Over the past few years we have met many milestones in our progress toward building a performing arts center in the Tri-Cities. 
 
One such milestone was our ability to hire Renée Adams as our first Executive Director. Renée brought passion and enthusiasm to the organization, but she has also been commuting to the Tri-Cities from Yakima. To achieve a better life-work balance, she has decided to take a job in Yakima. Now we ask for your help in sharing the news about this open position. Position details and application directions are included in the job description posted on our website.
 
It’s not all sad news, as Renée has also agreed to continue working with the ACTF Board to share her considerable knowledge and expertise as we move forward. We are grateful for the work she has done as our first Executive Director and wish her all the best in her future endeavors!

What: Connect Tri-Cities includes an opportunity fair, STEM competition, veterans outreach, resume and interview assistance, science demonstrations, networking, and more. More than $5,000 in giveaways, including books, Chromebooks, wireless headphones and Hydro Flasks will be given away during “Geek Speak” and “University Hall” presentations (must be present to win). All events are free and open to the public (except for the luncheon and the STEM competition.)

Who: Connect Tri-Cities brings together job seekers, employers, educators, labor, Tribes, veterans and industry to build the local workforce of the future. Connect Tri-Cities is a unique community event championed by TRIDEC and sponsored by Hanford contractor Mission Support Alliance and their corporate partners Leidos and Centerra Group.

Why: Connect Tri-Cities is designed to enable career paths and job connections and is a unique opportunity to engage with the Tri-Cities community, small businesses and the young minds of our future.

Where: Three Rivers Convention Center; 7016 W. Grandridge Blvd. in Kennewick

When:
Monday, Oct. 21
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – High School STEM Scholarship Competition Finals
The top five teams from our preliminary competition will participate in a final competition for more than $20,000 in scholarships. Winners will be announced at the Networking Reception on Tuesday, October 22. Media outlets interested in covering this should work with our media contact for arrangements.

Tuesday, Oct. 22
7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Opportunity Fair and Resume/Interview Support
Join more than 70 organizations, including organized labor, educators, local businesses and Hanford contractors to learn about employment opportunities. Over 1,200 high school students will be bussed in for the event. Human Resources experts will be available to provide resume and interview support.
7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. – University Hall
Meet representatives from northwest colleges and universities. Hear from presenters on topics such as building your social capital and career engagement.

• 8:30 a.m.; 10 a.m.; 4 p.m. – Social Capital with Edward DeJesus, Author and Speaker
• 9:15 a.m.; 10:45 a.m.; 1:45 p.m. – Career Engagement with M. Semi Bird, Behavioral Scientist and Professional Development Speaker
• 2:30 p.m. – Exploring Careers at Hanford with Brian Vance, Manager, Office of River Protection/Richland Operations Office, U.S. DOE
• 3:15 p.m. – Different Rules, Same Tools: Our Transition to Civilian Life and Careers with Joe Aiello and Bryan Jewell, Engineers with Bechtel and Veterans

7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Geek Speak
Engage with science and technology experts through a variety of live and virtual presentations throughout the day.

• 8:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m. – Science on YouTube with Dr. Sally Le Page, Biologist and Science Communicator
• 9:15 a.m.; 12:15 p.m.; 1:45 p.m.; 2:30 p.m. – Experience Science with Kevin Delaney, Science Educator (and guest star on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon)
• 10 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.; 1 p.m.; 3:15 p.m. – Digital Media Journey with Lance Frisbee, Digital Media Influencer and Professional Gamer

4:30 – 6 p.m. – Networking Reception
STEM Competition results will be announced, with award of $20,000 to the top three teams. Enjoy appetizers, a no-host bar and a live band.

Senior customers are invited to Benton PUD’s annual Senior Day on Wednesday, October 23 at the Benton PUD Auditoriums in Kennewick and Prosser (Locations: 2721 W. 10th Ave, Kennewick, WA or 250 N. Gap Road, Prosser, WA).

Benton PUD Customer Service Representatives and the Community Action Connections will provide information and assistance on Benton PUD’s low-income senior and low-income disabled discounts.  Customers can receive one-on-one enrollment help and income verification from the Community Action Connections. 

The low-income monthly discounts are 10%, 15% or 25% based on their household total annual income.

The low-income senior discount qualifications are based on annual household income and age (62+).  The low income disabled discount qualifications are based on annual household income and a qualifying disability of the customer or member of the household.  Income verification is required and is completed by the Community Action Connections.

