouver’s Davidson Insurance for significant commitment to advanced knowledge and customer service by successfully maintaining the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation for more than 10 years.
Chambers has worked at Davidson Insurance for 17 years and has been in the insurance industry for 22 years.
The CIC program is a nationally recognized as the premier continuing education program for insurance professionals, with programs in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
