People in Business
Washington State University Vancouver’s Carson College of Business appointed Tom Tripp, the college’s senior associate dean of academic affairs, as the Rom Markin Endowed Leadership Chair in Business. The endowment is in honor of Markin’s contributions to the university. As chair, Tripp will be tasked with attracting and retaining top academics. He started at the university 27 years ago. For 15 years, he led the college’s fundraising efforts. Recently, Tripp has led the reform of the undergraduate curriculum and revision of the master’s degree programs to be more competitive.
Susan Finley, a professor of education at Washington State University Vancouver, was awarded the Ormsby Award for Faculty Citizenship. The award, created in 2013, honors civic engagement by faculty from the six public baccalaureates in the state. The award was inspired by the achievements of state Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane. Finley has worked to engage in individual and collaborative efforts to address poverty and homelessness. She also works through the At Home At School program, which she developed at the university in 2002. Since then, 2,500 local students have participated in the program. Finley has also collaborated with Slow Food Southwest Washington and Clark County Planned Parenthood.
Oscar Novelo was hired as Fourth Plain Forward’s first official staff member. He was hired as the nonprofit’s part-time district coordinator. Fourth Plain Forward is a multiyear initiative to improve Vancouver’s “international business district,” along the portion of East Fourth Plain Boulevard between Interstate 5 and 65th Avenue. Novelo is bilingual in Spanish and English, and has experience in community development and small business banking. Find out more at https://www.cityofvancouver.us/ced/page/fourth-plain-forward.
Workforce Southwest Washington appointed Monte Constable to its board of directors. He is a community services office administrator with the state Department of Social and Health Services. Constable will serve a three-year term, through June 30, 2021.
David Wyatt was hired as Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries’ newest branch manager for Stevenson Community Library and North Bonneville Community Library. He will also manage the rural bookmobile service in Skamania and western Klickitat counties. Wyatt, hired after a national search, has more than 13 years of experience in the Spokane County Library District and Spokane Public Library. He was also the library supervisor for the Otis Orchards Library at The BookEnd in Spokane Valley Mall, a library that he helped to launch.
Sarah Cooke was hired as a member engagement and communication specialist at The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce. Cooke, a native of Southwest Washington, is a graduate of Camas High School and Clark College. She received a degree in psychology from University of Victoria, British Columbia. In the role, she will lead the chamber’s Mentor Team and manage engagement across the organization’s membership base. Previous to the job, she worked in customer service, marketing and graphic design and as a voice actor.
Susan Peake was hired as The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce’s newest Ambassador, growing the team to 26 members. Born in Morocco, Peake has lived in Scotland, Hong Kong and Hawaii. She is employed by Columbia Collectors, a debt collection agency, where she has worked since 1990. Find out more at www.vancouverusa.com.
Innovative Services NW recently hired and promoted employees. Scott Sitton was hired as the new general manager of the nonprofit organization’s Janitorial Services program. Sitton served 22 years in the Army Military Police Corps, retiring in 2014. After that, he worked in operations management at a carpet and floor cleaning company and at a transportation company. Catrina Williams was promoted to program manager of Innovative Services NW’s Employment Services program. A native of Southwest Washington, she was hired earlier this year as a job coach. She has more than 18 years of experience working with adults with disabilities.
New business
Mercury Coin & Collectibles, which opened in April, is celebrating its grand opening by hosting a sale through the end of this month. The business, owned by Randy Van Dyk and located at 2700 N.E. Andresen Road, Suite E-2, Vancouver, buys and accepts trades for gold, jewelry and silver. He also sells silver coins and currencies from the U.S. and abroad. Van Dyk has worked for about 24 years with coins and with antiques for 15 years, he said. The store is across the street from Living Hope Church and open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Van Dyk can be reached at 360-449-2245 or by email at mercurycoinandcollectibles@gmail.com. Find the store on Facebook at facebook.com/Mercury-Coin-Collectibles-216558505618306/.
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 lyndsey.hewitt@columbian.com or fax 360-735-4540. Sales awards are not published.
