BRIEFS

GROBIZ SHOW MARCH 18-19

WALLA WALLA - GroBiz 2011, the Walla Walla area's newest premier business event, is just around the corner March 18 and 19 at Walla Walla Community College.

The two days will include a business conference on Friday, March 18, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., and a trade show on Saturday, March 19, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sponsored by the college and the Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce, the conference offers business strategies entrepreneurial success, branding, use of social media, technology tools for companies and growing global markets. A reception follows 4 - 8 p.m. Friday.

Registration is $65 and $59 for chamber members. For more information, contact GroBiz coordinator Nancy Kress at 509-527-4561. Chamber GroBiz and trade show coordinator is Susan Schaefer at 509-525-0850.

PIZZA BACK IN WAITSBURG

WAITSBURG - Since the Whetstone Pub closed, many Waitsburgers and surrounding residents have missed its pizzas, sit down or take out.

The Whoop Em Up Hollow Café plans to fill the gap. Every Wednesday and Thursday through March, the restaurant will offer specialty pizzas.

It's also pulling out all the stops for Mardi Gras on Tuesday, March 8. The 4-course fixed-price dinner will be $45 per person. For reservations or more information about pizza offerings, call 509-337-9000.

CHAMBER ANNUAL BENEFIT MARCH 11

DAYTON - This year's featured auction item for Brix & Brew, the annual Dayton Chamber of Commerce benefit, is a five-day stay at a 1870s French farm house in the Luberon region of Provence.

Other items sure to crank up the bidding heat are Cougar football packages, golf packages, Mariners packages, wines, art and other romantic getaways.

The event at the Seneca Building on March 11 starts at 5:30 p.m. with a silent auction, and beer and wine social, followed by the live auction at 7 p.m.

To sign up, call 509-382-4825 or email chamber@historicdayton.com. More details on the Brix & Brew page at www.historicdayton.com

CHANGES AT WHITMAN HOTEL

WALLA WALLA - The Marcus Whitman Hotel opened two wine tasting rooms and re-opened its 1928 Gift & Wine Shop on Feb. 11.

TERO Estates & Flying Trout Wines, Don Carlo Vineyards and Locati Cellars are now all represented off the hotel's main lobby.

Meanwhile, the hotel hired Dan McCaffrey, formerly of the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, to be its newly hired restaurant and lounge manager.

Antonio Campolio, also from the Broadmoore, is the hotel's new executive chef overseeing all food outlets, including The Marc Restaurant, The Vineyard Lounge, as well as catering and special events.

VISTA GETS AWB HONOR

RICHLAND - Vista Engineering Technologies of Richland was one of 10 state employers honored earlier this month by Gov. Christine Gregoire and the Association of Washington Business for "their excellence in protecting, training and compensating their employees."

Founded in 2000, Vista has earned an expert reputation in a wide variety of technical field spanning the defense and energy industries, and natural resource management. More than 80 professionals on staff include environmental, mechanical, civil, chemical, materials, and nuclear engineers and scientists with advanced degrees, professional licenses and certifications.

SINNOTT NEW VP AT CHAMBER

WALLA WALLA - Damien Sinnott, formerly director of public policy and legal affairs for the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce, has been promoted as its vice president of public policy and business development.

"Damien has been a tremendous asset to the Chamber and its members over the last two years," said David Woolson, chamber president and CEO. "While Damien will continue to develop our public policy efforts, he will also work to expand the Chamber's business and economic development initiatives with the Chamber, our member and community partners."