Vancouver, WA  Summer Arbogast has been promoted to manager of First Independent's Hazel Dell Branch. She joined the bank in 2010 as manager of a smaller branch in Cascade Park. She has more than 14 years of banking experience.

She is on the Board of Salvation Army, a Junior Achievement instructor and a member of the Greater Clark County Rotary. A Camas resident, she did coursework at Chemeketa and Blue Mountain Community Colleges.

A full service community bank with assets of nearly $800 million in assets, First Independent serves SW Washington and Portland residents and businesses from 15 branches and offices in the region and through a variety of online and mobile banking services.  It announced on November  8, 2011 that it will be  acquired by Sterling Savings Bank of Spokane in early 2012.

Headquartered in Vancouver, WA, with a 101 year tradition of supporting the local community, First Independent is committed to enhancing the economic vitality and quality of life in the Pacific Northwest.  To learn more about current community support and employee volunteer activities please follow us on Facebook at First Independent, go to firstindy on Twitter, or visit www.firstindy.com.

Tamara Ferguson Elected President of Salmon Creek Business Group

Tamara Ferguson, First Independent branch manager, has been elected President of the Salmon Creek Business Group for 2011-2012. The group consists of representatives of more than 100 area businesses who get together for networking and to support and improve the business community. Tamara is manager of First Independent’s Salmon Creek branch and has been with the bank for more than four years.

First Independent Helps Four SW Washington High School Grads Attend Clark College

Vancouver, WA – Four recent graduates from SW Washington high school programs have been awarded $2,000 scholarships by First Independent Bank to attend Clark College in the fall.

The students are Chi Chan of Union High School, who plans to major in business administration; Talitha Sakamoto of River Homelink, who will major in political science; Taylor Proudfit of Battle Ground High School, who is majoring in medical radiography; and Jesse Pack of Prairie High School, who is majoring in music.

Money for the scholarships comes from a $300,000 endowment made to Clark College in 1984 by the late E.W. Firstenburg, longtime CEO and Chairman of First Independent.  

"First Independent has long been committed to supporting educational programs and these scholarships are more important than ever given the rising cost of tuition and decline in the availability of student aid," Jeanne Firstenburg, First Independent President and COO said.

First Independent Welcomes New Board Members

June 9, 2011, VANCOUVER, Wash. – First Independent, the region’s largest privately owned, locally managed bank, has added two local business and community leaders to its board of directors.  Ronald E. Emmerson and Patrick Kelley joined the six-member board this month.

Emmerson is an entrepreneur and corporate business consultant with substantial experience in finance, business development, analysis and management.  With a degree in economics from Portland State University and an MBA from The George Washington University, Emmerson began his career as a financial analyst for Ford Motor Company.  Over the past 35 years, he has held executive management positions in a variety of organizations including several start-ups. 

Long active in the community, Emmerson currently is treasurer and a director of the Multnomah Athletic Foundation.  He served as president of the Portland chapter of Financial Executives International from 2002-2003.  He has served on the advisory board of Walla Walla University School of Engineering and the boards of Biamp Systems, Office Solutions and Consolidated Supply Co.

Patrick Kelley is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 35 years of experience.  He began his career with one of the largest international accounting firms, Coopers & Lybrand, and went on to become a partner at Moss Adams LLP, the largest accounting firm in the Pacific Northwest.  A specialist in providing public accounting and consulting services to large and mid-sized companies in Oregon, Washington and California, Kelley has dealt with the financial interests of companies at all growth levels.

Kelley has served on the boards of Contractors Financial Management Association, Associated General Contractors of America, the Vancouver Symphony and Columbia Edgewater Country Club, among others.  He was a member of the advisory board for the Vancouver Historical Association and has been an active fundraiser for the Boys & Girls of Southwest Washington.

Kelley earned his BA in mathematics from Willamette University and took post-graduate accounting courses at Portland State University.  

