NEW HIRES

• Melanie Hoefer, licensed real estate agent, has joined EverStar Realty in Kennewick as vice president of business operations. In her new role, she will focus on commercial real estate transactions and assist with marketing and other business functions. Her professional experience includes positions in management, sales, consulting, employee concerns and media. She is the former founder and president of the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business and Senior Times. She has a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University and a bachelor’s in communication studies from Eastern Washington University.

• Alicia Myers joined the Port of Benton as director of finance. Her responsibilities include the overall administration of the port’s financial operations, office administration, and management of employee payroll, benefits, hiring and training activities. Myers’ most recent role was director of finance for Port of Skagit. She previously served as director of finance for Mount Baker School District and as assistant state auditor and fraud specialist for the Washington State Auditor’s Office.

• Chris Mantie is the new senior vice president of retail at Numerica. He will oversee retail operations for Numerica’s 22 branches across the Tri-Cities, Spokane, North Idaho and Wenatchee. He brings more than 20 years of experience in the financial industry, most recently serving as vice president of retail sales and service at First Tech Federal Credit Union. 

• Kevin Hebdon was selected as finance director for the city of Pasco. He currently serves as accounting manager for Ben Franklin Transit and previously spent six years as the executive director of fiscal services for the Pasco School District. Hebdon will oversee the city’s financial operations, including budgeting, financial reporting, internal controls, debt management and long-term financial planning and begins his new role Dec. 29.

• David Rosenthal has been named the director of winemaking at L’Ecole No. 41. Prior to joining L’Ecole, he was a consultant to some of the leading wineries in the Pacific Northwest. Before launching his consultancy, he spent 22 years in a variety of roles at Chateau Ste. Michelle, culminating as their head white winemaker. He has also held roles with leading wineries in Australia, New Zealand, Napa Valley and Willamette Valley.

PROMOTIONS

• Derek Brownson has been promoted to commercial team leader at Washington Trust Bank in Kennewick. He joined the bank in May of last year. He has more than 25 years of experience in banking and expertise in areas including agriculture, equipment financing, construction and development, and small business lending. Brownson is a graduate of Eastern Washington University and Pacific Coast Banking School.

• Brandon Allison of Richland-based Gesa Credit Union has been promoted to vice president of community impact. He leads Gesa’s community-focused initiatives, including the High School Credit Union program, Affinity Debit Card Program, financial education and community outreach. Allison has been with Gesa since 2009, holding progressive leadership roles in the Member Contact Center and Learning & Development. Since 2013, he has led the high school program, growing it to 24 student-operated branches across Washington. Allison has also led the growth of Gesa’s Affinity Debit Card program, expanding the program from two local districts to now supporting 32 school districts and universities.

• Pat Hanulik of Richland-based Gesa Credit Union has been promoted to vice president of enterprise risk management. He oversees enterprise risk management, business continuity, vendor management, and corporate insurance functions. Hanulik began his credit union career in 2001 with School Employees Credit Union of Washington. After the Gesa-Inspirus merger, he played a key role in strengthening the organization’s risk management capabilities and business continuity program.

BOARDS

• Ryan J. Redmond, CEO of Benton REA, has been elected vice president of Northwest Requirements Utilities, a nonprofit trade association representing the interests of 56 mostly small, mostly rural retail electric utilities.

• Van Cummings of Richland, a former Kennewick High School principal, will be the newest member of the Washington State School Board. He was chosen by members of local school boards in Eastern Washington to serve on the state board. He begins his term in January. He replaces Ryan Brault, a former Pasco School District board member, who has been on the state board since 2017. Cummings spent 40 years working in public education. His experience includes teaching English language arts to fourth- through sixth-graders during Othello School District’s Migrant Summer School and helping establish the Air Force JROTC program at two high schools, including Kennewick High, which he retired from in 2015. Cummings has continued to serve in education as an interim administrator at schools and also as a long-term substitute teacher in Kennewick.

AWARDS

• Pasco School District Superintendent Michelle Whitney was named 2026 Washington State Superintendent of the Year by the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA). The Pasco native has led the district since 2016 after starting her career as an elementary school teacher. Pasco has nearly 19,000 students and 2,250 staff. It opened two new high schools this school year as it seeks to accommodate community growth while also meeting the needs of its diverse population and preparing students for future careers. That effort hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Pasco High School’s Gabriela Whitemarsh being named 2026 Washington State Teacher of the Year. Whitney will now be eligible for National Superintendent of the Year, which will be announced in February.

