2016 Financial Executives of the Year

2016

FINANCIAL EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR

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2016 Finalists

Congratulations

Business

to all finalists!

Jon Everett, Ted Brown Music

3

Andy McDonald, Columbia Bank

4

Jutta Stevens, Golden Services

5

Jim Winkle, Harbor Wholesale Foods

6

Nonprofit Brian Sanda, Community Action Council

7

Shirley Tompkins, GTCF

7

Government Mark Horaski, Valley Regional Fire Authority

8

Ken Shalik, Tacoma Housing Authority

8

Jeff Smith, Port of Olympia

9

We at Heritage Bank are most pleased to be able to partner with Moss Adams and Business Examiner Media to honor these exceptional examples of quality senior financial leadership from many companies and organizations located in the South Sound.

It is hard to over-emphasize the significant contributions to success that come from wellqualified financial professionals within top level management suites. These individuals, with a focus on “the numbers” and trends, perform analysis that brings clarity to the decision-making process, offer up specific recommendations based upon those findings and chart the way forward, enhancing outcomes that bode well for the whole organization.

For all their importance, too often the individuals who serve as CFO, controller, accounting manager — whatever the job title — do not get appropriate recognition. That is why Financial Executives of the Year was created, and why we are pleased to be supporting it.

Jon Everett Controller, Ted Brown Music

When it became apparent to Whitney Grisaffi and Stephanie Howe that their business needed someone to “take care of the ever-increasingly complicated financial side of our growing business,” it was just as important for them to find someone who would fit the creative culture of their family-owned music store.

Jon Everett more than fit the bill.

“When we first met him, you know, he seemed like a nice, down-to-earth guy,” said Howe. “And then he cracked a joke and walked away, and he did it so straight-faced. We all just looked at each other and said, ‘Did our new accounting guy just say that?’

“After that, we realized he had a great sense of humor,” continued Howe, chuckling. “We all thought, ‘OK, he’ll fit in just fine.’”

Of course, he’s brought more than just laughs. Grisaffi — who nominated him — praises him for refining Ted Brown’s accounting system, accomplishing some “really aggressive debt reduction” for the company.

“Stephanie and I utilize Jon not only for the financial side of our business, but to help keep the management team thinking about the bottom line,” she said.

“We rely on him for his honest opinion and as a tie breaker for our partnership.”

Andy McDonald

Chief Credit Officer, Columbia Bank

Serving among the financial leadership of the bank with the second largest market share in the South Sound is no mean feat, but Andy McDonald has more than acquitted himself well.

“Andy’s financial leadership is most obvious when you consider that he joined our bank shortly before the Great Recession and subsequent credit collapse challenged all financial institutions,” said CEO Melanie Dressel, who nominated McDonald.

“He’s had lots of responsibility and proven himself as one of the strongest credit administrators. Consider too that Columbia acquired assets from five failed banks in 1.5 years, all while maintaining its total strength. His team did a great job.”

The accolades don’t stop there. From up and down the bank’s chain of command, the words that co-workers and colleagues to define McDonald’s 12-year tenure are all superlative.

“Ideal.”

“Phenomenal.”

“Tireless.”

“Instrumental.”

“It’s clear that Andy’s dedication to the community,” Dressel said, “paired with his leadership in the financial services industry, make him an excellent candidate for the Business Examiner’s Financial Executive of the Year.”

Andy McDonald is a credit to us, and to our community.

As Chief Credit Officer, it’s fitting that Andy McDonald is getting credit for all he does on behalf of Columbia Bank and groups like Junior Achievement, Boys & Girls Club, UW Tacoma Advisory Board, and the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County.

Thank you, Andy, for ensuring our credit and lending portfolios are secure, for keeping the bank safe and sound and for making a difference in our community—from your friends at CB!

You’ll notice the difference.

Andy McDonald

EVP, Chief Credit Officer Columbia Bank

Visit columbiabank.com or call 877-272-3678.

Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender

Jutta Stevens

Finance Director, Golden Services LLC

The numbers game can seem awfully monolithic for the rest of us who don’t play daily. Fortunately, this isn’t so much a problem for Jutta Stevens’ co-workers at Golden Services, where her approachable smile are there to guide them through any queries that may arise.

“She’s so pleasant,” said receptionist Jacquelynn Richey. “She has this caring to her. If you have questions, she’ll gladly help you through them.

“I don’t work with her directly, but when I do, I never feel dumbed down or out of the loop. She’s happy to explain things to you until you understand completely.”

That approachability has earned her the friendship and respect of her co-workers, and her stewardship of Golden Services’ finances has earned the company’s steadfast trust. Initially the outside CPA for the company, she was brought in to work internally four years ago, and CEO Ed Zielisnki has been thrilled with the results.

“She is the most valuable person here, handling all our budgets, bank relationships, lines of credit, et cetera,” he said. “She has done so much to help me understand the numbers side of our business ... Jutta puts in lots of hours and is always the last one to leave at night.”

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Jim Winkle CFO, Harbor Wholesale Foods

CEO Jim Erickson, who nominated Winkle, credits his fiscal stewardship for, among other things, a 40 percent increase in sales between 2012 and 2015.

“Excellent financial leadership is one of Jim’s greatest strengths, and it’s what has been most valuable as he works to coach a number of our managers,” said Erickson. “They’re learning to look out for the business’ best interests, and he helps all to work within the family structure.”

He’s also guided the company through its first full-blown accounting audit and was also able to provide greater access to capital with a lower cost structure by refinancing the company’s debt.

Perhaps what his co-workers appreciate most of all, though, is Winkle’s laid-back approach and relatability.

“You don’t really feel like you work for him, you feel like you work with him,” said controller Teresa Bullinger. “We can joke with him. We go to him for advice and his door is always open.”

