Laauli Faamausili, a crop insurance manager for Basin Pacific in Kennewick, has been chosen to participate in Class 38 of the AgForestry Leadership Program. The program offers leadership development for those who work in the natural resource industries and related services in Washington state. As a member of the class, Faamausili will attend seminars and study local, state, national and international public policy issues and how they relate. Faamausili will develop critical thinking and communication skills, promote collaboration and consider issues in the legislative decision-making process. The 18-month program, which began in the fall, consists of 12 in-state seminars, a seminar in Washington, D.C., and a two-week seminar in a foreign country.

Michele Acker-Hocevar, Washington State University Tri-Cities vice chancellor for academic affairs, was presented with a national award in November recognizing prolonged, exceptional service as co-editor of the Journal for Research on Leadership Education. The University Council for Educational Administration instituted the Distinguished Service award to recognize extraordinary commitment, excellence, leadership, productivity, generosity and service to the organization.

Louis Terminello, a chemist and acting director of physical and computational sciences at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, has been elected to the rank of Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Terminello was elected in the chemistry section for innovations in synchrotron radiation spectroscopy research in revealing electronic and atomic structure of new materials; and strategic leadership in the field of chemical imaging.

Terminello was recently appointed to head up physical and computational sciences at PNNL. Since joining the Lab in 2009, he has also served the chief science and technology officer for national security, and as the chief scientist for fundamental and computational sciences. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of California Berkeley. AAAS is an international nonprofit dedicated to advancing science, engineering and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all people.

The Kennewick Public Hospital District Board of Commissioners elected new officers at its November board meeting. The officers are elected for two-year terms, which begin Jan. 1, 2016. The new officers are Marvin Kinney, president; Jim Mefford, vice president; and Kathy Davidson, secretary.

The District operates two hospitals to accommodate the area’s growing population.

Claar Wine Group of Pasco and Broetje Orchards of Prescott were honored during the Association of Washington Business’ annual Manufacturing Summit in November. A panel of independent judges selected five winners from among 38 nominations.

Claar Wine Group receive a Green Manufacturing Award for its work preserving and enhancing Washington’s environment through ecologically-sensitive operations.

Broetje Orchards earned the Innovation Award for decades of creating strong communities while bringing new products to market, including its status as the exclusive American grower of the Opal apple.

Other award recipients included Fremont Brewing Company, the 2015 Manufacturer of the Year; Earth Friendly Products of Lacey, Green Manufacturing Award; and The Lighthouse for the Blind, which has operations in Seattle and Spokane, which received the Operational Excellence Award.

Former Congressman Doc Hastings and former Governor Chris Gregoire were given honorary life memberships to the Columbia Basin Development League for their support of the Columbia Basin Project.

Gregoire recognized the economic and environmental benefits and worked during her time in office to include Columbia Basin Project development in state funding opportunities.

Hastings support contributed to advancing and broadening understanding among the nation’s policy makers of the value of reclamation projects like the Columbia Basin Project.

Visit Tri-Cities elected five new board members to its 2016 board during its annual meeting in November.

The new board members are Christine Brown of Townsquare Media, Shae Frichette of Frichette Winery, Maynard Plahuta of the B Reactor Museum Association, Justin Raffa of Mid-Columbia Mastersingers and Rob Roxburgh of Washington River Protection Solutions.

Each of the board positions are for three year terms.

Dr. Fadi Alattar, M.D., an intervention cardiologist and Dr. Mouhamad Mansour, M.D., a general cardiologist, have joined Trios Health to help develop and grow its Heart Care Program.

Alattar recently completed an interventional cardiology fellowship at Seton hall University in West Orange, New Jersey. Since 2011, he has practiced cardiovascular medicine there and at Saint Michael Medical Center in Neward, New Jersey. Alatta is board certified in internal medicine, general cardiology, adult echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and transesophageal echocardiography. He is board eligible for interventional cardiology. Alattar is registered in vascular ultrasound interpretation. He received his medical training at the Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, Jordan.

Mansour recently completed a general cardiology fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Mich. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the same facility and received his doctorate in medicine from the University of Damascus Medical School in Damascus, Syria. Mansour is board certified in internal medicine. He is board eligible for cardiovascular disease specialty, comprehensive echocardiography and nuclear cardiology.

Homewood Suites by Hilton recently promoted two of its employees. Julia Thomas was recently promoted to assistant general manager of the Homewood Suites Richland. She was previously the hotel’s sales manager. Thomas is responsible for training and managing front desk operations along with assisting the general manager.

Sarah Malone was promoted to sales manager of the Homewood Suites Richland. She was previously the conference and catering coordinator at the hotel’s sister property, the Hampton Inn Richland. Malone is responsible for maintaining current contracts and acquiring new business through outside sales.

Michele Kiesz of Ritzville was elected as a new trustee on the Columbia Basin Development League Board effective in January. Kiesz is vice president of Kiesz Farms and president of Patty Kagele Farms. She farms dryland ground in the Ritzville area and manages irrigated ground in Grant County within the Odessa Ground Water Replacement study area. Kiesz will serve a three-year term.

Board members re-elected to three-year terms include: J.J. Danz of Mesa; Andy Erickson of Moses Lake; Bernard Erickson of Ritzville; Joe Gross of Marlin; Roger Hartwig of Ritzville; Rick Miller of Pasco; Chet Pedersen of Quincy; John Preston of Warden; Richard Stevens of Soap Lake; and William, Wagoner of Quincy.

Victory Media, publisher of G.I.Jobs®, named Energy Northwest a 2016 Miliary Friendly® Employer for its efforts in recruiting veterans to work at the public power agency. Criteria for the designation include a benchmark survey score across key programs and policies, such as the strength of company military recruiting efforts, percentage of new hires with prior military service, retention programs for veterans, and company policies on National Guard and Reserve Services.

Benton PUD Commissioner Lori Sanders was elected president of the Benton PUD Commission for 2016. Barry Bush was elected vice-president and Jeff Hall was elected secretary. Sanders became commissioner for Benton PUD in January 2005. She is the owner and president of Energy Incentives Inc., a consulting firm on conservation and renewable resources. Sanders, of Kennewick, also serves on the Energy Northwest Executive Board.

Benton PUD is directed by a three-member board of commissioners elected by citizens of Benton County. Each commissioner represents a different sector of the county and serves a six-year term. The election of officers takes place annually. Benton PUD serves 50,000 customers in Kennewick, Finely, Benton City, Prosser and outlying areas with electricity and wholesale telecommunications.