Download - 30 Under 35 - Class of 2014
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Difference makers, now and in the futureBusiness World recognizes 30 young leaders in NCW
For the fourth year, Wenatchee Valley Business World recognizes some of the brightest and best in our area under the age of 35. Again this year, the selection process was diffi cult, with so many deserving people nominated. It did leave us with a great Class of 2014. We look forward to watching these young people
continue to be successful in their chosen professions and in life. Congratulations to all.
HOMEFINDER’S GUIDE | August 2014Wenatchee Valley Business World
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Maynard Man
Age: 34
Accountant,
Cordell, Neher
& Company
PLLC
Maynard joined Cordell, Neher & Company in 2008, relocating from Sammamish. Currently living in Leavenworth, he’s well-known among his team members for his willingness to support his peers while providing exceptional service to the accounting fi rm’s client base. He attended Central Washington University where he earned a B.A. in public relations and a B.S. in Accounting. As senior accountant, he specializes in all facets of tax law, from working with tax exempt organizations to expatriates working overseas and brings a level of passion and energy to the fi eld. He also has been active in the community by participating in a young professional’s devel-opment group, serving two terms as the Rotaract Club president and devoting time to service projects through Rotary. He is working on the completion of his CPA.
Lacey Price
Age: 29
Events manager,
Leavenworth
Chamber of
Commerce
When the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce went searching for an events manager, it found a jewel in Lacey. Previously, she worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Founda-tion where she was a community relations o� cer. As the new events manager for the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce she coordi-nated the highest-attended Christ-mas Tree Lighting in the city’s history. During last winter’s snow drought in January, she turned the annual Ice Fest into a Luau with volleyball, pineapple bowling and more. She also coordinated a very successful Taste Leavenworth event, increasing ticket sales by 260 percent over the previous year. In her free time, Lacey started the Cascade Makers Market — an open-air market featuring hand-made and hand-picked goods created and curated by local craftspeople.
Chyvonna Torres
Age: 28
Administrative
project assistant,
YWCA Wenatchee
Valley
In a place well-known for committed, compassionate people working hard to improve the community, Chyvonna somehow manages to stand out. Known for her ability to bring a smile to even the grumpiest of co-workers, she also possesses a wealth of knowledge on diversity and civil rights. When not sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge at work, she can be found out raising money for the YWCA’s many programs. “Chyvonna Torres, I am so blessed to have you at the YWCA. Your voice is being heard here at the YWCA, where we change lives every day!” her nominating letter said.
Kara Zupke
Age: 27
Executive Assistant
and Funding
Specialist, Pacifi c
Engineering & Design
Kara has quickly assumed a leadership role at her fi rm that exceeds expectations and points to an even brighter future. Originally hired as secretary/reception-ist at Pacifi c Engineering & Design, she has gone far beyond the original job description. She generated a brand for the company, revamped promotional materi-als, manages social media marketing and generally increases the professionalism portrayed by the fi rm. She also initiated a grant-writing component to the company that has been so successful an assistant was hired for Kara. In the community, she was part of the recent successful Wenatchee school bond committee and is a member of the Business & Professional Women of Wenatchee.
HOMEFINDER’S GUIDE | August 2014Wenatchee Valley Business World
www.leavenworth.org
WAY TO GO LACEY!
The LeavenworthChamber of Commerce
congratulatesLacey Price, Events Director,
on being chosenone of the
“30 Under 35”
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Mandy Wright Age: 27
Soft lines buyer
and advertising,
Stan’s Merry
Mart
As a member of the family-owned business, Mandy has a huge infl uence on the successful operation of what has become a Wenatchee institution. She has been instrumental in helping the staf at Stan’s expand and improve their operations, merchandisingand product mix. Stan’s has adapted over the years to meet the changing demands of customers and Mandy has been a key person since 2010 in helping to implement those changes. Even in the most hectic times, she is well-known for keeping everyone calm with her professionalism and even demeanor. “Mandy is part of the glue that holds everybody together when times get tough,” her nominating letter said.
