South Sound Business People

▪ Kristi Stickland has recently joined Jay Ray Ads & PR in Tacoma as an adviser. She has experience in public relations, marketing and business management and will apply her planning skills and creativity to branding and other projects. She received her bachelor’s degree from Washington State University and a master’s degree from Pacific Lutheran University. Stickland was on the communications team that helped launch the Affordable Care Act in Washington through the Washington Health Benefit.

▪  John Saunders is the vice president for commercial real estate services based in Tacoma for Columbia Bank. He will manage the CRE services department that closes and administers loans in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Saunders has an array of management expertise after serving 25 years in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He previously served as the legal adviser to the Western Regional Medical Command at Joint Base Lewis-McChord with a focus on military health care law, federal fiscal law and ethics rules.

Saunders, a graduate of the University of Puget Sound School of Law, received his bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University and attended the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia.

▪  Amy Pierson is the AVP, commercial lending officer for Columbia Bank in Fircrest. She joins the Fircrest branch with more than 11 years’ experience at Columbia Bank, three of which were spent at the downtown Puyallup branch in her role as branch manager.

▪  Anthony Cox has been named the branch manager at the Kent Financial Center for Columbia Bank. He has more than 13 years of banking experience, previously working at Washington Mutual, US Bank and Zion’s Bank in Utah.

▪ Lenora Hook was recently names CARE Giver of the Year 2015 by Home Instead Senior Care of Tacoma. She was recognized for her ability to build trust, taking the lead and providing outstanding senior care.

▪ The Transportation Club of Tacoma named Greg Unterbrink, Ports America’s vice president of business development, as its 2015 Person of the Year. The award is based upon the recipient’s support of the club at its monthly meetings, in addition to support of the its fundraising events. Since 1926, the Transportation Club of Tacoma has focused on building bridges within the transportation industry, while at the same time serving Tacoma and Pierce County communities through its charitable work. Membership encompasses diverse companies, large and small.

Compiled by Mary Anderson, staff writer

The News Tribune publishes hires and promotions at the professional and management levels. It recognizes honors at the state or national level awarded by independent professional or trade associations and appointments to corporate or civic boards. To submit information go to thenewstribune.com/business, go to People In Business and select Add an announcement. All submissions become the property of The News Tribune and may be published in any form.

This story was originally published March 6, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "South Sound Business People."