Hampton Inn names manager

Monica Hammerberg has been named general manager of the new Hampton Inn & Suites in Pasco.

Hammerberg has a long history of hotel management in the Tri-Cities, sits on the board of directors for Visit Tri-Cities and is a member of the Pasco Lodging Tax Advisory. She also sits on the Tourism Promotions Assessment Board and is treasurer for the Tri-Cities Hotel Lodging Association.

The new Hampton Inn & Suites Pasco/Tri-Cities is owned by Ron and Tracey Asmus and is scheduled to open in May.

PNNL honors staff

Zimin Nie, of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratories Energy & Environmental Directorate, was named as the 2015 PNNL Inventor of the Year. Nie is the first woman to receive the honor.

Nie was selected based on her contributions to the development of large0scale electrochemical energy storage technologies. These emerging technologies are critical for widespread use of renewable energy, like solar and wind, and will help make the electrical grid more reliable by enabling the deployment of highly-efficient, low-cost solutions.

Nie shared the spotlight with two other women, Wendy Bennett and Xiaohong Shari Li, who were named as the 2015 Battelle Distinguished Inventors. This honor is given to Battelle staff throughout the country who have 14 or more U.S. Patents to their credit as a direct result of their work at Battelle.

Bennett and Li are both senior research scientists in PNNL’s Energy & Environmental Directorate. Bennett specializes in thin film coating design, deposition and characterization. Li’s research focuses on nanomaterial synthesis and film deposition.

Villanueva, Robinson earn designation

Jessica Robinson and Jeanette Villanueva, who both work at the Benton County Treasurer’s Office, have each earned the designation of Certified Fixed Income Practitioner by the Fixed Income Academy LP. The designation is earned by completing educational and exam requirements. Robinson is an investment officer and Villanueva is an accounting assistant. They both are responsible for managing and investing Benton County public funds.

Carter joins Trios

Amy Carter, FNP, MN, CDE has joined the Trios Medical Group—Endocrinology team to provide patient acre primarily at Trios Care Center at Vista Field. She is accepting new patients.

Prior to joining Trios, Carter worked as a registered nurse with primary focus in surgical care and family practice at facilities in Rhode Island, Oregon, California and Washington.

Most recently she worked at Providence St. Mary Medical Center Physicians Group in Walla Walla.

Carter has a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing from University of Hawaii and a Masters in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner from WSU.

BFT names new manager

Ben Franklin Transit has hired Gloria Boyce as its new general manager. Boyce was chosen through a multi-month process of candidate recruitment.

Boyce has been with BFT since 2012 and was the administrative services manager for three years before becoming the interim general manager in 2015.

Prior to joining BFT, Boyce was the director of capital programs coordination and reporting at METRO in Houston, Tex.

Boyce has a Bachelor’s Degree with dual majors in business administration and finance and economics, and an International Business Certificate from Portland State University.

Elrod, Ross to help SCORE

Freya Elrod, a young social media expert, has joined Mid-Columbia Tri-Cities SCORE as a volunteer to oversee the chapter’s social media presence.

In addition, Dennis Ross has been added to its team of certified small business mentors.

The Mid-Columbia Tri-Cities SCORE office has ranked number one in the state for mentoring and overall performance.

Advisor Benefits Recognized

Advisor Benefits Group was recognized by the Health Benefit Exchange of Washington for its excellence and professionalism in helping Washington residents obtain healthcare coverage over the past three years.

Advisor Benefits was one of two agencies out of more than 2,000 in the state singled out as a leader in helping clients across several service areas and are credited with directly impacting the number of uninsured Washington residents.

Taylor joins Irrigation Specialists

Irrigation Specialists has hired Randy Taylor as the sales manager for its Pasco location. Taylor will manage the sales team and lead the drive for new sales. Prior to joining Irrigation Specialists, Taylor was the irrigation manager for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, managing 13,000 acres of pivot and drip irrigated crops, as well as a 29-person staff.

Wyatt named photographer of the year

The Professional Aerial Photographers Association International presented David Wyatt of Kennewick with the 2016 EPSON Aerial Photographer of the year award in March in Texas. Wyatt is only the tenth recipient of the award.

Nephrologist receives certification

Dr. Vamsi Kanneganti of Trios health has received certification for interventional nephrology from the American Society Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology. The certification allows him to complete advanced procedures for the treatment of complex and acute kidney diseases and conditions. Kanneganti joined Trios Health’s nephrology team in late 2013.

King named Woman of the Year

Anna King, Richland correspondent for Northwest Public Radio, has been named the 2016 Washington State University Woman of the Year. The award recognizes women for their accomplishments and contributions to society and the lives of other women.

King is an alumna of The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. She has been with Northwest Public Radio since 2007, covering rural people and issues, agriculture, Hanford and other stories in the Tri-Cities and Central Washington.

Eerkes honored

The Boy Scouts of America Blue Mountain Council honored Marilee Eerkes with its North Star Award at the annual Lampson International Friends of Scouting Breakfast.

The award is presented to individuals who do not have a current connection to the Scouting program but through their actions exemplify the same values and traditions of community service.

Eerkes has been an instrumental part of the Boys & Girls Club for a decade, helping to strengthen programs and create bright futures for youth. She also works closely with Young Life and the Children’s Reading Foundation.