Clark County Business Briefs

People in business

• Columbia Credit Union has added Robin Grimwade to the staff as vice president/corporate project manager. He will lead the planning, direction and execution of corporate projects on behalf of the credit union. Originally from Australia, Grimwade brings 20 years of project management experience to the job.

• Susan Chambers has been installed as the 2014-15 president of the Greater Clark County Rotary Club. Chambers, a retired agent from Davidson Insurance, has been a Rotarian for 10 years and is a former president and longtime supporter of Evergreen Habitat for Humanity. Other newly installed officers include: Cheree Nygard, president-elect; Robin Anderson, vice president; Colleen Peterson, secretary; and Otto Guardado, treasurer. At the installation banquet, Andy Huck was named Rotarian of the Year and Denise Lukins Rookie of the Year. Honorary “Paul Harris” club awards went to Patti Bishop for her continuous humanitarian efforts in Mexico’s rural areas, and to Peterson for her service to local youth groups and to the club.

• Sheraden Schilling and Erin Edwards have joined LoanStar Home Lending as loan officers at the Vancouver branch. Schilling, who lives in Washougal, has been in banking since 1995. She previously worked at Washington Mutual/Chase Bank and Umpqua Bank. Edwards has a degree from Arizona State University and has 13 years experience between Wells Fargo Bank and Umpqua Bank. She lives in Vancouver.

• AKS Engineering & Forestry Vancouver, LLC has hired Blair Carlson and Devin Jackson. Carlson will serve as a project engineer/manager and is leading the development of a new hydrographic surveying group for AKS. Carlson has particular expertise in marine dredging and construction for port authorities. Jackson will serve as a project engineer and has experience in design, construction inspection and project management for highway projects. Jackson previously served as a transportation engineer for the Washington State Department of Transportation in Vancouver. Both have degrees in civil engineering from Washington State University.

AKS Engineering & Forestry group of companies is a full-service, locally owned firm.

• Kuni Automotive has announced three key promotions: former chief operating officer Joe Herman will serve as executive vice president; George Athan III, former president and general manager at Kuni’s Audi San Diego location, will fill the role of chief operating officer; and former general counsel Matt Newell will serve as chief legal officer. Herman, who joined Kuni in 2010 is a well-known leader in the automotive industry and previously served as Kuni’s chief operating officer. During Athan’s two years as president and general manager of Audi San Diego, the dealership experienced 100 percent growth in sales.

Prior to joining Kuni, Newell practiced law in the Corporate, Securities and Finance Group of Stoel Rives LLP in Portland. Kuni Automotive is one of the premier auto groups on the West Coast. Kuni has 1,200 employees throughout its dealerships and headquarters, The Kuni Garage, in Vancouver.

• Entek Corp. has named Don Pilger as the new general manager of the Vancouver and Longview locations. Pilger has more than 17 years of experience working and managing facilities. He has a background in mechanical engineering. Ryan Circle has joined the commercial sales team in Vancouver. Circle attended Linfield College, studying business management and economics, and has experience in mechanical and delta controls.

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.