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Matt on your achievement!
30 Under 35From all of us at
Eastman Insurance
Matt Eastman
Matt
EastmanAge: 33
Agent,
partner,
Eastman
Insurance
As a partner in Eastman Insurance, Matt is helping the family business grow into one of the premier agencies in the region. He is well known for his steadfast determination and exceptional customer service. He also volunteers much of his time to the Wenatchee community. He is a retiring board member of Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary and chair-person of their annual Apple Century Bike Ride. A diehard Cougar fan since graduating in 2003, he also is a big supporter of Cougar athletics and the NCW Cougar community.
Adam SmithAge: 32
Chef, The Windmill
Restaurant,
owner, Crave 509
catering
Adam graduated with honors from Le Cordon Bleu, one of the top culinary schools in the country. He was chef for four years for Blue Ribbon Culinary on Lake Union, catering weddings and leading team-building cooking events for Microsoft and Amazon. He grew up in the Wenatchee Valley, helping in the family cherry orchard, and has returned to help The Windmill reinvent itself as one of the area’s top dining attractions while maintaining the restaurant’s classic dining experience. He also is the owner of Crave 509 Catering, where he caters weddings and other special events, including in-home celebrations.
Brian
HartmanAge: 34
Owner/
developer,
DataWeb
Programming
In the past fi ve years, Brian has gone from building cabinets for high-end homes to fi nding temp work any way he could when the economy collapsed. When he started dating his wife, Renee, she introduced him to the concept of web develop-ment and encouraged him to re-educate himself and take it up as a profession. Thanks to a few good books, some invalu-able online courses and lots of loving support, he has been able to make a new career out of web development and joined Renee in building their business into something that can strengthen and encourage others in North Central Washington. Though his life has more challenges now than ever, he says the bless-ings have been beyond what he could have ever imagined.
Ryan KuhlAge: 34
Teacher,
Orondo
School
District
Ryan believes one person can truly make a dif er-ence in a kid’s life and he proves that consistently with his work at his school. A teacher for the past eight years, he started an incentive program, using his own funds, to encour-age his students to reach their learning goals. He understood the many barri-ers some of them faced at home and school and wanted to do something to build their confi dence and show them the rewards of working hard. He is a regular volunteer in the community and at school. For the past two years, he has had 100 percent partici-pation in the college bound program. He also runs the tra� c safety education program at Waterville High School. “I know his job is not easy and yet Ryan continues to give with a smile on his face,” his nominating letter said.
HOMEFINDER’S GUIDE | August 2014Wenatchee Valley Business World
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Renee
Hartman
Age: 33
Back end Web
developer/
owner, DataWeb
Programming
Renee is the driving force behind DataWeb Programming. Her dream is not only to build a successful business in the valley, but also to create education programs for young people interested in computer programming. She is incredibly loyal to her clients and believes strongly in the relationships that she builds. She is also an instructor at Wenatchee Valley College. “She is very smart, talented and savvy, and she cares about the right things. What has perhaps impressed me the most: she cares about the success of this community,” her nominating letter said.
Lindsey
MartinAge: 28
Owner/operator/
instructor, Dance
Creations Dance
Studio
Lindsey is an Eastmont High School graduate who moved away and found success as a dancer in California. She danced for several dance companies, television shows and music artists includ-ing Prince, Mariah Carey, Eminem and Pitbull. She alos starred on MTV, VH1, ABC and CBS. She chose to move back to the area and share her love of dance with the valley and opened up her dance studio, Dance Creations, now beginning it’s sixth year of business with three years of national titles and fi ve years of regional titles. Lindsey also o� ers a scholarship program to individuals and families. She now has been a dancer for 25 years and a teacher for 12 years. Her studio has 350 dancers from ages 3 to adult. “What makes Lindsey stand out is the amazing impact she has on the youth of our valley,” her nominating letter said. “Her studio is a second home for the kids. She makes them feel special while motivating and inspiring them to do their very best.”
