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April 29th, 2008Member Announcements, April 29, 2008
Synergy Salon to Donate 10% of Services to Skagit Women Build During April
During the month of April, Synergy Salon in Mount Vernon is donating 10% of receipts to Women Build. If you've been putting of that favorite something for yourself, this is a perfect opportunity/excuse to schedule an appointment now.
Synergy Salon and Day Spa
(360) 428-5055
Limited Space — Call for your appointment today!

Skagit Habitat for Humanity Women Build Training at Lowe's April 29
Subject: Sheeting, Siding and Window Installment
Date: Tuesday April 29th 6pm - 7:30pm
Location: Lowes in Mount Vernon, back by lumber
Please RSVP to Sarah Johnson at sarah.johnson@macerich.com or at 360-757-2072.
Ladies should bring good shoes, safety glasses and gloves (if preferred).
Tools will be provided to complete the training but you are welcome to bring your own tools as well.

Mapping Your Future Career Expo at Skagit Valley College May 6
Are you mapping out bigger and better business plans? Are you looking for the right employees to help you reach your desired growth?
Let Skagit Valley College provide a path to qualified job seekers, expand your business network and increase exposure for your business. It's your roadmap to success…it’s the SVC annual Career Expo.  We invite you to exhibit with us…and map your future with trained, motivated job candidates!
May 6th, from 11 am - 3:00 pm in the Dave DuVall Pavilion on the Mount Vernon campus.  Call 360-416-7743 or visit www.skagit.edu/careerexpo  to register and find up-to-date information.
Sponsored by Skagit Valley College and Skagit Valley Herald

Anacortes Chamber to Offer Financial Seminar
Back by popular demand, local attorney Gary Jacobson and financial planner Larry Morrison will be conducting a planning seminar on Friday, June 20 from 9:00-4:00. The Chamber-sponsored seminar is designed for business owners who are considering buying or selling their companies. The material will also cover related estate planning, business valuation and tax issues, internal and family succession considerations, shareholder buy/sell agreements, and employment contracts and non-competes as essential parts of any comprehensive package.
The seminar will be taught by two nationally recognized experts in the field. Larry Morrison takes primary responsibility for "financial engineering", as well as tax-structuring such transactions. Gary Jacobson is a business attorney. Together they have planned and implemented hundreds of these transactions.
In addition to six hours of instruction, attendees are also provided 160 pages in handout materials. The response to this seminar last year was uniformly positive. If you are considering any financial change to your business, this is great information.
Cost of the seminar for Chamber members is $50. Questions or to enroll, please contact the Chamber office @ 293-7911.

OASYS, Inc. Named NW Business Monthly Small Business of the Year
OASYS, Inc., the largest independently owned and operated copier dealership headquartered north of Seattle, has been named 2007 Small Business of the Year for Skagit County.
The award from Northwest Business Monthly recognizes the phenomenal growth of Burlington-based OASYS, owned by Allen Grenz and Troy Wright, and its contributions to local nonprofit organizations.
While the retail copier industry has experienced little growth in recent years, OASYS has soared from $1 million in revenue in 2000 to nearly $5 million in 2007. Last year’s company highlight was the acquisition of Bellingham-based Office Systems Northwest. Both the Burlington office at 1575 Port Drive and the downtown Bellingham office at 1204 Cornwall Ave. operate as OASYS Office Automation Systems.
OASYS focuses on printer/copier sales and service while also offering fax machines, color printing systems and document-management systems. The company’s connectivity specialist program ensures that digitally connected copiers work smoothly with the specific software applications and network infrastructure of each client.
For more information, call (360) 755-0309 or (866) 805-0309 or visit www.OasysInc.com.

Business Bank adds local banker Debbie Hogue to the Bellingham Branch and promotes John Cruikshank to Chief Lending Officer
Debbie Hogue has been hired as VP Branch Manager for the Bellingham Branch of Business Bank. Ms. Hogue brings 18 years of banking experience to the team, all of them with local customers in Bellingham. Most recently she held the banking position of Licensed Relationship Manager, helping clients with Commercial Lending, Consumer Lending, Investments and Insurance. Ms. Hogue is an active member of United Way of Whatcom County, Junior Achievement, Bellingham School District PTA and March of Dimes. "Debbie’s extensive banking background and commitment to the Bellingham community will make her an outstanding leader for the Bellingham Branch," stated Vice President of Operations Karen Pitt. Ms. Hogue lives in Bellingham with her two children.
John Cruikshank of Business Bank has been promoted to Chief Lending Officer. Mr. Cruikshank has been with Business Bank for nearly 18 months and possesses more than 17 years of banking experience, including time spent as a Credit Risk Officer, a Chief Credit Officer and a Loan Officer. Mr. Cruikshank is also an active board member of the Ferndale Boys & Girls Club here in Whatcom County. "We are fortunate in having someone of John’s background and talent on the Business Bank team," said President and CEO Don Zimmerman. Mr. Cruikshank lives in Whatcom County with his wife Linda and three children.

