News & Notes

Mid-Valley Children's Clinic: Samaritan's Mid-Valley Children's Clinic in Albany recently welcomed pediatrician Adam Paul. He is accepting new patients.

Paul received a medical degree from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. He completed an internship and residency training at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. He and his wife enjoy ethnic cooking, bed and breakfast traveling and hiking with their two young sons.

Mid-Valley Children's Clinic can be reached at 812-5111.

Customer service awards: Ben Dole of Phoenix Suites, Cindy Alire of Novak's Hungarian Restaurant, Jannine Sanders of Comfort Suites Inn and Kandi Sanderbrink of Holiday Inn Express have been selected as customer service award winners by the Albany Visitors Association and the Willamette Valley Visitors Association.

They were selected from a drawing of employees nominated for extraordinary service by visitors to the area. They will receive a check for $100 and a certificate of appreciation.

Windermere/Willamette Valley Albany: Jennifer Stitzel has joined the real estate sales team at Windermere/Willamette Valley, Albany. Stitzel recently passed the state and national real estate exams. She has been involved with sales in the past, helping to establish Trebelle Boutique. She has lived in Linn and Benton counties for more than 20 years. She has been married for 16 years and is the mother of two sons. She is involved with her children's activities through the Boys and Girls Club and their local schools.

Contact Stitzel at 990-4440 or 791-3929. E-mail: jenniferstitzel@windermere.com.

Windermere/Willamette Valley Corvallis: Mickey Bernhardt has joined Windermere/Willamette Valley in its Corvallis office. Bernhardt has been an area Realtor for more than 2½ years and has a background in title and escrow. She is the former owner of a graphic arts photo lab in Los Angeles, Calif. She is a member of the Willamette Association of Realtors (WAOR), National Association of Realtors (NAR) and Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service (WVMLS).

She is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Corvallis, will chair the 2008 pancake party and attends the Northwest Hills Community Church. Contact her at 541-908-2352 or 541-754-6101; E-mail: mickeybernhardt@windermere.com.

New bank director: Rick Smith is a new member of the Board of Directors at Willamette Community Bank. Smith owns R.P. Smith CPA, PC an accounting firm in Albany.

"The board is fortunate to have Rick Smith as our newest director," said board chair Kent Hickam. "With his experience in public accounting, Rick will be a valuable asset to our bank as we continue expanding our market presence in the Mid-Willamette Valley".

Willamette Community Bank is a locally owned community bank with offices in Albany and Lebanon.

Healthcare Fellow: Gerald A McIntosh, FACHE, President of the N.W. Leadership Group, Albany,recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation's leading professional society for healthcare leaders.

Only 7,500 healthcare executives hold the Fellow distinction. To obtain Fellow status, candidates must pass a comprehensive examination, meet academic and experiential criteria, earn continuing education credits and demonstrate professional/community involvement. Fellows are also committed to ongoing professional development and undergo recertification every three years.

For more information regarding the FACHE credential, contact the ACHE Division of Membership at 312-424-9400 or membership1@ache.org, or visit the credentialing area of ache.org.

New address: Art of Touch Massage has moved to 340 1st Ave S.E. The practice has been expanded to include massage, body wraps, and herbal scrubs . For more information call 926-5663

Thinking about a franchise? The Small Business Development Center at Linn-Benton Community College offers "How to Find and Evaluate a Franchise" from 6-9 p.m. on March 6, on the Albany campus College Center Bldg., CC-210. Topics include locating and researching a franchise; eight important rules; costs involved; and legal issues. Cost is $49. Call 917-4923 to reserve space.

Visit www.bizcenter.org and www.linnbenton.edu/go/sbdc.

Business calendar

Feb. 26: Selling your home in a challenging market. Albany Phoenix Inn, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Free. Pre-register at realestatetalk

@KGAL.com or call 541-791-9310.