Craig
Vander HartAge: 29
Professor of
Philosophy,
Wenatchee Valley
College
Craig moved to Wenatchee about four years ago as a part-time faculty member at WVC in the philosophy department after earning a B.A. at Northwestern University in religion and philosophy and an M.A. in philoso-phy at Gonzaga University. WVC recognized the talent that they have in Craig when they hired him as a full-time faculty member the next year. He teaches with passion and desire and the result is that his students fully engage. He cares about his students and works hard to ensure that they are learning as much as they can from his course o� erings. He also volunteers his time outside work, serving as a board member for the Central Washington chapter of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Association, where he organizes the summer ride series and works to develop more mountain biking oppor-tunities around the region.
Lindsey
WehmeyerAge: 29
Attorney,
Jeffers, Danielson,
Sonn
& Aylward, P.S.
A Cashmere native, Lindsey is a top-notch attorney dedicated to both her career and the community. A graduate of Gonzaga University, Gonzaga University School of Law and the University of Washington School of Law, she already has estab-lished herself as one of the region’s brightest young lawyers. She is vice president of the Wenatchee Central Lions Club and a board member for Volunteer Attorney Services. While getting her L.LM in taxation at the University of Washington, she was, among other things, a student attorney in the Low Income Taxpayers Clinic. She’s also known for the columns she’s written for Business World, where she has explained a wide range of legal issues, often using humor to engage her audience.
HOMEFINDER’S GUIDE | August 2014Wenatchee Valley Business World
2600 Chester Kimm Rd. • Wenatchee 509.662.3685 www.JDSAlaw.com
Committed to our clients and our community.
Serving North Central Washington since 1946.
Lindsey Wehmeyer – Attorney
From all of us at JDSA
Congratulations
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Chrystal
Arceo-Rosales
Age: 30
Victim-witness advocate,
Chelan County
Prosecutor’s Offi ce-
Victim-Witness unit
Chrystal has spent the last six years serving as a liaison between the prosecutor and victims of crimes. She helps the victims voice their concerns to the prosecutor, keeps them informed of the case status and accom-panies them to court proceedings. She is described as generous, humble and compas-sionate. She has assisted families in their toughest times with caring and compassion. “Chrystal is bicultural and bilingual, of ering the victims we serve the opportunity to feel comfortable in an often uncomfortable environment,” her nominating letter said.
Charissa
Cruickshank
Age: 34
Victim-witness
coordinator,
Chelan County
Prosecutor’s offi ce
Charissa has worked in the Chelan County Prosecuting Attorney’s O� ce for almost 10 years, and became victim-witness coordinator more than six years ago. Her leadership skills and insight have made the county’s Victim-Witness Unit one of the top in the state. She provides support and assistance for victims and witnesses in criminal cases and is dedicated to ensuring they are treated with fairness, dignity and respect as they progress through the criminal justice system. Charissa has given several presentations regarding victims’ rights and legal system procedures to local law enforcement and domestic violence agencies and serves on a state victim-witness committee.
Jessenia
Renteria Age: 22
Member service
representative,
Gesa Credit
Union
After growing up in an orchard, Jessenia spent four years as a cosmetologist before pursuing a career with Gesa Credit Union in 2013 that would allow her to grow professionally. She began with no experience in banking but a strong work ethic that she developed at a very young age. Just 18 months into her position as a member service representative, she has shown determination, focus and is committed to success. She already is one of the credit union’s top sales performers. Her bilingual skills are a vital resource when working with the Hispanic population. “We are so delighted that Jessenia found her way to Gesa! She is an invaluable addition to the Gesa family,” her nominating letter said.
