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NEW HIRES

• The Port of Benton has hired Cassie Hammond as the director of governmental affairs. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Eastern Kentucky University and transitioned into managing various statewide and local campaigns around the country after graduating. Hammond’s career is rooted in political science, campaign management and advocacy, and she has established herself as a dedicated leader capable of building stakeholder relationships. She recently served as manager of the government affairs department at the National Association of Home Builders in Washington, D.C.
• The Kennewick Irrigation District has hired Shane Leonard as its new district manager. He has worked as a general manager for the Roosevelt Water Conservation District in Mesa, Arizona, for the past decade. Before becoming a manager, he worked in various positions for RWCD, including outside crew, main pumping plant operator, associate manager and special projects manager. Leonard is a graduate of Arizona State University and served on numerous government and volunteer committees and boards related to water resources while in Arizona.
• Elisabeth Holt is Baker Boyer’s new Tri-Cities manager. She has extensive experience in management, community engagement, business education and a client-focused approach. Holt spent almost a decade at the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, where she oversaw membership, events, committees and programs. She also has experience at the Wenatchee Downtown Association. Holt is also involved with organizations such as the Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho and serves on the Trios Health Board of Directors.
• EXIT Realty Tri-Cities Life has hired two new brokers.
  • Edwin Watt has worked in new home sales, developments and resale homes. He brings a knowledge of the Tri-Cities area in addition to experience in real estate.
  • Michelle Kiesecker is a new broker and is also new to the Tri-Cities. She specializes in interior design and luxury home sales. Kiesecker brings her experience from many parts of the U.S. to her design elements and marketing for home sellers.
• The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce has hired Matt Murphy as the government and regional affairs director. Prior to joining the chamber, he was president and CEO of the South Kitsap Chamber of Commerce in Port Orchard for nine years. He was named the Grassroots Alliance Advocate of the Year in 2021 by the Association of Washington Business, and he has served on boards including the Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives Board of Directors and the Olympic Workforce Development Council Board of Directors. He is a Gonzaga University graduate and has served in the Washington Army National Guard. In his new role, Murphy will lead the chamber’s advocacy initiatives and represent the organization on the Tri-Cities Legislative Council.
• Karen Irey is the new office administrator for the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce. She will be the primary point of contact for visitors to the office, while also supporting membership, programs and events. Irey previously served as a funeral director at Einan’s Funeral Home, an office assistant for the Snohomish County Corrections Guild in Everett and as the front office coordinator for the Northwest Center for Optimal Health in Marysville. She brings experience in event coordination, schedule management and efficient supply handling.
• Visit Tri-Cities has hired Abby Hedges as the visitor services specialist. She is a recent graduate from Washington State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality business management. Hedges grew up in the Tri-Cities area and also has experience in New York’s private club industry. As the visitor services specialist, she assists visitors and guests across platforms, maintains kiosks and front merchandise and assists the marketing and sales departments.
• Dr. Dennis Moore has joined Prosser Memorial Health’s Grandview Clinic. He has 25 years of experience in pediatrics and most recently practiced in Tennessee after providing pediatric care in Las Vegas for two decades. Moore received his bachelor’s degree from Pace University and his Doctor of Medicine from Pennsylvania State College of Medicine. He completed his residency at Geisinger Medical Center Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.
• Dr. Gary Podhaisky has joined Prosser Memorial Health as a pediatrician. He attended the University of Nebraska, where he went into pre-med. He previously worked at Kadlec, is board certified in pediatrics and is a fellow with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Heidi Asmus is the new executive director of Hope Medical. She has over 20 years of experience in business management and has a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Eastern Washington University. Asmus has lived in the Tri-Cities for the past 24 years and currently mentors young women through Young Lives.
• Astria Health has hired two new members to its executive team.
  • Cheryl Stone is the new chief human resources officer. She has a juris doctorate from the William Howard Taft School of Law and an MBA in business administration and human resources from the University of Phoenix. Stone has more than 20 years of experience in organizational executive management, with expertise in contract and employment law.
  • Steven Hunsaker is the new system director of quality & risk officer. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington. Hunsaker has worked in upper management and executive capacities in healthcare for over eight years. He has experience in quality control, risk management, patient safety and relations and accreditation.
• The Association of Washington Business has hired two new policy experts to serve as government affairs directors.
  • Morgan Irwin will lead AWB’s legislative work on land use, transportation and telecom. He served as a state representative for the 31st Legislative District from 2017-20 and was a member of the House Transportation Committee and a ranking member on the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee. Irwin also has worked as a police officer for the cities of Seattle and Bonney Lake. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Washington State University.
  • Emily Wittman will serve as AWB’s expert on education, workforce and health care. She was the president and CEO of the Aerospace Futures Alliance for four years. Wittman also previously worked for U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office, the Puget Sound Regional Council and Greater Seattle Partners. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and law, societies and justice from the University of Washington and a business management certificate.
• Benton REA has hired Andrew W. Gould as its vice president of engineering and operations. He is a third-generation engineer with 12 years of experience in the utility industry. Gould has worked for Quanta Technologies, the Electric Power Research Institute and Duke Energy, with his most recent work taking place at UtiliSource. He also holds a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Utah, a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University – Idaho and is a Professional Engineer.
• Ryan Lukson is the new compliance director and assistant general counsel for Energy Northwest. Lukson joined Energy Northwest in 2023 as senior counsel after serving as assistant chief deputy prosecutor for the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington – Michael G. Foster School of Business and his juris doctor from Florida State University College of Law. Lukson has served as the mayor of Richland and is a current member of the Richland City Council.

