NEW HIRES

• Ty Beaver has joined the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business as a reporter. He has more than 10 years’ experience as a journalist, with nearly five years at the Tri-City Herald and nearly six years at the Herald & News in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He also worked for two years at the Kennewick School District handling their social media before joining the Richland School District heading up their communications department. He holds bachelor’s degrees in journalism and English from the University of Kansas.

• Andrew Bennett has joined Petersen Hastings Wealth Advisors in Kennewick as a portfolio analyst. His focus includes security transactions, asset allocation strategies and financial reports. Bennett was born and raised in Albany, New York, and in 2018 graduated from Excelsior College with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering technology. After working as an engineering technician for the U.S. Department of Defense, he made a career change in July 2021 to UX design and product management where he designed financial applications for USAA and several FinTech startups.

• Nancy Menjivar has joined Lourdes Urgent Care as a provider. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Washington State University and her Master of Science in Nursing, with emphasis in health care systems leadership, from Grand Canyon University in 2016. Menjivar has certifications in Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support from the American Heart Association.

• Kimberly Davis has joined Columbia Ability Alliance as an employment specialist in the nonprofit’s new expansion into Walla Walla, where she is expected to reach a full caseload quickly. She brings extensive experience in workforce support.

• Jade Elliot has joined United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties as an events and communications manager. She is a Washington State University graduate in communications and has more than 15 years of on-air experience in top TV markets across the country. Elliot grew up in Richland and is a former Miss Tri-Cities winner.

• Elbia Cardenas has joined United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties as a fundraising coordinator. Serving as a volunteer for the last three years, she now joins United Way as an employee after a career of working for Community First Bank. Cardenas is a graduate of Compass High School in Grandview.

• Jason Watson has joined Visit Tri-Cities as a website and multimedia manager. He is responsible for creating and managing website content, development and optimization of websites and manages all aspects of photo, video and multimedia production. Watson holds a degree in digital technology and culture from Washington State University Tri-Cities.

• Keith Moon has been named the new West Richland Chamber of Commerce’s executive director. He was the previous owner of Tumbleweeds, which recently closed its doors after 24 years of service. He begins the position Jan. 1.

• Alex Ramos has joined Prosser Memorial Health as a family nurse practitioner. She is a bilingual provider fluent in English and Spanish with experience in family medicine, pediatrics and primary care. Ramos is a graduate of Washington State University with a doctor of nursing practice degree. She completed clinical rotations at Prosser Memorial Health.

APPOINTMENTS

• Columbia Ability Alliance has announced recent board appointments and professional accomplishments among its leadership team: Kyle Mattox, chief operating officer for Columbia Ability Alliance, has been elected to the Community Employment Alliance (CEA) Board of Directors, a statewide advocacy organization made up of employment providers who help people with disabilities find and retain jobs. Cheri Montee, HR director for Columbia Ability Alliance, has been elected to the Communities in Schools (CIS) Benton-Franklin Board of Directors. CIS places staff in schools to support students and families. Libby Blashill, director of advancement for Columbia Ability Alliance, has been elected to the Daisy’s Place ASD Board of Directors. Daisy’s Place is a soon-to-open after-school program for youth impacted by autism in the Mid-Columbia region.

Blashill also recently earned the Certified Nonprofit Professional credential from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. This nationally recognized certification prepares leaders for impactful careers in the nonprofit sector.

• State Rep. April Connors was elected as floor leader for the Washington State House Republicans. Connors is from Kennewick and will be responsible for developing floor strategy and debate organization and initiating and responding to parliamentary actions in the Washington State House of Representatives. Rep. Skyler Rude of Walla Walla was elected as an assistant floor leader.

DONATIONS

• The Tri-Cities Cancer Foundation gala raised a record $400,000 to benefit local cancer patients. The 24th annual Autumn Affair & Benefit Auction was held on Nov. 9 to support programs, services and equipment for cancer patients at the Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center. More than 500 supporters attended the event held at the Three Rivers Convention Center.

• Two Tri-City elementary schools received book vending machines thanks to community donations. Columbia River Elementary of Pasco received a book vending machine thanks to donations from Corey Shane of Shane Family Realty, Alex Larmy of Evol Octopus Jiu-Jitsu Academy and the school’s PEAK! partner. This was a $6,840 donation with the intent to support student literary success. William Wiley Elementary of West Richland received its book vending machine thanks to Kristine Troyer and Sunrise Rotary.

GRANTS

• Numerica Credit Union gave a $120,000 grant to support three Washington nonprofits. The grant directly supports Numerica’s community partners, Communities in Schools of Benton-Franklin, Women’s Resource Center of North Central Washington and Family Promise of Spokane. Each nonprofit received $40,000 to bolster programs that strengthen local families and communities.

• Columbia Basin College Foundation of Pasco received $15,000 for its respiratory therapy program and Mo’s Place in Richland received a $17,500 grant for its work on the Foster Hope project from the Wildhorse Foundation. A total of 28 organizations received grants this period, totaling $465,240. The Wildhorse Foundation is a community fund managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in partnership with Wildhorse Resort & Casino.