Kyle
HendricksonAge: 34
Chief fi nancial
offi cer, Foreman
Orchards/Owner,
Caffé Mela
Kyle has demonstrated a keen business sense and commitment to serving the community where he grew up. After attending the University of Washington and obtaining his MBA from Stanford, he has been a CFO and is now in business for himself after purchasing Caf é Mela as part of a local partnership. Caf é Mela has become an institution of sorts in downtown Wenatchee and Kyle is committed to building on its success and the success and vibrancy of all downtown. He also devotes time to Saddlerock Church and its community garden ef orts, designed to help those in need.
HOMEFINDER’S GUIDE | August 2014Wenatchee Valley Business World
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Rachel
HansenAge: 32
News
editor, The
Wenatchee
World
Rachel has been with The World for nearly 10 years, having served in a wide variety of roles that have made her a well-rounded journalist and newsroom leader. She has been educa-tion reporter, sports page designer and editor of Go!, The Wenatchee World’s arts and entertainment section. In her current role as news editor, she manages the World’s copy desk, select-ing the day’s most important stories for publication and designing the pages. She also coordinates the design and production of other World publications, including Wenatchee Valley Business World. She is a talented writer and editor and is dedicated to her work and the readers she serves.
Top
Rojanasthien
Age: 29
Owner/chef,
The Thai
Restaurant
Before taking the reins at the Wenatchee restaurant in 2011, Top spent time honing his skills at numerous restaurants in Bellingham, Seattle and Thailand. He is a graduate of Wenatchee High School and the University of Washington. Since his return to Wenatchee, Top has injected new life into The Thai and has garnered numerous awards, notably being voted Wenatchee’s Best Asian restaurant for four consecutive years. Growing up in the Wenatchee Valley has imparted a strong sense of community within him and as such, Top continually gives back. Most recently, Top has helped sponsor the Junior Service League of Wenatchee’s Touch A Truck community event, benefi ting Solomon’s Porch and Wenatchee Football Club’s First Annual Golf Tournament, benefi ting Wenatchee Youth Football programs.
Paul Webber Age: 27
Attorney,
Woods and
Brangwin,
PLLC
As a teen parent, Paul had to beat the odds to achieve his success. He completed his undergraduate work at Central Washington University in 2009, graduating with honors and a double major in economics and political science. He then went on to law school at Gonzaga Univer-sity School of Law, obtaining his Juris Doctorate in 2012. During law school and while holding a part-time job, he volunteered for the school’s legal clinic, served as an associate editor of the Gonzaga Law Review, and served on numerous school clubs/committees. Paul was hired as an associate attorney at Woods & Brangwin, PLLC, prior to passing the bar exam in October 2012. At Woods & Brangwin, he has helped people who are in need of a criminal defense attorney in both Chelan and Douglas counties. He represents clients in all the fi rm’s practice areas. He is also a member of the Wenatchee Rotaract and Chelan-Douglas Young Lawyers Association.
Ali Guerrero
Age: 17
Student,
WestSide
High School
graduate
Ali is one of many success stories to come out of WestSide. He founded WestSide’s fi rst successful club, the Leadership Club. As president of the club, he helped attract about 20 members who did many great things for the school and the community. He was also one of only three high school students to be accepted into GUALA (GEAR UP Alumni Leadership Academy). He went to Washington D.C. for training and to meet with members of Congress. He committed to a year of advocating for GEAR UP, including contacting lawmakers and speaking on behalf of the program. He will be starting college this fall.
Charles
Atkinson
Age: 26
Producer,
North 40
Productions
A graduate of Wenatchee High School and the video program at the Wenatchee Skills Center, Charles went on to get his B.A. from a fi lm school in Los Angeles. After college he worked for a CBS TV series for a year and then an animation company until he was convinced his talents could be put to use back home. Since returning just over two years ago, he has taken over all project management respon-sibilities at North 40. He is the main client contact, manages schedules, sta� , production shoots and deliveries for each project. On top of all that, he writes many of of the scripts and has even starred in several projects.
