Comings & Goings

Mattress seller Sleep Country USA recently announced the opening of a new store in Corvallis. Sleep Country USA Corvallis is at 1550 N.W. Ninth St., No. 101, and opened May 24.

People on the Move

Al Opoien of Corvallis has been named an agent for COUNTRY Financial.

As part of his training, Opoien recently completed the organization's new agent school. The school is designed to help agents expand their knowledge about the products and financial solutions the company offers customers.

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Jen Butler-Walker has joined Willamette STAGE Company as director of development.

She has worked with nonprofits focused on the arts and children for the past several years, most recently as the director of development at Boys & Girls Club of Albany. Butler-Walker's undergraduate work was in theatre, and she is a graduate student at George Fox University.

Willamette STAGE Company was founded in early 2007 by a group of theatre artists and enthusiasts led by Artistic Director Robert Delk Hirsh, a veteran professional actor and director.

Training & development

Ryan McAlister, a project manager with local building contractor T. Gerding Construction, has been recently certified as a LEED Accredited Professional. McAlister is the second T. Gerding employee to become accredited through this program, which is a part of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Take a Bow

Cardwell Hill Cellars of Philomath has been awarded two medals in an international winemaking competition held by the Dallas Morning News, one of the largest winemaking events in North America. This year Cardwell Hill Cellars was awarded a gold medal for its Estate Pinot Noir and a silver medal for the Reserve Pinot Noir. It was the only Oregon winery producing pinot noir that won both a gold and silver medal.

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Deb Kadas, a Corvallis designer, recently earned recognition in a national publication. Her project, a remodel of a 1920 bungalow kitchen, is featured in the spring/summer 2008 edition of "Great Kitchens." Also credited in the article is Jerry DelBozque, owner of JD Construction.

Officers & directors

The Arc of Benton County recently added to its board of officers and directors: President Michael Hoffman; Vice President Verlene Melero; Secretary Julia Neuman; Treasurer John Mykrantz; directors Jeffrey McCubbin, Barbara Sackett, John Kruger and Rosemary Ayres. They join seated members Peter Ball, Candace Cooke, Harold Harris and Leslie Olsen.

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The Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis has elected its 2008-2009 officers. The new president is Patrice O'Brien, president-elect is Stephanie Maxon and treasurer is Jamie Hughes. Board members include Tom Ahlers, Beth Buglione, Todd Cleland, Bob Cook, Pat Crook, John Croy, Randy Huber, Bill Humphreys Jr., Doris Johnston, Alan Lanker, Bill Mercer, Susan Schmidt, Ryan Sparks, Barte Starker, Dawn Tarzian, Dick Thompson, Biff Traber, Tim Weber, Todd Washington and Curt Wright.

Reinvestment

OSU Federal Credit Union is donating 37 computer stations to several school districts and nonprofits throughout its five-county field of membership.

School districts in Newport and Woodburn and nonprofits Community Outreach Inc. and HomeLife in Corvallis/Albany will benefit from the computers that OSU Federal has made available to organizations unable to purchase such equipment.

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United Way of Linn County recently donated $1,000 to Linn-Benton Community College's dental program to help purchase supplies used during the free United Way Children's Dental Clinic held at the college.

In the spring of 2007, LBCC and United Way started the clinic which provides dental care to low-income children in Linn and Benton counties. The clinic has served more than 80 local children.

LBCC dental assistant students work with local dentists at the clinic to gain practical experience.

News & Notes

Dr. Jessica Norris, an optometrist in Albany, recently served as a clinical examiner in Portland for the National Board of Examiners in Optometry's (NBEO) Clinical Skills Examination. This practical examination requires candidates for licensure to examine a patient at each of 4 stations in performing 19 clinical skills. Dr. Norris has been an optometrist for 5 years and is in practice at Eyecare Associates in Albany.

Submissions

"Movers & Shakers" welcomes submissions of business news about local companies. News releases can be delivered to the front desk of the Gazette-Times, 600 S.W. Jefferson Ave.; faxed to 758-9505; e-mailed to news@gtconnect.com; or mailed to Business News, Corvallis Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 368, Corvallis, OR 97339.

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