People in business
• Christopher Hoff has joined Aflac as state sales coordinator for the Portland-Vancouver metro area, a position Aflac has added to enhance services in the Pacific Northwest. Hoff is responsible for Aflac’s sales, service, training and new-agent recruiting throughout the area. His background includes previous leadership experience at companies such as Johnson & Johnson and 3M.
• The Amboy-based nonprofit Mount St. Helens Institute has selected Richard Meyer as its new executive director. He succeeds Travis Southworth-Neumeyer who left in May to join Trackers Earth. Meyer, who holds a master’s degree in regional and city planning, has 16 years of nonprofit management experience.
• Banner Bank has hired Christopher Lucia as vice president, relationship manager on the commercial banking team in Vancouver. Lucia will manage a wide range of commercial lending duties to develop new relationships and help service the bank’s business clients.
• Lisa Nisenfeld is leaving her job as president of the Columbia River Economic Development Council to become director of Oregon’s Employment Department. Nisenfeld, who became the CREDC’s fourth president in September 2011, will leave the public-private jobs promotion organization at the end of September. Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber said he will submit Nisenfeld for Senate confirmation in September, with a proposed start date of Oct. 1. In her new job, Nisenfeld will oversee workforce services to businesses and job seekers, specialized programs such as those serving veterans, unemployment insurance, and labor market information. Nisenfeld has more than 25 years of workforce development and economic development experience.
• Vancouver resident Deena Pierott, founder and executive director of the iUrban Teen Tech program, has been recognized by the White House as one of 11 Champions of Change for Tech Inclusion. The honor goes to those who are helping expand opportunities for young learners, especially minorities and women, to develop skills and potential careers in science, technology, engineering and math industries. Pierott’s iUrban Teen program, which is focused on African-American and Latino males and is inclusive of other non-traditional STEM learners, exposes participants to career opportunities and encourages high school graduation and extended learning.
Other business news
• Rood Investments of Vancouver has named Milestone Retirement Communities to manage its portfolio of 10 senior housing communities in Washington, Oregon and California. The communities consist of 1,433 units and beds of independent living, assisted living and memory-care apartments. Rood will continue to own all of the communities and said it will remain actively involved in the overall management direction. Vancouver-based Milestone, founded in 2008, currently manages 27 communities containing 2,704 units or beds.
• The Building Industry Association of Clark County has announced Pacific Lifestyle Homes is the winner of a 2013 Building Excellence Award for the best new home in the $250,000 to $500,000 price category. The company has been honored with a Building Excellence Award for nine consecutive years. Pacific Lifestyle Homes was founded in 1996.
New business
• Muddy Waters, a Southern bar and kitchen, has opened for business at 609 W. 11th St. in downtown Vancouver, a location recently vacated by Crave Grill. It will be open lunch hours Tuesdays through Fridays; for dinner starting at 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; and for Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The bar will be open starting at 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.
The Columbian welcomes submissions about Clark County residents or businesses, as well as regional business events. Information must be received by noon of the Tuesday preceding the intended Sunday publication date. Send to mary.ricks@columbian.com or fax 360-735-4491. Sales awards are not published.
