NEW HIRES

• Derek Forza is a new principal engineer at Harpster Land Development in Pasco. He graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering. He has 10 years of experience and has been a licensed professional engineer since 2021.

• Dr. Eric W. Perttula is a new physician at Prosser Memorial Health’s Occupational Medicine Clinic. He has more than two decades of clinical experience serving working populations through roles in private practice, occupational health consulting and medical leadership. He has extensive experience in workplace safety evaluations, medical surveillance programs, return-to-work assessments, and the treatment of work-related injuries. His background includes service as a city physician, medical director for multiple organizations and chair of physician credentialing committees. Perttula earned his medical degree from Michigan State University and completed his family practice residency at Flower Hospital in Ohio.

• Natasha Mendonca is the new senior vice president and relationship manager for Washington Trust Bank’s commercial banking team in Kennewick. She brings more than 15 years of experience in finance, credit and business operations, with a strong focus on the agricultural sector. Mendonca holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Gonzaga University and most recently worked as chief financial officer for a multi-division agricultural enterprise.

• Rohana Carmichael is the new economic development program manager for the Port of Pasco. She previously worked as the economic development manager for the city of Kennewick.

• Nicholas Manke is the newest addition to Prosser Memorial Health’s Orthopedic Center. He is a certified physician assistant with more than a decade of advanced clinical experience across trauma surgery, acute care surgery, vascular surgery, interventional radiology and outpatient care. At Prosser Orthopedic Center, Manke provides a range of services including orthopedic care, acute care, wound care, patient education and referrals to specialists. Manke earned his Master of Science in physician assistant studies from the University of St. Francis in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from the University of New Mexico.

• Dr. Jason Johnson is the newest addition to the Almond Orthodontics team. He was born and raised in Provo, Utah. He stayed in Provo for his undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University before moving to Glendale, Arizona, for his dental training at Midwestern University. Johnson then completed his three-year orthodontic residency at the University of Washington in Seattle.

• Tiffany Wilson has joined Kennewick’s Petersen Hastings Wealth Advisors as an executive administrative assistant. She spent six years supporting Hanford contractors, including serving as a program manager for a Hanford Mission Integration Solutions administrative contractor, and also worked in accounts payable at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory  and to support audit and control functions at the Yakima County Assessor’s Office.

PROMOTIONS

• Audrey Burney has been promoted to director of economic development at Port of Benton. She joined the port in 2024, working as a real estate manager. Before joining the port, Burney worked at Gesa Credit Union as a commercial property administrator, where she developed property procedures and served as the primary contact for tenants and external property managers for leased facilities.

• Baker Boyer has promoted four bank employees:

Melody Bastion was promoted to assistant vice president | branch manager. She joined Baker Boyer as a personal banker in 2011 and was later promoted to assistant branch manager in 2014 and branch manager in 2020.

Elisabeth Holt was promoted to assistant vice president | Tri-Cities manager after working for two years as Tri-Cities manager. She is highly engaged in the community, serving on several boards and actively cultivating connections throughout the Tri-Cities.

Asha Breitenfeldt was promoted to vice president | trust advisor in the Tri-Cities. She has worked as an associate vice president since 2023 and has been a member of the Tri-Cities office for more than 20 years.

MaryAbigail Dills was promoted to vice president | marketing director. She previously worked as the marketing director and serves on the Yakima Humane Society Board as incoming vice president and volunteers with several local organizations, including on the Yakima Country Club events committee.

DONATIONS

• The Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties received $1,500 worth of clubhouse decorating items from UScellular, which is now part of T-Mobile. The decor will be used to furnish their new clubhouse, including new posters, a rug, a couch and toys. This donation is one of more than 50 the company is making across the country to nonprofits. Community members are also invited to join in giving back by donating items at any local UScellular retail store. All collected items will stay local.

• The Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant donated more than $39,000 in toys and cash to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves’ Toys for Tots and Local 598’s Bikes for Tikes campaigns.

• Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS) has donated $25,000 in goods and cash to several local nonprofits: Tri-Cities Chaplaincy, Domestic Violence Services, I-24 Foster Kids, Meals on Wheels, My Friends Place and the Wishing Star Foundation. In addition, HMIS also pesented checks to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Foundation, Modern Living Services, and United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties.

• Navarro-ATL raised $4,200 at its annual Vets ‘n Pets Bake Sale, surpassing the original $3,500 goal. The Benton Franklin Humane Society and the Columbia Basin Veterans Center each received $2,100. Additionally, the Navarro-ATL Holiday Food Drive collected 1,240 items, valued at about $2,200, for the Hanford Atomic Metal Trades Council Food Drive. Combined employee and company monetary donations for the drive totaled $2,500, further supporting the effort.

AWARDS

• John Hairston, CEO of Bonneville Power Administration, was recognized by Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) during the Leadership in Energy Efficiency Awards ceremony. The annual event highlights individuals and organizations propelling energy conservation efforts, initiatives and practices throughout the Northwest. Hairston received NEEA’s 2025 Chairperson’s Award for his work advancing energy conservation, transforming energy markets and pursuing BPA’s mission to deliver reliable, affordable electricity through the region.

• Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho has announced two honorees from the Tri-Cities for its 2026 Women of Distinction Award:

Elouise Sparks, the program director for the Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Program, which offers African American girls in grades 10-12 a chance to compete for college scholarships.

Ann-Erica Whitemarsh, the founder of Rascal Rodeo, a nonprofit which hosts adaptive rodeos across seven states for those of all ages with developmental and/or physical disabilities.

• Ruth Livingston Elementary School in Pasco was named as a 2025 National ESEA Distinguished School, an honor awarded by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators. The school received this honor for exceptional student performance and academic growth. Students showed strong academic growth during the 2024-25 school year across all tested subjects. As part of this honor, Principal Joe Jisa is expected to attend the National ESEA Conference on Feb. 10-12 in Denver, Colorado, to be recognized alongside other schools nationwide.

• Jared Balcom, a fourth-generation potato grower from Pasco, has been named The Packer’s 2026 Potato Person of the Year. Recognized by his peers and the National Potato Council, Balcom was honored for his instrumental role in modernizing the organization and helping to guide the industry through uncertainty with a focus on the future. The Packer presented Balcom, owner of Balcom & Moe, with the award Jan. 8 in conjunction with the National Potato Council during Potato Expo 2026. Balcom served as president of the council in 2022 and is a current member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee. The council said Balcom led an industry transition from a defensive posture to a proactive policy agenda. The council also recognized Balcom’s longtime involvement in the potato industry. Balcom is a graduate of the Potato LEAF Leadership Institute.

CERTIFICATION

• Nathan Finke, a news assistant and researcher for the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, recently completed his remote pilot certification through the Federal Aviation Administration. This license allows Finke to operate small drones for commercial purposes, like aerial photography for the Journal.

GRANTS

• T-Mobile gave a total of $20 million to 450 small communities across the United States, including Mesa. The grant will go toward the Mesa School & Community Garden, a multiuse outdoor learning and recreation space that supports education, wellness, environmental stewardship and community connection.

• United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties was selected as a recipient of the Greater Health Now Communities to Excellence (C2E) grant, receiving $50,000 to support its Attendance Matters Mentoring Program. The C2E grant investment will strengthen United Way’s efforts to improve student attendance by addressing barriers that contribute to chronic absenteeism.

• Tri-Tech Skills Center in Kennewick has received a $2,500 grant from AgWest through the Rural Community Grant program. The funds will go toward Tri-Tech’s firefighting and emergency medical services program.