There will also be presentations at the Benton PUD Kennewick Auditorium on Weatherization & Home Automation at 9:30 a.m. and the Columbia Basin Veterans Stand Down at 10:50 a.m.  Blood pressure checks, Community Center information and Conservation tips will be available at the Benton PUD Prosser Auditorium.

Senior customers will receive a packet with information on electrical safety, energy saving tips and other items. Coffee, juice and cookies will be served.   

Mid-Columbia Libraries (MCL) celebrates the culmination of National Hispanic Heritage Month with a special book giveaway at all 12 MCL branches starting Oct. 15. The community is invited to stop by their local library to pick up a book by Newbery Medal-winning children’s and young adult author Matt de la Peña, while supplies last. Books are available in both English and Spanish.

De la Peña is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of five picture books, including “Love” and the award-winning “Last Stop on Market Street,” and seven young adult novels. His most recent novel is “Superman: Dawnbreaker,” which explores the DC icon’s coming-of-age story in the Mexican-American community in Smallville.

Books are provided courtesy of Mid-Columbia Reads sponsor, Battelle. De la Peña’s books are also available for checkout at midcolumbialibraries.org/matt-de-la-pena.

MCL and Kennewick School District will host a bilingual presentation and student-led interview with the author Dec. 6 at Southridge High School. Learn more at midcolumbialibraries.org/event/author-visit-matt-de-la-pena.

On September 25th, Petersen Hastings was proud to announce the addition of Josh Beck as Financial Controller for the firm. In this role, Josh is primarily responsible for developing and monitoring the firm’s financial strategy, budgeting, and forecasting to ensure robust financial performance for the firm moving into the future.

“Josh brings an exciting amount of experience to his position within our firm,” said Blaine Carr, Chief Financial Officer & Senior Wealth Advisor. “His background in the financial industry and commitment to financial stewardship and serving the needs of our clients aligns perfectly with the goals and objectives of our firm. I am confident that his expertise and values will be beneficial to the Petersen Hastings team, as well as for our clients.”

Josh was born and raised in the Lower Yakima Valley of Washington. He graduated from Pacific University (Forest Grove, OR) in 2011 where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Following graduation, Josh began his career in the financial institution industry where he served most recently as the Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Lower Valley Credit Union (Sunnyside, WA) for seven years. While working in the financial institution industry, Josh earned numerous certifications in the areas of financial management and compliance, was quoted and cited in numerous industry publications, and graduated from Western CUNA Management School based at Pomona College (Claremont, CA). Josh’s involvement in the community includes recently serving as the Rotary President of the Sunnyside Noon Rotary Club and as the active Treasurer on the Board of Directors and Finance Committee Chairman of the Yakima Valley Community Foundation. 

Petersen Hastings is a Registered Investment Advisor located in Kennewick, WA. As a primary fiduciary, Petersen Hastings serves committed investors with complex financial needs. Our multigenerational team of experienced and credentialed professionals delivers innovative solutions through The Trusted Financial PathTM to enhance and preserve wealth.

For additional information, contact Scott Sarber at 509.735.0484 or scotts@petersenhastings.com.

As the run-up to the holidays begins, National Dessert Month (AKA October) is a good excuse to order treats or test new recipes to use during Thanksgiving or Christmas. Chukar Cherries’ purpose has always been crafting tasty treats from local Northwest cherries, and over the past several years Chukar has added cakes and pies to the list. 

Mail order baked goods often focus on presentation rather than good eating. As a small, family-owned company, placing appearance ahead of flavor has never been Chukar’s way. It took some time for the company to move from dried cherries, chocolates, and sauces into baked goods. Chukar’s founder Pam Montgomery agonized over the recipes for years before offering a sour cream Bundt cake followed by a chocolate Bundt and then sweet and sour cherry pies. 

“It was important to us that our cakes and pies taste like grandma’s,” remarks Montgomery. “And that’s been the overwhelming feedback from our customers since launching the baked goods line.” Chukar only offers pies and cakes during the holiday season. All are freshly made and ship for free. Upon arrival, customers can pop the pies in the oven, enjoy the cakes immediately, or keep the baked goods in the freezer to enjoy up to 3 months later—making them ideal for either immediate entertaining or keeping on hand for holiday events. 

For the baking-inclined, Chukar also hosts a variety of recipes on chukar.com/recipes. The company has perfected the cherry-forward recipes over the course of 30 years of living and working in the center of Washington’s cherry-growing region. Fan favorites include Northwest Cherry Cobbler, Jubilee Dessert Parfaits, and Cherry Thumbprint Cookies—all of which are ideal for #NationalDessertMonth celebrations.

