People in business
• The Port of Vancouver has hired Alex Strogen as chief commercial officer replacing Alastair Smith who will retire in March 2018 after 45 years in the maritime industry. Strogen served for six years as senior global category leader for General Electric Global Operations. He has also held positions with major ocean carriers including America Roll On Roll Off Carrier, APL and Maersk Line. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Maritime Business from Texas A & M University at Galveston. He will join the port Jan. 16.
• Community Home Health and Hospice has named Joe Rinella medical director for the organization’s community team. Rinella is board-certified in family medicine and was previously a partner at the Columbia Gorge region’s NorthShore Medical Group. Rinella also founded Nalea Enterprises, Inc., an independent medical contracting and consulting business.
• Adam P. Murray has joined law firm Landerholm P.S. as an associate attorney. Murray’s practice will focus on business formations, transactions and long-term strategic planning. Prior to joining Landerholm, Murray served as a law clerk in a federal district court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Landerholm’s offices are at 805 Broadway in Vancouver.
• The Southwest Washington Contractors Association has completed the reorganization of its board of directors, installing eight members:
Jim West of Zenith Properties NW, president; Jerry Sauer of Excavator Rental Services, president-elect; Drew Barrett of Barrett & Co., CPAs, treasurer; Chrissy Lyons of the Port of Vancouver, secretary; Mike Nieto of Catworks Construction, past president. Three new board members are Michael Wagy, CalPortland; Keith Stewart, Stewart Plumbing; and Karl Tapani, JRT Mechanical.
• Invest West Management, LLC has added Rebecca Blaisdell to their team as director of business development. She has been in the real estate industry for more than 25 years and has served as vice chair of the Fair and Affordable Housing Committee for the Clark County Association of Realtors. Blaisdell will be working with the Single Family Rental Division, the Multi-Family Division and the HOA Division for Invest West as well as handling real estate sales.
• Kendall Clawson has been selected as executive director for Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington upon the retirement of Joyce White. Clawson serves as the executive director of the American Leadership Forum of Oregon (ALFO), and previously served as deputy chief of staff for former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and current Gov. Kate Brown. She also has 24 years experience in local region nonprofit management.
• Joey Yourchek has joined the red coat ambassador team of The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce. Yourchek is general manager of Elfin Services and has a background in guardianship and trust administration. He also serves on the Southwest Washington Elder Abuse Prevention Coalition board.
• Jerzy Shedlock has joined The Columbian as a staff writer covering morning breaking news including crime, fires and other public safety incidents. A graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage, Shedlock previously worked as crime and courts reporter at the Alaska Dispatch News (now Anchorage Daily News) in Anchorage, Alaska. He may be reached at 360-735-4522, or followed on Twitter: @col_cops or @jerzyms.
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 kay.richardson@columbian.com or fax 360-735-4491. Sales awards are not published.
