People in business
• The Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office has new directors and officers effective Jan. 1. Brian McClary, director of operations for the Heathman Lodge, will be board chairman. Eric Walters, general manager of the Hilton Vancouver Washington, will be vice chairman; and Kari Jonassen, general manager of Homewood Suites, will again serve as secretary/treasurer. New board members are Gary Gouger, owner of Gougér Cellars; Karen Hall, owner of the Camas Hotel; and Ryan Ferguson, regional operations manager at MKM Hotels.
• Miller Nash LLP has hired Meghan Williams as an associate in its Vancouver office in the area of general business and corporate law. The firm also has expanded its business and tax team in Vancouver with attorneys Dustin Klinger, who focuses on business formation and transactions, and Ryan Nisle, who specializes in business transactions and tax law.
• Skamania Lodge has added Michele Starry, a new catering sales manager. In her new position she will sell, plan and execute event functions for the lodge.
• Adam Wishard of First Pacific Associates has passed the Certified Financial Planner examination. The examination covered financial planning, risk management, investments and tax planning and retirement and employee benefits.
• Marlene Fraser, customer service representative at Columbia Bank, has been selected as the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Year. The Chamber chooses the recipient based on their community outreach and public relations, event attendance and participation, involvement in mentoring new GVCC members and a peer vote.
• Ken O’Hollaren, longtime executive director of the Port of Longview, announced his retirement date will be in December 2012. He began at the port in 1980 as the assistant operations manager and was named executive director in 1988. He is the longest serving director among Washington’s 76 port districts.
New business
• Dutch Bros. has opened its second Vancouver drive-through at 2610 N.E. 138th Ave. Known for its caffeine- and sugar-laced specialties such as the Annihilator, Dutch Bros. (pronounced “broze”) was founded in Grants Pass, Ore., in 1992 by brothers Dane and Travis Boersma. The pair began offering franchise opportunities in 1999. Store hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Other business news
• The inpatient rehabilitation unit at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center has earned the maximum three-year accreditation from the commission on accreditation of rehabilitation facilities. The unit was also noted for consistently scoring in the top 1 percent nationally for patient satisfaction, compared with similar facilities.
• Steakburger Restaurant & Golf-O-Rama owners Merilyn and Robert Condon celebrated the 50th anniversary of the business Dec. 9-10. Many of the couple’s family have worked there over the years. * 360- 694-3421.
