People in business
• Cmdr. Michael Whitney, who oversees the Vancouver Police Department’s East Precinct District 3, completed a 10-week course at the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Va., on March 22. The program included classes on advanced investigation, management and fitness training. The mission of the program is to improve the administration of justice in police departments and to raise law enforcement standards, knowledge and cooperation worldwide, according to the FBI website.
• John Buehler has joined the staff of HDJ Design Group in Vancouver. Buehler will perform technical support and engineering design duties as part of the transportation group at HDJ. A recent graduate of Oregon State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Buehler is originally from Panama.
• Kris de Groot, financial adviser at Morgan Stanley, has been named the 2013 Five Star Wealth Manager. De Groot, a Vancouver resident, is a two-time recipient of the Five Star Wealth Management award, featured in Portland Monthly. He works with business owners, families and retirees.
o Shyla Strain has been hired as administrative assistant at Erickson Structural Consulting Engineers. Erickson Structural provides structural engineering design and consultation to architects, building owners, insurers, attorneys and contractors.