• Gesa Credit Union announced the recipients of the 2024 Local Heroes Grant Program. Gesa awarded 44 organizations across the Pacific Northwest totaling more than $475,000 in grants. Some of the awardees include Park Middle School, Highland Middle School, William Wiley Elementary, West Richland Police Department, Tri-Cities Chaplaincy, Columbia Basin College Foundation, Therapeutic Riding of Tri-Cities and more.

AWARDS & HONORS

• Visit Tri-Cities honored Frichette Winery and local first responders for their contributions to the community during its 55th annual meeting and tourism showcase on Nov. 7. Frichette Winery received the Excellence in Service Award. First responders from Richland, West Richland, Kennewick, Pasco, Benton County and Franklin County received the Kris Watkins Tourism Champion of the Year Award for their planning, expertise and support of signature events like the IRONMAN 70.3 and Water Follies.

• Mid-Columbia Endoscopy Center of Kennewick is ranked among the top ambulatory surgery centers in the nation. This surgical center treated a high number of Medicare patients compared to the national median and a high number of patients compared to the Washington median. Other factors such as short length of stay, low instance of complications and unplanned hospital admissions also contributed to this ranking.

• Two Tri-City breweries were honored with multiple awards at the 2024 Washington Beer Awards on Nov. 9. Richland-based White Bluffs Brewing’s Shadows of Temptation won gold in the Robust Porter category, Monking Around won silver in the Belgian Tripel category, Rock n’ Brown won silver in the Dark American Wheat category and Super NOG won bronze in the Imperial Hazy category. Kennewick-based Ice Harbor Brewing Co.’s Tangerine Hefeweizen won gold in the Fruit Wheat Beers category. Bruneau Brown won bronze in the American-Style Brown & Black Ales category.  

• La Canneberge Beauty Oil, developed by Rachel Fidino of New U Women’s Clinic & Aesthetics in Kennewick, has earned several awards. The oil won in the Best Beauty Oil for Older Women category in the 50 Over 50 Awards for 2024 by Women’s World Digital and Magazine. It also received the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association. Fidino created the oil in 2022 because of her own personal challenge of trying to find quality skin care that was natural and could help with acne, hyperpigmentation, eczema and skin elasticity.

• Pasco teachers and staff were honored by Western Governors University during American Education Week. WGU recognized six Pasco School District employees for their exceptional dedication to their students and community. The winners of the WGU Elevate Award are Gracie Valle-Chimal and Ana Munguia. The winners of the Fund my Classroom program are Monica Soto of Reynolds Middle School, Amber Hanes of Mark Twain Elementary, Licia Duncan of Maya Angelou Elementary and Susan Grace of McLoughlin Middle School.

• STCU Contact Center was recognized nationwide for excellence. Aleasha McDaniel, whose STCU career started in 2012 as a teller, was named Best Contact Center Manager by the International Customer Management Institute. Two STCU assistant managers, Meagan Burnett and Max Fitzell, were among four finalists nationwide for Best Contact Center Supervisor. The STCU Contact Center team was one of six nationwide finalists for Best Small Contact Center.

• Bree Small earned Trios Heath’s DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. She has been an RN at Trios Health since 2018 and has consistently delivered the highest quality of nursing care. Small has worked in the Birth Center for the entirety of her tenure at Trios Health. She was nominated for this award by a family member of a patient who was grateful for her dedication and compassion.

• Fran Forgette of the Tri-Cities earned the Association of Washington Business Heavy Lifter Award at the annual Evening of Excellence on Nov. 21 in Seattle. The Heavy Lifter Award recognizes business and civic leaders for their decades of service to the association and its members. Forgette was a partner with the Tri-City law firm of Rettig Forgette Iller Bowers since 1977, named Tri-Citian of the Year in 2001 and has been an active member of the community for decades. Forgette served on the AWB board and on the executive committee, leading the organization as board chairman during the pandemic in 2020. He also served on the Tri-Cities Development Council for 15 years and the WSU Board of Regents.

• Detective Liz Grant of the Kennewick Police Department received the General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the award on Dec. 4. Grant was honored for her investigative work on connecting a series of sexual assaults to a single individual who was sentenced to 226 years in prison.

• Spotted Fox Digital Marketing of Richland was one of two finalists for the Association of Washington Business’ Entrepreneur of the Year award. The award is given to a business less than five years old that has made a significant impact in its industry. CarbonQuest of  Spokane Valley, a startup that developed advanced carbon capture systems to reduce CO2 emissions, was this year’s winner.

• Washington Trust Bank, which has a branch in the Tri-Cities, has been nationally recognized for the sixth time by American Banker magazine as a Best Place to Work. American Banker determines the annual ranking in collaboration with Best Companies Group, which relies on an evaluation of participating companies’ workplace policies, practices and demographics and an employee survey measuring various areas of workplace satisfaction, including overall engagement, training and development, and work environment.

• Kadlec Regional Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines stroke gold plus quality achievement award for ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability. This is the second year that Kadlec has received this award. The Richland Fire & Emergency Services Department received the association’s Mission Lifeline EMS gold achievement award for the department’s commitment to offering rapid, research-based care to people experiencing the most severe form of heart attack and stroke.

• Tri-City Regional Chamber earned 5-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community. The purpose of the U.S. Chamber’s Accreditation Program is to facilitate continuing excellence in the chamber industry and to foster a pro-business environment across America. To receive accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, communications and technology.