NEW HIRES

• Serina Ratliff is the newest addition to Washington Trust Bank’s commercial team in Kennewick. She will serve as the vice president and relationship manager. Ratliff has over 25 years of banking experience and most recently worked for Morgan Chase as a senior business relationship manager.

• Dr. Thu Ha Nguyen has joined Trios Health as a general surgeon in Kennewick. She will see patients for broad general surgery, endoscopy, gallbladders, appendectomies, hernia repairs, and breast and soft tissue cases. She received her medical doctorate from LSU Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana.

• Mark Schuster is the new director of industry-connected programs at Washington State University Tri-Cities. He previously spent nearly 30 years working in various management and executive leadership positions at Lamb Weston. He also recently served as a board member for the Tri-City Development Council and the Association of Washington Business, advocating business-friendly policies at the local, state, and national levels. In his new position, Schuster aims to enhance the Career Center, connecting students with job, internship and cooperative education opportunities.

• Dr. Ravinder Samra is the new board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist at Good Shepherd Women’s Center in Hermiston. He completed his Doctor of Medicine from Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, and later completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology from Hurley Medical Center at Michigan State University in Flint. Since 2009, he practiced in the Tri-Cities before joining Good Shepherd Health Care System.

• Catherine Spomer is the latest nurse practitioner to join Good Shepherd Health Care’s medical staff team. She joins Dr. Joyce Koh at Good Shepherd Gastroenterology in Hermiston. Spomer completed her nursing degree from Indiana University School of Nursing in Indianapolis and earned her Master of Science in nursing – family nurse practitioner from Purdue University Global. She recently practiced in the Tri-Cities for several years.

• Ryan Kelly is the new public information officer for the Kennewick Police Department. He succeeds Isaac Merkl, who previously held the top communications role at the police department for the past three years. Kelly has been with the department for 22 years, previously serving as a corporal in 2011, a sergeant since 2016, and most recently as the supervisor of the Major Crimes Investigations Division.   

• Anneliese Fenley is the new Women & Children’s Director for the Tri-City Union Gospel Mission. She brings more than two decades of experience serving women, children and families impacted by homelessness, trauma and crisis.

• Dr. Richard Lin is the new board-certified dermatologist at Prosser Memorial Health’s Specialty Clinic. He brings extensive clinical and academic experience, offering comprehensive medical dermatology services including skin cancer detection and treatment, skin surgeries, care for rashes and dermatitis, acne, rosacea, psoriasis and mole/wart removal. Lin completed his Doctor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, earned a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Oxford, and holds a Bachelor of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He completed his dermatology residency at New York University and has served patients across Washington State. Lin has contributed to medical research with more than 20 academic publications and has been recognized with numerous honors, including being a Marshall Scholarship recipient.

• Dr. Madalina Mindrut is the new pediatrician at Good Shepherd Pediatrics in Hermiston. She completed her Doctor of Medicine from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago, Illinois, and her pediatric residency from Advocate Lutheran General Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. Mindrut has 16 years of experience serving patients from newborns up to age 26.

• Kaysey Anderson has joined SVN Retter and Company in Kennewick as a commercial real estate advisor specializing in commercial sales and leasing. Her practice supports retail, land, and development-oriented opportunities, with a focus on helping business owners, investors and development teams make thoughtful real estate decisions that align with long-term growth.

AWARDS

• Sara Nelson Design of Kennewick has won multiple awards in San Francisco Chronicle’s 2026 national wine awards competition. The Best of Class award in the “Packaging: Surface Designs” category went to the Dr. Dirt label, which was created by veteran designer Sara Nelson, featuring an illustration by the company’s illustrator, Emma Faleyev, a 2024 Pasco High School graduate who came to the company through Tri-Tech Skills Center’s visual arts and filmmaking program. The Best of Class Award in the “Packaging: Whimsical” category went to the Long Cork label, created by Nelson. The Silver Award in the “Packaging: Ornate” category was presented to Sara Nelson Design for the Capital Call label.

• Kamiakin High School in Kennewick has been named to the 2024 and 2025 Advanced Placement (AP) School Honor Roll, earning bronze distinction. The recognition honors schools whose AP programs show strong student outcomes while expanding access. At Kamiakin, 40% of seniors took at least one AP exam during high school. About 24.6% of seniors earned a score of 3 or higher on at least one exam. Forty-two seniors completed five or more AP exams. Kamiakin offers 20 AP courses, including English, math, science, social studies, world languages, computer science and visual arts. Eighteen teachers teach one or more AP courses.

• Sarah Overturf, a school counselor at McLoughlin Middle School in Pasco, has been nominated for National Life Group’s LifeChanger of the Year Award. This award celebrates those who exemplify excellence, positive influence and leadership within their school communities. Known for creating a welcoming, supportive environment, Overturf helps students feel safe, heard and empowered, the district said in a release. Winners are selected by a committee of former winners and education professionals and will be announced in early 2026.

• Elisabeth Copsey, a special education teacher at Maya Angelou Elementary School in Pasco, has won the 2026 Crystal Apple Award. She has worked at the Pasco School District since 1993, dedicating her career to meeting students where they are and helping them grow academically, socially and emotionally. In addition to her classroom work, Copsey serves as a mentor teacher through the Washington Education Association.

• Jennifer Gil Zavaleta, a senior at Chiawana High School, earned High School Level Winner honors in the 2026 Washington State Youth Art Month Art Contest. Her artwork was selected from submissions by high school students across the state and stood out for its dynamic composition, attention to detail and powerful representation of Washington’s diversity, culture and landscapes. The contest theme, “The World Needs Art,” challenged students to reflect both their state and the importance of art in society.

• Kori Cannon, a kindergarten teacher at Westgate Elementary in Kennewick, has been named the district’s 2026 Crystal Apple Award winner. Cannon brings 14 years of experience to the classroom. Known for her passion and innovative approach, her lessons emphasize creativity, engagement and meaningful connection, particularly for multilingual learners.

DONATIONS

• STCU completed its annual Season of Giving event, surpassing over $600,000 given to charities around the region. STCU donated $350,000 to various food security initiatives last fall. The total also reflects more than $80,000 in grants awarded through STCU’s Volunteers Count program in which employees volunteered for the causes they care about. Last year, 469 credit union employees logged more than 13,000 volunteer hours at 441 organizations. Additionally, 120 STCU employees serve in leadership positions on boards or committees. A portion of STCU’s charitable giving over the holidays came from its official philanthropic arm, STCU Here for Good Foundation, which gave more than $750,000 through 112 individual grants in 2025. Some local recipients include TRIDEC ($50,000), Columbia Ability Alliance ($5,000), and Kadlec Foundation ($5,000), among others.

APPOINTMENT

• The Reach Foundation has appointed three new board members:

• Jennifer Lee is the director of business development and product management at Adaptive Biotechnologies and brings experience at the intersection of scientific research and commercialization for public benefit. She has held leadership roles in technology transfer and business development across national laboratories and the biotechnology sector, including work at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology.
• Bob Schuetz is the chief executive officer of Energy Northwest and has led complex, highly regulated energy organizations focused on reliability, safety and public accountability. His career includes decades of leadership in nuclear engineering, clean energy systems and large-scale operations serving the Pacific Northwest.
• Wendy Shaw is an associate laboratory director for physical and computational sciences at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where she oversees large research portfolios and complex scientific organizations. Her experience includes managing multimillion-dollar budgets, building strategic partnerships and supporting STEM education and workforce development initiatives.