HOMEFINDER’S GUIDE | August 2014Wenatchee Valley Business World
WENATCHEE ROTARY
& WEST SIDE FACULTY
THANK YOU WESTSIDE FUND FOR SPONSORING THIS AD
CONGRATULATE
ALI GUERRERO
FOR THIS RECOGNITION
OF HIS DEDICATION &
LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Woods & Brangwin, PLLC,
is proud our associate
Paul B. Webber
has been recognized
as a young leader
in our community.
Speaking Spanish allows Paul to
setxe oote people in out ÞtoÔs
practice areas of:
DUI � CRIMINAL DEFENSE
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION (L&I)
PERSONAL INJURY � FAMILY LAW
509.663.3915
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Carl PolsonAge: 29
Analyst for video
conferencing &
telemedicine,
Confl uence Health
In addition to his work at Confl uence Health, Carl owns Showbiz Northwest, an event production business that he began while he was still in high school. At his day job, he helped secure a grant to expand video confer-encing (telemedicine and distant learning) equipment and installs and troubleshoots video communication equipment throughout the growing Confl uence Health region. He has been involved with the American Cancer Society Relay For Life for seven years, including serving as event chair this year. He’s also on the board of the Lake Chelan Yacht Club. Having worked as a radio DJ, he’s well-known for his public speaking skills and is nearing completion of his B.S. in business management.
Dan FergusonAge: 28
Systems engineer,
North Central
Educational
Service District
Dan has worked for the ESD since age 20, when he was the youngest person hired by the district. As a systems engineer he assists school districts in meeting their technology needs. He attended Wenatchee Valley College while in high school, through the Running Start Program. He graduated from WVC in 2005 with an associate of technical science degree in Network Administration. For the past four years Dan pursued his passion for karate as a student at the Wenatchee School of Karate and is now a Black Belt. He now volun-teers his time to help newer students improve their skills. He is dedicated to the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society and animal rescue. He and his wife are foster parents for kittens and puppies.
Maria GuerraAge: 31
GEAR UP
director,
Eastmont
School District
After working for Washington State University as an admissions counselor and College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) recruiter, Maria joined the Eastmont School District as GEAR UP Director and quickly earned the respect and admiration of her colleagues and students. She gradu-ated from Washington State Univer-sity with a B.S. in 2007 and an M.A. in architectural studies in 2008. The recession shifted her passion for archi-tecture to that of promoting educa-tional advancement in low-income and under-represented youth. Although she is not designing buildings, she is helping students design their lives. As vice president of Fiestas Mexicanas, a nonprofi t organization ai liated to the Wenatchee Valley Museum, she has donated many hours of time and e� ort to share educational, traditional and historical values of the Mexican culture. In addition, she helps raise scholarship money for deserving students in the Wenatchee Valley.
Jordan CarrellAge: 30
Assistant vice president
& relationship manager,
U.S. Bank Commercial
Lending
Jordan Carrell manages a large commercial lending portfolio for U.S. Bank in North Central Washington. He serves clients in the commercial, investor property and agricultural industries. In addition to rising quickly as a bank oi cer, Jordan has served others while working overseas in Panama on micro-economic development and mentored Jesuit Volunteer Corps volun-teers in Wenatchee. Jordan is currently the treasurer and a board member of the Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary Club, and is active with the club’s Challenge Scholarship program. Growing up near Seattle, Jordan achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and earned a bachelor’s degree in business adminis-tration from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and a master’s degree in profes-sional accounting from the University of Washington in Seattle.
HOMEFINDER’S GUIDE | August 2014Wenatchee Valley Business World
Member FDIC
Congratulations Jordan Carrellfor being selected one of the Wenatchee Valley
Business World’s 30 Under 35.
At U.S. Bank, we take pride in being an active & vital member of the communities
we serve.
