Clark County business briefs

People in business

Bankruptcy Judge Paul B. Snyder has been reappointed to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington. Snyder, 61, maintains chambers in Tacoma. His reappointment to a second 14-year term will be effective Nov. 1.

Marci Caputo has been named development director for Columbia Springs, an environmental education and outreach center in Vancouver. Caputo is a business graduate of Washington State University with a 15-year background as a self-employed accessories and gift designer and event planner. She will be responsible for educating the public about Columbia Springs, located at the site of the historic Vancouver Trout Hatchery at 12208 S.E. Evergreen Highway. The campus includes the working hatchery, interpretive trails and classroom space for environmental education activities. * http://www.columbiasprings.org/

Dr. Brian Harwood of The Vancouver Clinic was chosen as Southwest Washington Medical Center’s Extraordinary Doctor of the Year. Harwood is a pulmonologist who also supports patient quality initiatives and hospice care at Southwest. His was chosen from more than 240 nominations to Southwest’s Extraordinary Doctor recognition program from patients and staff, honoring the skills and dedication of physicians who consistently go above and beyond for their patients. The public is encouraged to nominate their own doctors at Southwest’s Web site, http://www.ExpectTheExtra.org.

Shirley Gross has been hired by the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington to serve as the organization’s donor and nonprofit services officer. She is responsible for expanding the nonprofit’s outreach to donors, businesses and the nonprofit organization it serves. Gross has a 14-year background in the nonprofit sector. She has worked for several local organizations including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, Children’s Home Society of Washington and the Vancouver Children’s Therapy Center.

Lisa Dow has been promoted to the position of credit service manager for West Coast Bank. She will retain her position as senior vice president of credit administration. Dow, who reports to the bank’s Vancouver branch, will now oversee the company’s credit administration support functions, which include its special assets department, real estate services group, credit policy committee and accounts receivable department. She has a 28-year background in banking management for West Coast Bank and its Clark County predecessor, Bank of Vancouver.

Other business news

Gouger Cellars Winery, owned by Gary Gouger, got great news at the Portland Spring Beer and Wine Festival. All seven wines Gouger entered in the in mid March event received medals. Gouger opened his winery six months ago at 1812 Washington St., and has earned gold medals for his Walla Walla Blend 128 and Walla Walla Valley Blend 903. He also received three silver and two bronze medals. Gouger graduated from the University of Adelaide, Australia, with a degree in winemaking in 2005. * 360-909-4707.

The Vancouver Nick-N-Willy’s restaurant is under the new ownership of Vancouver residents John and Dianne Foster. The restaurant, which opened in May 2008 at 7604 N.E. Fifth Ave., Suite 110, was previously owned by Colorado-based Nick-N-Willy’s Franchise Co. Because the deal was a resale of a corporate-owned restaurant, the Fosters made a “much lower investment” than they would for a new start up location, which ranges from $294,500 to $399,500, said Tanis Sullivan, a spokeswoman for Nick-N-Willy’s Franchise Co. The Vancouver store employs six workers.

Homewood Suites by Hilton at 701 S.E. Columbia Shores Blvd., Vancouver, has been named one of the top performing properties of 2009. Twenty-five hotels from the company’s portfolio of nearly 300 properties were included in the list named by the global Homewood brand head, Bill Duncan. Kari Jonassen is general manager of the Vancouver property.