“One thing that I really value is that he has a lot of respect for work-family balance,” added HR manager Heather Jorgensen.

“I’m a new mom, and he was very compassionate and caring through my transition of balancing a new aspect of my life with work. He’s just that kind of person — helpful, caring in and out of work.”

Celebrating leadership at its best.

Congratulations to the nominees and finalists of this year’s Financial Executives of the Year awards.

W W W. M O S S A D A M S . C O M

Brian Sanda CFO, Community Action Council

Brian Sanda has been working with the nonprofit Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason & Thurston Counties for 39 years — a tenure that truly reflects Sanda’s “second to none” dedication to the organization’s underprivileged beneficiaries, according to COO Kirsten York.

“He has been instrumental as the CFO in guiding the agency financially to positions of success and stability where many other nonprofit Community Action agencies in our state have been unsuccessful,” York said upon nominatinig him. “His sustainable, innovative fiscal practices have ensured our low-income clients receive housing and heating checks.”

“I’ve known Brian for a while, and he’s just that kind of devoted person. You always get the sense that he really, truly does care, and that’s why he does what he does,” said a colleague and friend who asked to remain anonymous. “He’s worked behind the scenes for so long. The spotlight should be on him now. He’s earned it.”

York agrees.

“Brian is clearly a leader who strives to set great expectations and a real sense of accountability,” she said.

“He has such a passion and drive to make our work successful, because it has such great impact on so many people.”

Shirley Tompkins CFO, Greater Tacoma Community Foundation

Dealing in nonprofit finances often means working with volunteers — an added wrinkle to an already taxing job description.

Shirley Tompkins’ fans, though, praise her communication and organization skills for bridging that gap with aplomb.

Just ask Greater Tacoma Community Foundation board member and investment committee chair Gary Brooks.

“She has an ability to bring organization and understanding to your every interaction,” said Brooks. “I’m on the outside coming in as a volunteer, so I don’t quite have the internal knowledge.

But Shirley’s really good about the protocol, the process and the procedure — making sure we’re getting things done efficiently, and doing it in a way that’s easy to comprehend.

“It’s not the highlight of everybody’s day to go through numbers,” he laughs. “But she does a great job to make it fun.”

The foundation’s community partners recognize Tompkins’ financial acumen, too.

“Shirley is always looking for ways to maximize the benefits on the funds managing by the Foundation in an efficient, secure and transparent way,” said Molly Croft, cash management manager at Commencement Bank, who nominated her for the award.

“She is professional and responsive while also open to suggestion, knowledgeable in her field and very easy to work with.”

Mark Horaski CFO, Valley Regional Fire Authority

The first and only CFO of South King County’s Valley Regional Fire Authority, Mark Horaski drew praise from CEO Eric Robertson even before he got the job.

“I first met him years ago just briefly when he was working for Chelan County,” reminisced Robertson. “When I was advertising for his position, I didn’t know his application was coming, but I was real pleased to see someone of his caliber applying.

“He’s been with us since 2007 now, and his expertise in finance has been absolutely critical to our success.”

Among his achievements: saving taxpayers nearly $1 million by refinancing the organization’s bond.

Horaski gets winning marks from Robertson as a friend and co-worker, too.

“As a person, he’s very bright, and he’s very personable as well. A lot of times, you don’t get that combination,” Robertson laughed. “CFOs, you don’t usually get that really cool blend of very competent with a personality to match.

“Particularly in public safety — we’re just a bunch of Type A people running around like crazy. But Mark, he immediately won the trust and confidence of everybody in the organization. Not just the senior managers, but the rank and file. The union’s turned to him for a lot of things, and we’re all the better for it.”

Ken Shalik

Finance Director, Tacoma Housing Authority Tacoma Housing Authority Executive Director Michael Mirra describes HUD financing as “its own arcane specialty.”

Fortunately, the THA has its own fiscal sorcerer in Ken Shalik.

In Mirra’s own words, Shalik is “an expert” with “a national reputation for his work among his peers from other housing authorities.” Mirra also praises him for bringing “a first rate leadership to budgeting.”

“This is not an easy time to be a public housing authority,” Mirra explained. “Our federal sources of funding are hard to anticipate.

In fact, because Congress is usually late with its own budget, THA does not know its federal allocation when it must adopt its own budget. This requires a steady judgment. Throughout, THA has remained notably stable and in good financial health.

“Ken leads our budgeting process every year and insures our adherence to the budget principles that have served us well.”

And the value Shalik brings to the THA team are only underscored by the values he brings to the team.

“Ken has welcomed low-income high school students into his department as part-time staff during the school year and full time during the summer ... Ken has provided them with a warm embrace and a step forward in a life filled with its own challenges,” Mirra shared.

Jeff Smith

Director of Finance, Port of Olympia A veteran of the port financing game, Jeff Smith came to the Port of Olympia four years ago after tenures with the ports of Tacoma and Vancouver.

Technically, he’s worked with other ports, too; his acumen is so known regionally that, per Port of Olympia Commissioner Bill McGregor, Smith has been “loaned” out to other ports to assist in the selection process of candidates for their financial executives.

Smith’s record of success is well-chronicled among those in the know around the Thurston County facility.

According to CEO Ed Galligan, “just in the past year, he brought about restructuring of several leases, both with state agencies and private lessees ... He also created new debt refinancing opportunities that allowed local, Olympia-based banks to participate in this community asset.”

Even the public is impressed. Just listen to one area resident who wrote to the Port upon hearing of Smith’s nomination.

“As a taxpayer, I am impressed [with] Jeff Smith ... for his openness and patience with interested Thurston County taxpayers and voters. Jeff’s competence and communications help the Port of Olympia become more transparent to the local Thurston County taxpayers and voters.”

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