People in Business
Gina Walker was hired as chief financial officer at Columbia Machine Inc., following retirement of Winston Asai after 22 years with the company. Walker worked for more than 10 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she led an audit of Columbia Machine. Most recently, she was CFO of TEC Equipment. Columbia Machine, 107 Grand Blvd., Vancouver, designs, manufactures and supports factory automation equipment.
Sherri Bennett was hired as chief of staff at WSU Vancouver. She will work closely with Chancellor Mel Netzhammer on administrative and executive duties, as well as other special projects and initiatives. Bennett will end her 22-year tenure as executive director of YWCA Clark County, starting at WSU Vancouver on March 2.
The Building Industry Association of Clark County appointed two members to its board of directors. Chuck Neibert, co-founder of Affinity Homes, will serve as builder director. Janice Hall Matteo, a Realtor and owner of Elite Realty NW, will serve as supporter director.
Affinity Homes owners John Colgate and Chuck Neibert recently won the Builder of the Year Award from the Building Industry Association of Clark County. They also won Volunteers of the Year and Excellence in Vision awards. Affinity Homes formed in November 2018.
Vancouver-based biotechnology company CytoDyn announced that Alan P. Timmins, former president, chief operating officer, and board member of Sarepta Therapeutics Inc., joined its board of directors as an independent director and chair of the board’s Audit Committee. He currently is the vice president for financial affairs at University of Portland. It also hired Maura Fleming as its vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Previously she served as counsel for Holland & Hart LLP, where she was responsible for providing legal expertise and contract management services. She also was employed as senior corporate counsel at Shutterfly and senior compliance paralegal at Yahoo! Inc.
Sustainable Wealth Management hired Justin Curtiss as a financial adviser. He previously was a real estate planning attorney.
Battle Ground Public Schools’ board of directors recently received a Board of Distinction Award from the Washington State School Directors’ Association. Members of the board include Rob Henrikson, Tina Lambert, Mark Watrin, Monty Anderson and Troy McCoy. The award recognizes school boards that “use research-based governance practices that lead to high levels of student and district achievement,” according to a news release. In a nomination for the award, the board described the district’s success of the Family and Community Resource Center and “revamped staff development offerings,” according to the release. They received the award at a conference in Bellevue in November.
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 Monday publication date. Send to lyndsey.hewitt@columbian.com or fax 360-735-4540. Sales awards are not published.
