People in business
• Kenneth M. Hess of Vancouver has been named a financial representative for County Financial following completion of the company’s training program. He serves clients from his office at 16821 S.E. McGillivray Blvd., Suite 213, Vancouver.
• 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 and Wells Fargo at Work regional program manager for Oregon and southwest Washington.
• Dr. Douglas Myers, an otolaryngologist, was elected president of the Washington State Medical association at the association’s annual meeting in Spokane in September. The association represents more than 9,800 physicians, residents, medical students and physician assistants throughout Washington. Myers is on the medical staff of Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center .
• The board of directors of Vancouver’s School of Piano Technology for the Blind, also known as the Piano Hospital, has named Jeff Lann as new executive director. Prior to joining the Piano Hospital, Lann served as the executive director at the Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind in Sandy, Ore. Lann has a strong background in fundraising and more than 30 years of experience leading nonprofit groups.
• Brett Bryant, a market executive with Heritage Bank, graduated from Pacific Coast Banking School in the top 10 percent of his class. He is vice chairman of the PeaceHealth Southwest Medical system board and a member of the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington board.
• Bruce Cook, formerly with Country Insurance, will join with Premier Insurance in Vancouver. Cook will represent more than 50 companies from his office in the Orchards area, 15640 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Suite 112. * 360-713-6646.
• On Line Support, a Vancouver computer support company, has acquired Portland-based Mount Hood Computer Services Inc., a privately-owned technology firm that provides IT services. Company president Tom Rich has joined the staff of On Line Support as technology consultant. Rich has worked in the computer industry since 1978 and is a Microsoft-certified technician.
• The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust in Vancouver has announced Jennifer Larson-Cody is the new technology and information systems manager. Larson-Cody started at the trust in 1998 and has held several positions. In her current role, she will be responsible for ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of the trust’s IT system and strategic use of technology.
• Greater Portland Inc., the Portland-Vancouver regional economic development partnership, has hired Colin Sears as the vice president of business development. Sears joins Greater Portland with more than 12 years of experience with the Portland Development Commission where he played a key role in recruiting and retaining companies such as SolarWorld, Keen Footwear and Vestas Wind Technology North America.
• Scott Campbell, publisher of The Columbian, has been selected to join the board of directors of the Inland Press Association. The nonprofit industry trade group represents about 1,200 newspapers in the United States, Canada and Bermuda.
Other business briefs
• When the Shoe Fits has opened a third location at Grand Central Shopping Center, 2520 Columbia House Blvd. Owners Alan and Amy O’Hara opened their first store in September of 2004 in Fishers Landing. Store hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. * http://www.whentheshoefits.com.
• Papa Murphy’s International achieved the highest overall score in the first-ever Consumer Picks survey, produced by Nation’s Restaurant News and research firm WD Partners. This award came days after locally based Papa Murphy’s was voted the No. 1 Pizza Chain again by Zagats. Vancouver-based Papa Murphy’s is the fifth-largest pizza chain in the country and operates in 37 states and Canada. * http://www.papamurphys.com.
New business
• Real Living, a full-service, national real estate franchise company, has announced its debut in the Portland-Vancouver area under the leadership of real estate experts Chad and Hollie Sessions. The couple have formed a new regional brokerage, Real Living, The Real Estate Group. Real Living will operate from temporary space at 2818 E. Grand Blvd. The newly-formed brokerage expects to open its first permanent office, 1905 S.E. 192nd Ave., in early 2012.
• Silke Communications has relocated its Washington headquarters to 14407 N.E. 13th Ave., Vancouver. Oregon headquarters are in Eugene. The company recently purchased Washougal-based County Communications. Silk is a supplier of wireless radio solutions and communication tower services and spectrum. The company owns or manages nearly 30 communications facilities. * http://www.silkecom.com, 360-835-3772.
