“Susan has a fabulous reputation in the Northwest meetings market,” said Skamania Lodge General Manager Scott Spann. “We are excited to have her on our team and to tap her experience and expertise to showcase Skamania’s fantastic conference offerings.”
In addition to working with businesses and event planners to help them better plan and facilitate conferences, incentive trips and off-site meetings and events, Renner will interact closely with Skamania’s sales team to cultivate relationships within the corporate arena. The team works from the Lodge’s Portland sales office in order to better serve local and regional organizations.
Prior to joining Skamania Lodge, Renner served as senior sales manager for Hilton Portland & Executive Tower in downtown Portland.
MATT CANEDY
Matthew Canedy has joined the Association of Washington Business as its government affairs director for health care and education issues.
Canedy relocated to Washington state from Washington, D.C. last year, where he most recently served as the staff director of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Leaders’ Project — a national, bipartisan health care reform initiative led by former Senate Majority Leaders Bob Dole, Tom Daschle and Howard Baker. Previously, he served as an aide to U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, R-OR, steering his work on health insurance coverage, Medicare, Medicaid and medical research.
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Canedy began his career working in a number of budget and policy positions in the Texas Legislature. He holds a masters of public affairs degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs and a bachelor of arts in government from the University of Texas at Austin.
KHANH TYGART
Vancouver-based WRK Engineers recently hired Khanh Tygart as its newest project engineer.
The firm said Tygart brings valuable experience with industrial seismic equipment anchorage, support structure design and project engineering for specialized transportation infrastructure
“I welcome the opportunity to expand on my foundation in building projects,” noted Tygart.
He received his bachelor of science in civil engineering followed by his master of engineering degree from Oregon State University, with a focus in structural engineering.
DON TRAN
Local Designer Rand Jeweler has welcomed Don Tran to its goldsmith staff.
Tran, a graduate of Sherwood High School, attended the Revere Jewelry Academy of Arts in San Francisco, California where he was recognized by the jewelry trade organization, Jewelers of America.
Tran brings more than 10 years of experience in jewelry repair. The company said he will work with owner Rand Schiltz developing handmade custom designs.
SUSAN HUGHES
Susan Hughes, founding partner of Family Wellness Center and owner of Transformations Spa MD in Vancouver, is one of three Washington medical doctors to receive the 2012 Degree of Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Hughes joins a select group of only 16 Washington medical professionals to have received this award.
Established in 1971, the AAFP Degree of Fellow recognizes family physicians who have distinguished themselves through service to family medicine, the advancement of health care to the American people, and by their extensive continuing medical education and participation in public service programs outside their medical practice.
MICHELLE ESTEP
Michelle Estep has joined NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson as a property manager.
Estep was previously a property manager with Coldwell Banker Commercial (CBC) of Vancouver, where she managed a portfolio of primarily retail space, as well as industrial and office.
Estep was recognized by CBC as a member of the Bronze Circle of Distinction from 2008 through 2011, among other honors.
BRIGHTON WEST
Regional nonprofit Friends of Trees recently announced the promotion of Brighton West to deputy director. Previously, he served as the organization’s program director.
Friends of Trees’ mission is to bring people in the Portland-Vancouver and Eugene-Springfield metro areas together to plant and care for city trees and green spaces.
“Brighton has proven to be an integral part of our growth strategy,” said Executive Director Scott Fogarty. “He’s helped to grow our Portland programs by over 300 percent and we are now turning toward Vancouver as our next expansion market.”
ZACH STRATTON
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Zach Stratton has been appointed assistant community relations coordinator for Fred Meyer Inc. As part of the company’s corporate affairs department, he will be responsible for coordinating responses, accounting, reporting and disbursement of funds for corporate donations and the Fred Meyer Fund in all 133 Fred Meyer stores in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Previously, Stratton worked as a marketing assistant for the Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office.
ROGER BENNETT
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Battle Ground City Manager John Williams appointed Roger A. Bennett to serve as Battle Ground Municipal Court Judge.
Bennett has served as an attorney in the area since 1976; he served 14 years as a prosecuting attorney for Clark County, 21 years as Clark County Superior Court Judge, and most recently, in private practice since his retirement from the bench in 2011.
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