Feb. 26: Lorrie Vogel, general manager of Nike's Considered Design division, will talk about "How Nike is Reducing Its Environmental Footprint and Incorporating Sustainability into Its Products." Noon to 1:30 p.m., at the CH2M Hill Alumni Center in Ballroom 110C. Free. Part of the Sustainability Lecture Series sponsored by the OSU College of Business.

Feb. 27: Albany Area Chamber of Commerce forum luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Linn County Fair & Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road. Guest speaker will be Supt. Timothy F. McLain of the Oregon State Police. Cost: $13 to $18. Contact the chamber at 926-1517 or info@albanychamber.com.

Feb. 28: The Lebanon Jaycees and Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce will host the annual community service awards banquet at the Elks Lodge at 6 p.m. at the Elks Lodge. Prime rib or halibut dinner.

Feb. 29: Lebanon Chamber of Commerce forum, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital career training center. RSVP to mary@lebanon-chamber.org by Feb. 25. Cost: $10. Topic: 2008 chamber goals.

March 4: Buying a home in an always changing market, Albany Phoenix Inn, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Free. Pre-register at realestatetalk@KGAL.com or call 541-791-9310.

March 4: Conflict Style and Communication, free workshop, 12 to 12:50 p.m., Lebanon Center, LBCC. Register at: http://sis.linnbenton.edu, or in person at the Lebanon or Sweet Home Centers.

March 4-6: Oregon Employer Council annual state conference for business, The Riverhouse Hotel and Conference Center, Bend. Call 503-947-1305 or visit www.workingoregon.org/oec.

March 5: Women in Business Seminar, "Balancing Your Two Lives: How to Work Towards Work/Life Balance." 11:30 a.m., Spring Hill Country Club, 155 Country Club Lane N.W. $20, reservations required. Contact the Albany chamber at 926-1517 or e-mail info@albanychamber.com.

March 5: Legal Hiring Practices, 8:30 a.m.-noon, Holiday Inn Express, Opal Court S.E., Albany. Presented by the Linn Benton Employer Council and the Albany and Lebanon chambers of commerce. $59 per person, or $49 for Albany or Lebanon chamber members. Make checks to Linn Benton Employer Council, 139 4th Ave. S.E., Albany, OR 97321. Deadline is March 3.

March 8: Albany Area Chamber of Commerce distinguished service awards banquet. Social 6 p.m., dinner 6:30 p.m. at Linn-Benton Community College. Theme: Albany Can-Can!, dress in your best "business burlesque" attire. $60 per person, payable to Albany Chamber, 435 1st Ave W., Box 548 Albany, 97321.

March 11: What is investment property and is it right for you? Albany Phoenix Inn, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Free. Pre-register at realestatetalk@KGAL.com or call 541-791-9310.

March 11: Linn Soil and Water Conservation District meeting, 7 p.m., district office, 33935 Highway 99E, Suite C, Tangent. Open to the public.

March 18: The Impact of Decision-Making on Personal Finances, free workshop, 12 to 12:50 p.m., Lebanon Center, LBCC. Register at: http://sis.linnbenton.edu, or in person at the Lebanon or Sweet Home Centers.

March 28-30: Log Home and Timber Frame Expo, Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Drive, Portland. 50 leading companies, plus experts in a variety of log home and timber frame home options. $15 for 3-day pass. 15 and under free. Tickets at the door. Show hours: March 28: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; March 29: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; March 30: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Included with entry fee is a one-year subscription to Country's Best Log Homes or Log Homes Illustrated. For info visit www.logexpo.com or call 1-888-LOG-EXPO.

April 11-12: Oregon 4-H Leaders Forum, Dallas High School, 1250 Holman Ave. Register by March 31 by calling Linn County OSU Extension or online at http://oregon.4h.oregonstate.edu/people/volunteers/forum_or_leaders.html.

April 22: Second annual Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, River Center, 3000 South Santiam Highway, Lebanon. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. $50 per booth plus $10 for electrical power. Contact Shelly Garrett, chamber director, at 258-7164 or shelley@lebanonchamber.org.