• Pasco’s Chiawana High School is the recipient of the 2025 Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL) Culture Kick-Off Award. This award is given by the AWSL and the Association of Washington School Principals. The statewide recognition celebrates schools that demonstrate an intentional, inclusive and student-centered approach to building a positive school culture at the start of the academic year. Chiawana’s application stood out for its collaborative spirit, student leadership and community-centered vision that have revitalized the school’s culture and strengthened connections between students and staff.

• Heidi Morrison, a registered nurse, is the latest recipient of Trios Health’s DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Since joining Kennewick’s Trios Health in April 2023 as part of the medical/surgical team, she has consistently demonstrated a commitment to caring for some of the organization’s most complex and vulnerable patients. She was nominated by a patient’s family member who appreciated both the care she provided for her patient and the support she provided to the family.

• The Richland Desert Wind Toastmasters Club has earned the President’s Distinguished Club status for the 2024-25 Toastmasters year, the highest recognition bestowed by the international organization. The status is awarded to clubs that meet or exceed rigorous membership and education goals, including educational awards, new member additions, officer training and on-time membership renewals. Founded in 1994, the Desert Wind club is a part of District 2 and meets at noon every Thursday at the Columbia Basin College Medical Science Center, Room 204, 940 Northgate Drive, Richland. The club welcomes anyone eager to build confidence in public speaking and strengthen their leadership skills. Go to: 7308.toastmastersclubs.org.

• State Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, has been named a Washington Trucking Association’s Legislator of the Year, a new annual honor recognizing state lawmakers who demonstrate exceptional leadership on issues affecting Washington’s trucking industry and the broader supply chain. As ranking member of the Senate Energy, Environment and Technology Committee and chair of the bipartisan Supply Chain Caucus, Boehnke has focused on policies that support energy reliability, modern infrastructure and the adoption of innovative technologies that keep freight moving safely and efficiently. 

• Visit Tri-Cities honored two standout contributors to the local tourism and hospitality industry during its 2025 Annual Meeting and Tourism Showcase on Dec. 3. Vijay Patel of A-1 Hospitality Group received the Kris Watkins Tourism Champion Award for his leadership, stewardship and continued investment in elevating visitor experiences throughout the Tri-Cities. A-1 Hospitality owns and operates a number of tourism properties in the Tri-Cities with three new projects currently under construction. Home2 Suites by Hilton Richland was named the Excellence in Service Award recipient. General Manager Lacey Stephens and her team were recognized for their warm, guest-centered hospitality and commitment to making every visitor feel welcome and appreciated.

DONATIONS

• The Benton Franklin Fair donated $10,200 to support cancer prevention efforts through its longstanding Tough Enough to Wear Pink program. Each year, fair and rodeo attendees are encouraged to wear pink on the Thursday during the fair week to raise awareness about breast cancer. The funds will benefit several area health care organizations – Prosser Memorial Hospital Foundation, Grace Clinic and the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation – supporting a variety of prevention, screening and patient-assistance programs. Over the past 17 years, the fair has donated more than $234,000 to support free mammograms, screenings, follow-up care and other support services.

• Kennewick High School leadership students have donated more than 3,000 food and household items to support Kennewick School District families in need. Desert Hills Middle School contributed nearly 3,000 additional items to help expand the reach of the food drive. Students from both schools assembled grab-and-go bags with the donated items to distribute to families during a special resource fair.

• The 25th annual Autumn Affair fundraiser on Nov. 15 raised more than $550,000, a record amount. The money is used to support programs, services and equipment that assist patients receiving treatment at the Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center in Kennewick. The event included a silent and live auction as well as games. A special appeal was introduced by Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation Board Treasurer Zach Fisher and Kadlec neurosurgeon Dr. Andrew Bieber who discussed the need for a new surgical navigation system to assist with procedures on aggressive brain tumors. Participants collectively pledged $180,000 toward a StealthStation S8 surgical navigation system for Kadlec.

• Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS) has donated $313,500 toward scholarships for students. HMIS made the donation in observance of national scholarship month in November. The Hanford contractor supported students through the American Indian Science & Engineering Society, Hispanic Academic Achievers Program, and Columbia Basin College Foundation, as well as HMIS employee dependents and cooperative student interns.

• Ben Franklin Transit donated a 2013 seven-passenger Dodge Caravan to TC Futures on Dec. 2. TC Futures is an organization that works to empower youth aged 16-24 who are seeking post-secondary education or employment.