Diversint Receives SBA HUBzone Certification
Diversint recently completed the requirements for the Small Business Administration’s HUBZone certification. Along with our active CCR registration, we are now recognized as an authorized SBA small business entity with specific bid advantages related to HUBZones.
A HUBZone certification recognizes SBA businesses in economically disadvantaged geographies of the United States that have gone through a number of qualifying steps to achieve recognition by the Small Business Administration. The certification allows Diversint to now conduct business with federal agencies throughout the United States. Agencies must allocate certain percentages of their budget to small businesses recognized by the SBA and receive other benefits by allocating a portion of their small business to HUBZone authorized businesses. Diversint is now active in the federal contractor registry and expects to be called upon to bid for projects originating from the many federal departments with offices in the Western United States.
For more information, contact Diversint at 428-7065 or www.diversint.com.

3D Corporation Adds 3 Engineers
3D Corporation has announced 3 new staff members; Euphrates Greene, Shaun Conley and Kurt Fossen. Greene holds a degree in Applied Technology as well as 6 years of IT experience. Conley comes to us with a degree in Computer Information Systems and 4 years of IT experience. Fossen holds a degree in Business/Management Information Systems as well as 3 years of IT experience.
"Due to unprecedented growth in contract services in the first quarter of 2008, we needed to expand our technical team. With the new additions we should be fully staffed until recruiting again in the summer," says Dave Koshinz, CEO. "We have a top notch team and expect continued strong growth through 2010."

Skagit State Bancorp, Inc. Announces Purchase of all Shares Held by Frontier Financial Corporation
Skagit State Bancorp, Inc., the parent company of Skagit State Bank, today announced that it had purchased 85,022 shares of its common stock held by Frontier Financial Corporation, Everett, Washington, at $180 per share in a private transaction.  Frontier Financial Corporation had acquired their shares since 2004 from private shareholders.
Cheryl R. Bishop, President and CEO stated that "We are pleased that our strong capital position allowed us this opportunity to purchase the largest outstanding block of our stock. It is exciting that this event occurs as we are poised to celebrate our 50th year in the banking business."
Following the purchase, Skagit State Bancorp's Tier 1 capital level will still be a strong 10%, which far exceeds Federal banking requirements to be considered "well-capitalized." Bancorp's risk-based capital ratio will exceed 14%, also well above the "well-capitalized" threshold.
Skagit State Bancorp, Inc. is the parent bank holding company for Skagit State Bank, headquartered in Burlington, Washington. As of December 31, 2007, Bancorp had $593 million in assets. The Bank operates through 13 offices in Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties.
Skagit State Bank was founded in Skagit County in 1958. Locally operated, Skagit State Bank has 13 offices in Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties. From personal checking, savings, credit cards, home loans, and online banking, to providing businesses with complete financial services, Skagit State offers financial services as diverse as the people that they serve. Skagit State Bank is committed to the community in ways that enhance the everyday lives of its people and businesses.

Premier Active Adult Community To Begin Construction in Mount Vernon
Potential home buyers will have a new selection to choose from in the Montreaux Active Adult Community. Landed Gentry Homes and Communities recently purchased the plat developed by Chaffey Homes and have designed the community for those over the age of 55. The model home located in Mount Vernon will begin construction in April with the Grand Opening taking place in July. Pre-grand opening specials are available for those who want to have first selection of homesites.
"The Montreaux neighborhood is a great fit for Landed Gentry.” Brian Gentry, President of Landed Gentry said. “It allows us to bring our high quality, lifestyle focused homes to one of Mount Vernon’s premier locations." The Montreaux Community will be conveniently located in Mount Vernon off Waugh Road, directly outside the entrance to Eaglemont Golf Course. The community will mainly consist of single-level homes ranging in size from 1300 to 2700 square feet with prices likely starting around $359,900. Yard maintenance will be taken care of by the homeowners association.
To receive more information on the Montreaux Active Adult Community please visit the information center at Landed Gentry’s Big Fir Active Adult Community at 1620 Grand Avenue, Mount Vernon, WA 98274 or contact Gregg Murphy at 360-661-1490.
Landed Gentry has been building homes in Skagit and Island Counties since 1979 and is family owned and operated by Kendall and Nancy Gentry along with their son Brian Gentry and their daughter Kendra Gentry-Decker. For more information on Landed Gentry please visit www.LandedGentryHomes.com.