The Yakima County Development Association, also known as New Vision, has added James Morrison to its staff.
Morrison will be the primary point of contact for new businesses considering locating in Yakima County.
Morrison most recently worked for Wells Fargo of Yakima in business banking. Prior to that, Morrison organized events and programs for Eastern Washington University and helped operate his family's business near Lake Chelan.
Insurance
Farmers Insurance agent Pablo Ramirez of Toppenish has completed the Career Agents Course at a company-sponsored training facility in Agoura Hills, Calif. Ramirez completed the five-day course to enhance professional skills in helping customers choose the right insurance products to meet their needs.
Richard L. Miller, a financial representative of Yakima, will be sworn in later this month as president of the Washington state chapter of the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisers at its annual convention in La Conner, Wash. The association is an advocacy group on legislation affecting the insurance industry and consumers. Miller recently attended a national leadership conference in Washington, D.C., to receive training on association business.
Medicine
Dr. Esther Hunte has joined Cornerstone Medical Clinic, specializing in family medicine and obstetrics.
She received her undergraduate degrees in medicine and medical anthropology at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio, and completed her fellowship in obstetrics from Santa Clara Medical Center in San Jose, Calif. She did her residency at Jacksonville Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla.
She has been board-certified in family medicine since 1994.
Dr. Christopher Babin will join Cascade Eye Center on South 40th Avenue in Yakima beginning today. Previously with Group Health Vision Center, which closed Friday, Babin brings 16 years of experience in primary care optometry and the treatment of ocular disease.
Nonprofit
Daniel Capetillo of Yakima has been appointed to the board of directors of the Rural Community Development Resources, a community development corporation. Capetillo is a faculty field representative for Eastern Washington University's School of Social Work.
Real estate
Dennis Rose, broker/owner of Rose and Associates of Yakima, has been awarded the state Realtor Achievement Award for 2007. Rose, who served as president of the 26,000-member association last year, received the award at the association's spring conference last month in Seattle.
The award recognizes his involvement in civic, community and business affairs. He is the first president of the statewide association from Yakima in more than 40 years.
Creekside Realty has added another member of the Marquis family to its staff of agents. Matt Marquis has joined the firm after a five-year career in sales. His aunt, Hope Barnes, and cousin, Ted Marquis Jr., already are with the firm.
* In Basket is a Monday feature noting personnel changes, additions and accomplishments of area business people. To have an item published, mail a brief announcement with a photo to the Business Desk, Yakima Herald-Republic, P.O. Box 9668, Yakima, WA 98909. Items also can be dropped off at our office at 114 N. Fourth St. in Yakima; faxed to us at 577-7767; or e-mailed to business@yakimaherald.com.
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