Here is the Mid-Columbia business briefcase for Jan. 29, 2012:
New positions
* Doug Holroyd has joined Northwest Broadcasting and been named general manager of FOX affiliates KAYU in Spokane, KCYU in Yakima and KFFX in the Tri-Cities. Before joining Northwest Broadcasting, Holroyd was general manager of 13 television stations in Modesto, Calif. His stations received both the FOX affiliate of the year and the FOX fastest market share growth awards.
* Ken Olsen has been named market manager of Radio Tri-Cities, which is owned by James Ingstad, doing business as Ingstad Radio Washington. Ingstad also owns Radio Yakima. There are 12 radio stations in the two station groups. The Tri-City stations are: KUJ-FM, Top-40 hits; KIOK-FM, a country station; KEGX-FM, a classic rock station; KTCR-AM, talk radio; KKSR-FM, a variety hits station; and KALE-AM, a FOX Sports affiliate.
* Debra Heiman is now a loan officer at Fairway Independent Mortgage. Heiman has 13 years of experience in helping clients buy a home, refinance or save money on their current mortgage. She was formerly a branch manager at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. For more information, call 783-6280 or go to homeloanbydebra.com.
* Mark Kajita of Baker Boyer Bank has been promoted to executive vice president, wealth management division management and chief investment officer. Kajita began working with the bank in 2003 and has served as an economic spokesman and chief investment strategist. He is also a member of the bank's executive committee and a commentator on Bloomberg, FOX News and CNBC's financial TV programs. For more information, go to bakerboyer.com.
* Chuck Spencer, the president of Washington River Protection Solutions at Hanford until his retirement this month, has been named vice president and chief operating officer for Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Group in Charlotte, N.C. He will oversee the group's U.S. and international operations and projects.
* Ross Potter has been promoted to Dade Moeller's chief operations officer and will be responsible for operational performance and effectiveness, as well as alignment with changing requirements as the company grows.
David McCormack previously held the dual title of president and chief operations officer and will continue as president. Potter, who joined Dade Moeller in 2000, has more than 35 years of experience in environmental regulation and consulting.
* Kyle Lemke has been named the power equipment sales manager at Farmers Exchange in Kennewick. Lemke will manage staff as well as work in purchasing, promotions, quality control and customer satisfaction. For more information about Farmers Exchange, go to mowerhome.com.
* Elizabeth Smith of West Richland has been named the marketing director for First Choice Restoration. Smith has worked in TV sales with local ABC affiliate KVEW, as well as a public information officer for Benton County Emergency Services and as an electrical engineering designer at the Hanford site. For more information about First Choice Restoration, go to 1stchoicerestorations.com.
Certifications
* Katrina Anderson with Fulcrum Environmental Consulting, Inc. is now a certified erosion and sediment control lead. Anderson completed the two-day course which focused on current techniques in the management of sediment and construction sites. Fulcrum Evironmental Consulting is at 406 N. Second St., Yakima. For more information, go to efulcrum.net.
* Intuit Corporation recently selected Barbara Culver of Sunnyside's IQ Tax Center as an official tax expert for the Turbo Tax Ask a Tax Expert program. Culver is required by the federal government to specialize in taxation as well as maintain professional skills with continuing education. Culver is president-elect of the Washington State Society of Enrolled Agents.
Honors
* Kent Smith, the Washington River Protection Solutions manager for single-shell tank retrieval and closure at Hanford, has been named one of the Top 25 Newsmakers of 2011 by Engineering News-Record. He was picked by the weekly trade magazine, which covers the construction industry, for his involvement with the Mobile Arm Retrieval System, a robotic arm developed to retrieve radioactive waste from underground tanks.
Boards
* Glenn S. Caprio, chief financial officer for Dade Moeller, has been elected to the board of United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties. He will serve a three-year term.
Appointments
* Scott Shinsato, associate executive director of Goodwill Industries of the Columbia, has been appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire to serve on the Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment. The committee works to promote equality, opportunity and independence for persons with disabilities by advising the governor, monitoring legislation and promoting understanding.