PROMOTIONS

• Avonte Jackson has been promoted to executive director at Grace Clinic after nine years as clinic director. She will lead strategic planning, staff and volunteer management, partnership development, fundraising, and business operations. Jackson has an MBA from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and she serves as treasurer on the board of the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. She has also received local and regional leadership awards. Mark Brault, previously the clinic’s volunteer chief executive officer, will continue to serve as the clinic’s board president.
• Hector Barragan is the new chief executive officer of Family Resource Home Care. Barragan joined the company in 2022 as the chief operations officer and helped guide it through a period of record growth. Family Resource Home Center is the largest independent home care agency in the Pacific Northwest and has offices in the Tri-Cities.

APPOINTMENTS

• Eric Pearson, CEO of Community First Bank and HFG Trust, has been appointed as a director on the Seattle Branch Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. He will serve a two-year term as director, and he will be responsible for providing insights into the local economy and recommendations for upcoming Federal Reserve policies. Pearson will be the only member of the board to represent the Tri-Cities.
• Noel Schulz, inaugural director of the Institute for Northwest Energy Futures, has been appointed to the Bob Ferguson Endowed Professorship at Washington State University Tri-Cities. As an endowed professor, Schulz will be able to conduct scholarly work related to INEF’s clean energy goals and hire graduate assistants. She will provide expertise and guidance in furthering INEF’s purpose of research, development and education related to realizing low-carbon energy transitions. Bob Ferguson, a veteran in the nuclear field and a supporter of WSU Tri-Cities' clean energy initiatives, gifted the funding for this position to the WSU Foundation.

AWARDS AND HONORS

• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s software technology has won a Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) Impact Award. The software, Visual Sample Plan (VSP), is a free tool that enhances statistics-based planning by developing site maps and statistical sampling designs. The program has more than 5,000 active users from both U.S. and local agencies and those in more than 70 countries around the world. Some of these agencies include the Department of Defense, National Nuclear Security Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Environmental Protection Agency. The FLC awards programs recognizes agencies for their contributions to technology transfer, or the process of turning innovative research into impactful products and services. Award recipients will be honored at an awards ceremony April 9-11 in Dallas, Texas.
• Astria Health has received recognition from the nonprofit organization Lions World Vision Institute for providing successful cornea donations to five patients in need of corneal transplants locally, statewide and globally in 2023. All five of the donations came from Astria Toppenish Hospital. Astria Health has worked with Lions World Vision Institute, formerly SightLife, since 1969. Lions World Vision Institute is the only accredited Eye Bank of Association of America in Washington. In 2022, Astria Sunnyside Hospital provided four successful cornea donations, and Astria Toppenish Hospital provided two.
• The Washington Music Educators Association has chosen to induct James Bennett, band teacher at McLoughlin Middle School in Pasco, into the WMEA Hall of Fame. The WMEA Hall of Fame recognizes educators who have shown exceptional support, inspiration and contributions to the growth and development of music education. Bennett’s earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Central Washington University, and he was a percussionist with the Yakima Symphony Orchestra for almost 30 years. He worked in the Selah School District before becoming a part of the Pasco School District in 1997. Bennett will be honored with a plaque on the WMEA Wall of Fame.
• Haley Johnson with Petersen Hastings Wealth Advisors has earned the Certified Financial Planner certification, bringing the firm’s total number of CFP professionals to seven. The certification is a credential reflective of a high level of expertise, ethics and professionalism in the financial industry.
• Petersen Hastings Wealth Advisors has attained the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence certification from Broadridge for the 16th year in a row. The certification designates Petersen Hastings one of only 250 firms worldwide to complete the certification process. The rigorous, independent assessment included a multi-month audit and certification including an administrative review and analysis of structure systems and reporting.
• Numerica Credit Union has been named one of America’s Best Regional Credit Unions according to Newsweek. 250 credit unions and 250 banks nationally made the list. More than 9,000 banks were analyzed through an independent study and customer reviews and the top 500 regional financial institutions in the U.S. were honored. Numerica, based in Spokane Valley, serves more than 170,000 members in Eastern Washington, Central Washington and North Idaho.
• James Jones is Richland School District’s 2024 Crystal Apple Award Winner. The Crystal Apple Award is presented by the Educational Service District 123 to honor educators who have had a positive impact on the lives and futures of students. In Jones’ 10 years serving as Hanford High’s choir director, Jones the program has expanded from one to six choirs. He works with 200 choir students every day and 60-80 middle school students for two weeks each summer for Hanford High School’s musical theater camp. Jones also has directed four musical productions and served as the vocal director for multiple drama performances.
• U.S. News & World Report ranked five Washington State University online programs among the best in the nation for 2024. WSU Global campus ranked 16th nationally for its undergraduate degrees in the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs category, including its undergraduate business and psychology programs, ranked 17th and 6th respectively. WSU’s online MBA program from the Carson College of Business ranked 22nd among the Best Online MBA Programs and the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture’s online graduate engineering programs ranked 36th in Best Online Engineering Programs. The WSU programs were also named among the nation’s best for veterans.

BOARDS

• The Richland Chamber of Commerce has three new board members for 2024: Jarrod Miller of Solvent Financial & Consulting, Randall Gunther of Perfection Glass, and May Hayes of Operation We Care, who retired from the city of West Richland Chamber of Commerce. They join current board members Kim Solheim, Dave Rose, Rob Welch and Don Williams.