​Washington State University President Kirk Schulz has appointed Dave Cillay, vice president of WSU Academic Outreach and Innovation, as the university’s first Global Campus chancellor.
 
“Dave has done an outstanding job of guiding the growth of our Global Campus the past seven years,” said WSU President Kirk Schulz. “WSU is in the vanguard of U.S. universities delivering distance education, in no small part due to Dave’s vision and his expertise in developing the programing that meets the specialized needs of these students.”
 
WSU is among the first public universities in the nation to put its online campus into the same chancellor-level leadership structure as traditional physical campuses.
 
“This is a great message to students from our university leadership,” said Cillay. “It’s a strong statement that WSU supports all students, regardless of whether they learn in a physical classroom, online, or both.”
 
Cillay will maintain his position as vice president of Academic Outreach and Innovation while taking on the title, roles, and responsibilities as Global Campus chancellor. Continuing to focus on improving the online student experience will be key as he begins his new role.
 
WSU Global Campus, home to 3,265 students learning completely online as of fall semester 2019, offers 19 undergraduate majors, 12 master’s degree programs, 20 online certificate programs, and two teaching endorsements. Additionally, more than 3,000 students at one of WSU’s physical campuses enrolled in one or more online courses this fall.
 
Online learning is a growing trend in higher education nationwide. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that the percentage of college students who were enrolled exclusively in online courses in fall 2017 grew to 15.4 percent, from 14.7 percent in 2016. In addition, 43 percent of undergraduate students took at least one online course in the 2015-16 academic year, up from 32 percent four years earlier.
 
WSU has been a leader in online higher education for more than 25 years. It launched its first distance degree program in 1992 and was one of the first public universities to recognize the potential of online education. In 2019, WSU Global Campus was ranked by U.S. News & World Report in the top 5 percent of best online undergraduate programs in the nation.
 
“This university has been on the cutting edge when it comes to using innovative technologies to expand learning opportunities,” said Cillay. “But it’s not all about the technology. We’re also about enriching the online learning experience for our students.”
 
WSU was the first public university to create a student government exclusively for online students. Other programs and services created to enhance the online student experience include the Global Connections online engagement program, free career counseling, online learning virtual mentors, in-person events, and more.
 
“I’m proud to be a part of this university and to work with the outstanding faculty, staff and students here at Global Campus,” said Cillay. “I’m also very grateful for the opportunity to work with university leadership who fully understand the value and impact of online learning, especially as WSU looks to the future.”

Mission Support Alliance (MSA) employee Ashley Ward was recognized as Innovator of the Year at the 2019 Women in IT Silicon Valley awards ceremony in San Francisco, Calif. Ward, who serves as MSA’s director of Information Systems was recognized for her efforts bringing new and innovative technology to support the Hanford Site’s cleanup mission.

I’m truly overwhelmed to receive this award,” Ward said. “This could not have been possible without my great team and all of their hard work.”

Partnering with MSA’s Public Works organization, Ward and her team are putting state-of-the-art technology into the hands of workers in the field. Through the use of mixed-reality technology, which can best be described as real-time virtual reality, workers have more information readily available along with expanded communication capabilities to their teams. This has the potential to streamline training and accelerate schedules.

“Congratulations to Ashley on this well-deserved award,” said Todd Synoground, MSA vice president for Public Works. “Ashley has that unique characteristic of being a technical expert in her field while also being a strong and dynamic leader. Her innovative thinking and uncanny ability to identify creative solutions are second to none.”

​In her role at MSA, Ward leads a team of over 150 IT professionals that develop and maintain more than 1,600 applications that manage data and information across the 580-square-mile Hanford Site supporting approximately 9,000 workers. Hanford, the largest environmental cleanup project in the country, is located in southeastern Washington State.

There are just 3 more weeks to claim the pickets form the original playground and we need help getting the word out! Pickets are available for pickup at the Southridge Sports and Events Complex, 2901 Southridge Boulevard, during business hours through October 30th. 

1,423 pickets engraved with names of generous donors who helped fund the 2004 playground rebuild after the original structure was destroyed by fire were carefully removed by volunteers in 2018 in preparation of the playground rebuild. For over a year the City has been outreaching through various platforms to get the word out to those individuals, families, and businesses who might want to keep their sponsored picket as a memento.

For more information, please contact Brandon Lange at (509) 585-4279 or brandon.lange@ci.kennewick.wa.us. Additional information is also available at https://www.go2kennewick.com/1245/Claim-Your-Picket.