 “First Independent continues to enhance our board with the addition of outside directors who bring new perspectives and financial oversight experience to our organization,” said Jeanne Firstenburg, President.  “Ron and Pat understand and support our mission and the Firstenburg family’s commitment to building community health and our clients’ wealth.”

Wednesday/Thursday

Smart Strategies for women: First Independent Bank presents Conversation, discussion of financial topics that matter most to women, at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., at the bank, 1220 Main St., Suite 300. Limited to 20 attendees. * Register, bellavoce@firstindy.com.

"Boyd Vander Houwen of Vander Houwen Public Relations has been helping businesses use the social media as a strategic communications tool. He points out, 'The way we communicate with clients, employees, prospects, and friends is changing.  The chatter around the water cooler has been replaced by the clicking of keyboards and beeps of text messaging. Whether you are prospecting for new customers or potential employers, using social media will give you a jumpstart to connecting with your (target) audiences.'"

To read the full article and more from Boyd, visit the College World Reporter website at archive.constantcontact.com/fs014/1101932153258/archive/1102830936858.html

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

www.bakerboyer.com/index.cfm

With great equipment, clean facilities, a friendly staff, great classes and trainers, and reasonable dues, it’s the best of several clubs we've belonged to. I thought our experience was worth sharing, since there seems to be a common perception that the Bravern, and any business in the complex, is "toast" thanks to their ill-fated opening in the worst economy most can remember. A good number of the people I hear pronouncing it toast have never even been there.

I can't speak to how the complex is doing financially, but I think anyone who has clients, runs a business or works for one can learn from what is happening at the Bravern where many businesses, including the David Barton Gym, really are "trying harder.” It’s a lesson we can all benefit from.

I'm rooting for the complex to make it because the employees who I have met at the David Barton Gym are genuinely nice, hard working people who don’t need to be added to our unemployment lines.

Second, for many members, the attraction of the gym is just good old customer service, a friendly attitude and attention to detail. When an organization gets consistently quality service from a young staff, it's worth noting. And the satisfied customers include a decent-sized group of Baby Boomers.

Finally, this is no time for business as usual; they seem to know that and are constantly trying new approaches to attract and retain their members. Consider this: I recently received an invitation from a Barton member who is Marketing Manager for Gene Juarez Salons and Spa in the Bellevue Galleria, a few blocks from the Bravern. I was invited to their first-ever "Happy Hour for Men's Event" at the salon. For a reasonable price you were offered a haircut, (okay, so that one's pretty easy for me), facial, nail treatment, chair massage, micro-brews, and discounts and freebies from their partners. Partners included a golf supply company, two companies providing men's products, a brewery and the David Barton Gym.

I know it was a big success, even though I didn't go. Why? Because by the time I got around to signing up, it was completely sold out. The joint promotion fits perfectly into the new world of social media. First, it was marketed almost completely by e-mail and Word of Mouth (WOM). Second, it was one of many such partnerships David Barton uses to build a community for its members by bringing them speakers, entertainment and programs that fit their interests.

So give yourself a gift. Take advantage of the six hours of free parking and wander through the Bravern complex. Check out the merchants, see what kinds of deals you can find and note what they are doing to engage you. You might find some approaches you can use with your own customers.

Learn more about Baker Boyer Bank at www.bakerboyer.com/index.cfm.

To read more visit the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin website at union-bulletin.com/stories/2010/7/23/baker-boyer-to-shutter-weston-branch.

To read the entire article, visit the Walla Walla Union Bulletin website at http://union-bulletin.com/stories/2010/05/21/walla-walla-bankers-meet-with-treasury-chief.

For the full release, visit Washington Federal's website at www.firstmutual.com/pressreleases/files/WFSL%203-2010%20Earnings_762.pdf.

The Bank plans to raise money through its shareholders by increasing the numbers of shares from 10 to 250 million. The FDIC must first approve the offering before the Bank can solicit investors. Current CEO, David Straus, says that the new capital could be enough to increase Fortune's asset base from it's existing assets of $118.5 million to more than $4 billion.

To read the full article from the Seattle Times, visit their website at seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011382752_fortunebank19.html.