By investing our time, resources, and skills, we join our customers in supporting
the families, neighborhoods, and organizations that make this community vibrant.
U.S. Bank – committed to serving our customers and our community.
Visit us today for all your financial needs.
Jordan Carrell
One Fifth Street, Suite 350 | Wenatchee, WA 98801
509.665.2436
usbank.com
Congratulations, Dan Ferguson!one of the “best and brightest” in our community
North Central ESD“Leading, serving and supporting the
educational community
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Rebecca Allen
Age: 32
Owner/
director,
Next Step
Dance Studio
At age 26, Rebecca opened The Next Step Dance Studio Inc. in downtown Wenatchee and has since built it into a top-notch, award-winning studio that o� ers, ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, Broadway, lyrical, contemporary and 3-6 year- old combo classes. “Miss Becca,” as her students call her, is known for creating a long-lasting connec-tion with her students, helping them to achieve their highest level of dancing ability. The February “Broadway themed” show and her June recital productions at the Numerica Performing Arts Center have become must-see commu-nity favorites. Most recently, the studio represented Wenatchee at regional competitions in Seattle and Tacoma and won several top awards. Rebecca has also assisted Wenatchee High School, Cashmere High School and Music Theater of Wenatchee with dance choreogra-phy for their productions.
Alexis Scott
Age: 30
Universal Member
Service
Representative,
Numerica Credit Union
Alexis is a respected and outstanding employee at Numerica who has also used her talents in a big way to benefi t the community. She assists at Soloman’s Porch with fundraising and cooking for underprivileged teenagers, raises funds for the Humane Society and volunteers at the facility, participates in Relay for Life, helping to raise funds for cancer research and also volunteers for the local Special Olympics. “Her e� orts in the Wenatchee community are remarkable and commendable on both a personal and professional level,” her nominating letter said.
Reilly Kneedler
Age: 17
Student, Wenatchee
World sports/
Reilly Kneelder
Photography
Reilly seems to be everywhere at once, his camera always at the ready. At his young age, he is the editor-in-chief of the Scratching Post newspaper at Eastmont High School, social media director at EHS and part-time sports reporter and photographer for The Wenatchee World. Reilly also received a special award from Youth United that was created specifi cally for his level of community service. Normally the top award is for 500-plus hours of community service. Reilly volunteered over 2,400 hours for the year and was also chosen as the Volunteer Student of the Year for Chelan and Douglas counties. A large number of those hours have gone towards the Keep it in the Valley Foundation, in which he is the volunteer director. KVF raises money to send local high school students to college. He also runs a small photography business, acts as the student liaison to the Eastmont School Board and does various photo shoots for the high school and Eastmont School District.
Sarah Barkley
Age: 34
Professional
triathlete/coach
and trainer, Gold’s
Gym/SET Coaching
Sarah earned a degree in interna-tional business from the University of Montana and left a promising career in sales with a local company to explore her capabilities as a triathlete. As a member of the Wattie Ink’s Elite Team, Sarah achieved pro triathlete status last year. A fi erce competitor whose courage constantly propels her, she puts her all into achieving her life goals. This commitment to personal excel-lence makes her an outstanding coach, personal trainer and valuable leader in the community. She works at both Gold’s Gym and SET Coaching. She believes in Wenatchee and what it can o� er to those who wish to pursue their dreams — especially for those like her who are training to compete at a profes-sional level. Sarah volunteers with RunWenatchee and she keeps a blog about health and fi tness.
HOMEFINDER’S GUIDE | August 2014Wenatchee Valley Business World
You rock, Alexis.
30 under 35.
From your friends at Numerica.
CongratulationsR e b e c c a A l l e n “ M i s s B e c c a ”
O w n e r / D i r e c t o r
Quality, Award Winning Dance Instruction & Education
for ages-3-Adult in Jazz, Tap, Broadway, Combo Kids,
Hip Hop & Contemporary.
108 First Street
Wenatchee
509.662.8987